I'm Baaaaack!!

Remember me? And him?
Oh, and these precious little faces?

Where have I been, you ask? And, thinking about it I'm not quite sure. Summer's here and I've been doing all the summer mom things: baseball games, swimming, tennis lessons, picking up popsicle sticks, washing sticky fingerprints off of walls and light fixtures, vacuuming sand for the 10th time every day, etc. You all know the summer drill, but I wouldn't change it for anything. I LOVE summer, having the kids home, staying up late, sleeping late, hanging out in our jammies, eating at random times, watching the sun set, throwing the ball around in the yard, jumping on the tramp, all of it! I wish summer could last forever!
Milo and his badger. I'm not sure how to feel about this one, but I hear it will be filled with stuffing. This one will definitely be a "cabin only special". Scary!
Lexi and I in the cabin at girls camp! What a great week!

See the bunkbeds behind us!
Milo and the kids "chillin' out"!

BUSY!!!

OK. Things have been a little busy lately. Not, just the normal summer busy of running kids to tennis, baseball, coach pitch, swimming, dance, etc. But, I'm leaving for YW Girls Camp in the morning so there has been a lot to do to get ready. I'm really looking forward to a week with all the girls because they are all awesome and I love them all so much! And, my camp director is the BEST! So, the week will be great as soon as I get there. Of course, Carter and Jarrett have fevers, headaches and sore throats today as I'm trying to leave them, but my mom is a trooper and will take great care of them, I know! So, here's to my mom, Milo and the boys as Lexi and I had out for a week of camping fun!

I'M SIX!!

Could it be that our Carter is really 6 years old! He has been so excited about

turning 6 and heading to Kindergarten in the Fall. He is so much fun and we love

his adventurous personality! We love you, Carter - you are one of a kind and

we're so glad you're ours!!

Trying on his BYU hat!
WHAT? An airsoft gun! SWEET!!
Carter chose this sweet cake! He's always ready for hunting!
Mario Kart for the wii from Grandpa and Grandma!
Look at that excited face!
Getting ready to bust open the pinata!

SCHOOL'S OUT!

School's out and these girls are done with Elementary School and headed to Jr. High!

Where does the time go?

Dalton, happy to be done with 3rd grade. Dalton scored in the top 10% in every category on the Iowa State Test this year!
Great job, Dalton! After school was out, we headed up to the canyon for some summer fun!
Carter jumped off the edge of the mountain into the lake. That kid will try anything!
Carter and Jarrett having some mountain water fun!

Bye Bye Barkley

So, we're 0 for 2 on the dogs. It's official. We are now a dogless family. I don't know exactly why we can't seem to handle a dog, but it's just not our thing. Maybe it's the accidents on the carpet, or the barking when the doorbell rings, or the accidents on the carpet, or the whining to go out, or the accidents on the carpet, or the corner of our our house that was taken over by dog paraphernalia, or the accidents on the carpet. For whatever reason, an indoor dog just isn't for us. So, Barkley left for his new home on Saturday. He seemed a little nervous and it was almost as if he could sense that the new people who showed up at our home were taking him away, but he is a good dog and we know he will be loved a lot by his new family! Dalton, Joey and Carter saying good-bye.
Jarrett holding Barkley for the last time!

Lexi's 1/2 birthday!

Lexi - you are a doll and I couldn't ask for anything more in a daughter than what and who you are! I'm so proud of you and all that you are doing and how you are growing up. You are such a delight to have in our home and I love you! Happy 1/2 Birthday - you are officially 6 months away from being a teen-ager!

Graduation Day!

Carter had preschool graduation today and he was so cute! He sang, recited poems and delivered his lines perfectly. When I asked Carter what he wanted to say to Miss Shauna, his teacher in a thank you card he said, "I love you and I don't want school to end." So cute. His teacher, Miss Shauna has been great! Carter loved preschool!
Tim, Eli, Carter.
Eli and Carter - the proud graduates!
Carter and Miss Shauna

(I think he really liked what she was saying about him even though he looks like he is scared.)

3 1/2 years old!

Jarrett's 1/2 birthday is today and he is 3 and 1/2. Where does the time go? Here is a a picture of him the day he was born! Don't be fooled by those chubby cheeks. But, try to resist those kissable lips! Jarrett gives great kisses and hugs and it's been so fun watching him learn and grow these past 3 and 1/2 years! We love you, Jarrett!

I love boys!

After spending hours in the field the other day, Carter and Eli came to me with this! A big glob of stickers. They gathered them up and stuck them together until they had a big ball of them!

They were so proud of themselves and their sticker ball. Aren't boys the best?

These are for you!

Jarrett came inside from playing yesterday and handed me these flowers. He told me that they aren't pink, but it is OK because white is pretty, too. What a funny kid! He was pretty excited that he picked them himself. Thanks to the neighbors for having plenty to choose from!