The Family Party

Thanks everyone who could make it! And love all of those who couldn't!

From us Garrett got his big boy bike and a helmet from Sis

The friend party

My big boy turned 4! Ahh! I can't believe it.

So we had what we call the Friend Party (because we usually have 2 one for family and one for friends).

This year we reached the age where I think I need to have parties where the parents can drop their kids off in my care (if they choose, but they of course are welcome to stay). So I invited the friends that he plays with the most and I also decided that it should have a theme and planned activites, sort of, rather than the usual run around like crazy people sort of party. (which by the way I know that kids also like.) I guess it was sort of a Big Kid party *sniff sniff*.

All things Lightning McQueen

here our pint size guests are panting some little wooden race cars

of course we have to play one of Garrett's favorites, Red light Green light

I had also planned a tire game in case of inclimate weahter which the meteorologists had threatened, but alas we didn't use it. I must get off my chest that I gave up on pool parties, which I have always done in the past assuming that in June it will be nice weather, I won't go into the one we all know about what happens when you assume!





And have a Lightning McQueen Cake!

Make a wish my sweet boy!

I usually have made cupcakes, but this is my first attempt at making a more difficult cake. It didn't turn out half bad I think.

A pretty happy (spoiled) kid!

Stroller 5K

Our Stake puts on an annual free 5k. This year I decided to run it because having recently become a "runner" I must take advantage of free! I am still not sure why I pay to run . . .

This particular saturday I would be husbandless and therefore pushing a stroller, this is not my preference, which is why I didn't commit to running it until the day before. But misery loves company right? that is why I asked around and found a bunch of people that were also pushing their kids. So I decided to go for it.

- I consider running a race with a stroller (or even running period with a stroller) a BIG accomplishment! My previous 5k a dad passed me pushing a double stroller with 3 kids in it and they were all, not babies, but big kids! and yes I said he passed me! I totally clapped for him as he did!

Here is our stroller crew . . . there are three dads there and I will say to the credit of the ladies only one dad pushed a stroller the whole way. Go mommies!

What good little sports! they were excellent!

I was sort of dreading it but it actually surprised me, it wasn't too bad. The weather was perfect, my kids were good, we didnt have to run uphill. Finished in 33 mins and I can't ask for better really, I was pushing at the very least 65 pounds, (even if I was able to borrow a good jogging stroller.)

Preschool

Well who could've forgotten to take their camera to their son's ending preschool program??? I was so mad! But luckily I mentioned it to the teacher and was at least able to get a picture of him with her!

Garrett LOVED school! I am so glad and I hope that he continues to like learning. He has learned to write his letters, follow directions, left and right, numbers up tp 20, the Pledge of Alligence (my fav), months of the year, days of the week and more. I am so proud of him and I can't believe he is old enough for this stuff already!
The kids sang songs that they'd learned at school and each child learned a "part" where they got to introduce the next song they were going to sing. Then she presented them with a big book of crafts, letters, their home work and a collection of pictures she'd taken during class time as well as a treat!
Garrett loved Miss Bre' and I can't help but wonder if he had a little crush on her in the beginning.

Thanks Miss Bre' and we can't wait to come back to Tiny Minds Preschool again in the fall!

Just realizing that Garrett will be going to Kindergarten next year just a couple months after preschool gets out! Year round school means he'll be starting at the end of July most likely! WEIRD!

Just a little something we picked up . . .

A souviner maybe? No a hitch hiker is more like it!


meet the wood tick!



Combing out Embrie's hair the other morning this is where I found him. Firmly attatched to my child's scalp where he was proceeding to drink her blood. Muaahhaaahhaa!

I've delt with these before, but it has been a long long time and I was a little shocked and slightly freaked out finding one on my kid, but if anyone needs assistance on removal of a wood tick my memory is now refreshed just give me a call! If you want to know where we picked up this little hitch hiker read the post before this one. Yes I checked both of my kids for these before hand but must have missed this one or he must have gotten a ride home with us.

Tsk tsk sorry little fella. This is not the sort of bug that you just put outside into freedom so that the next chance he gets he can jump a ride back into the house and his own personal dinner table, aka your body. You actually can't squash them either so burning is the only way to go.

If I had a better camera you would see the peice of Embrie's skin that this thing is carrying in it's mouth. Can't say I am sorry to see him go!

Ranch Hands

Over Memorial Day we went up to my home town to visit "the folks". There is always work to be done! (plus we owe them ,right?!)

So we headed to the Ranch!

It is funny how it wasn't very fun to go to the ranch back when I was 11-17 . But I've decided it really isn't that bad. And the kids absolutely loved it!


Of course Grandma Sheri wants to get the campground area (which is where we would park camp trailers for long work weekends) cleaned up. So we got a fire started and the kids thought I was great picking up all the sticks they could find and throwing them in the fire.

Now we can't have all work and no play right?
well we could when I was a kid, but this is the grandkids we're talking about here!

So the guys had to take a 4-wheeler ride out to get . . . .

The Green tractor.

Then load up the 4-wheeler again with one extra passenger to get the . . .



Red tractor. Simply for the joy of my son riding the tractors.

look at these little bugs!

Every boy needs to have a tractor!

And because that was a lot of work, we all sat around the fire and had our lunch!

gotta fuel up for the real fun!

getting some of these out of the ditch

and move some of these into position for irrigation season

Unfortunately the two above photos are not actually of our ranch but I was working at the time, not taking pictures, but I wanted all ya'll city folk to get the idea ;)



That night after showers and dinner we had a little surprise birthday time for Garrett, because of all the ranch work that needs to be done before grandpa goes to China for work grandpa and grandma won't be able to come down for the birthday party.

A Seek and Find book (Garrett loves these) and a monster journal!

Thanks grandpa and grandma we had fun at the ranch!

On the right track

These two just might like each other yet! If you used to have a lot of dandelions in your yard and they all seem to have been picked it was probably these two. Garrett loves that Embrie loves the flowers and picks them for her constantly. This was the first day of this new discovery.

What a nice gentleman!

Think she has enough flowers? And of course she wasn't letting go of a single one!


She likes to hold hands so occasionally Garrett will take her by the hand and lead her around.
Saying in his best high pitched voice "come on Embrie lets go play"

These moments are nice, too bad they don't last forever, or even all day, or even 10 minutes . . .