4th of July

On the morning of the 4th of July Heather and I went out walking, when we got back we found Kefford and Avynlea in the kitchen making holiday pancakes! They colored some of the batter red and added blueberries to some of the white batter, they were delicious and fun to come home to. 

rylee woke up on the 3rd with red goopy eyes, I figured she had pink eye and Kefford had one of his Dr friends call in a prescription, The Dr said it might not be pink eye, that it could any number of things and not necessarily contagious but we decided to use the medicine just in case. I also decided that we probably should not take her to the Farms 4th of July party because if it was pink eye I would feel terrible for spreading it around. Her eye was looking a little better on the 4th but Heather and I stayed home with her while the rest of the family went out to the farm. 

We wanted to make this not a bummer day for Rylee so after everyone else left we went over to Reeds dairy to get some ice cream, their ice cream is so good! Then after going to a couple of stores we came home and vegged in from of the TV for a while watching Harry Potter.

Whitney sent me a couple pictures of Kefford playing with his nieces and nephews, in the top picture he is being chased by girls with water balloons and in the bottom picture he is enjoying Xander, Charlotte and Kinsley. He is such a good Uncle and I love seeing him love and have fun with all of the littles.

Kefford also sent me some pictures of him and Ave taking a ride in the Corvette. Fancy!

After the movie we packed up snacks, games chairs and a blanket and headed over to Story Park for food, fireworks and fun. We wanted to watch the fireworks and this was the best way to do it and the most fun. We got some food from the food trucks, I got Rylee a corn Dog and I shared my massive amount of curly fries that I got with my small bit of chicken tenders. The food was ok but oohing I would ever spend my money on again. We should have just got cafe rio and brought that with us, it would have been tastier. The food was way too greasy and the chicken tender I got was better suited for a toddler with how non existent it was. I was pretty disappointed. 

Avy felt really bad that Rylee could not go to the farm so while we were at War-Mart she insisted on picking out an activity for Rylee to do while they were gone. Rylee really enjoyed painting her canvas at the park and I think her finished product turned out so cute!

Heather brought us fireworks glasses that she bought while she was on her Washington DC trip, they were fun to wear and added the words USA to all of the fireworks. I thought they made the display that much more exciting. Th fireworks display was beautiful, gun and worth waiting around for. I did feel that the show lasted pretty long but right when I commented on the length they did the grand finale and we were done. It was a great 4th of July and I enjoyed having time with Rylee without the other kids around. I do hope for next year to be infection free though!

Hair color and Dinosaurs

My friend Jessica came over to do my hair and Ave and Rylee really wanted to put some color back in their hair. I could tell that Jessica wasn't wanting to stick around to apply color to their hair but she did leave a color brush for me to use when I said I would do it. I applied my blue color to the tips of their hair just like we did last time. I thought it was cute that they helped each other wash out the color after waiting the correct amount of time for the color to set. They went swimming later that night and after they washed their hair again the color had all come out. Not sure why it came out so quick this time around other then it was a different brand then what was put on their hair previously and they did go swimming but I would think that it should have stayed in better. Oh well, we can always try it again another time.

I have really been wanting to see the new Jurassic World movie and was so happy to have found a time to do it together as a family with everyones busy schedule. We went on a Tuesday when it was cheaper and had a great time. Our overall opinion of the movie was that it was good but we all liked the first Jurassic World better. 

Table Rock Hike and Swimming

Yay, Heather finally came for some Summer fun! We went walking every day that she was here which was so fun to have a walking buddy. One morning we talked Ryker into going with us to hike up to Table Rock. Avy and Rylee were up in McCall on a Grandma's trip with Alison and Kenedy was sick of hiking to Table Rock since she has done it a lot with her friends recently. So it was just the three of us. When we got to the start of the hike Ryker spotted a friend he knew from school and since we started at the same time he hiked up with him leaving Heather and I to huff and puff behind him. 

For some reason this hike was a bit harder this time around then previous times we have gone hiking. I wonder if it was because i felt I was  pushing us to go a bit faster then we would normally go because I was on a bit of a time crunch. Whatever the reason it was a bit more difficult but we made it to the top alive. We had a really nice breeze most of the way to the top which was helpful and then once we got up there the wind was really blowing so that it was really chilly when standing on the edge. 

We took some pictures, looked at the view, found the Meridian Temple (I think) and then we hiked it back down.

We went swimming and although I didn't't last too long in the water it was nice to be there with Kefford and most of our kids. Kenedy was at work.

I enjoyed watching The kids play their water games and they had a good time swimming around and showing off their water talents.

Blueberry Picking!

On our drive back from Utah Mikell called Alison and while she was on the car phone speaker I mentioned that we needed to go blueberry picking. Mikell said she would look up the info and send a text out to get everyone involved. Heather was coming for her summer visit Monday night and I was hoping we could work it out so that she could come with us again but Monday morning was the best day for everyone else, so no Heather this year:(

I brought all four kids with me and I told them they could not quit until they met their quota of a full bucket each. I thought we picked a lot of blueberries last year but they were all gone by the end of summer and I really wanted to get enough this year to last all year. 

We had a great time picking blueberries and my kids had a great time being with their cousins. Caleb LOVES Ryker and was his little buddy the entire time, it was pretty cute. Those two were the only ones I got pictures of because my kids were off down the rows picking with their cousins and I was too focused on filling my bucket to follow them around for pictures.

I did manage to get two group shots of some of us who were there. By the time I thought to take a big picture most of our fun group were gone. Mikell, Whitney, Kylie, Michelle, Brit and I were all there with our kids along with Grandma Alison who had Isabelle and Audrey with her. Definitely a fun group!

Tayvia, Kenedy, Hazel, Rylee, Alison, Isabelle and Avynlea

Ryker, Brit, Xander, Asher, Audrey and Elizabeth

Isabelle, Tayvia, Rylee, Asher and Brit

Ryker, Kinsley, Sadie, Avynlea, Hazel and Caleb

Utah!

Kefford mentioned that his Mom was going to Dustin's house in Utah to pick up Isabelle and Audrey to bring them to the farm for a couple of weeks. I called her up and asked it Avynlea, Rylee and I could tag along so we could visit my sister for a couple of days. She was more then agreeable about us tagging along and we left Wednesday and came back Friday, it was a really quick trip, but it was a good trip. 

We went to the wood crafting place to pick out a project and the girls really wanted to do a craft so Emily found some flowers she never did anything with and let them have those. I loved their creativity and thought their flowers turned out so cute!

Thursday morning we went to the Mt Timpanogas Temple so the girls could do Baptisms. Rylee is not yet 12 so she had to wait in the waiting room. This Temple was so busy and it took about two hours for the girls to get done with their Baptisms. Poor Rylee had a long wait but she brought her Kindle and played on that while also watching some of the Brides come through. 

 Thursday night Avynlea and Rylee got to go to Mutual with Isabelle and they played on the beach at the lake close to their house. Emily had a temple recommend interview and after she was done we went to pick up our girls. 

 Friday morning we went to Bridal Veil Falls for a quick hike. It was nice and not too hot thank heavens.

 Rylee found a big stick and some rocks and a smaller stick that she wanted to keep. I told her we would take a picture and then leave the Nature in the Nature, she really makes me laugh!

It was a really short trip but I am glad we went, we had a lot of fun and enjoyed being with Emily and Isabelle.

Ryker has been working at the farm a lot this summer. While we were in Utah Taylor sent me a picture and said...

"I went to the shop to clean my car and Ryker was pushing Aspen around on the chair for about 20 minutes straight, then he helped me clean my car. He's such a good boy!"

I love hearing kind words about my kids and am grateful Ryker is being so sweet to all of his little cousins and that he is so helpful. I really have great kids!

Spartan 2018

A couple of months ago Danny Ricks talked Kefford into signing up to do the Spartan with him and a couple of other guys. Kefford wasn't really wanting to do it but he let himself get talked into it and signed up then regretted it off and on up until the day of. He was worried about it constantly for those months and wasn't sure how well he would do. He trained the best he could and the morning of was ready come what may. 

I couldn't go and watch because it would have cost me money to be a spectator and I didn't want to pay to stand in the heat and watch Kefford run by briefly. I knew he would do good though because he is very athletically inclined.

When he came home he was exhausted but pretty proud of how he had done. he completed all of the obstacles and did not have to do any burpees other then the ones he did to help his teammates. I am pretty sure he was glad he did it and I told him he should do it again next year. We got some pictures that were take at the race and then Danny sent the group pictures they took together.

Danny Ricks. Ren Lamm and Kefford

This was the beast of a hill they had to run up, that would have killed me.

Ryan Ercanbrack, Kefford, Steve Payne, Danny and Ren

End of School

Last day of High School for Kenedy! She moving on to bigger and better things and I am so excited for her to get to experience College, she will love it! Kenedy was done with school about a week and a half before the other kids got out. 

The next week I got to go to the Middle School for Avynlea's awards assembly. Once again she got the award for 4.0 and I am super proud of her for keeping her grades up. She loves school and loves to work hard and do her best!

Beginning of June it was Avynlea and Ryker's turn for their last day of school. The High School does not do any awards assemblies but Ryker also got a 4.0 grade point average for the year. It came down to the wire but he was able to get the straight A's he was working for and he was so happy that he did it! He is now a Sophomore and Avynlea will be moving into the 8th grade. Nothing I can do about my kids growing up but I sure love them and am super proud of all the good they accomplish!

And another week and a half later we finally got to Rylee and her last day of school. This was a big year for Rylee as it was her last year in Elementary School. She had such a great 5th grade year, she loved her teacher, she had her best friend in her class and she thrived! I am so happy with how her last year went and am really proud of her and how hard she worked to do well in school.

Rylee had her Awards Assembly that day and Avynlea and I along with Alison went to watch and support her. Rylee got her fifth grade promotion certificate as well as a certificate for her being in the safety patrol. The biggest award Rylee got was the presidential Award for Academics. Not a lot of students get this award so it was a big deal and I am really proud of Rylee for receiving it and so happy she was recognized for her hard work.

After the assembly we took some pictures, said goodbye to Alison and then headed outside for our last elementary school picnic ever! 

We stopped in to get a picture with Mr Thornburg, Rylee's teacher...

and we also got Serena to take a besties picture with Rylee. The girls liked to hang out in their teachers closet throughout the year and so we took a picture of them in their favorite hangout spot.

And just like that everyone is now officially out of school and the summer can begin!