GRANDPARENTS DAY

Sunday was Grandparents Day, so I invited my parents over for dinner. While I spent the afternoon preparing dinner and making a cake, the kids started preparing too. Madi wrote both of my parents a sweet card; while Jaxson memorized a little rap, that he performed for them that night. Reagan had made a door hanger at preschool with her picture on it. It said "You are Special to Me". Reagan also asked my parents if they could share her door hanger with Nana and Grandad. It was really cute!

Because it was a special occasion, we ate in the dining room and had their place settings decorated with the small gifts and poems. After dinner, we played some games and then I pulled out my Beautiful - Nothing Bundt Cake (my version) and we sang Happy Grandparents Day to you!

It was a fun evening - my kids love their grandparents and they love spending time with them.

FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL

Reagan started preschool today! She is growing up way too fast, I can't beleive that next year at this time - I will be sending her off to kindergarten.

She is so excited for preschool, she has several friends in her class in our neighborhood (Kate, Mia, Addison, Alison, CJ and Hallie), plus she loves she new teacher Miss Amy! I love her too and I love that she gets so excited to go to school. She is going to be a busy girl this year with preschool, tumbling, dance and playgroup!

MOAB - SUMMER STYLE

We purchased discount tickets to take the family on a river rafting adventure in Moab this summer. I knew taking them to Moab would be more like a float trip, but with small children, I thought this would be the best way to introduce them to the river.

The Galloway's and Sanford's also purchased tickets, so we all went together - it is more fun to have a big group to go river rafting with anyway, so this worked out really well for all of us.

Lucky for us, our cousins own a condo in Moab and allowed us to rent it out for the weekend. We had a hard time finding a date during the summer that would work and ended up going in mid August (really hot time to be in Moab).

We celebrated Madi's birthday while we were in Moab, she was supposed to bring a friend; however she got sick right before the trip and she couldn't find anyone else to come with her, with such short notice. She was disappointed, bu I think overall had a good time anyway. She received a iphone for her birthday which she was not expecting and ended up being extremely happy about this gift) We also took her out to dinner on her birthday that night and had leftover cupcakes from her party that night.

While in Moab we hiked through Arches National Park, we spent most of the day at Sand Dune Arch, playing with the kids. The entire party dug into the sand and buried the kids in the sand. They loved it! We also started carving sandstone, it was so funny to see everyone sitting there trying to carve sandstone pieces, while sitting in the sand. We also climbed the arch and explored all around the arch too. Jaxson and Jade and little climbers and scared us a little because they have no fear! The weather was actually manageable because we spent the afternoon in the shade of the Sand Dune Arch.

Later that evening we all got flashlights and hiked to Delicate Arch, he were told that seeing the arch at sunset was breathtaking and we knew hiking the arch a night would be less hot and easier for the family. Unfortunately we got a late start and we were hiking in the dark (good thing we brought flashlights). When we got to the arch the only way to see it was to shine the flashlights all around it. We got some pretty cool pictures, but I don't think the kids really realize how beautiful this arch is! While handing out at the arch, there were mice running around everywhere, you would see them when you would shine the lights around (A little creepy, I must say). My favorite part of the hike was walking with Reagan (she was amazing and hiked the entire way and never asked to be picked up - what a trooper) She talked our ears off, saying the funniest things. Madi and I just laughed and laughed all the way back down. She talked about how she didn't want to break her elbow and why she didn't want to break it, then she would completely change he subject and talk about something else.

We spent Saturday on the river and had the best river guide! She was very experiences and was so good with all of the kids. He let the kids play in the water, swim the rapids and threw most of them in the water at one point or another. Reagan loved every minute of it - especially swimming in the water. Madi was a little nervous at first; however I think her nerves subsided the longer we were on the river. Jaxson loved it as much as I thought he would. The one comment Reagan made that cracked us up, was when I asked her if she was having a good time and she responded with "No, I want bigger water!"

On the way home we stopped at Dead Horse Point, the kids tried catching a lizard and we took some amazing pictures.

TEENAGE SURPRISE

Madi is turning 13 this week; however we will be spending her birthday in Moab. (she wasn't very happy about this at first; however we told her she could invite a friend to come along) Because our plan was to be in Moab for her birthday, I told her we could plan her party after we got back. Little did she know I had a big surprise for her before Moab.

I had been planning a surprise party for her for months and going to Moab created the perfect opportunity for the surprise. Melissa had Madi babysit for her the day of the party, so I could get everything prepared. I spent the day making black and white cupcakes with purple sprinkles and Hershey's candy bars on top - Madi's favorite candy bar. I also decorated the back yard with exterior lighting and purple Chinese paper lanterns. We rented a large blowup movie screen so the girls could watch a late night movie in the back yard.

The theme of the party was black/white and purple - Justin Bieber colors of course. The invitations were sent to her friends by stealing Madi's phone at night and grabbing all of her contacts. I had to text all of her friends outside of the neighborhood and ask them to forward me their addresses. What made it difficult, is Madi has code names for all of her friends, so I had to ask her questions and find out who was who without giving away my plan.

I told Madi we were going to have taco's for dinner, she was so excited, so when Melissa dropped her off - I broke the news to her and told her that I invited Grammie and Papa over for dinner, so there was a change of plans on the menu. She was so disappointed. I told her to come into the backyard and this is when her friends all yelled Happy Birthday! (She had no idea - the funny thing is, she heard the music playing in the backyard when Melissa dropped her off, she started to go to the back and Melissa told her to go into the house.)

We had a BBQ and a chocolate fountain, then girls all made locker magnets out of bottle caps. We played some games including the spoon on a string game, which was a big hit. After which the girls all watched You Again. We brought the popcorn machine out and served popcorn to all the girls. They all had big pillows and air mattresses on the ground to sit on while they enjoyed the movie.

I sent all the girls home with a berry lotion from bath and Body works and thanked them for "Berry" much for celebrating Madi's birthday!

It was so much fun planning this surprise for Madi - her friends are all so sweet and fun!

OUT OF THE MOUTH OF REAGAN...

We are always laughing at Reagan and the things that come out of her mouth. Here are a couple of funny moments that have happened over the past month...

Reagan had one of her good friends Kate Bentley over to play one afternoon. Dan and I both happened to be home working, when Kate started to cry. Dan was the first one on the scene and Kate proceeded to tell Dan that Reagan hit her. Dan asked Reagan if she hit Kate and her reply was no. He then said, "Why would Kate tell me you hit her, if you didn't?" I was coming up the stairs as this conversation was in progress. Dan then said "Reagan, you need to tell me the truth, did you hit Kate?" Reagan's reply was something I will never forget. "Well, the truth is, sometimes bad things happen!" I looked at Dan and our eyes met, as if to say, did she really just say that. It was hard not to bust up laughing. I pulled her into her room in private and repeated Dan's question. She then looked at me again and said "The truth is, sometimes bad things happen." At this point I was a little angry and said "I know bad things happen, because you make then happen. Now tell me the truth." She shrugged her shoulders and said "OK, I hit her." I asked her why and she told me "Kate said Ariel's dress was pink!"

Reagan is a little story teller, she loves to tell you princess stories and the inflection in her voice is hilarious. Her reenactments of the stories are very precise and they can go on and on and on. She specially loves to tell you stories at night before she goes to bed. Her stories often go like this... Once there was a beautiful princess and she had not awful parents. But there was a mean witch who told her that she would die before her seventeenth birthday when she pricked her finger on a spinning wheel. But the blue fairy saved her and said you will not die, but you will be asleep until true loves kiss! I am going to have to record her one of these days, because she continues to crack us up.

We were driving home from Costco one Saturday afternoon and Reagan asked where we were going. We told her we had to go to the grocery store. She didn't want to go, so she matter of factly stated "How about you just drop me off." I find it funny that our four year old thinks she is old enough to stay home by herself and didn't think it was out of the ordinary to asked to be dropped off at home.

Last night we went to a magic show at the Sandy amphitheater, the show was a little lackluster; however Reagan kept everyone in stitches with her commentary. During one trick, they uncovered a picture and Reagan immediately said "It's Jesus!" Dan told her it wasn't Jesus and that it was an angel. She replied back "But her hair looks like Jesus." Then she put the two together and said "Jesus is a fairy!"

4th OF JULY CELEBRATIONS

As usual we headed up to Park City for the 4th of July weekend and attended the Oakley Rodeo. The Parker's and the Galloway's joined us for the festivities this year. Ryan found us a condo to stay in at the Canyons; however when we arrived the condo has mouse droppings everywhere - I refused to stay there along with a few others. (most of us were going to be sleeping on the floor, so the thought of a mouse running around, was not very appealing; in addition the mouse droppings were in the beds and on the couches) After speaking with the landlord they found us a larger unit to sleep in and everyone ended up having a bed to sleep in. The kids got to stay together in a room full of bunk beds and had a fabulous time. The only downfall was when the kids started jumping on the jot tub cover and broke it. It ended up costing us a couple hundred dollars to replace it. (So much for having a cheap weekend together.)

The rodeo was the best part of the weekend - the kids got so excited to wear their cowboy hats, and the adults even got in on action this year by buying hats on the way up to the condo at Reams.

We spent the days swimming and also riding the Alpine Slide and Coaster at The Park City Mountain Resort. We even celebrated Chip's birthday with ice cream cupcakes.

The Canyons does a concert and firework display on the 3rd; however it was super crowed this year and the kids were going stir crazy, so we all headed back down the mountain before the fireworks even started. They closed the tram, so Dan and I walked down them mountain during the fireworks, and had to stop because they wouldn't let us go all the way down until the firework display was over. We had to sit down and watch the fireworks in the middle of the road.

The following morning, we headed back down the canyon and had a BBQ at our house with everyone, including the Bentley's and the Traux's. All of us then attended the Sandy City Parade, carnival, concert and firework show. While waiting for the fireworks, we danced and played with glow sticks! Everyone was wearing glasses, making jewelry and balls out of glow sticks.

We love spending time with our good friends!

PRINCESS FESTIVAL

This summer Reagan and I ventured over to the Princess Festival with several of our neighbor friends. The Princess Festival was held at Thanksgiving Point in the gardens. The little girls were all so excited to be dressed up as princesses and spend the day together. They listened to many princess stories; in addition to seeing a few stories acted out by the character as the festival. It was a fun filled afternoon with all the girls!

My little girl is growing up... Madi attended Lydia's formal birthday party today and she dressed up in my bridesmaids dress from Becky's wedding. I also did an updo on her hair and she finished up by putting on her make up.

She looked like she was going to prom (I'm not ready for that yet, so I'm glad I still have a couple of years before the dating begins). It blows my mind how mature Madi is becoming. She is quite a young women and someone whom I am very proud of. My friends always comment how grown up she is and how they love having conversations with her. She carries herself very well and I am a proud mommy!

REAGAN DANCE RECITAL

Reagan has been taking dance for the past year to UDA. It is a ballet/tap combo class and she has the cutest teacher, Miss. Laura. She attends dance with one of her best friends Kate Bentley and they have a great time together.

At the end of the year she had a dance recital at Kingsbury Hall - it was quite the production for a 4 year old. During dress rehearsal Reagan made everyone laugh. Her class got up on the stage and the lights were turned off, so the would understand how it would look and feel during the performance. Reagan in her not so quiet voice said "Who turned of the lights?" "Hey, someone turn on the lights!" It was hilarous, next as they were practiceing she kept looking at someone she thought was me and kept waving and shouting "Hi, mom!"

During the actual performance I was a little worried about what she would shout out; however she actually did the dance and was so dang cute!

SPORTS MAGAZINE - BASEBALL FEVER

Jaxson had an outstanding baseball season! He decided he wanted to play on the competitive league this year and had to tryout to make the team. As luck would have it, he made one of the teams; even better, his best friend Jacob made the same team. We had some new coaches this year, so we were really nervous about what this season would bring. Overall it was a good experience for Jaxson, it wasn't the same as past seasons (we really missed our old coaches and teammates from prior years). Jaxson did excel this year and we watched him grow a lot! We played second base, short stop, third base and center field. Coach K consistently said that he loved Jaxson because he could play him anywhere on the field because of his ability to catch the ball. We loved watching him make some great plays this year. He continued to be consistent up to bat as well, whether he hit the ball or was walked (he did get hit a couple times by the pitcher, but nothing like the previous season in the chest) he got on base. In fact during the middle of the season he was bumped up to the first batter in the line up.

He ended the season with a tournament in which he played his old coaches team from Herriman, he was so excited when they won the game. His team ended up in the championship game, unfortunately it came down to the last inning and his team lost. He was still excited when they took home huge trophies!

I know Jaxson and I were both sad to see the season end.