Temple Trip

The youth got to go on a temple trip and for the first time, it was an evening activity, not an all day, drive-to-another-state activity.  They got to go to the new Kansas City Temple! 

Katie got to go for the first time and she was so excited.  She hasn't been able to go on other temple trips because the ride is just too long for her, plus she would need a parent to go.  Michael went grudgingly because he complains any time he has to leave his computer for any reason.  But he had a great experience and was so happy afterward.  He picked up Katie and carried her around.  It was fun to see him so happy, even though he was convinced he wouldn't have fun.

Happy Birthday Michael!

Happy 15th Birthday Michael!  We love you so much!

Happy Birthday Lydia!

Lydia is now 9 years old.  Caleb got a stomach bug on her birthday so she got two days of celebrating.

Opening presents on her birthday... Squinkies!  (She loves 'em)

Caleb felt better the next day so Lydia decided she wanted to go to the Clinton Soda Fountain in Independence, MO.  Lydia picked the BIGGEST sundae I've ever seen... 4 brownies, 8 scoops of ice cream (she got to choose the flavors!), chocolate & caramel syrup, whipped cream and a cherry.  The kids had a blast trying all the flavors and trying to hunt for the cherries and brownies after some of the ice cream melted.  At one point Lydia said, "I got a brownie!... oh wait, it's someone's spoon!"  She made us all laugh.

A funny Caleb saying

We went to get ice cream one night.  I was talking to Katie and telling her she could get a shake with Kit Kats mixed in it.  (She loves Kit Kat candy bars).  Caleb said, "Eeew!  That's GROSS!  I don't like eating cats!"  It's probably one of those "you had to be there" things, but Nathan and I still laugh about it.

Michael's Birthday Party

I'm posting about Michael's party first, even though Lydia's birthday is first (19th).  Michael's birthday is actually on the 22nd, but he had his party early because his best friend was leaving for Colorado to spend the summer with his dad.  So Michael wanted to have his party before Nick left.  He decided to only invite Nick so they could do more things and eat more food.  They went swimming, played video games, jumped on the trampoline and ate pizza.  Teenager heaven!  I even let Michael have as much pizza as he wanted.  I usually limit his pizza consumption since he's a bottomless pit and I don't know if he ever gets full!  He's growing SO FAST right now that he's constantly  hungry.  In fact, he's now taller than his dad and a good head taller than me.  That's really weird to look up at him while I'm lecturing him if he's in trouble.  He finds that incredibly amusing.  He doesn't like cake or ice cream so he asked to have donuts.  He was even more thrilled when he asked if he could have 2 and I let him.  He had a fun birthday and got exactly what he asked for.

 He was annoyed that I was interrupting their game to take a picture.

I forgot to take pictures of them at the pool.  I told them to put their swimming suits back on and go back to the pool so I could take their picture and they thought I was crazy.

Blake, Anna, Lydia and Elizabeth weren't at his party.  They went camping in Iowa for a work retreat with Blake's work.  But Nathan, Katie and Caleb enjoyed pizza and a movie with Michael.

 Nick gave Michael a huge pack of Pokemon cards.  Apparently they can play online with the cards he got.  I didn't know that was possible (but I don't know a lot of what's possible with online games and I'm ok with that).  Michael still loves Pokemon.  Michael (and Nick) love anything anime.

Busy! But busy doing what?

I haven't updated my blog in awhile.  I kept thinking it was because I have nothing really exciting to update about.  That got me wondering what in the world we've been doing because I know I've been busy.  Here's some of the stuff that has taken up our time lately:

** Piano lessons and piano recital for Anna and Nathan.  They both did great!

 ** End of school year torture, er I mean celebrations.  There were lots of them!  (Too many if you ask me.) Fifth grade farewell, Kindergarten picnic, Kindergarten Writer's tea, Choir concert, Orchestra concert, and on and on.  It was fun, but I'm glad we're done with all the celebrating.

  ** Swimming and swim lessons.  We've spent a whole lotta time at the pool this year.  Elizabeth and Caleb had a private swim teacher come to our pool to teach them how to swim.  It was a 5 day crash course, which is actually the same amount of time as going to the rec center once a week for 5 weeks.  But they got one-on-one time and we only had to walk to our backyard.  Elizabeth learned how to swim!  She went from tears on the first day, to swimming on day 4!!!  I was floored and so happy for her.  Caleb can't swim on his own yet, but he's not afraid of the water now.  He told me he needs his teacher to come back so he can learn to swim under water.  We'll do that in July hopefully.

  

 

** Lots of dentist and doctor appointments.  Caleb had his first dental cleaning and did fabulous!

** Cleaning/organizing the storage room.  I wasn't going to post this because it's pretty boring, but it's what kept me busy for a week, so I thought I'd share that I have been doing SOMETHING.  It looks awesome down there!

**Doing fun things like science experiments.  Here are the kids making Magic Milk:

 I think these pictures of the milk are cool - Anna used the blue one for the background on her iPod.

And that has been our life for the last month or so.

Oh, and I have to add this.  FEAR the boy with a sword... and his bear!!  We often see Caleb carrying around a sword and his teddy bear.  I think it's so cute and funny so I thought I'd share.

I love that Caleb loves bears like his mommy.  I found him watching TV like this one morning: