Summer Time Fun

Summer time is here and we are having so much fun staying up late, sleeping in, and enjoying the slower pace that summer brings us. 

The kids love to climb the trees in our backyard. They look like little monkeys in the tree

Caden and Tyler ran errands one morning and Caden got to do build a project at Home Depot. We used to take our kids to this all the time when they were little. 

We're back at Lagoon!! We love this place and are so excited to come here a lot this summer. 

Caden really needs a hair cut. He was experimenting with different styles and parted his hair down the middle. We thought he looked like Alfalfa from the Little Rascals.

Speaking of this kid, can I tell you how funny Caden is? He comes up with some seriously funny one liners. The other day he came up to me and said, "Mom, I've been hearing a lot lately about how I'm your favorite." Then the other day we walked into Costco and he yells, "Ok, let's get ready to buy more stuff we don't need!" Another customer who was walking by the same time started laughing out loud and said, "Isn't that the truth!"

The kids have been begging to go swimming, but we haven't been able to because the weather hasn't been warm enough and it rains all the time. But it's the perfect weather for a picnic in the park. 

Happy 14th anniversary to me and Tyler!!! We got to have one of our favorite weekends of the year: a staycation downtown! 

For Valentine's day Tyler gave me gift card to get my hair done. They wash, dry and style it. I loved it because the girl curled my hair so cute and I didn't have to do it!

For our date went to lunch at our favorite P.F Changs. Then we had tickets for the comedian John Crist at the Eccles. He was so funny! He made fun of Utah people and the many quirks we have. 

Later that night we went to The Melting Pot. We were just going to get cheese and chocolate, but we were starving, so we ended up getting the whole meal. 

It was a lot of food and we were beyond stuffed by the end. 

We stayed the night at the Little America Hotel, which is where we stayed on our honeymoon. The next day we laid by the pool for a few hours then went across the street to the Grand America and walked around, then we headed home to pick up our kiddos. 

It was a very much needed get away with my best friend. After 14 years I still get butterflies, laugh at all his jokes, and still look at him in awe that he is mine forever. We've been through a lot in the last 14 years and have come out of all of our trials stronger. We make each other better, work hard, and play hard. Happy 14 years to us. 

Cute little Bella got a hair cut and she looks so cute. 

Tyler picked up Caden from basketball practice and they were talking a long time to get home. Turns out they stopped for ice cream... I'm starting to sense a pattern here where Tyler conveniently gets ice cream out of it every time. 

Makayla has been hanging out (careful, you don't say play) with her friends a lot lately, and I love it. This is her friend Maddi from dance. They walked to Walmart by our house and bought matching Care Bear pajamas. 

Do you know why Tyler is so great? He let Brynnli put pretend make up on him. 

And Caden is the best brother because he let Brynnli put fake make up on him too. 

BLT's are the perfect summer lunch. 

We tried to go swimming one day, but the out door pool was closed because of thunder and lightening, so we tried to go to the indoor pool, but it was closed too. I was so frustrated driving around looking for a pool that was open, so we decided to go home  and set up our slip and slide. It took about an 30 minutes to set it up and the kids played for about 20 minutes on it before they were too cold. 

Looks like you've got something in your teeth there Bella. 

Summer also means movie time. Ever since the pandemic there just aren't any good movies out. We went to Pixar's Elemental movie, but it was not my favorite. I wish Disney would just go back to doing what they are good at instead of subliminally indoctrinating kids with their woke agenda. Ok, I'm done with my rant.  

Summer time means the girls have to do dance intensives. Luckily they had dance at the same time, so I didn't have to drive back and forth. 

My mom is needing more and more help and supervision these days, and it is getting harder on my dad to keep up with it all. I have been taking my mom on Wednesdays to try to give my dad a little break. She runs errands with me and hangs out with us at home. Brynnli loves to play games with Grandma, like Candy Land, but Grandma sometimes has a hard time understanding how to play. Brynnli is just so patient with her and helps her play the game. 

It's been so hard to see my mom decline. She is starting to forget who I am, which has been really hard to accept. Alzheimer's is the cruelest disease. I feel like I am losing a part of my mom every time I see her. I am trying to cherish the times I do have with her because I know her time is dwindling. 

Caden got to play in a basketball tournament with his Mayhem team. They were so excited for the tournament, but right before their coach got Covid and couldn't come so some of the parents had to step in and coach. It was hard for the kids to change coaches, and things were done differently than they were used to. The kids played hard, but they lost all of their games. I was really proud of the kids for not giving up and playing hard the whole time. They played against some really advanced teams and they were out coached, but they held their ground. 

I was waiting in my car between games for Tyler to meet me and I suddenly felt this big jerk and heard a crashing sound. I jumped out of my car to see a lady backing into a parking spot. Apparently her back up camera didn't alert her, and she backed right into my car. I was so mad!!! The back of my car is dented and scratched. She accepted responsibility and gave me her insurance info, but it is just a huge inconvenience. The body shop can't get the car in until August, so I have to drive around with this huge dent. 

It just makes me so mad because I try to take such good care of the car, and I feel like so many things keep happening to it that are not my fault!!

This kid...Let me tell you, is one of a kind. He is so thoughtful, and kind, and sweet. We walked to dinner one night and without being asked, filled my water for me. Then on the walk home he grabbed my hand. Thanks to Tyler for snapping this picture that I will always treasure. 

Caden is as sweet and genuine as they come. The world needs more Cadens and it would be a better place. 

Brynnli set up an ice cream shop at the bottom of our stairs and we have all enjoyed a variety of plastic treats. All for the low cost of a hug and kiss. 

Sometimes I get frustrated writing the blog because it takes so much time to upload the pictures, add them to the post and write about it, but when I see these kids reading the blog books and laughing at the funny memories it holds, it makes it all worth it. 

Daddy was out of town for work, so we decided to head to Lagoon. 

Do you know why they are sitting so close to each other? Apparently there is pee on the seat next to Makayla. Gross!!

Brynnli went on the carousel, and in true Brynnie fashion, she made some new friends. 

Guess what, guess what, guess what!!! We are officially done with swimming lessons. Some things that happen for the last time are easier to accept, and swimming lessons is one of them. I really loved our swimming lessons... until covid hit. Then the price increased, the amount of time spent in lessons dwindled, and the instructors didn't really teach them. I am happy that Brynnli learned how to swim so quickly, so she was just fine, but we are officially done! Brynnli was happy she could take swimming lessons one last time with her cousins. 

Brynnli informed me after the first day that she was the best in her class and the teachers would use her as the example. I really love Brynnli's humility. 

Happy June!

Happy Father's Day

 Happy Father's day to the best dad and husband. Where would we be without Tyler? He is the rock of our family, the one to make us all laugh, the one who makes up the silly games, the one who works tirelessly at his job to support us, and the planner of all of our vacations (notice I did not say the thinker of all the trips... that's my job... Tyler's job is to plan them). Tyler is the most honest and ethical person you will ever meet. He has a strong conviction to follow Christ and is such a good example to all of us. He is always looking our for the underdog and tries to build them up. He is a perfectionist in the yard and figures out how to fix just about anything that is broken. He is the logical thinker of the family and never makes a decision without careful consideration. We love you!

The Last Day of School

 This picture right here makes me so sad and happy all at the same time. This was the last time Makayla would walk to elementary school. Next year she will be in middle school and I just don't know how I feel about her growing up. 

Yes, I did watch her walk all the way to the end of the street. 

But do you know why Makayla is walking instead of riding her bike like the other kids? Because we insist the kids wear helmets and Makayla thinks she looks funny with one, so we told her it was either bike with a helmet or walk... and she choose walk. 

On the actual last day of school, Makayla decided safety was more important than looks, so she rode her bike to school with the other kids. This picture makes me sad too because this is the last time they will all be in the same school together. 

Look how much each of them has grown up. 

And poor Bella... this is her last day of naps until the kids go back to school. 

This year was such a great year for all of our kids. They had great teachers, made great friends, and participated in so many activities. We loved the school year, but we are so excited for school to be done because now we all get to stay up late, sleep in, spend our days at the pool, and soak up the sun. 

Summer is officially here!!