last day of school

So the kids have been done with school for a little over 2 weeks I think??  We had one week home going to the pool and chilling and then Chandler had a week of cub scout day camp and now we are getting ready to go on our big trip.

Emery was so cute at the beginning of kindergarten.  She looks so tiny and young.  She grew up a lot this year and I can't believe my little girl will now go to first grade.  Kind of makes me sad.

Chandler was also so cute at the beginning of school.  He was in a terrible mood all of a sudden when we were getting ready to go and did not want pictures.  I was tempted to have him do a redo another day but I never go around to it.  I also can't believe he will be in 3rd grade!

Chandler had a wonderful teacher Mrs. Gower and I think she was great for him.  Emery had a new teacher to our school Ms. Mays.  She was good for Emery.  

The last week of school had field day for the kids.  It was so weird because the weather was actually chilly!!  The day Emery had it, it was only in the 60's and misting rain the whole time and the poor kids were all shivering and so cold.  On top of the rain, about half of the activities involve water where you get soaking wet anyway.  I felt bad for those poor tiny kids.  

Chandler's field day was another day and it was much warmer.  Though still kind of cloudy but at least not cold and rainy.

The Popsicle station was so nice and gave Beckett and Atticus Popsicle.

Tug of war was fun.  The kids are so funny.

The last day of school I walked to pick up the kids (normally my neighbor does) and Atticus was so so so cute.  I wish I had been ready but he just yelled with excitement and ran towards Emery and gave her the biggest hug when she came out the doors.  Those two really do love each other a lot.

Then Chandler came out but Atticus wouldn't run to him:(  

We got home and the kids took care of their backpacks one last time, changed and then we had a water balloon fight and swam.  

The neighbors had a party a little later so the kids basically ran around for hours after school sliding down blow ups and jumping in pools and eating ice cream.

I'm glad I have one more year before losing Beckett to school.  It's crazy how fast time goes and the kids just go off to school and turn into these giant kids who can be so independent (when they want to be).  I want to write more about their school year but I don't have the time so this is all you get for now.  

weekend of Steve

Last weekend was big for Steve.  He had his birthday on Saturday and Father's Day on Sunday.  So Saturday morning he got to sleep in until we couldn't wait any longer and got him up at 8:30 for a breakfast of french toast, buttermilk syrup, eggs, sausage, and orange juice.  He always wants orange juice but I don't buy it so this was a treat.  We also were able to decorate with a few balloons and streamers while he slept in.  I was up at 6:30 with the kids so we had plenty of time.

I had to put a candle on Steve's breakfast because we weren't going to be home for cake.  So he got whipped cream and sprinkles and a candle on his french toast so we could sing to him.  I do kind of feel bad I didn't make him a cake.  As soon as everyone was eating, I headed out for my run.

When I got back Steve was allowed to open his present.  Chandler's card said, "A long time ago you were a baby, now you are 36", so matter of fact:)  Last year he got a Lego Castle, this year a Lego Pirate ship.  I guess the tradition continues.  It kind of stinks for him since his birthday is close to Father's Day because I think he gets way less presents.  I had all kinds of ideas but it just seemed like so much all at once.  But then again, we just buy what we want when we want it usually so I guess it doesn't matter.  Steve went and bought himself a new kindle fire yesterday because his old one broke.

The rest of Saturday was spent around the house.  Steve went to help a scout from his old troop with his Eagle project (that turns out hardly anyone showed up so it was good that Steve went).  Then in the evening we went to church for a pig pickin' and pinewood derby activity.  We're big about roasting whole pigs here in the south:)  Chandler's car was still one of the fastest cars and Steve made another one which was Beckett's car and it was pretty fast but not fast enough (it should be noted that in the knock-out portion of the event it was Chandler's car that beat Beckett's to eliminate him, Chandler was very happy about this).  Beckett was so excited because at the end the young women gave out awards for all kind of things just made up so everyone got one or more.  Beckett got "least colorful car" and he thought it was amazing that he got an award.  It's the little things:)  Chandler's car got "ladies choice"....oooh lala.

Sunday morning Steve got another delicious breakfast and we celebrated Father's Day.  He also got to sleep in again but this time he got up at 7:30 on his own.  I think he felt a little guilty- I didn't mind though.  The kids gave him cards and were so excited for the funny card I made that said,

"World's 

Greatest 

Farter

I mean Father"

Oh they love potty humor. Steve's presents were a little less exciting because they were clothes this time around.  But I did put them in the Lego box and wrapped them up, reusing the same paper so that was kind of tricky.  I think for a second he thought I got him more Legos.

I prepped everyone that we had to be ready for church early so we could take pictures because Steve doesn't come home from church with us and there was no way I could keep everyone in their clothes.  Poor Atticus had to be woken up from his nap but he was so good natured about it and smiled the best out of all the kids!  Beckett wasn't having it and was throwing a fit the whole time but at least we got him in the pictures.

I didn't edit these two pictures because they are blurry but I love the kids laughing in them.  And guess what caused the laughing??  Steve making farting noises.

Steve is a great dad and I'm so glad I have him to raise our kids with.  He has saved me from this past week of hell and I don't know what I would do without him.  He makes us all laugh and I'm always asking him for his funny stories from work because he loves pulling pranks on people.

I feel like I'm forgetting other things that I wanted to mention but I can't remember anything now.  I guess I should mention how grateful we both are for our dad's and that we are able to have them be part of our life's and part of our kid's life.  That are great examples for us and we love them!

May phone pictures

I'm trying to get myself caught up before we leave on our trip next week.  I can't handle being so far behind and it overwhelms me so here are all my blog worthy pictures from my phone during the month of May.  Then I still have to post about the end of school and Steve's birthday and Father's day.  Ugh....I can do this!

 Beckett "helping" me with dishes one morning.  Sometimes, okay a lot of times, I leave the dishes at night and do them in the morning.

 You'll find I seem to favor Atticus as there are way more pictures of him but that's because he is so darn cute and he actually will stop and let me take his picture and say cheese.  It may be a scrunched up cheese face but that's okay- it's so cute.

 One Sunday I took the kids out for some exploring in the woods before church.

I think Atticus was sick or something so when I walked the kids to school he just kind of laid his head on me.  I actually thought he had fallen asleep.  Poor little guy.

 Beckett giving Atticus a little wagon ride.

 An example of Emery's anger.  This girl loves to write and I constantly find papers with stuff on them.  This evening she was being grumpy and I found her writing this note on the white board.  Not a second after I got this picture she was erasing it because she noticed I took a picture.  Thankfully this week she is being an angel and so so helpful and good because we are having some issues with a certain older child.

One day we got all the way home from dropping the kids off and I realized we didn't have Atticus's blanket.  I was pretty positive we brought it so I ended up having to trek all the way back to school to look for it.  We found it by the playground.  He must have thrown it out and I didn't notice.  He securely carried it back home through the woods:)

mmmmm.....you need to go make this pie- like right now.  It is a lemon cream pie and it is delicious.  Our Best Bites

Norah's getting big.  She's not so easy for Atticus to hold anymore yet as soon as she shows up he's grabbing a pillow and patting the couch.  I love that my kids are all baby lovers.

Photo courtesy of Emery.  Apparently she was doing a little photo shoot with Atticus because there were tons of pictures on my phone with him in all the different chairs.  Too cute!

May brought on the end of year concerts for the kids.  Chandler's second grade does a patriotic concert and I went to that and it was awesome when I snapped a picture to send to Steve saying something about how awesome it is to have the tallest kid.  I could clearly see him no matter where I sat!  Emery in kindergarten does a parents theme with muffins with mom, then their concert, then dribble with dad.  All these pictures lined the hallway of all the kids parents.  When I was sitting waiting for the concert it was weird because I was watching all the other parents come in and they all looked so old.  I don't feel old at all but maybe I'm looking it but all these people seems a lot older.  They probably are because I suppose I have had my kids a lot earlier then a lot of people.

I found this picture on my phone.  Not sure who took it but it's cute:)

One day walking to school I noticed all my kids were in florescent yellow.  I wanted them to pose for a picture and this is what I got.

More Norah holding and trying on some headbands I made.  Atticus wanted to sport a headband as well.  Oh how I need another girl.

Strawberry picking happened again.  Chandler hadn't had a chance to go so one day after school we headed over to pick strawberries and play.  Emery hadn't gone with me but she did get to go on a school field trip there before we went all together.

More cute Atticus.  His cheese face kills me.  If he even thinks I'm about to take a picture he will immediately stop what he's doing and say cheese and scrunch his face all up.

I love that when it's time to leave the house Atticus will bring me his shoes and then go choose a hat.  He never leaves without one and this day he chose a nice hot winter one:)  Check out my amazing clematis in the background.  That thing was here when we moved in and I didn't know what it was and just cut it off at the ground.  Since then every year I just chop it at the base and it comes back bigger and bigger every year.  It's the one thing that I've been able to grow and not kill!

We went to the temple in May.  Our friends are very nice and we swap months with each other.  It's a little unfair though because they have 2 boys and we have 4 kids but they are willing to watch our kids for 6 hours on Saturday morning and it's been nice to have a routine of actually making it down to the temple regularly.

Swimming on one of the first days the pool opened.  Atticus loves the water and has no fear.

Sunday evening ice cream cone eating.  We had a few Sundays where after dinner we just sat out eating ice cream cones before bed.  That was before the weather got too hot and was actually pleasant in the evening.

Our memorial day hike I already posted about.

Not sure about this other than Atticus is adorable and happy.  We must have been walking home after dropping the kids off at school.

Our tree is the only tree among the neighbors that all the kids climb.  We've left some low branches so it's possible to climb and the kids love it.  Our bark around the tree is nasty and destroyed but you know I'd rather have happy healthy tree climbing kids than a perfectly manicured lawn.  Though both would be great but you know.  

Someone liked their spaghetti!! (and that cheese face again)

The first  produce from the garden.  I never grow enough peas to amount to anything but snacking on but it's so fun for the kids to find them and pick them and eat them straight from the garden.  The sugar snaps were amazingly good this year.

Another ice cream eating Sunday evening.  By the way, we get home from church at 4:30 so that is why we are in church clothes still.  We are not super righteous Sunday dress all day people.  Believe me, I change as soon as possible usually.

Chandler looked so cute one night that I had to run and get my phone to take a picture.  He was reading Narnia and actually just finished tonight!  I'm not sure how much he actually gets and understands but Steve quizzes him and he seems to know what's going on.  I wonder if there are reading tests I could find for him to take after reading a book?