Down, but NOT out!

Yesterday was bitter sweet. I haven't taken my kids to Seven Peaks yet this summer for lots of reasons, but yesterday we were all ready to go. My friend across the street, whom my kids ADORE, was even going to come with us. Well...as I am opening up the front door to let in my nice neighbor who is coming with, Abbi is screaming in the background. I thought it must be one of the usual screams because Reese took something, etc, but sadly, no. She is holding her mouth which is bleeding profusely. No to Seven Peaks. Yes to 2 hours of trying to convince her to open her mouth for a shot, and 3                                                                                                               stitches in her lip. She and Reese ran into each other and Abbi ended up with a popped lip, and Reese got a scrap on her forehead from Abbi's teeth. (Rotten luck for Abb's, she just got over having a staph infection, now this).Luckily, once she decides to be brave, she's good. The rest of the day was so fun. We went bowling instead, had ice cream, and she felt well enough to have a photo shoot later. She really liked these pictures.

  

Girls Camp, Oh Yeah!

This isn't me because I didn't like the from behind shots that the girls took of me, seriously yikes, but this is the fun wire we walked across and the zip line was at the end of this!
                                                                       So Pretty
Madison, me, Shayla. I was lucky t get a picture with them. They went home the second day. We had a sickly group a little bit.
                    Me and the Macenzie/McKenzies'. Don't judge my purple pants, I love them! 
                   This was a beaver dam. There were actually 5, and I thought they were cool.
Every time we thought we were at the top, nope, it just kept climbing...I LOVED IT!!! (some of the girls however, did not share my enthusiasm).
                 It was crazy to me to have electricity, and outlets in the cabins, but very nice!
Yeah, those are huge moths on their faces. Some of our beehives were a bit, obsessed, with catching moths.


     So...I haven't been to girls camp since I was 16, so it's been, a while!! A long while. BUT, I discovered that I am just as spaztic...(i don't think I spelled that right), as ever. It was fabulous because Andy took the whole week off so I wasn't stressed at all about the girls being taken care of, so I was able to fully enjoy Girls Camp. 

   

    This camp we went to was so nice, as you can see below. The cabins were new, and beautiful, the bathrooms were both large, and clean, and we had small kitchens, with a huge pantry and fridge, definitely and upgrade from any girls camp I ever went to! 

  

    Well, I think I took a few girls off guard the first day with my "enthusiasm". I think I was more excited than most...sooo me...but I figured if I was going to take 5 days off away from my family, then I was going to enjoy myself, so I did. Highlights for me would have to be the challenge coarse where we climbed a 15-20 ft pole, walk across a wire and zip lined down, playing games galore, going on the "5" mile hike that was actually 7 1/2, planning our skit, and getting to know the girls better. 

   

   Oh, and side note, I was so proud of Andy! When I got home the girls were helping him make lunch, they had made me a poster, the house was super clean, all the laundry done, and he told me he had a great week and loved being home with the girls all week! (That was my FAVORITE part of the week)

 

Last Day of School

Yesterday was Abbi's last day of Kindergarten. She wanted to get Mrs. Hansen a gift, and she wanted to choose everything...no shocker there. 

She decided on the prettiest flowers there were, because there are 3 colors, and a chocolate bar. (You can't go wrong with a chocolate bar.) I suggested she also make a card, and is was seriously adorable, complete with a picture of Abbi and Mrs. hansen on the front, and 3 full sentences in the inside about how much she loved being in kindergarten. 
Bink...bink...

I'm not usually one to get all teary eyed, but graduation was just so crazy cute. They sang tons of songs, and looked adorable in their blue caps and gowns. I have no doubt that Abbi will do great things, she is such a fantastic kid. We lucked out for sure, she will be a great role model for her younger sisters. Love you Abbsie!!! 

We Have Grass!

Isn't it so pretty! Next time I post pictures of our house there will be pretty trees and bushes, and flowers. 

My Mother's Day

I love Mother's Day, and I make sure to tell Andy just how much I love it....for about a week in advance, just to make sure. Andy was amazing! He got the girls up, fed, bathed, and dressed, all before I got up and ready. Then he made me oatmeal, just like I like it. During the whole day he and the girls made the day so great!

 Abbi and Reese made me cute pictures in church, and Abbi made me a flower pen and pad of paper at school. Andy arranged for me to get my hair done, I got a new purse, and I even got a back massage from Andy, yippee for me!! We ate dinner with friends, and Andy was super helpful in every way. This was truly a fabulous Mother's day for me! Thank you Andy, Abbi, Reese, and Brynn xoxoxo

Pretend this was posted on the 10th

Carnival Day

Brynny is an adventurer, so being confined is very hard for her. She wants to be free to wander and explore. Apparently grass is super exciting!
Abbi really wanted to conquer the rock wall. She climbed about half way up, and then kept losing her footing. After trying 4 times, she decided she would try again next time.
                   This is as close as Reese came to the rock wall. She just wasn't having it.

Mother's Day Miracle!

Mother's Day was a miraculous day. The tooth Finally came out!! After 2 months...that's right, 2 months, Abbi's wiggly tooth was set free. 

Abbi is the funniest kid, she had no interest in wiggling her tooth at all! The only time she did was when Andy or I would ask her to, and for the last 2 or 3 weeks that tooth was holding on with only the tiniest edge. Hoorah for you, Abbs for holding your ground and not yanking that tooth out the second you discovered it was loose...you are a much more patient girl than your mom!

And now only 6 days later her other front tooth comes out. This one was "helped" along a little when a boy in Abbi's class elbowed her in the mouth. Yikes!

                                                                                

Pretties

I think I might have a cosmetologist on my hands. Look at Abbi's handywork...so sexy!!! 

She Walks

I love it when babies start to walk, and Brynners started walking. She has been taking steps for more than a month, but she actually started cruising on the 13th. It's great because she follows me around that house as I'm cleaning or doing whatever else. Brynn is funny because if I show her prolonged attention, smile at her, or talk to her she thinks I want to hold her so she is walk to me as fast as possible with outstretched arms. She is a serious mamma's girl, and I love it!  

Easter Time

Easter is a good time at our house. It is a favorite for both Abbi and Reese, and I'm sure Brynn will love it more when she gets older. The Easter Bunny is so nice and leaves a basket full of goodies on the ends of their beds, but also leaves eggs and small gifts around the house. The girls love hunting for eggs, getting dressed in pretty dresses, learning about Jesus at church, and having a super yummy meal (if I do say so myself). Overall it is all good at Easter time! 

Getting pictures where everyone is looking and smiling is pretty tricky. No fancy background this day. I was lucky to remember to take pictures at all!

This pictures says it all about who my girls are. Abbi is smiling just like she should, Reese is posing and being silly, and Brynn is trying to get away so I will hold her.

Another Field Trip

We are off to the farm. On the 10 we went to Thanksgiving Point to visit all of the animals there. Abbi loves the farm, so this was a fun field trip for her! We were able to go on a tractor ride (well we were in a wagon being pulled by a tractor), we toured the facilities checking out all of the cool animals and even petting some, and had a quick lesson on what different animals like to eat. Abbi loved the horses the most, but also loved the baby goat she was able to pet, and the baby cow that was there.