Making Memories

Going camping is a fond childhood memory of mine. That was all we did on our vacations. It was family togetherness at it's best.
When Kevin said he wanted to have one last camping trip of the year my first thought was "Ohhh" and "Are you sure? We are going to freeze". Plus, it's not the easiest thing to take six kids camping. It's a real headache! Then I remembered how excited I got when my family went camping. I always looked forward to it. Sure kids don't realize how much work it is but it's the memories that count! I know these times we are together as a family will be times they remember. Hopefully they look on them fondly. Especially since this was the first camping trip with the dog!

Goodbye

Today we moved Jonathan out of his crib and into a toddler bed. A family in our ward needed one and Kevin offered ours. He went to bed like a charm for his nap and tonight he didn't try to get out once. A part of me is excited to move on but a part of me is sad to see it go. I know that it won't take long before he realizes that it's easy for him to crawl out of the toddler bed. I guess I wanted to hold onto the baby stage as long as I could with him but alas all babies grow up. So....goodbye crib.

I had Lasik done on Thursday and it was amazing. I am amazed at  how quick and painless it was. I also have to admit how much I enjoyed the Valium he he. So goodbye contacts and glasses....you on the other hand will not be missed.

We did it!

We finally finished reading the Book of Mormon as a family. It's taken us awhile.....like 3 years. Some mornings we were only able to get a few verses in. As a reward we decided as a family to go to Boondocks. It was lots of fun and a good memory for the kids. 

The kids are already planning where we will go when we finish it a second time. 

Andrew got his Bear finished and was awarded his patch and arrows at the pack meeting in August. 

Also this last week BriLynn did a mini clinic with the High school's dance team. They danced at halftime during the football game, she was so cute.

I tried to upload the video but it wouldn't work but here is a picture of here in her Hi Lo shirt.

Temple Open-house, Jacob's first day and WHAT IS THAT!

Last Saturday we attended the Brigham City Temple Openhouse.

It was hard to keep the children from playing in the water fountain. Where there is water....children will be right?

 My sisters, parents and Grandma and of course our family (which takes up the bulk)

My Dad hates getting his picture taken. He didn't think I could take the picture fast enough but I got it with him sticking his tongue out he he. 

Grandma didn't want to turn and smile for the picture.....well I know where my Dad gets it from. 

Jacob started Kindergarten this week. He was soooooo excited. 

He has the same teacher as the other three kids have had.

It seems like I can't get the camera away from the kids lately. They love to take video and pictures of the themselves. 

UMMM I wonder who this is...............

YIKES....YEP...I'm keeping this one for bribery.

End of Summer Activity, First Day of School, and the Dog

The last activity we did was have a marble roll race. I got a couple noodles and we cut them in half.  

They had fun with the marbles at first.....then they figured it was more fun to whack each other with them.

So two activities in one I guess.

I am amazed at all Flare puts up with. We ended up getting a little doggy pillow that she can lay on in the house. Jonathan just mauls her. 

I don't know why but I love this picture! Maybe because it really shows how much she puts up with.

The kids have started school.....sigh....I really miss them.

Danika's reaction when I picked her up her first day was "THIS WAS THE BEST DAY EVER!" 

I sure hope that continues. 

This next picture is just for fun. Well, at least I think it's funny.

Summer Schedule Week 9

Monday: Science fun. Elephant toothpaste. 

I need to go buy the volume 20 at the salon (I had volume 10) and it didn't seem to have enough hydrogen peroxide to make the geyser I was hoping for, but it was still entertaining. You can find the recipe here: http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/toothpaste.php

Felt pretty funny too. We made blue and green.

Tuesday: Learn yoga moves.....umm..yeah didn't get to that but we didn't make a fun fort in the family room

We also played a game outside with sidewalk chalk. After we played one game the kids wanted to do it again so I guess it was a hit. We drew a 10x10 grid on the ground. Andrew, Luke, Danika and I each took a corner. The point is to be the one with the most marks. You can only move up, down and sideways not diagonally. It was kinda like blockus only we were the pieces :) 

Wednesday: Homemade slime. I feel like a ditz because I had no idea cornstarch would do this and it was super fun to play with. One of those days when you feel like the coolest Mom ever ha ha. 

I found the info here:

http://www.parentsconnect.com./parenting-your-kids/activities/educational-activities/slime_time.html

Although I didn't have a full box of cornstarch it was pretty full and adding the three cups water they say made it to runny. I had to dump some of the water out after it separated a little. Even the neighbors wanted to take some home to show their parents.

Thursday: We made bubble bombs with baking soda and vinegar. They didn't have as much POP as I expected. I guess I expected the bags to burst apart into pieces and they just blew up and popped. Entertaining non the less. 

You can find the instructions here: http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/bubblebomb.html

Friday: Jello play dough cookies. I was actually surprised at how tasty these were. I did make a boo boo with one color, I got distracted and added the whole packet of jello when you only add 2 Tablespoons. So our Raspberry flavor ones were super tart but still good.

 It was fun that you could mold and play with the dough and then cook them up for a tasty treat. I think the lemon was everyone's favorite, which surprised me. 

I can't believe school starts next week. I'm so sad!  Hopefully I had some fun activities this Summer that they will remember.

Summer Schedule Week 8

Monday: Experimented with plastic bags, water and pencils. I didn't get any pictures of it though. Did you know that if you fill a sandwich bag full of water and then take a sharp pencil it will poke through it without spilling the water out. It will only spill out when you pull the pencil out. We poked one bag with five pencils, it was pretty neat.

Tuesday: We were suppose to play freeze tag at the park but instead we played scrabble with cheez it crackers. Have you seen the scrabble ones, pretty fun.

Wednesday: Moon sand. All it is 8 cups flour and 1 cup baby oil. We halved the recipe since I only had a 1/2 cup baby oil.

It was all over the floor by the end but they sure had fun. I love Luke's tongue out it this picture.
Thursday: Ice boats. We put water in muffin tins and made our own sails out of construction paper and tooth pics. I put tin foil over the muffin pan and we inserted the toothpicks then froze it. We sailed them down the canal. I'm happy to say that mine won he he. I forgot to get pictures of us racing them :(

Friday: We made no-bake peanut butter rice krispy treats. There is only one bar left so....yeah they liked them. The recipe is here : http://www.marthastewart.com/343255/no-bake-peanut-butter-rice-krispies-cook Well there was one more left, it's gone now. 

Today was their last day of swimming lessons. They did so well and learned so much! Danika's teacher wants her to try out for the swim team. Today BriLynn went off the diving board, she took some coaxing but she did it! 

Here are some swimming lesson pictures.

Summer Schedule Week 7

We started Swimming lessons this week. The kids are doing so well. I feel like they are learning so much more at the High School then they did at the aquatic center.  Plus it's 10 more minutes each day and one extra day of lessons. Not to mention...5 dollars less per child...yep I'll be going there again next year. I'll post some pictures of it next week.

Monday:  I seriously can't remember what we did. My paper copy of July's schedule was chucked when August arrived. My schedule is on another computer and I'm to lazy to look it up.

Tuesday: Chinese Jump roped

Wednesday: Water pot luck party. I may have to chain up Flare next time. A couple of kids lost their sandwiches to her. In her defense they left them on their plates and took off to play. We also did a
Lobster hand and foot activity. This was funny, mainly because kids are ticklish on their feet. You can find the craft here : http://www.crafty-crafted.com/animal-crafts/hand-and-footprint-lobster/

Thursday: Bubble snakes! We will definitely be doing these again. It was fun, easy and inexpensive entertainment :)

All you need is a water bottle, a dishrag, rubber band, dish soap and water or bubbles.

Friday: Easy donuts with biscuits. This was another easy one and very tasty. 

I got the idea from this site: http://www.littlebitfunky.com/2011/11/what-o-made-for-monday-naughty-donuts.html

Seriously snacky, I'm eating them as I type he he.

Week 6 of schedule

So we're off by a week from trek but that's okay. I have situated the schedule to do the other stuff we missed last week.

Monday: Mazes. As a kid I loved to make up my own mazes. Instead of making them each one I was lazy and just printed some online for them to do.

Tuesday:  Because of a cold I didn't feel like being physically active so we did Bubble Prints

This was a big hit and fun to watch. It was food coloring in bubble solution. After it's blown you push a paper down on the bubbles to make a cool print. They didn't care so much about the prints but blowing the bubbles was a hit.

Wednesday: Tennis, Played at the park.

Thursday: Squirt bottle barber. Two kids had the goggles and shaving cream while the other two raced to see who could get the cream off first.

 Doesn't Danika look like a storm trooper?

I think they had more fun afterward just painting themselves.

 and spraying water into Flare's mouth. 

Friday: Snow cones with homemade syrup: 2 cups sugar, 3/4 cup water heated till dissolved and then a package of koolaid. That and cookies 'cause the kids keep asking for them :)