Walk-a-thon

Friday was the walk-a-thon.  I was really disappointed that they didn't take pledges this year.  The school decided that they shouldn't ask the parents to do it since they had just finished a selling fundraiser.  Considering I don't let my kids do those, it was really frustrating.  This is one of the only kinds of fundraisers I'll let them do.  Anyway.  The kids were all really excited because it's their costume day.  They had parties in their classrooms and had 30 minutes for their walk-a-thon.  They earn little feet at the school for every mile they do (they can spend time during certain recesses too).  I thought it was interesting that the mile was measure differently from last year.  Last year they said each lap was 1/8 of a mile so every 8 laps they earned a foot.  This year it was eleven laps.  Which implies the bus loop magically went from 1/8 of a mile to 1/11.  Anyway.  Because of that the kids each only earned one foot but boy are they excited when they do!

Dillon's class had the first time during the day.  They were all really pumped up about it.  He jogged for most of the time.  In the whole half hour I got to walk two or three times around with him. 

 Kayda is on student council so she was there and got to sign Dillon's card when he came around.  Arianna, her best friend, is also on student council.  They get together every once in a while to make posters for different things.  

While I was waiting for Carson's time slot I helped in his class.   He cracks me up because he is friends with mostly girls.  Yesterday, for the first time, he told me a boy was his friend.  It came about because they played werewolf at recess.  Carson was the "hungry werewolf" and if he caught them they became werewolves too.

 Bella is on the left and Alexis is at the head of the table.  Alexis was in preschool with Carson and they became great friends as soon as school started.  He came home the first day telling me about his friend Alexis. For a little while he was peeved at Alexis so he was no longer her friend while he became best buds with Ellie.  Eventually he came around and realized he could have more than one friend though.

 Anxiously awaiting the start of the walk-a-thon!

 It was quite the experience trying to get all the kids in the class to stop by and get their cards signed.  Most of them were running the whole time.  I got to walk around once with Carson.  I was really glad I've learned all the kids' names because I was able to call them out of the crowd by name to get them signed. Unfortunately this time slot wasn't on Kayda's council schedule so she couldn't sign his card.

Kayda had the last time of the day (for my kids).  Last year she refused to do more than walk until the last few minutes and then she ran.  This year she ran one, walked one, ran one, walked one.  Which means I got to spend more time with her than I did the other two.  It is so much fun watching her with all the student council stuff.  I was always too nervous to do anything like that but she is thriving.  There is no fear of rejection, no concern that she won't get picked.  She had to "run" for a certain position within the council and she did it.  She was so excited because she got one vote (that wasn't hers).  She didn't even care that she didn't get it.  This year she is watching and learning and I've no doubt she'll go for it again next year.

I ended up spending almost the entire day at school so I could be with them all for their turns.  I am so grateful that I get to be home and do this.  It means so much to me to be able to run something over that they forgot, pick them up when they don't feel good, work in their classes, get them to all their appointments and deal with household stuff without having to lose family time in the evenings.  I love being able to give them the security of knowing that Mom is always there and available to them.  So thank you Daddy for working so hard.

Kayda's Walk-a-thon

Today Kayda's class had a walk-a-thon to fundraise for a ropes course challenge.   Kayda wrote out emails to ask for pledges.  Every time someone emailed back she got SO  excited.  She would yell "Mom!" And come running over to tell me.   Thank you for supporting her. I hate fundraisers in general but this kind 100% of it goes to the school so it doesn't bother me. 

 The kids got to dress in their Halloween costumes for the walk-a-thon.  Kayda refused to even jog for most of the time because she was "saving her energy". When they called out "two minutes" she started running.  It was fun watching her weave through everyone that had already worn themselves out.  On a side note,  Kayda came home and told me that she was the last girl in the speed test.  Since it is a process of elimination she is the fastest girl in her class and I believe she said the 3rd fastest in the class including boys.

 Carson and I volunteered to help.  We walked some and  then cheered and yelled for kids to go faster.  He was very shy and didn't like being out of arms reach.

 He noticed I wasn't  right next to him.

 I loved watching her.   She is so confident.   Sometimes she walked with other kids but she really spent most of the time walking alongon her own and completely comfortable with it. I love that she doesn't feel the need to be with other people all the time. She enjoys it sometimes but she is just fine,  and just as happy,  on her own as well.

With how many laps she ran, Kayda managed to fulfill 1/4 off the class goal by herself!

Random Summer Fun

The first part of this little catch up session is Kayda's decision to play hair stylist.  She decided that she wanted some alone time and was hanging out up in her room.  When she came down I thought something looked different but I just could put my finger on it. 

 Then it hit me.  Notice the new bangs?  The short chunk on the right?  She decided to experiment with scissors.  

 She also lost her fifth tooth!

 So I scheduled an appointment with the hair stylist and this is what we got.  This girl is cute, nothing can make her anything less... but I think maybe I should've gone ahead and cut her hair myself this time.  Kayda fortunately is okay with it and is having fun in the new world of bangs.

Next on the list...

Grandma and Papa G have been going nuts cleaning out their garages and sheds.  They kept asking me "Do you want the pool?" I kept thinking "It's too deep for Carson and I remember it being a huge ordeal to set up..."  Finally I decided "sure we'll take it".  So they brought it down and were kind enough to help me set it up right next to the little pool.  The kids have been in it literally EVERY day since we put it up a week and almost a week ago.  They are constantly asking to go in.  It's been very helpful to help get them back up to speed in the water for swim lessons next month.

 Daddy's been making huge improvements in his water skills as well ;)

 Dillon's in there somewhere!

Lastly... We decided to go on a walk this evening as a family.  Carson has a fever and has been unhappy unless he's outside.  Kayda had just given Mingo a shower and blow dried him and I thought "Hmm... Kayda's really enjoying Mingo let's take him with us!"  So I fashioned up a bird leash and tricked Mingo into getting it around his ankle and off we went.

 He started out on the stroller with his treats. 

Then he was passed to person to person, often times with Kayda.  It was great fun!  Dillon wants to be in here too so I'll let you know that he was WAY ahead of us being super speedy on his scooter!

Off to the beach!

We headed off to the lake with some ladies from the ward and some of their relatives on Wednesday.  We had 6 moms and I think 22 kids or so as well.  It was crazy, unfortunately I wasn't able to get a picture of all of them together.  Let me just say my kids are fantastic.  Carson got a little fussy as it got later and later in the day but my kids stayed close and didn't go wandering off.  It was really nice to be able to talk some.  We headed down to the beach about 10:30 and it was chilly in the shade.  There weren't very many people though.  The sand had been freshly combed and it was nice and loose so they could actually dig and play with the sand.  That's what they spent the majority of the trip doing.

 Dillon was having a good time running out of the water making the biggest splash he could.

 One bucket of water?  No, give me TWO!

 Carson is discovering the wonders of standing and playing, and walking!  Last Friday we were at Grandma and Papa H's, they were watching Aunt Anna and Uncle Scott's kids which means Brett (who is 6 weeks older than Carson) was there.  Well guess what, Brett is toddling around everywhere.  This interaction made Carson suddenly interested in walking.  He has been going ever since.  So yesterday (at the lake) was his first time walking on lumpy, bumpy sand.  Today he was walking all over the grass and in shoes!  He has decided that he likes walking better than crawling and will even get up to walk again if he falls or sits down.  He gets better everyday.  In the picture about he is throwing sand into that bucket, he would squat down, get a handful then stand back up and toss it in.

 The first thing Kayda did there was start digging a canal.  By the end of the trip the big boys (including Dillon) had turned it into a whole water way.  They would put the spouted buckets at the top and keep them full so the water was constantly running.  It was pretty clever.

 Kayda and Olivia.  They're in the same Sunday School class and I've decided that Olivia's mom and I are good friends so it works out great.  Unfortunately they won't go to the same elementary school.

 Dillon did this several times.  He thought it was very entertaining.  The only problem was that then he decided it was fun to dump on OTHER people too so we had to have a little discussion about that.

 Dillon and the big boys.

 Perfect example of what they were using our spouted buckets.  Carson loved playing in the puddles Kayda kept creating.

 Carson and Buster are right about 2 months apart and were playing great together.  This is Olivia's little brother so again... it works out perfect.  They kept trying to give eachother baby kisses.  SUPER cute.

 Then they kept playing together.

 ...and kept playing with eachother.  Pretty good for two kids right around a year old.

 This is Kayda and Olivia's cousin.  Nothing like matching swimsuits to instantly form a bond.  They played together pretty much the whole time once she got there.

 Whenever Carson wanted to get to the water he would do the bum scoot.  He would stretch out his legs and pull himself forward on his bottom until he got close enough to the water to kick it.

Two little mermaids...

It was a great time at the lake and I'm totally excited to do something like that with all the ladies again.  Tomorrow we're headed to the splash park.  Hopefully we'll have some pictures of that as well!