Dancin' and Fiddlin'

We just got back from a quick trip to visit Grandma up in Wyoming and the kids had a great time learning how to play the violin and dancing to Grandma's fiddling.  Here they are in action:

 

May happenings

May has been busy with rides in the little red wagon, visiting Temple Square, attending a cousin's baptism, going to WY to visit Grandma's house, practicing for and performing at an end of the year ballet recital, graduating from preschool, and the last day of Kindergarten for Abbie! I'm so glad it's finally summer and hopefully better weather and more relaxing days!

Here are the kids in the wagon together, on a long awaited warm day

Porter was excited to explore the grass and outside once it finally got warm enough

Having fun!

Visiting Temple Square for a preschool field trip with the cousins (and Grandma)

Leah in front of the beautiful flowers

Playing in the fountain

In front of the Christus. I have a lot of memories of visiting this as a child, every time we came to UT it seemed we took a trip to Temple Square and ran up the round ramp to see this statue. Now my kids get to grow up with this memory as well.

Leah dancing in a traditional Mexican dress at the Book of Mormon exhibit

Attending a cousin's baptism

Visiting Grandma's house in WY for a couple days. She read the kids stories...

and they helped her plant and water her garden.

Playing on the swingset with cousin Lexi

Riding 4-wheelers at Uncle Walden's house. Leah loved it and rode most of the time we were there, over an hour!

Porter didn't like it too much!

But he loved the kittys!

Abbie and Leah's end of the year ballet recital

All four girls at the end

Abbie and Leah doing some ballet pose, I don't know what it's called

Leah's preschool graduation

Aunt Rachel made up a little play they performed and made it so cute and fun for the kids with caps and certificates.

Throwing the caps into the air! Hooray!

Abbie earned a Coyote Pride award at school (an award they get if they complete certain requirements in their grade like counting to 100, knowing their sight words, identifying shapes and colors, being able to tie her shoe, etc.)

 

February happenings

We've done a lot of things this month and since it's the shortest month of the year, it feels like it's been even busier than usual. We've had ballet recitals, princess preschool parties, birthday swimming parties, Valentine's Day parties, visits up to Idaho to visit cousins, preschool field trips, lots of doctor and dentist appts, etc. Whew! I'm ready for March and a little slower pace and hopefully warmer weather!

Here's Abbie and Leah before their nutcracker recital

Abbie is the reindeer standing in the back left side and Leah is in the box just to the right of her

Being snowflakes

Queens for a day in preschool when we learned about the letter "Q"

Porter and his cousin Kaleb

Swimming at an awesome indoor pool for a cousin birthday party

Porter loved splashing and getting wet, way more than last summer

Abbie getting her Valentines ready for her classmates

Playing Bingo at her school party

We got heart-attacked!

They left some really yummy heart cookies too!

Abbie spent over an hour drawing with chalk all over our back patio one warmish day

She made me close my eyes and then she led me down the steps and to a certain spot before she would let me open my eyes. She loves drawing hearts and rainbows!

Visiting my sister's house in Idaho. Grandma came to visit too and read the kids stories and sang them songs for an hour before bedtime, they loved it!

Taking turns on their computers

Porter loved playing the piano and Abbie was a really good helper

Doing a duet with cousin Kaleb

Now that's a happy boy!

Visiting the Discovery Children's Museum with some cousins

A little car just Porter's size

Getting ready to go

What cute girls!

I'm so glad my kids live near their cousins now and that they can play with them all the time (and that I get to be near my sisters and play with them all the time too)! What a wonderful blessing family is!

Cousins, Grandpas, and Uncles

We've had a lot of family visiting over the past month and it's been so great for the kids to get to know their cousins better. Here's Emmett and Porter, who is are just two months apart in age.

Hailey and Leah, who are about 8 months apart in age

Abbie and Caroline, they are a year apart in age but both in kindergarten.

We had a fun mommy/daughter date with my sister-in-law Millie and we went out to lunch and shopping at Ikea. It was so fun!

We had a cousin gift exchange at my sister's house on Christmas Eve, here all all the kids with their presents

We went to my Dad's house on New Year's Day to celebrate his birthday and we got to see even more cousins and family there.

Abbie jammin' out with Uncle Frosty on the guitar

Porter having a great time with the cars!

All tuckered out after a long week of parties and presents