potty training and bike training

Ada finally was brave enough to ask for the training wheels to be taken off her bike... I'm very proud of her.

Evelyn asked to be put into panties this week.  She does really good until dinner time... then she's done and doesn't want to bother.  We'll keep trying.

Evelyn was skating on the Candyland game... very carefully following the game board.  Cutie.

water

I've been watering the lawn a bunch this week... it doesn't seem to do any good, but maybe I'll keep the grass from dying.  But that means that my kids are all very wet pretty much all the time.  The other day, we just turned it into a swimming party.  All the Simonsen's grandkids that were here for the week and some neighborhood kids came.  They turned our slide into a water slide and had "carnival" dunking games involving a bucket and a ball.  It was really fun to watch. 

Fencing competition

My kids are losing steam, maybe because I am... we just had another fencing competition.  They were not excited.  Sam got 2nd though, so he was pretty proud of himself... it was the first time in about a year that he's placed over Ada... Ada got 3rd and was pretty disappointed.  I've asked one of the fencing dads that fences at BYU to coach the next class during the summer.  I think it would be good for the kids to have some teaching variety and maybe get more motivation and fun out of it.  And, I won't be teaching a class 9 months pregnant. 

Sam

Ada

Sam and Ada fencing each other

Our class, Evelyn, Ada, Sam, James, and Daniel

Daniel was less excited to get a medal... he wanted the trophy, but his brother got it and Daniel came in 4th.  Poor kid, life just isn't always what we want.

Visiting with family

We've had some fun opportunities with family this week.  Becca's family is moving to Kentucky, and possible John's family will be moving too... We were able to get together a couple times this week.  I sure hope that they both know how much they mean to me.  Note to Becca:  Thanks for always being a kind ear and willing to put up with me and my kids.  I've loved being around you since I met Jer 10 years ago.  You are open and caring and you'll make lots of close friends easily where you're going... I don't worry about you and your family... very happy and capable.  We'll miss you though.  Ada and Sam have especially liked being able to go to Grandma's house and ask, "Where are Rocky and Grace?!"   

Thanks family for being awesome...

Cinderella

I'm about a week behind on my blog.  I'm determined catch up.  Last Monday, we went to Roger's and Hamerstein's Cinderella at the Scera with my mom and Janelle.  Ada and Evelyn LOVED it!  Sam... he liked the Impossible song but then decided that he was bored and life was over... luckily it was the outdoor theater so he could lay down and roll in the grass, so it wasn't a total loss for him. 

Ada wanted to meet the Fairy Godmother after, so dad took her up to... I took Sam to run on the hill.

T-Ball

Ada the catcher

Sam at bat

Sam on first

Pets

Why is it that almost every neighbor kid is convinced that my cat is nice and my dog is mean... here are the records so far:

Dog - 7 years old, never bit anyone but has licked most people in the world
Cat - about 4 years old, bites everyone eventually, only likes about 3 people in the world

Is it all because the dog is a medium sized dog?  She's not that big, but compared to the kids, she looks huge.

Hide and go seek

I love listening to the kids playing hide and go seek... Their cute giggles and Ada helping Evelyn count to 10 on her turn.

Birthdays galore!

It's been such a busy week!  A busier weekend and the busiest to come.  We finished up our swim lessons, celebrated my Sammy boy's 5th birthday, and I'll just have to tell you all about Saturday and Sunday. 

Saturday was the kids first T-Ball game.. Jer and I absolutely loved it... The kids had fun too.  I loved watching all the kids on the field run to the ball instead of just the shortstop or the right fielder.  I loved watching two or three of the kids just plop down in the dirt and start playing.  And one of the girls on the team just decided to take off her shoes and socks... just cause.

After that, we rushed home to get the house ready for a birthday party.  Even though we prepared for the better part of Friday and Saturday, we weren't ready.  My rescuers got here and saved the day.  My mom, Sharon and Janelle all helped finish up decorating, scooping ice cream and cake, and with clean up.  They are amazing!  I have to apologize to Seth though... he made a bean bag toss game for us and we completely forgot to set it up until we were putting stuff away after.  Sorry Seth! 

We had about 17 or so kids here because it was a combined party for both Sam and Evelyn... and even though it was busy, I prefer just cleaning one party rather than worry about two separate ones... Sam wanted a game board party and Evelyn wanted a My Little Pony party.  So we compromised.  Jer made a giant Candy Land Game on our front driveway, and we got a Pinkie Pie piñata.  The kids both had a blast... AND we were surprised by Jer's grandparents that had driven up from Arizona for a week or two.  They got here early and dropped in at our party.  So fun to see them!  Grandpa liked the cake so much that he had two pieces (he also liked our cat quite a bit) and Grandma kept saying how fun the Candy Land game was. 

I swear Tigress is more Seth's than mine.

Candy Land...

My big 5 year old!

My 3 year old!

Nella gave Evelyn her favorite...

Giving Grandpa an "Evelyn McStuffins" checkup.

Sunday, I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting.  I hate talking... I don't mind lessons, they're interactive... talks, I just feel like I'm preaching and I don't really know which direction to go.  I also did a lesson in Primary like always, but this week for some reason the kids were having a wiggly one.  After church, I played a bunch of Sam's new games with the kids... they really like Who shook Hook and they're in the kitchen playing Operation right now and are having a blast.  Jer had several meetings and after a quick nap we headed down to his parents to have a big family dinner with his Grandparents.  It was so fun to see everyone again.  Have one more big family dinner before Becca's family disappears to the east coast, one more family dinner before Diane has her baby, and see Alan and Rachelle's family again... it's been a while.

I was trying to tell Evelyn that she was named after her Great-Grandma Jane Evelyn... she didn't believe me.  She kept saying, "No!  I Evelyn, that's Grandma!"

And on the way down to the dinner, Evelyn said, "Now I 3, Joshy is bigger too... Now he going to marry me.  I'm the Princess and he's the Prince."

I love summer

We're enjoying our last week of easy access to the Highland splash pad... As of next week, my parents will live 5 minutes from me!  I think my kids will miss the splash pad though... may be we'll go visit, or we'll try out the Springville one.  I heard it was really fun.

Allen's new "truck".  The kids took turns pushing each other around the street in it.

Fishing

 

Apparently, there's a fishing pond not too far from our Brasher cousins... Matthew showed Ada how to cast and then took her over to go fishing with him and his friend.  She loved it, but disappointed that she didn't get to do it more.