First Day of School

Today is officially the first day of school and my kids are very excited. The summer has been very busy so it is going to be nice to get back to a routine.
Kelsey in going to be in 2nd grade this year.

Conner is going to be in 2nd grade this year.

Kylie is going to be in 4th grade this year.

McKenna actually started yesterday for the Jr. High has a 7th grade day where only the 7th graders go so they can get acquainted with the school before the upper class men return. So today she doesn't have school so we went shopping and to lunch. I can't believe she is getting so old. I don't remember ever telling her she could go to Jr. High. I even offered to home school her if she stayed home but she told me "no".

I wish I could just bottle them up and keep them little but they are growing up so fast it is hard to believe. It has definitely been quieter around here today and pretty soon I might even start to like Coco's company.

Summer

Birthdays, tubing, girls camp, trek, family reunions, fishing, bowling and swimming all contributed to our rather busy summer. It is funny in fact that I am posting-finally-on the first day of school. . .five kids keep you hopping.

Here are a few pictures from the fun things we did.

Kamryn opening up her presents from her brother and sisters.

Kamryn is the big 5 officially. She loved having her friends and family go to Pirate Island with her on Monday. It was nice to just focus on her for a change.

McKenna tubing down the Provo River on Saturday. The water was freezing but the temperature was a warm 98 degrees.

Kylie patiently waiting her turn for a float.

Kelsey loves to pose can you tell?? This was at the house we stayed in for the family reunion. she just had her hair curled and thought a picture was in order.

We went boating at the family reunion and the kids loved making sand castles on the beach.

This picture was taken right before the water banana tipped over leaving Kylie's glasses at the bottom.

This is Kelsey's statue (aka a stick).

We spent a day this summer in Ogden where we went fishing. It was definitely a highlight of the entire summer. Conner was a pro fisherman and had to finally be told to stop putting his pole in the water because he was catching too many fish!! He then went to help Kami who hadn't caught any and as soon as he put his pole in he caught hers. GG was the one to actually take the hook out of the fish. Soon Conner and Kelsey got the nerve to do it as well. McKenna and Kylie wouldn't even try.

We went to Fat Cats to bowl a few times this summer. It was a nice way to beat the heat. We took Grandma along one time.

Soccer has officially began and now our weeks consist of 5 different games and 7 different practices. Conner and Kelsey have improved there game. Kelsey now is aware of where the ball is instead of the clouds in the sky.We had a few family outdoor BBQs. This one we were able to have extended family over that we haven't seen in years. It was so nice to have them stop by for a visit. How cute is Grandma with 5 of her grandkids?

Conner and Kelsey both got a new bike. Kelsey got her last night so we have no photos of hers. Funny but they are both green.

I had a combined birthday party for Conner and Kelsey. I thought it was easier to have a few hours of craziness than an entire day. They were both game for it since they were really friends with the entire group.

We returned from Trek the afternoon of their birthday so I feel as though I really dropped the ball on their big day. Thanks to Grandma Rice who made their birthday cakes and for Grandpa who took them to McDonalds. Thanks to our friends and our neighbors who also came with cupcakes and presents so they would have a great day.

Trek was wonderful if I do say so myself. It was so inspiring to actually walk on the ground that our pioneers walked. This is the monument President Hinckley dedicated on Rocky Ridge. You just stand in complete AAHH of this place.

"Pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked." We did a lot of walking in the heat-notice not a cloud in the sky.

This is how I felt after 4 days of girls camp!!

McKenna had such a fun time coming to girls camp for the first time. She had wonderful friends in her tent.

A favorite activity or ours during the summer is having a movie outside. Marc starts a fire and we roast what ever we have from marshmallows, biscuits or starbursts. We wait for the sun to go down and grab our blankets and watch a movie. McKenna decided to do this for her birthday so of course they are watching Percy Jackson.

Her birthday party also consisted of a Percy theme.

The summer is over and we have had fun but to school we must go and a house I must clean.

Strawberry Days

We had so much fun at Strawberry Days last week. We went to a lot of the activities and enjoyed the strawberries and cream a little too much. On Wednesday we walked in the children's parade where the theme was "Dream Big". The kids were able to dress up in what ever they dreamed to be when they got older. Kelsey's was the best as a very pregnant mom with two babies. She actually had her outfit planned out for days.
After the parade we went over to the rodeo where Kelsey and Conner did the Mutton Bustin. It was hilarious. We got so many fun videos and pictures from friends that came thank you for cheering us on.
Marc told each of them that this bull was what they were going to ride in the mutton bustin. Luckily for them I had already prepared each of them for exactly what was going to happen and they know their dad well enough to know he is rarely serious.

Kelsey didn't care to concentrate on what was happening before she rode.
Conner on the other hand was showing those sheep who was boss by giving them the evil eye.Kelsey hung on for dear life but once she started sliding the sheep lost his balance and over they both went.

I really think the poor sheep was just as scared as she was.

I'm not entirely sure at this exact moment if she liked the experience but the clown was nice to console her and by the time she got back behind the gate she was grinning.

Conner lost his helmet right out of the shoot and soon had the same balancing problems that Kelsey had.

Although his sheep was a little tougher and held her upright position leaving Conner to fly head over heels into the dirt.

He thought it was the best. Next stop is the bronc riding!!

And if the pictures aren't enough here are the videos. I think I need a horse. . .

Mutton Bustin

Conner and Kelsey are Mutton Bustin at the Pleasant Grove Rodeo tomorrow night at 7 pm. If anyone would like to come let us know and we will save you a seat.

End of a school year

We have officially finished another school year and with that are the awards ceremonies and programs. Her are a few of the highlights.
Excited for school to be finished.

McKenna got this award for having a 95% or higher the last several years in all subjects.

Kylie received an academic award.

McKenna received an award for getting the most AR points.

Conner also got an award for his reading in front of the school but I was unable to find the pictures. Kelsey did a great job this year as well and when the class got back to their room everyone received something and she got a certificate for her homework. All in all it was a pretty successful year.

Preschool graduation

Kamryn graduated from preschool-for the first time. She loved loved loved going and all her friends in her class.

Dance Recital 2010

Kami and Kelsey participated in their dance end of the year dance recital. They both did a great job.