Family Day

Sometimes life is hard.  We've had a lot of that lately so we decided our family needed a day.  We called the schools and let them know Kayda and Dillon wouldn't be in and then we took off to the beach.  The drive was a little longer than we remembered.  We went to Twin Harbors State Park, yeah... definitely not a good camp ground by the way.  Anyway.  We spent a few hours there.  It was Carson's first time to see the ocean!  He actually wasn't very interested in the water which is weird for him.  But he LOVED the giant, never ending sand box!  When we first got there the weather was perfect!  But then the wind went cold and Carson did not like that. 

And...then the camera dies.  If this had been a planned trip I would like to think I would have checked that.  It worked out though, made it easier for me to just play.  We flew kites, built a sand castle, made an obstacle course and when Carson couldn't handle the beach anymore we went to the parking/picnic area and climbed a few trees before we headed home. 

It was a great spur of the moment trip.  I think the kids really enjoyed it despite the 5 hours of driving.

Dillon's First Day of Preschool!

Monday was Dillon's first day of preschool!  He was SO excited!  It helps that he went there last year too so he's totally familiar with everything but he was READY.  He gets to be a frog this year!  He was so cooperative and wanted me to take pictures which of course I was planning on doing anyway!

 Carson wasn't going to have much choice in the matter!  Dillon was going to get a picture with him no matter what!

 We waited for Kayda to be picked up by the bus (she wouldn't let us take any pictures of her, she didn't want to go to school and was pouting).  Then he got to choose which car to ride in (he chose the Jeep) and we were off.

 He knew just exactly what to do!

 He was SO excited to have a FROG name tag this year!

 

And here are his teachers!  Miss Donna and Miss Brenda!  I love these ladies!

Day of Service

Last Saturday was the Regional Day of Service.  Daddy and I were our ward's representatives and we put a lot of time into getting ready for the day.  Needless to say we are glad it's over!  It turned out well.  Our ward was in charge of 3 seperate projects.  We could only attend one so I only have pictures of one!  This was the largest project with about 60 people.  We loaded up the kids, Grandma H joined us and Jennifer and Ryan joined us! 

 

 Our task was to clear out black berry bushes to make room for some new planting.  Unfortunately we weren't dressed quite right to be wading in among blackberries and stinging nettles... OUCH! Here's most of the crew, a few more people came in after we got out instructions.   See Kayda and Dillon listening so attentively!

 Carson wanted to MOVE!  I spent the first hour chasing after him.  He kept running back to the walking trail.  He didn't really want to hang out around anybody.  After the first hour Grandma H took over.  He seemed to enjoy his time with her for sure!

 Dillon, Kayda and Leone.  This seems like a "My tool is cooler than yours" moment.

 Ryan and Dillon were IN there ready to cut everything.  They were so serious!

 

 Here's my runner!

 

 Eventually Kayda lost interest and found this hill to go play on.

 

 After 3 hours of work it was time to head to the picnic.  Carson fell asleep on the way.  Unfortunately he didn't sleep for very long.

 

Carson was having a great time with the hula hoop.  The only problem was when he was running along like this and tripped.  Needless to say he couldn't get his hands out there to catch himself... total faceplant.  It was a great day.  We were glad to be out there with everyone!

Dillon's Preschool Open House

Today was Dillon's preschool open house, not that we NEEDED to go since he knows the school and Miss Brenda and Miss Donna already.  But he is so excited to go to preschool and misses big sister so we took the chance to go!  Preschool doesn't start until the 10th which is kind of sad, he is ready for it to start again.  This year the enrollment is down, hopefully it will stay that way! 

 

 The apples each have a kid's name on them.

 

 Dillon wasted no time, he said "hi" to Miss Brenda and Miss Donna, gave Miss Donna a hug and then took off for the toys.  He didn't even stop when some kids he knew came.  He just kept on doing his thing!

 

 Carson's ready for preschool too!  He was SO interested in all the toys he was in heaven.  Though at one point he was walking out the door... 

 

We look forward to preschool starting, well Dillon does.  It will be pretty empty in the house with two kids gone.  I know they were both gone yesterday but I think it feels a lot longer since Kayda is gone all day to kindergarten.

No More Training Wheels

Since we got home from our last camping trip it has been in Kayda's and Dillon's heads to practice riding their bikes without training wheels.  So we FINALLY had an evening with time to do it.  Daddy, Dillon and Carson were off choosing a movie for movie night and Kayda and I had finished a couple of chores so I decide "Might as well go out and get the training wheels off."  Then I decide "Well, it won't hurt to let Kayda practice a little before Daddy gets back."  So she gets her tennis shoes on, climbs on the bike and I explain to her how to choose which foot to push with and which foot to start pedalling with.  So I'm holding onto her sides a bit and then she starts, I'm jogging a long beside her and within 5 feet I am NOT holding onto her at all and she makes it all the way down the driveway, a good 30 feet.  WHAT!?!  Last time we tried was at Taidnapam and she was NOWHERE close to being able to do it.  So I'm thinking "Where did this come from?!"  We try again.  Off she goes no problem!  So I started working with her on turning and talking to her about how to stop, you know use your brakes and when you start to tip put a foot down.  Holy Cow!  I am SO surprised. 

At this point Daddy still isn't home yet so we go inside and make some phone calls (thanks Grandmas for being SO excited for her).   She told Grandma H that she "Surprised herself!". When Daddy gets home Kayda and I have a secret.  I tell Daddy "I got the training wheels off so lets practice a bit before it gets too dark."  So he gets all ready to help her and she takes off again...SURPRISE DADDY she can ride her bike without training wheels... magically.  Seriously it was like she threw a switch!

So once she has shown off for Daddy we get Dillon on his (I'd already taken off his training wheels too).  He gets on there and is a little wobbly with Daddy jogging beside him holding onto his sides.  "Pedal faster Dillon" so he does.  Next thing you know he's making it 10-15 feet without help and stopping without help!  He still needs to learn how to turn and how to start but WAY TO GO!!!  So we now have TWO resident training wheel-free kiddos!  We are so excited for them!

Of course I have no pictures because I really didn't expect tonight to be that "Magic night".  I figured there would be a few more trial runs than this.

Kayda's First Day of Kindergarten!!!

Thursday my sweet little girl took a big step to growing up.  She's off to all day kindergarten.  She is away from home SEVEN hours Monday through Friday.  School is only six hours but she is a bus rider so it is more time.  Makes me want to pick her up and drop her off, the only problem with that is the bus is a HUGE hit with her.  She thinks it is SO neat!

 

 We bought an alarm clock for Kayda, may as well start teaching her young, she'll be using it for the rest of her life after all.  This picture is JUST before the alarm clock went off.  She did so well, she immediately got up, switched it off and then stayed out of bed just like I told her she needed to.  She came and snuggled in my lap for a minute while she got her bearings and then we were getting dressed, eating breakfast, and out to take pictures. 

 Not that you can really see us...  Daddy drove ahead (because we were chasing the school bus to school in the car after she was picked up) and we walked down.  We got there about 15 minutes early waiting, and waiting and waiting.  Fortunately there is a field nearby and Dillon and Carson wandered around there for a bit while Daddy and Mommy took turns having special time with Kayda before she left.

As soon as the bus started to drive we raced into the car and drove after it.  We parked and Daddy ran off to see her get off the bus (he didn't quite make it) while I got Dillon and Carson out. 

 

 Here she is fresh off the bus. 

 

 We followed her to class, saw her find her seat and get settled.  We gave our final goodbyes and left. 

Once we dropped Daddy off at home to grab the other car Dillon, Carson and I spent the morning getting the things they needed for soccer and for Kayda's dance class, at the library and then as a special treat for my at home boys we grabbed McDonalds.  That killed enough of the day that Carson went down for a nap and Dillon and I got some special time reading the library books and doing puzzles. 

 FINALLY it was time to go get Kayda from the bus.  We only had to wait about 5 minutes this time because I figured out the timing better.  Dillon was SO excited.  He asked me about 5 times if it was time to go get Kayda yet.  He definitely misses his big sister. 

 Yay!!! She's home!!!  If you could see in the window you would see the bus driver trying to teach her how to cross.  She couldn't really understand her accent so Mommy had to go across and get her, which is why I have no pictures of her getting off the bus. 

...and then we were walking, which is why this is the only picture I have post-bus.  I asked her how kindergarten was and she said "Great" and then proceeded to tell me the following stories:

• At second recess Kayda really wanted Mrs. T because there was a recess teacher she didn't like.  So Kayda went to the doors but they were locked or jammed or something and she couldn't get in (she didn't realize she HAD to stay outside for recess).  So she chose to just sit...and then she started crying.  (Mommy's heart is breaking about now)
• Mrs. T had to leave during third recess and the principal came in to watch them
• Nobody wanted to be her friend except for one girl and Kayda didn't want to be HER friend (turned out the girl as Kayda put it had "dark skin".  Levi (a boy from church she knew going in) was playing with other kids.  This all led to a big discussion about sometimes playing things OTHER people want to play, how skin on the outside doesn't matter and that she could be the nicest, funnest person inside, how Kayda should try to be friends with everybody and she had to choose to have fun even if she didn't get to do what SHE wanted to do.  We also went over the recess rules and such and I recommended that she try to be Vivian's (another girl from church but in a class behind Kayda there) friend since they would be doing ballet together and were in the same kindergarten class. 

Needless to say, day two seemed to go MUCH better for her.  She came home and told me that Vivian is her BEST friend (which she did with Kenzie last year and it made the year much easier for her).  Turns out Mrs. T's Dad had a stroke so Mrs. B was substituting.  Mrs. B happens to be in our ward so Kayda go to see bother her and Vivian at the ward campout Friday night. 

Dillon's second day was a little more high maintenance, you know... because I have to do the maintenance, within 15 minutes of getting back from the bus stop I realized I would NOT be able to keep him entertained (between being exhausted and having a crabby one year old).  So I was making phone calls to find something to do.  We headed off to the park with Chandra, Addison, Brandon, and Jayden.  We at lunch there and then headed to Baba's to visit.  I left Baba with just enough time to drive to the bus stop and pick up Kayda.  We only had to wait about 3 or 4 minutes.  SO glad that day two seemed MUCH better than day one!  I miss my little girl, Dillon misses her, as soon as she is in the house they are playing side by side and have NO desire to be apart.