Back to School

Kylie and Matthew started school yesterday. Here they are checking out Kylie's new classroom. I say it every year - school in July just feels wrong. This year was super easy - the first year of no tears from anyone. They're in 2nd and 3rd grade now, so they are too cool for that.

Kylie is very happy with her class because lots of her friends are in the same classroom.

Matthew also has several of his friends in his class. He is so excited to be in 2nd grade. This morning he told me I was not allowed to walk him to class because he is a big boy and I would be the only mommy there. Now I am just hoping he actually went to class - and isn't still playing on the playground. It's happened before.

Last week we went to the Air Museum up at Hill airforce base. There are some HUGE planes there.

John & Matthew were in heaven checking out all the planes and helicopters.

We even got to go inside one of the helicopters.

Preparing to eject!

We also went to Kennecott Copper mine because my friend Cara found out they were having free admission all week. Kennecott is basically a huge hole in the mountain with tractors the size of a house driving around.

You can't go to Kennecott without taking a picture in front of the tractor wheel. Didn't they used to have an actual ginormous tractor to look at? Or did I just imagine it? Anyway, don't the kids look like little stair steps in height?

Word of the Day: Hematoma

Only one week left of summer break, and then it's back to school for us. It always goes by way too fast!

The kids are finally old enough to enjoy miniature golf. Every time we've tried in the past, we haven't made it past 3 holes before the kids are done.

We take our time golfing, so we let a few groups pass us. Matthew did not care for that part....he thinks everything is a race.

It was pretty hot out there this week....I think our next miniature golfing day can wait until fall.

We went to feed the ducks at Wheeler Farm again this week.

After we fed the ducks, the kids headed for this fun little tree house. Right after I snapped this picture, Matthew took a tumble that ended our visit.

He had a 3"+ hematoma (fancy word for a raised bump full of blood) on his shin along with a good cut. It's a good thing I am not squeamish because it looked fairly nasty. Matthew is now enjoying showing off his leg to anyone that will look at it.

Kylie & John had a "Daddy-Daughter Dinner" for Kylie's activity days at church. John brought Kylie flowers just like a good date should :) They had a fun time.

I decided to make my own yogurt this week. It's really not too hard, and it tastes super yummy and is all natural. I've been having it with fresh blackberries for breakfast. Anyway, I asked John if he thought it was crazy that I was doing things like making homemade yogurt and he said, "No, you've always been the hippie-granola type." What?! I told him I was unaware of my hippiness. He said he was fine with it as long as I continue to shave my legs (because apparently us hippies are known for being hairy). I'm thinking of making some homemade deoderant or something just to freak him out a little.

I really have been on some sort of domestic kick though. I made 5 of these cute bags last week. They are for the kids to take to church, the library, and piano lessons. This is Kylie's piano bag.

This is Matthew's library bag. He picked the fabric himself.

This little birdie lives in my garden - specifically my tomato bushes. I cannot get her to leave, so I'm wondering if she has eggs in there or something. She doesn't appear to be injured. She lets me get right close to her, like a few inches away. I could probably reach out and touch her, but I'd rather not get pecked. She just sits and stares at me while I pick veggies or water.

3rd of July

I love it when Independence Day falls on a Sunday - it becomes a 3 day celebration at our house. Yesterday, Matthew kept saying, "This is the best 3rd of July ever!" Fireworks for 3 days straight is making the kids very happy.

We made homemade ice-cream to start off the weekend - so yum!

Then we had a campout in the backyard. Matthew even insisted on wearing his camel pack water backpack - I think he took the camping thing a little seriously.

It wouldn't be a campout without s'mores. Matthew was the marshmallow-master, taking his time to roast each one to perfection without burning.

Kylie stuck hers straight into the fire every single time - I think she enjoyed making a fireball and waving it around at everyone.

Here they are, ready for bed.....until Matthew decided it was too dark, and Kylie decided there might be animals lurking outside the tent. We've yet to make it through an entire night in the tent. Maybe someday. Instead we lit a few fireworks and slept in our warm cozy beds, which is more than fine with me :)

Baptism Day

Kylie was baptized on June 5th.

She was soooooo excited. She even got to be baptized on the same day as her best friend Alexa. They've been bffs since they were 3.

John baptized her - Don't they look cute in their matching jumpers? The power was out at the church all morning, so there were no lights in the building and the water was COLD. I don't think Kylie will ever forget it :) The power came back on just as John said "amen" at the end of Kylie's blessing. I want to post a picture of Kylie in her pretty white dress, but do not have them on my computer yet, and if I wait I might take another month to finish this post :).

Guess who came to visit for Kylie's special day?

Our cute Little John. He's getting so big!
I wish I had more pictures of everyone who came! I am so bad about taking pictures when there are people to talk to. Thank you to everyone who came - you all made Kylie feel special.

Auntie Alli made Kylie her very own ginormous cupcake. Alli is quite the cake maker.

Mema and Papa came too. They decided to stay in a hotel instead of in the twin beds at our house. We were ok with that only because we were able to go swimming at their hotel.

Somebody was a little unhappy when it was time to go.

After the baptism, Kylie and Matthew had their last soccer games of the season.

Showing off their cool new medals. So long soccer! Well, until August.

Two Months!

Has it really been 2 months since I've blogged? Time is just flying by, and my little family journal is neglected.....I'll try to remedy that this month. The kids are out of school, and my plan for July is to just enjoy summer with the kids! The thought of all the laziness makes me a little giddy.

I'll do a little catching-up today, then on to summer!

Kylie and Matthew celebrated turning 7 & 8 the first week of May. This is the first year they asked for separate birthday parties.

Kylie's party was easy-peasy. Thirteen 8-year-old girls eating pizza and dancing half the night away in their pjs - they could not have been happier. 8-year-old girls are so sweet and adorable .....I am loving this age.

Miss Kylie was very happy with her present...

Mr. Matthew was j-e-a-l-o-u-s.

Until 3 days later when he unwrapped the same thing. It's one of the many perks of having them so close together. (Please notice John's killer mustache. It was for 'Mustache May' at work. I had fun calling him Sheriff and Jim-Bob all month.)

Matthew did not want any-old-boring-party. He had to have a Mario party. Well, I could not find Mario at any of the stores, so his party was a bit more work. Luckily I found some great ideas online from other moms. Like my homemade Boos(is that even what they're called)? Just in case you find yourself planning a Mario party, here are a few ideas (I'm talking to you Autumn - haha!)

Easy Mario & Luigi hats

The boys had to rescue Princess Peach (Kylie). I sent them on a treasure hunt with clues leading to Kylie being held captive by Bowser (John). The boys each got a star for the rescue.

I painted a soccer pinata to look like the bomb thing.

Some nice blogger had a link to print out a poster size "Pin the mustache on Mario."

And finally we played some Mario Bingo.

I don't have a picture, but I made cupcakes that looked like the red and white mushrooms, then decorated with red, blue and green. Matthew had a blast and it was worth all the fuss.