Memorial Day Weekend- Bear Lake

For Memorial Day weekend we went to Bear Lake to stay with Tim and Kam at the Cabin. 

No Bear Lake trip would be complete without a trip to LeBeau's to get shakes. I got the kids a cone thinking it would be small and they ended up being the size of our heads. Reagan took over Nanny's shake and Harrison took over Kam's.

Before we went to bed Randy took the kids down to the golf course to play a hole by moonlight. It was so dark when they came back Brad lost one of his clubs. Luckily it was found later.

The next day we took the kids to Minnetonka Cave. We got there just in time before the crowd arrived.

Waiting on the bridge for the tour to begin.

The view from the top was beautiful and the weather was fantastic.

The kids loved the inside of the cave. Brad asked if Vampires were real right before we went inside. I think he was quite nervous. Claire was more afraid of bats. Harrison was amazed with every rock around every corner. He only said "WOW" the whole hike. It was cute.

Papa brought his boat to fish on Bear Lake . Before the fishing started Brad got to drive the boat around. He was pretty excited about that.

Claire and I enjoyed the boat. Once they started fishing at a nice trolling pace, Claire and I fell asleep on the bow of the boat. It was very relaxing.

Claire got to drive with Uncle Matt

The rest of the time we spent hanging out at the Cabin, visiting, and playing games. Tori was reading her book on the front porch and Claire stole her sun hat and glasses. She thought she was pretty cool.

It was a much needed vacation!!! Bring on Summer!!!

Richmond City Black and White Days

Unfortunately the majority of festivities for Black and White days were cancelled or under attended due to really rainy cold weather. Luckily the rain stopped a few brief moments so we could celebrate a little bit. 

On Saturday Brad jump roped on the stage with his school club. 

Both my kids participated in the mud pie eating contest. 

Brad won this year. He has won three years in a row. I am not sure that is something I should be proud of or not. Hopefully it is not an indication of how much food I am going to have to feed him as he turns into a teenager. 

The parade this year was COLD. The rain let up just long enough for the parade to go on. We were so busy dodging the thousands of flying candies I didn't take a single picture. 

After the parade we had our 2nd annual corn hole competition in our back yard. It rained for most of our BBQ but the kids didn't seem to mind at all. 

Thank goodness Trish snapped a few shots despite the rain. 

Glad to see that rain didn't stop a good group of friends from getting together to have fun. 

Brad's Spring Wrap Up

Brad has been busy wrapping up the school year. We went to his choir concert a few weeks ago. Park does an after school program. He loved some of the silly songs he learned and I would hear him down in his room singing them when he thought no one could hear him. 

He also performed some songs for the Arts in the Street end of year program. The weather was bad so they had to do it at North Cache's gym. 

He had loved having Mr Nebeker this year. He did well at math and reading. He passed off all him multiplication and got to go to the pizza party at the end of the year.  He still says that recess is his favorite part of school. 

I can feel him fast approaching tween age. he is bright and has learned to argue, rationalize, and barter is way out of things. I am having to get creative with parenting. He keeps giving me new challenges. 

Brad has such a tender and sweet soul. He is very in tune with peoples feelings and will befriend anyone. He is very aware of younger kids and helps a ton with his younger brother and neighborhood kids. 

Harrison... Mr. H

I am sad to say that we have crossed over baby phase and are in full fledged toddler mode. I just hate that he is growing up so fast. Harrison has been such a cute and relaxed baby. 

We went to Rudy's nursery to pick up flowers and he sat in the cart with the plants the whole time without making a peep. Tim came with us and couldn't believe he just sat there and didn't try to touch the plants. He only got a little nervous when he had no room. 

He still loves to dip. He will almost eat anything if he can dip it in something. 

He still makes the silly cheese face any time there is a camera out. It is so rare that we can capture a natural smile on camera. 

He is getting more and more territorial and independent. He picks up in new words everyday. It is fun to see him learn so fast. 

He loves to play with Claire but sure lets her know when he has had enough. He can hold his own.  

We sure love you H!!!

Claire's Spring Wrap Up

The end of the school year always keeps us busy. 

Claire had her spring dance recital at Skyview. 

She danced to "So Long, Farwell" from The Sound of Music. I can't help it but watching her dance always makes me teary. She did a great job and made me want to be a little girl again.

Even Brad and Harrison enjoyed the recital.

Nanny and Papa drove up to see her dance. Papa wasn't sure about all the dancing. He is used to baseball and basketball games having only boys. He is going to have to get used to this now that he has so many grand daughters.

Aunt Tori came and brought her beautiful flowers. Claire insisted that the vase stayed in her room so she could sleep with them . She even checked them everyday to make sure the water was full. She cried the day I finally threw them out after they were beyond dead.

Claire is growing up so fast. The other day she begged me to take pictures of her like in a magazine. She posed for all of these pictures without any prompting. She just kept saying..."again, again, again".

This one for sure belongs in a magazine. She is such a ham. 

She is surrounded by dozens of kids her age in our neighborhood. Most of them are boys. A few weeks ago we were having a picnic lunch with some of the families and the kids were running around wild in the backyard while the moms sat on the porch talking. It suddenly got very silent so I thought I had better investigate. I came in the backyard and all the boys were sitting quietly in a row along the rocks. A few seconds later Claire came running out the back door and yelled "okay boys I am done going potty, you can all get up and play again!!"  She is such a bossy little stinker and sure knows how to keep the boys in line. 

She had her preschool Graduation in May

She is sad that Mrs. Jaci wont be her teacher anymore but is so excited to move on to kindergarten.

This is her buddy Lilly. I have been carpooling these girls to school and I always get a kick out of their conversations in the car.

Mrs. Jaci is the best!!! We have loved her dearly and are so thankful she was Claire's teacher.

Spring Break- Camper World Plymouth

For spring break this year we went to the hot springs to get out of the house. Randy went to work during the day and joined us at night so he didn't use up any PTO. The weather was chilly and rainy most of the time but the kids didn't seem to mind. 

One of the days we invited the Haws to join us for lunch and a swim. The kids giggled all through lunch. I don't know how they managed to chew their food. 

After lunch we took the kids down to the pool for a swim. The air was cold but the water was plenty warm. 

The rest of the week we watched movies played outside and relaxed. It was nice. 

On Thursday I had a training meeting in Logan so Tori watched the kids for me in the afternoon. She took them to Merlin Olsen park to play. 

When I was done with my training we had JUST enough time to run over to baby animal days before they closed for the day. 

It was the perfect time to show up because most of the lines had died off and we had time to see everything. 

Harrison was battling one of his MANY ear infections so he was feeling pretty crummy. Thank goodness Matt showed up to cheer him us. 

Matt finally got Harrison to smile. 

He also got him to growl like a bear. It was so cute. 

After baby animal days we headed back to camp to enjoy the rest of our week in the trailer.