4th of July in Pictures 2011

The Fourth was wonderful this year at the lake.  A lot of people were out of town this year so it was different with only our kids being the little kids there.  The first order of business was to get out on the water and tube.  Carter and Lily did not remember doing this before so it was fun to watch them experience it.  Lily couldn't wait to get out on a tube and had this big open mouth grin the whole time.  She kept waving and blowing kisses too.  It was just way too fun to watch.

















Tanner is also really into tubing.  He just about can't stand to wait for his turn.






Peter's turn was a little more exciting.  He kept yawning to taunt his dad into giving him more of a ride.







 Mommy cuddles.


After the boat ride, they spent most of the afternoon playing in the bay on little boards.





Eden had fun teasing her Grandpa by splashing him. 


Dallin and Peter had a great time at the firework hut last week and so they set them off in the bay at the water.  Yeah, missed the photo op. on that one, but it was cool to watch on water.


We ate lots and lots of food, played games and puzzles with the kids, and visited with relatives and then bundled up to go out again to watch fireworks.


Sisters.  Lily loves Eden and Eden takes great care of her.














I decided not to take firework pictures this year, but Dallin begged me to so he wouldn't forget.  So I snapped a few for him.  I will never get over the magestic feel of being on the water and watching the show with boats all around and reflections of color bouncing of the water.  One of my favorite things ever.


The next night we finished up our celebrations by having a special family home evening. We started by making a fun flag cookie.  The kids did a great job decorating without help.  While they worked I read them a 4th of July story and we talked about our freedom.





When they finished we listened to the National Anthem via Carrie Underwood YouTube style and ate up.





We had snakes and sparklers left over so we made good use of those too.











It was fun to make so many great new memories.  We really emphasized the real meaning of freedom and told lots of stories as we talked  and celebrated with the kids and I think they got it.  We love America!

I Love Mothers Day!

This year was my favorite mothers day yet.  The kids are old enough that they really get into it and there were plenty of home made gifts to show for it. I want to remember this stuff forever.  Peter helped the kiddos make me breakfast in bed along with flowers and chocolate.  What a way to start the day!  They were VERY enthusiastic about it. Then they gave me the gifts they had made at school and home. 

Dallin's potted hand "flowers" with little notes and promises.



Tulips!



Sweet letter from Peter.  How romantical.




Tanner wrote "I love mom"! Then drew a web with a spider in it and Peter helped him draw his hand slinging webs. I just love how he wrote his Rs.



Eden's hands. There is a poem on the back.



 At church we received a rose and chocolate strawberries and cute sugar cookies! After church we had a taco dinner with Peter's family.  The kids kept saying "Happy Mothers Day!" all day too. It was just a great day all around.  I feel loved. And I guess its time for a belly picture. Um, I hope the camera adds 10 lbs. No?  Oh well then, it is what it is. I really want to be better at taking these this time. I have been so bad about it previously.

Easter 2011

Happy Easter!


We had a wonderful Easter this year. All week the kids looked forward to opening the 12 days of Easter eggs and learning about the last days of Christ's life. They really seemed to get it. What a great experience.

On Saturday, after working outside all day we invited our friends to join us for dying eggs. It was chaos fun!  The kids really got into it, so it was worth it. But really, whoever made this a tradition was a little crazy.










I have the messiest kids in the world!




Easter morning was a blast.  The kids are perfect ages for the fun surprises.  This is the first time the Easter Bunny has brought a bigger gift to each kid.  Dallin is obsessed with money so he got play money.  Eden loves pretty things so she got a bead kit and Tanner, of course got a Spiderman blanket which he now takes everywhere. Carter got some new books with a cd that reads along with them.





Oh yeah!





Checking out the loot.





Hunting eggs. Not sure what Tanner was pouting about, but it is pretty funny.


























I caught Carter placing a piece of candy between each toe!!! Where do they come up with it?


The kids helped peel their egg masterpieces for breakfast.


After church, we made Resurrection rolls to throw in one more object lesson.  They were a hit.  Then we were off the Peter's parents for another egg hunt with cousins and a huge feast.  It was so fun to eat and visit and enjoy the holiday together.




As we loaded our BMW (big mormon wagon, I have learned the proper term) with all of our stuff and piled the kids in, Peter and I seemed to both think that the other had put Carter in the van. I remember asking Peter if everyone was in and he said everyone but Carter.  I came back in  to get him, got distracted with getting leftovers to take home and Peter came in too so I thought he was on it. I guess we both assumed the other had retrieved our #4.  We got about a mile away when Peter noticed that Carter was definitely not with us.  We sheepishly headed back for him.  Peter's dad joked about how many times this had happened to them with all their kids, like leaving one at home sleeping while everyone else went to church and noticing half way through the meeting that they weren't all there.   Ah, well I guess it goes with the territory.