My Life

Summer Ideas

While perusing the internet looking to arm myself with LOTS of ideas for summer projects for the kids, I happened upon this site.  Thought there were others who may benefit.  She gives ideas on how to organize and then holy hannah a ton of sites in part 2.  Check it.  

Any ideas on sites for good kids birthday party games?  Or any games that you love to use?  You know how I love those parties :)  Help me please!

ETA: Here's another site chock full of ideas.

The Girls

as we so affectionately called them for the week they came to visit my Grandma.

Aunt Ione and Aunt Adeen.

They are the last surviving sisters of 10 children.

It was fun to see them together.

They were laughing and joking and apparently learned a few things about each other that they never knew.

Someday that will be me and my sisters and we joked about how Kimberly would take care of Mom and me because we'll both just be old.

Dad mentioned that he doesn't want Kimberly to take care of him, he wants me too.  "Kimberly is too much like your mom."  I knew I was like my Dad, but that just reconfirmed.

I hope he isn't a grouchy old man :)

Cousin Day

It all started out with me needing some key buddies for teacher gifts.

Amber and I needed to meet up, so I thought why not invite the boys to play.

Originally Amber said only Carson.

Well, that didn't fly with Tanner.

Once we met halfway (since we don't live nearly close enough!), Crew needed to come too.

I'm so glad they did.

They played outside for 3 hours on that water slide.

Having the best time.

It made me think back to when I was a kid and we would play for hours outside, it didn't matter the temperature.  

Those were good times.

I hope my kids look back on their childhoods with as much fondness....

At our House

We have been easing into this potty training business.

I've learned boys are always harder than girls and I have learned to just relax about it.

But this little buddy needs some coaxing :) 

I finally decided to just get him some underwear already and let him figure it out.

He did pretty well today, even went to Costco with no accidents.

I think that it is so cute when they get out of diapers.  Their little squishy bums are considerably smaller without a diaper padding them.  He looks so much more grown up.

I was thinking this is the last time I have to do this.

The last time I'll have to ask a million times "Do you have to go potty?"

Forcing him to try every half hour.

The last time that I will have to spend a fortune on diapers.

and you know, I'm alright with that.

We still have a long ways to go, but we are making progress and that's exciting.

Summer is here.  The brutal heat has reminded us.

The kids have been cooling off on the water slide daily.

I am so happy to have the backyard done :)

I am frightened to get our water bill.  Seriously!

The school year is winding down with all the end of the year festivities.  We went to two awards ceremonies on Thursday.  I left the camera at home.  I have decided it's okay not to take pictures of everything!  I was there, they knew it, I was proud, that's all that matters :)

I am particularly proud of Miss Lauren.  She earned the Great American Award.  She memorized the Gettysburg Address, states and capitals, presidents, Pledge of Allegiance (written) and the Star Spangled Banner.  After all the recipients received their awards, they were all asked to recite the Gettysburg Address together.  Such an accomplishment.  So patriotic and fitting for this week's celebrations.

Speaking of, Kyle was born on the fourth of July.

9 years ago tomorrow.

Which can be good, because it's a fun, packed with activities day.

But we always struggle with when to have his friend party.

Next year we need to remember to have it at the end of June.

Hopefully I'll take the camera out tomorrow and give Kyle a proper post.

We are headed out to Warm Springs for a ward activity and then back to our place for a family BBQ and fireworks.  What are your plans?

Baby C

Had the chance to photograph this sweet, new baby today.

Just a sneak peek for mom :)

She was pretty alert during the whole session.

Finally, at the end, she gave up and drifted off to sleep....

Ah, the life of a baby.

Trying to get back

into the swing of things.

I just realized the kids have only two weeks left of school.

That will be nice, but it also seems frightening.....

more time to pester, make messes bug each other and be bored :)

Plus that means one whole month of my summer vacation is already over.

How did that happen so fast?

If it's any indication of how fast the summer will go, I better enjoy it :)

We are so looking forward to our week long beach trip, I can't wait.

Hoping to make lots of family memories.

Lauren & Kyle's birthday month is coming up.

I usually dread that because it's so blasted hot.  This year's mild summer temperatures have made me tolerable.  So I'm actually looking forward to those parties this year.

Lots to do, which I guess makes the days go by faster.

I have been editing like a crazy woman.

I'm kinda like that, I just want to get it done.

Steve says relax, I have time.

I don't want to worry about it anymore.

I want to get it done so I can sew curtains and paint rooms and ......

you get the idea.

There's always a project.

Here's a few more pics of my latest editing adventures.

This is the last I'm going to share of the wedding :)

Does this give you a clue?

Here's how I spent my Saturday afternoon & evening.

I was asked to be a second shooter at a wedding to help a friend out.  Quite frankly, it was exhausting, and I  now know that it is not my thing.  I have no desire to enter into wedding photography.  Kudos to those that do weddings, it's stressful and tiring!  

The couple was adorable.  With such fun families.  They were a delight to be around.  Here are a few that I have started editing....

Aren't they a cute couple?

Photo a Day

is back on track :)

check it.

I'm doing something tomorrow that I NEVER ever thought I would do.

Like not in a million years.

I have had absolutely no desire to EVER do this....

because it is serious pressure.

I'm helping a friend and I hope we totally rock it.

I'll share more later.

A new favorite

I love this image.

Two brothers, snuggling and reading good picture books.

Makes my heart happy.

Hope these fellas are always good friends.

Family Picnic

I am loving the weather.

I am usually a cranky, grouchy lady by this time of year.

Fortunately the temperatures are so spring like that it makes me bearable :)

I needed to get some pictures of my own children to fill my many empty frames.

SO.......

for FHE we went to this cute new park and awesome future photography location.

When I stumbled upon it, my heart went pitter patter and I knew we must return.

I only made them suffer through about 10 minutes of grief.  That's all they would allow me.

But I am so happy, because I got something.

Which is better than what I had!

Come to find out, my older kids had been here with the Robbs, Berkabiles and Reils.  It is known to them as the "spinny park"  They were thrilled to play.

Later, to my surprise,  Lauren willingly let me do a solo mini session with her.

I'll share more of those later.