Monday, June 5, 2023

MAY

Here is our May in reverse.  I made the kids go on a scooter/walk down to our local library.  It was about 4 miles round trip...they were cursing my name by the end of the walk.  We picked up our summer reading logs and a few fun books.

 

We spent Memorial Day out at Lagoon.  The kids had so much fun hanging out with their cousins. 

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Phin rode the Colossus for his first time.


As we were leaving we spotted Nona and Papa on Papa's favorite bench.  Seth mentioned earlier in the trip that he had forgotten how good people watching is at Lagoon.  I think Papa loves this bench for that very reason. 



 

 






Pretty in pink on a Sunday.

The sourdough obsession continues.  It has taken 5ish months and I feel like I am finally getting the hang and the timing of this whole thing.  These were some yummy sourdough hamburger buns.

 

We went for a little hike the first Saturday of our Summer.  We headed up Holbrook Canyon but didn't get to far before we had to turn back.  The Spring run-off is a little crazy and the first bridge was completely washed out.



 

Phin found a "Utah" shaped rock when we were hiking.

 

We were hoping to celebrate the last day of school at the splash pad...but for some reason the water was off.  So we went to another park with a water feature...which also was off.



 
 We joined friends at Blacksmith for some celebratory end of school ice cream.

Phin and Millie had the BEST teachers this year.  I am so incredibly grateful for these ladies that helped my kids love to learn.


 

Official last day of school photos.  The side by sides make me realize that time is a thief. 





Silas wrote me his first official note...this first one says "I love you."  You can see he has the first letter of each word.  He sat at our kitchen table sounding these words out.

To Mom

Nona was kind enough to watch Silas and Lou for the last week of the school year.  Silas loved going to hang out with Nona each day...Millie and Phin were a little jealous and asked when they would get to go to Nona's.  One day we drove Nona down to a quilt shop with this cool mural. 


 

Silas loved spinning on Nona's chair.

 

One day I spotted Silas out in the front yard in Lou's swing.  He had climbed up himself and buckled himself in for a swing.

 

We had a girls night when Seth took the boys on an overnight camping trip.  We went to Cross E ranch and ended the night with this yummy caramel apple that was decorated like a pig.




 

Lou's absolute favorite animal this year was the calves.  She was so brave and even tried to brush them.



 

Millie is such a good "little mama" to Lou.  She was so sweet when they were looking at the rabbits together.



 

Silas officially graduated from preschool.  He heads to full-day Kindergarten in the Fall.  His school held a ceremony with mini-caps and gowns. 

 

Nona and Papa joined us for the ceremony.

 Miss Margo and Miss Julie were also Phin and Millie's teacher.  Miss Salya is in her first year as the program director and worked at the center for the last couple of years. 


 

I found out something new about Silas during the ceremony.  Apparently he wants to be a garbage truck driver when he grows up.  They also said that he is always talking about science.  




 

This is the photo that absolutely kills me.  How did my baby get so big!


Silas loved water day at school.  The last day was also pajama day...thus why he is wearing his PJs.

 

This guy cracks me up.  One Sunday afternoon he insisted on a ham hoagie sandwich with olives.  We didn't have a hoagie bun but he was willing to settle from some fresh baked french bread.


 

Mother's Day 2023.

 
Matching cousins are the cutest.  These girls had the cutest expressions when they realized they were matching. 

Phin had his last piano performance of the year.  They had a cool songs recital and he played The Sound of Silence.   


 

Our Ward had a youth fundraiser auction.  We were very serious about winning this Reece's/Kit Kat cake that one of our favorite YW made.

 

We took our first trip to Lagoon in early May.  



 Lou was not so sure about most of the rides.






 

The Spring Blossoms and Flowers were so pretty this year.  Here are some bleeding hearts from our yard.

 

And the beautiful pink blossoms on our neighbors tree.


 

Another trip to Cross E Ranch.







 We also went to Culver's for $1 scoops in May.  Their custard was a big hit with these four kids.

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

18 MONTHS

Lou hit the 18 month mark back in April.  It has been so fun to watch her little personality start to shine through.  It has also become more difficult to get a picture of her because she hates to hold still.  I am pretty sure five of us were on the other side of the phone for the two pictures below, saying her name and trying to get her to look and smile.

 

In this picture you can see the cute gap between her top two teeth and the surprise molars on the bottom.  

 
In this picture it looks like she is winking...

Don't let this picture fool you...she is not the best sleeper.  She continues to get up several times a night.  She also loves to be held until she falls asleep.

 

 

She is 35 inches tall (100th percentile) and weighs 24 lbs 8 oz (74th percentile).  She is still wearing 18 month clothing, but I am starting to pull out the 24 month/2T clothing for the summer.


 

She is finally old enough for nursery at church!  We can often be found out in the hallway during sacrament.  She prefers to be there or wandering up and down the aisles inside the chapel.


 

She loves to color/write/scribble.  I have had to get after the older kids about leaving writing utensils in her reach.  She has done a few scribbles on our walls...and on her pants.


 

She loves going to school.  She also LOVES when I come to pick her up and gives me the cutest greetings when I arrive.


 

She insists on getting out of her car seat when we are waiting to pick Phin and Millie up from school.  She loves having free reign of the car.


 

Her school has been sending home more and more art projects that she has done.  They sent me this picture of her doing watercolors.   


 

She LOVED playing on the jumping pads at Cross E Ranch this month.  Phin was more than willing to help her get the hang of the jumping pads.






She also adored the baby animals.  I think the calves were her favorite.  She was saying MOO over and over again as we watched them.




One of her favorite spots is in the rocking chair next to the piano while her siblings are practicing piano.  She also loves to turn their piano pieces into duets.


 

She adores her cousin Andrew and he is absolutely adorable with her.


 

It was fun to see her hunt for eggs with the older kids.





I love how her nose scrunches up when she smiles.



She has a fun relationship with her Daddy.  Here he is teasing her about being dramatic.

 

Proof that older siblings left markers in her reach.


 

She loved exploring Devil's Garden with Seth.



 

She continues to love her binky.  I think I may need to attach it to her crib so that she only has it when she is sleeping.





 

She loved all the attention at the cabin from Nona and Nona's friend Rebecca. I can't believe I didn't manage to get a picture of Lou and Rebecca.  The next time Rebecca is visiting from Tennessee that will be at the top of our to do list.





 

Seth is a really good sport about sharing with her...he even lets her have her own spoon.




 

Lou loves to feed herself.  



 We are so lucky to see this sweet smiling face each day.  Happy 18 MONTHS LOU!