Firsts

We've had a lot of firsts around here lately.

Carter

- had his first football practice ever!

After much debate we decided to have him play with the local Upward league. They are Christian based sports group and we have been beyond thrilled with the coaches and the organization. We also like that they keep the teams small allowing the boys to really learn the game, try all the different positions and get lots of playing time. It may be premature but I think Carter may have found "his" sport. He's quite good at football even though he's never played before. He is SO excited for his first game and has been wearing his uniform around the house all weekend.

- is really, truly being challenged in school for the first time ever! I am so happy to see him have to put in serious effort in his homework and schoolwork. His teacher and the gifted team at his new school have been FABULOUS in keeping him challenged. The math curriculum at the school is excellent and really keeping him on his toes!

Makenna

-had her first dance class of the year this past week. She is taking at a new studio and had a great time in her class. She will be starting 2nd dance class this week with a bunch of her church friends who are taking from a teen in our stake who has a studio out of her home. She is thrilled to be dancing again after taking most of the summer off!

- is doing great in school and her reading is really taking off. She is loving school though she still struggles to wake up most mornings. She loves her little group of friends and has gotten VERY into the Silly Bandz craze since school started!

(Unfortunately I did not take a pic of Kenna before her dance class last week but here she is baking with Allen yesterday - her all time favorite past time)

Addison

- is using the big girl potty regularly and rarely has accidents any more. Unfortunately, she has not gotten #2 down yet, despite many bribes and threats. I have resorted to making her take a cold shower when she poops her pants, which she hates, so I'm hoping it works out soon. (And I know I'm not the first mom with this problem so if you have any tips/tricks - send them my way!)

- started her dance and tumbling classes these last couple weeks. She is as cute as a button and LOVES going to her classes. She especially loves tumbling because several of her friends from church are in her class with her and she loves her teacher Miss Jacque. Seriously, I could eat this child alive, every second of her life!We're staying SUPER busy between all our extra curricular activities, homework and volunteering in the kids' classrooms!

STAY TUNED: We have our LAST ultrasound for our LAST baby on Wednesday. I can hardly wait for our big news!!!

Galloping Graces

A couple weeks ago I was able to take the kids, along with some friends horseback riding. A couple here in town opened a non-profit horse ranch for kids a few years ago that offers FREE horseback riding to kids several times a month. I have wanted to take the kids for awhile but wanted to wait until summer.

They had an amazing experience! We were so impressed with the entire organization and with the couple who generously offers their land and livestock so kids can have this experience. Our day was broken into three stations. At the first station the kids were asked to make thank you cards that are sent to the people who donate the food for the horses.

Our second station was our service station where the kids got to pick up horse poop. Hilariously, the kids loved this part of our day almost as much as their time spent on the actual horses! The kids proved to be hard workers and even the littlest ones chipped in and scooped poop

It was finally our turn to ride the horses and the kids LOVED it. Carter and Makenna both proved to be quite adept at handling the horses on their own. I was so proud of how brave they were and how patient they were with the horses and the process of steering them through the obstacles in their pens. The surprise of the day was how IN LOVE with the horses and riding Addie was. She could not get enough of it. Of course she was just walked around the ring with the horse for about 15 minutes but she cried and cried when they took her off the horse. She is STILL talking about riding the horsey.

After the organized activities the kids spent quite a bit of time playing around their amazing playhouse, barn and play structure

Carter, Noah and Jay practicing their roping:

Thank you Galloping Graces! We had a wonderful time and can't wait to come back!

Camp Invention

I'm a *little* bit behind in my blogging but I'm vowing to get caught up this weekend!

The 2nd week of summer vacation Carter was able to attend an all-day science camp at his school called Camp Invention. The camp focused on getting kids to look at science and creating in a new light. He LOVED his week at camp. They built roller coasters, took apart electronics and put them back together, created spacecraft that they raced, planned and built a city, created rides for an amusment park, played games and learned about scientific advances around the world.

On the last day of camp, families were invited to see what the kids had been working on all week. Here are a few pictures of Carter's teams projects:

The city they built:

Carter's invented carnival ride, the icecream scoop twirl:The roller coaster wall (they raced marbles down these tubes):We hope Camp Invention comes back next year because he had a great experience. It is a national camp program so if it ever comes to your area, we highly recommend it.

Last week of School!

Yesterday was our last day of school! Yay! Bring on summer vacation. Ironically, the weather is overcast and rainy here today but it's such a change from the norm that we are LOVING it!!!

Of course it was a really busy week. I'm home this morning waiting for an appraiser and home inspector and thought I should catch up on the week.

Karate graduation/promotion:

Carter received his yellow belt in karate on Monday night. He was tested last week and passed to a yellow belt. He LOVES karate so much and is doing really well. I definitely think we will continue it in the fall in NM.


After he received his new belt and award he walked back to his seat he fist pumped in the air a la Rocky. Hilarious.

Preschool Program:





Miss M had her last day of preschool on Wednesday. All the kids put on a little program for the parents and it was adorable. Being the mom of the year that I am, my memory card on my camera was full about 2 minutes into the program. Nice. Especially since BOTH of my cameras take video footage but one was full and the other one I'm not entirely sure how to use yet. I seriously cried over my stupidity. Luckily I can get a copy from a friend who taped it.

Makenna did great in school this year. She was a little shy at the beginning of the year but has really blossomed now. She knows all her letters, sounds, numbers and how to write her name. She is really self motivated to work on her writing skills and is improving all the time. She learned lots of cute songs and nursery rhymes.

Carter's Last Day:

Yesterday was Carter's last day of school. I was able to attend his school party and awards ceremony. Carter got an academic award and the award for being most enthusiastic. I had to laugh at that one. I am SO happy with our schooling choice this year. I do think we traded some fun for academics but I am so grateful he was challenged this year. He is reading on a 5th grade level, although I think his comprehension is not at that level yet. Next year is sure to be tricky as we will be going back to a regular school situation but we'll cross that bridge in a couple months.

We also had something going on every night this week! A big thanks to my local friends who are taking such good care of us!!

Now we're on to summer break! We have lots going on the next few weeks before we move. Fun with friends, swim lessons, craft and spanish camps, a househunting trip, etc. And then our big move later in June! Crazy! The summer is going to fly by!

We are very much looking forward to the long holiday weekend with lots of relaxing, time at the pool, maybe a trip to the movies, date night, etc. Nothing big but it's just what we need right now. We have plenty of BIG coming up!