Enjoying the fireplace

Saturday, December 5, 2015

To be like M&M!

Monday, November 30, 2015

M&M was sitting on the couch studying and MJ was sitting next to her copying down the things that M&M was writing! And Kay was sitting on the other side brushing M&M's hair! It was really cute!

MJ- Science Project

October 14, 2015

MJ had to do a science project for her school class. She tried different objects around the house to see if they would float. I first had her predict whether each item would float or not and then she would test it and record her results. This is the poster that she drew for her project:

I love the rubber duck that she drew! (She wanted me to help her with it but I told her that she needed to do it on her own. I think she did a really good job!)

Bean Museum

Friday, October 2, 2015

The Monte L Bean Life Sciences Museum at BYU has been closed for the last year or so for some remodeling. We decided to go and check out the changes. I think a lot of it is still under construction because we couldn't find some of the exhibits that were supposed to be there and it had a couple of sections that were blocked off. It was POURING rain when we got to the museum! Afterwards we went and ate lunch with DH at his work - the girls love doing that. Blondie came with us because she was also off of school - I think Luke came too but I don't have any pictures of him.

Off Track Activities

The three younger girls were off-track for a few weeks in September/October. We made some swirly rocks with crayons and made some sidewalk paint. Here are a few pictures:

Field Trip - MJ

Thursday, September 24, 2015

MJ's class went on a field trip to the Natural History Museum of Utah up at the University of Utah campus. I was able to go as a chaperone. I was put in charge of MJ and two boys from her class. The kids had to answer some questions about a few of the exhibits and we also ate lunch there. It was a nice place - I had never been there before.

Learning to ride a bike!

September 2015

Kay has been dying to learn to ride a bike without training wheels for probably about a year now. We have tried working with her here and there but with all of the other kids and our busy schedules, we haven't been able to spend a lot of time with her. The neighbor has even helped her out some but she has had a fear deep down that I think has been affecting her! Finally in September it looked like she was finally starting to get the hang of it a little bit - but she still wasn't confident enough to do it on her own. Then one day MJ hopped on one of the bikes and DH and I helped her a little and without much effort at all she was almost doing it on her own. MJ only problem has been learning how to steer and being aware of where she is and where she is going. Shortly after that Kay finally picked it up as well so now all of the kids can ride a bike! It is kind of weird how effortless it was for MJ and she is definitely the youngest in our family to have learned to ride a bike! It is interesting watching how everyone learns differently and some things come easy to some and not so easy to others. I think Kay was a little jealous that MJ learned to ride so quickly. She was so happy when she finally learned for herself!

This is MJ riding down the street - it is nice to live on a cul-de-sac! These pictures of MJ were taken on Sept 9.

Look at that determination on her face!

She's got it!

Kay is finally doing it! (Sept 28)

These pictures were taken Sept 29

Look at that smile on her face!

Ovarian Cancer Run

Saturday, September 12, 2015

September is Ovarian Cancer awareness month. Every year there is a 5K fundraiser that is held in Salt Lake during the month. I heard about it the first year after I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer but it has always ended up being on a Saturday that I have had something else going on and I haven't been able to attend. This year I was able to go and I took Kitty, Kay and MJ along with me - DH and the older kids all had something else going on.

The race takes place at Sugar House Park and you basically just walk/run around the loop of the park. It isn't really a 5K unless you do the whole thing twice - which most people don't do. It was pretty chilly when we first got there and the girls all stood around freezing, waiting for the sun to come out. We got these nice free shirts (although you have to pay to register for the run). And unfortunately the smallest size they had was an adult XS - which drowned the girls!

There were quite a few people there and I even ran into my doctor and the psychologist/social worker from the office. They were both there with their kids.

When it was finally time to start the run we went up to the starting line and they sounded the gun to start and MJ and Kay took off running! Kitty and I were trying to call out to them to slow down and we were trying to catch up to them! It was pretty funny. I guess when they heard the starting gun they just wanted to go and race! I was a little concerned of losing track of them with all of the people that were there. At one point MJ finally slowed down and turned around to look for me. I still couldn't get Kay's attention though and at one point we were at the top of a hill and she had already gone around the corner and was at the bottom of the hill when I was finally able to get her attention and then she climbed up the hill to us. And then what I suspected would happen did happen - they both ran out of steam and were moaning and complaining the whole last 1/3 or so of the race. At one point I had to carry MJ for a little bit until I was able to talk her into walking again... The girls did really good on the whole and they were very excited to finally see the finish line! They also had some treats at the end provided by Trader Joe's - bananas, oranges, granola bars and water bottles.

Before the race

If you look closely you can see MJ at the back of that pack in front of me - running her little heart out! Kay at this point is ahead of her somewhere.

MJ finally stopped and waiting for us. If I remember correctly she is eating a lollipop that she got before the race.

We finally got Kay's attention and she is running up the hill to join us.

At the end of the race - it was a little too bright and sunny for these girls!

MJ and Legos

September 9, 2015

I found these on the chair in our living room. MJ made them all by herself.

National Wear Teal Day

September 4, 2015

September 4th is National Wear Teal Day - for ovarian cancer. I took a picture of me and MJ wearing some teal.

Girls

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Here are some pictures of MJ and Kay wearing the skirts that I made for Kitty and Blondie when they were that age!

Kay age 7; MJ age 5

Blondie age 7 (almost 8); Kitty age 6

School Picture Day

August 19, 2015

MJ all dressed up for school picture day!

MJ's first day of kindergarten!

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

MJ met her teacher on the same day that Kitty and Kay started school last week. MJ was really excited to be going to kindergarten this year and her teacher is really nice. Unfortunately on Monday, MJ got sick and was throwing up and sleeping all day. She was supposed to start school on Tuesday and we were hopeful that she would be better by Tuesday morning but unfortunately she threw up again that morning... I was also supposed to watch my neighbor's kids for her but I had to cancel with her and find someone else that could fill in for me.

When MJ woke up later in the day and realized that she had missed her first day of school she was in tears! I felt so bad for her! I emailed her teacher and explained that MJ was sick and she said that she hoped that she felt better and was looking forward to seeing her the next day.

So along came Wednesday morning and MJ woke up with a lot more energy and was feeling much better (although still not quite 100%). She was so excited to finally be able to go to school! She is in afternoon kindergarten and there is not a bus for the afternoon classes to get to school so I drove her after lunch and went and helped her find where she is supposed to line up. I was a little sad watching her go into the school! I can't believe my baby is in kindergarten! This is the one year where all 6 of our kids will be in the public school system together - from kindergarten up to a senior in high school!

Eating lunch before we leave for school. She was so excited!

Feeling a little unsure about this whole school thing - and not feeling quite 100% yet... This is MJ sitting on the grass next to where she is supposed to be lined up for school - Blondie is next to her.

And she is off - and putting on her happy face!

MJ getting off of the bus after school.

MJ was so excited to show me all of the things that she got at school! It was really cute watching her sit down on the couch and pull everything out of her backpack and tell me what they all were.

A beautiful sunset later that evening! I love the clouds!

First Day of School!

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Our family ended up taking two cars to the Bear Lake family reunion because we were going to split up after the reunion ended. Kitty and Kay were supposed to start school on Monday (July 27th) but because of the reunion we had them miss the first two days of school and they started on Wednesday instead. They were a little stressed out (at least Kitty was) about missing the first two days of school but we had talked with the teachers ahead of time and I knew they would be fine. I left the family reunion Tuesday evening with Kitty, Kay and MJ and headed home. Unfortunately I forgot to leave the access pass to Ideal Beach and there was no cell service between Bear Lake and Logan... When I finally got the message that I had left with the pass, I was almost an hour into my trip. So I had to turn around and drive through the canyon again and return the pass and then start the trip all over again! We didn't get home until way late! I felt bad for the kids!

We are on A-track this year which means that the kids start the last week of July but then get out the first part of June. Kitty is 5th grade this year and Kay is in 2nd!