Water Park

Yesterday we put on our bathing suits and headed over to Roaring Springs Water Park!

Rylee, Avynlea and I spent most of the time in the kiddie pool area while the bigger kids did a little more exploring of the park. This was the first and last time Rylee went down the water slide. She said it was fun but would not do it again.

Avynlea on the other hand LOVED the little water slides, despite the scary look on her face, she did them a lot through out the day. I was impressed with her bravery at doing them.

Breana and Kenedy braved the big water slide called "The Avalanche". Ryker really wanted to do it too but was just half an inch too short. He was really bummed.

After the thrill ride down Breana wanted to go again but Kenedy said no way. I told Bre I would go with her, so I left my camera and kids in the capable hands of Kenedy.

Oh my gosh that ride was scary. It is almost a straight drop down and then you go back up the other side and down again. My stomach did not feel too well while I was riding that thing. I don't think I will ever go on that ride again. Way too scary for little delicate me!

Breana, Ryker and Kenedy racing down the water slides.

Ryker and Kenedy LOVE the water park!

Towards the end of the day Rylee fell asleep, exhausted, in my arms. After a little while my arm started to cramp so I put her down in one of the little floaties to sleep.

Isn't she so adorable!?

Strongman Ryker and skinny minnie Kenedy!

Of course Rylee and Avy had to get a picture also!
We had so much fun at the water park and the kids are already wanting to go again. It was a good way to spend the day for sure. Maybe next year we will think about season passes!

Breana comes to visit!

My cute niece flew up to Idaho today to visit us for about a week. This was her first time on an airplane and her first time being so far away from home. She is 17 and seems quite happy to be here but her Mom started having withdrawals as soon as her darling daughter stepped onto the plane. I promised her to post pictures so that she can see what Breana is up to and here is a picture of what Breana did day one...

This poor kid was up till 3:00 in the morning packing and cleaning and then had to get up at 5:15 to catch her early morning flight. I picked her up from the airport and headed straight to church with her. After church we came home, we ate our meal, we put on a movie and then she was out like a light. She did wake up halfway through to eat some strawberry shortcake with us then she fell right back asleep. She promises that she will still be able to sleep tonight but we shall see.
I am just glad she is here and am looking forward to a really fun week with my oldest niece!

AHHHHHH

I think she is screaming because I just told her she has to clean up her mess.
I am sure she got it done! :)

All about Rylee

The other night at dinner Rylee wanted to get down from her high chair. I told her that she needed to finish eating her chicken before she got down. When I looked a little bit later I saw an empty plate sitting on her tray.

I noticed something suspicious about the whole thing so I looked a little closer to find this...

hahaha is she a clever duck or what?

For the past couple of month Rylee would tell me she wants to wear panties and sometimes would even use the toilet when I would put her on it. So I would let her wear some panties but would always quickly switch back to diapers when she peed in them. This last Monday, same story. She wanted to wear panties. The difference this time? She went on the potty three times and one of those times it was a number two. I figured this girl has been wanting to use the potty and be a big girl for a while now so I was going to do it. Normally we do it around 3 but she really wanted to so who am I to say no?

I got her some Dora panties as well as Minnie mouse and pony and I also picked up a bag of M&M's for a reward. She has done OK this past week. Sometimes telling me when she has to go, sometimes going when I ask her and then we also had quite a few accidents.

Yesterday was a great day for Rylee. She did not have any accidents and even went on the potty when the babysitter was here. She has also been waking up dry from her naps and in the morning. On Thursday I put a diaper on her for her nap, only a diaper, because I was still leery about peeing in her bed. She wasn't wanting it on but I made her and put her to bed. When I went in to check on her she was sound asleep and she was also completely naked! The stinker had taken her diaper off! It made me laugh and also told me that she is done having diapers on. Oh my little baby is growing up!

Happy Fathers Day Kefford!

Usually for Fathers Day I would have the kids help me make breakfast for Kefford. But Kefford has early Sunday meetings and while I would have gotten up I didn't want the kids to get up that early. Church starts at 12:30 which is right when naptime should happen so I needed Rylee to get as much sleep as possible so she would be happy at church. So he left and later the kids woke up and I got them all fed and ready for church. We pulled in Keffords big Fathers day gift and when we heard the pickup pull into the garage I had the kids pose around it for the big "Surprise"!

Yeah Happy Fathers Day Daddy! A brand new gun safe. I had told Kefford a couple months ago this is what he was getting and that he had to pick it out himself. So it has been sitting in our garage for a while.

Kefford was quite happy to see all of our cute kids lined up to surprise him.

Then it was time for hugs. Notice how Kefford is busy inspecting his safe while getting hugged? Classic man!

With a little bit of help he got it out of the box and opened it up to check it out.

I love this great man! Kefford also got beef jerky and new pants for church. After church I made him a yummy dinner of pork ribs, corn on the cob, jello and potatoes. After dinner I cleaned up and then we watched Prince Caspian. We paused the movie in the middle so we could eat the fabulous cheescake I bought from Costco. This dessert is a favorite of mine as well as liked alot by Kefford so we both scored! :)

I think Kefford had a great day. We really tried hard to show him how much we love and appreciate him and I think we did a good job.
So now because I rarely do this I am going to list 9 things that make Kefford a fantastic Dad in honor of his 9th year of being a Dad.
1) His incredible patience with the kids
2) The way he includes them in his favorite activities.
3) How hands on he is with night time rituals.
4) Taking time to spend one on one time with each one.
5) Playing outside with the kids.
6) Kenedy loves that he plays with her, is really nice and that he takes her on bike rides with him.
7) Ryker loves that he takes him four-wheeler riding.
8) Avynlea loves her Dad because he gives her treats.
9) Rylee loves to snuggle with her Dad and she loves it when he tosses her up in the air like a rag doll.
So there you go we love Kefford and are very happy to have him in our lives!

Heather Graduates!

Today my sister Heather graduated from Cal State San Bernadino with her Masters degree in Environmental Sciences! I really wanted to fly down so I could be there for her graduation but, Alas, I could not get a ticket. Booo! But I was able to watch the graduation online with live feed directly from the ceremony. This was really exciting and quite the process for me here in Idaho. Let me share with you in my journey!

Here I am watching the live feed. I tried to look interested and engaged in the speaker but lets face it, it is a graduation and the speakers are not all that engaging or interesting.

Singing along with the national anthem. Yup I sang, yup I sounded not good! But I am patriotic, I didn't stand though, is that wrong?

Wait! I just lost the feed. Oh no! Now i am not happy!

I was having a hard time getting the feed back and I was starting to get a little stressed so I had to eat a brownie to calm me down. I just did not want to miss Heather walking and I was afraid that I would.

PHEW! After about 5 or 10 stressful minutes I got the feed back. I had to completely shut down my computer and restart it again. But I got it back in time and I was able to skip listening to the boring speakers..hehehe!

Heather has Graduated! I am so proud of her with her little Masters Hood. She even gave me a secret signal to let me know she knew I was watching. I saw you Heather and it made me tear up! :)

Does this mean I have to call her "Master Haather"?

YEAH!!!! I am so happy I got to watch this. It takes the sting out of not being there in person for sure! What a happy time for our family. I think what makes it the most special is knowing how proud my Dad would be of Heather. He always placed a special and great emphasis on education and this would have made him so happy. I am sure he was watching somewhere!
Congratulations Heather! I am so proud of you, love you ugly!