Sunday, June 23, 2013

Father's Day and this weekend

I'll begin with Father's Day. I am SO grateful for my Pops, my Father in Law and my catch of a Man-my hubs.

My Pops is seriously the greatest. He did so many meaningful things for me growing up. Among those things are taking our family on family vacations every year, helping with schoolwork (seriously dedicated), taking me on a ninth grade graduation trip to Florida (if we got good grades through Jr. High he would take us on a one on one vacation anywhere in the US we wanted to go besides AK & HI. Talk about AWESOME! I had such a great time getting to know my dad even better on this trip. How many can say they got a one on one full on vacation with their Dad?!), and throughout my whole high school sickness he was REALLY there for me, being worthy to give me father's blessings before school started, when I was sick or just needed comfort. And he continues to surprise me with his amazing-ness. In fact, I have to brag that just last week, Darrin and I wanted to go to the temple. My Mom had other obligations and couldn't sit the kids. As I was about to call my Mother-in-Law to see if she could babysit, my DAD VOLUNTEERED TO COME TO MY HOUSE TO WATCH MY BOYS! I was taken back by a bit of shock (this had never happened before :)) but I felt so much love from my Dad through this act of service. He was so sweet when we got back telling us all about how they played together and that they went to bed good (yes, he even put them to bed!). I love you Pops! Thank you so much for EVERYTHING!

My Father in Law, well, he's just great. Obviously he would have to be if my husband (and all of his kids really) turned out so amazing! I admire many things about my F.I.L. but one thing that I think is just great is that he is SUCH a handy guy to have around. He really taught Darrin and all his boys (7) that if something is broken, you should really try and fix it yourself. I see this quality come out in Darrin so much. These boys have DETERMINATION to fix something! And all of this is due to my Father in Law. Not only did he teach them to be so handy, he helps his kids ALL THE TIME with SO MUCH! Whenever any of them need something, he's just a phone call away OR he'll come right over and HELP. He is such a great guy. He's also a wonderful Grandpa to all his Grandchildren. He plays with them so well! And I can really see how he is so sweet to my Mother in Law. It really shows what a genuine gentleman he is. Thank you Dad. I so much appreciate and love you!

And Darrin. Well, he's just the BOMB! I am so in love with him. I have had the opportunity to spend the last 5 plus years with him and cannot wait to see what the future brings us. Each day is a new adventure. He is such an understanding, loving, sweet, thoughtful, well rounded guy. He's taught me SO much. Among the things he has taught me is frugality which I am so thankful for. It truly is a way of life and I've learned to enjoy it. So, as a husband, I couldn't ask for a better man. I pretty much think we were meant for each other. As a Daddy, he was born to be a Daddy. One of my favorite things ever is to watch Darrin play with his boys. He teaches them, rough-houses with them, and always has their best interests at heart. And our boys sure do love their Daddy! I love you my sweetheart!

For father's day, I decided to collaborate some ideas found on pinterest with some ideas of my own. I decided to do a TREASURE HUNT. Naturally, since he's all the treasure I could ever wish for :). Here is my treasure hunt list, in case anyone wants to use any of this for next year:

Happy father’s day my love! We are sending you on a treasure hunt for the fact that you are a TREASURE to us! Let us start you off with Clue #1

2. Go where we have things used for securing mail-able objects so they don’t break. (a new electric shaver was found in our BIG bag of packing peanuts)
1.Tools and such find a hot (like you!)) home here. (A phone charger for work was found in our SHED)
5. A steam-room for what we eat on. (He found a card and coupon from me in our DISHWASHER)
4. We rest easy because of you! Your reward lies where you rest your head! (A card and father's day questionnaire from the boys was found UNDER HIS PILLOW)
6. You are SO SO SO HOT Baby! Go get yourself some ICE Water to cool off :). (HIS TREASURE was when he went to get "Ice" out of the dispenser he found cold Peanut Butter M&M's dispensed. YUM! :))
3. Look behind where we have things used for securing mail-able objects so they don’t break. (He found a ladder behind our bag of packing peanuts)

Here are some pictures from the hunt:

Now,onto our roadtrip from this weekend. We just got back today. We went with two of Darrin's brothers and their wives. We had a great time. We started off to Evanston, WY and got some fireworks. My Brother in law Jason did most of the buying of fireworks but we got a few too. Excited to use them and see how the kids like them. Last year Parker HATED them at the beginning of the firework show but then loved them and still talks about them. We stayed at a fairily ghetto hotel there in Evanston. Just fine though :). The next morning we were off to Bear Lake. We had a GREAT time there. It wasn't too hot and for the most part wasn't too cold. It got a little chilly towards the end but a great time. We played at the North end of Bear lake and the kids had a BLAST! The Simon brother's may have liked it even more than the kids though. haha. They build a sweet river/castle. Pictures to come. After Bear Lake we drove to Logan and stayed at Days Inn there. It was actually REALLY nice! We played in the pool, went to dinner at a yummy restaurant and then watched a movie. This morning we went to church, stopped at the Logan temple and then headed home. It was a really nice, fun trip. Here's some pictures:


Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Summertime

I am happy to report that we've been out camping twice so far. Our third camping trip was cancelled by some friends unfortunately. But we've been living up summer so far. With two camping trips, and a day at 7 Peaks, we're off to a good start :). I LOVE SUMMER! I think each year gets more exciting with kids as they are more aware and talkative about various summer activities. We went to a splashpad in Herriman yesterday which was a lot of fun. I have our Summer Calendar printed up with fun summer things all over it and can't wait. Among the activities on the list are:
Seven Peaks
Go to a nearby Park
Homemade popscicles
Make our own Super bubbles http://www.kids-party-paradise.com/bubble-recipes.html
Paint the Sidewalk with Water
Visit a pet store
Call Someone you love
Go to a splash-pad
Dinosaur meuseum
Candy Necklaces with movie
Visit the aquarium
Wash the Car
Write someone a note and deliver
Photo Shoot
Watch a Movie
Feed the Ducks
Go to a Garage Sale
Make a Time Capsule
Lunch with Stuffed Animals as guests
Draw Hopscotch and play it http://www.ehow.com/how_4430898_draw-perfect-hopscotch.html
Plastic tablecloth with shaving cream fun
Circle chalk game http://www.littlehandsbigwork.com/2010/03/fun-side-walk-games.html
Paint outside: paint made with cornstarch, water (equal parts) and food coloring
Paper airplane fun http://idigpinterest.blogspot.com/2013/04/worlds-best-paper-airplane.html
Paint with water on construction paper
Build a cup tower and knock it down with water guns
Family: Gilgal Sculpture Garden (bring a picnic 749 E 500 S Salt Lake City, UT 84102 )
Sweet’s Candy Factory:Phone:801-886-1444 Address:3780 W Directors Row
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Church History Meuseum
Walk around Temple Grounds
Clark Planetarium
Put water in pan and roll dice. Every time a 6 is rolled, hit the water and SPLASH!
Homemade Gak http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/01/homemade-gak.html
Mini Marshmallow shooters http://www.cometogetherkids.com/2011/09/mini-marshmallow-shooters-or-pom-pom.html
Masking tape car track http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/17823/build-a-track
Make Kool Aid Popcorn and watch a show http://maddycakesmuse.blogspot.com/2012/04/kool.html

I am STOKED! And so far, my boys are loving the extra fun! On a side note, I have started doing preschool at home with Parker. I'm not sure how many saw my post on facebook about being on the fence with sending him to preschool or doing it myself, but I decided to do it myself at least this year and possibly re-visit the idea of formal pre-school for his year before kindergarden. Most kids his age (almost 3) haven't started preschool yet but I decided I might as well get started. So, we started about a month ago and so far so good! It makes me feel so good when I can tell how much he is retaining! Here is how our daily routine goes now:
-Wake up
-Eat breakfast
-Get Dressed
-Read Scriptures (We have a the "Book of Mormon Stories" book that has lots of pictures but goes through the entire BOM)
-Read books (lots of them. From the library. I can only read a book so many times before I myself am bored with it. So, the library it is :))
-Various activities I've planned out that focus on a letter, number and shape of the week.

He knows all of his colors (but has for quite some time)
He recognizes all but 3 letters in the alphabet now (he knows upper-case better than lowercase for now)
He knows about half of the sounds the letters make
He recognizes numbers 1-5 (numbers have been harder than letters for him)
He counts EVERYTHING really well up to ten (after ten he keeps repeating 8, 9, 10 and sometimes throws in some 19, 17 etc. :))
He knows the shapes of oval, circle, triangle, square, rectangle, heart, star REALLY well
His vocabulary and imagination is expanding by the day
He is getting so good at writing! He can trace really well and can even write many letters all by himself!

One of the many crafts we've been doing. His "W" Glasses:


I am so proud of him and I'm loving "dedicating" so much more time for him!

P.S. Spencer has been taking so many steps. He's pretty much walked across the room and has stood up without holding anything 4 times now! So adorable and exciting!

Here are some pictures from camping: