We're Back

Well since it has been almost a YEAR since I posted I figured I better get back into it. Everyone is a year older and I now have an 8, 7, 5, 3 and 1 year old. We are having LOTS of fun and enjoying summer a WHOLE lot. We have moved into a new house (one of our own!) and we love it it. It is big enough and comfortable and it is worn in enough not to make me crazy when the kids are, well, Vikings. Rob got a new motorcycle and he is loving the freedom of cruising around without depleting our wallet in gas money. He takes off every chance he gets and we miss him! But at least he is having fun. We have done some fun things like camping with our ward and the Morgans at El Capitan and going to Vegas for Rob's sister's wedding. I have posted some pics to get up to date somewhat, but check back soon as I PROMISE to keep up this time.

Pictures are from today back to Easter.

Griffin cut his hair this morning. He promises to cut the rest off when a friend from our ward makes good on his promise to have him come over and swim and have hot dogs if he cuts his hair.

This morning before the hair cut.

Fourth of July fun (except Chloe who is exhausted, but she did do one sparkler!)

Savannah was the flower girl at Nikki's (Rob's sister) wedding. Isn't she cute?

Camping with the Morgans! SO FUN!!!! Plus our tents were behind this picnic table and look at that Awesome view. It was great!

Our boys were VERY into the fire. Surprising I know. They made sure it kept going and LOVED putting in the dried grasses to keep it BIG. Such boys! Such Vikings!

Zach's Preschool graduation. He was SOOOO cute and we were so proud!

Zach and Chloe at Zach's preschool graduation.

Me and my favorite people at Grandma's house.

Dylan's end of the year field trip to the Aquarium of the Pacific. He waited for almost 1/2 an hour to touch this fish. He was so excited!

I just love this picture of Chloe.

Easter Sunday! It was fun. Plus, Heather especially, check out the paint on our front door and let me know what you think. I will try and post a better pic soon.

Our latest creation

Summer is a time to play and have fun at our house. Even I postpone housework to play with the kids. So tonight Rob made a video, perhaps because of the state of our house, and it is really fun to watch. The flag under the American flag is actually a Viking flag (not the football team) that we found on Ebay, of course, and we have hung it on our flag pole. It seems the Vikings officially have a compound! Enjoy!!!

Song: Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin

Fun in the sun!

Yesterday was my kids last day of school and boy, I could not be happier! It was a crazy last week. I spent most of my time at the school and we had programs and awards ceremonies and parties. It was nuts!! Plus, Rob was sick two days which really worked in well. But we made it through. Zach's last day of school was last Thursday. He had a really fun year and as their end of the year party the whole class went to the water park here in Palmdale. It was great and I pulled the boys out of school and we all went. My mom was suppose to come, but her class schedule is so hectic she couldn't get away. Rob was my backup, but when he went to ask for time off he realized he was already in the negative (whoops!) so it was just me and the five kids. What an adventure! The day worked out really great though and Rob picked up the girls after work (about 2:30) so it was not too bad.

Fun in the sun! Savannah is such a ham!

Just loving the day playing all together!

Today we went to a birthday party for one of our good friends son. They had it at their brother's house and this is the slide he has into his pool. It is 16 feet high and 34 feet long! It was crazy FUN!! It looks so much higher from the top! I definitely would LOVE to have something like this when we buy a house! We had a great time. We were the last to leave and we could have stayed all day. It was a really fun time!

Here is Dylan giving the slide a go!Griffin's turn!
Zach was scared of the slide. He went down once at the beginning and then refused to go again. Then about 30 minutes before we left he climbed up the steps to the top and asked me to catch him at the bottom. After that he was hooked and I could not get him off the slide. It was great fun! Such a fun day! Thanks Kim and Don!

Things I love about kids . . .

Griffin decided today that he wanted to make brownies by himself - without me doing it and he did do most of it too. I will admit that I did pour the saucepan of hot cocoa and butter into the batter (for obvious reasons, I think) and that I did pour the bowl full of batter into the pan (the thought of him dropping that and it splattering all over my kitchen made me sick), but beside that he did do it all himself. He was really cute and determined. Here he is while it is mixing (he told me that it already smelled liked brownies - so CUTE!)


Here the kids are enjoying Griffin's brownies. I will admit that I have not eaten any as I am cutting such food out of my diet (mainly because once I take a small bite I can rationalize eating half a pan), but the kids all asked for seconds and loved them!

Once Savannah saw Griffin cooking she decided she would help with dinner. See how happy she is as she puts sauce on the pizzas. Yes she found the most efficient way was with her hands . . . mmm yummy!

This weekend Dylan watched a cowboy movie with Grandpa. So, Dylan said yesterday as we had some IBC rootbeer with dinner, this is what the cowboys were drinking in the movie yesterday when they were drinking at that counter and then throwing and breaking the bottles. I am going to let him believe that as long as I possibly can. So cute!

Finally my sweet Zach. Everytime I start getting really frustrated and I may raise my voice a bit or close my eyes for a second he comes up to me and gives me a great big hug and says, "You are the best mommy ever!" I just love that and EVERY time it melts my heart and makes me feel instantly better. I just LOVE kids!

FHE ideas

This last week for family home evening we decided to use the article in the Friend that is about the first presidency. We read the article and while we read the kids were supposed to draw pictures of the new first presidency. It worked so well. After we judged the pictures and everyone got a prize and a treat. They loved it. Try it - I'm sure you will have as much fun as we did. Here are their pictures.

Check out my Slide Show!

This last week we went with my family (parents and sisters) to a beach house in San Diego. We had the best time! It was relaxing and fun and the kids did great. We went on a train ride down to downtown San Diego and the kids played at this park right next to Padres Stadium. They had so much fun! We also celebrated Savannah's birthday while we were there - I can't believe she is 2!! She had a great birthday and was so excited. All I said was lets go open presents and she went running right to the table and was so excited. It was so cute and I am glad she could have all her cousins around to share the day with her. The whole trip was wonderful and I have posted this slide show so you can share some of our memories. It really was so fun. The hardest part now is trying to get back into school to finish off the school year.

Rob's Birthday

Well, we have had a fun week and I will post all about it, but I wanted to start with Rob's birthday. He had a great time with everything he got and everything he got to do. He first got a drum set (given a week early because of our trip) and he has loved it. Thank goodness for Craigslist as I would never have been able to purchase such a great set for that price. He also got tickets to the Metallica concert at the Wiltern and it was awesome he said because it is such a small venue. Then for his birthday he went to see a friend play in a band and when my sister could not sell her Weenie Roast tickets he got to go to that also with his sister and once again see Metallica play. He said it was the best birthday ever.