Sunday, May 27, 2012

Fun-Filled Weekend

We started our weekend on Friday night by having the missionaries over for dinner.
Here's our traditional picture:
 

Gaven happened to notice that we have our first tomato growing out back.

 On Saturday afternoon, we had our 3rd annual "Teacher BBQ" where we invite the kids' teachers over for an end of the year celebration.  We were fortunate enough that all 3 of them were able to come with their kiddos.

We filled "a few" water balloons...

The kids swam

 Not a surprise that it didn't take long before the baseball gloves were broken out!

 We started the water balloons with a friendly competition. Both of the younger boys wanted to throw with their teachers, but Braeden (we've never said he's not smart) chose his teacher's son, who also plays baseball!


Carsen and the ALWAYS hilarious Ms. Dymke:

Gaven and his sweet teacher, Mrs. Julie:

Braeden and Alex

Then, we let them loose with the rest of the basket full of balloons.

Braeden's teacher, Mrs. Piper, took it like a champ!!

It cracked me up, because Ms. Dymke thought she would be safe if she sat under on the patio.  WHAT was she thinking?!?!

Some more baseball:

A little more swimming:

I thought it was so cute how all the boys had gotten out to play baseball and Sydney and Rainey stayed in to play with Kamryn!

We gave the teachers their gifts:

Played a little more baseball...


...And then everyone had to leave.  I HAD to get a picture of Ms. Julie's adorable daughter, Rainey, all dressed up and looking like a diva!
We all had a great time and will look forward to doing it again next year!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

PRESCHOOL GRADUATION
Thursday night, Gaven graduated from his preschool. They all got up, sang a few songs.  After so many years of trying to get Gaven to sing at the music class that we attend on Fridays, I think the hard work has finally paid off.  I could hear his little voice over all the others!

Next it was time for the graduation part.

And what's more fun than swinging your tassel?


Gaven's buddy Isaac


His teacher, Mrs. Julie


Yes, we are missing one.  Carsen had a baseball game that night.

This is one of Gaven's favorite people from his school, Mrs. Jackie.  She has been SO sweet to him this year.  She's calls him "cutie patootie" every time she sees him and he just blushes!

Saturday morning, after Braeden's baseball game, we we went to a local bike rodeo where they teach bicycle safety.  We went at 8am to register and then had plans to head back after Braeden's baseball game.  His game was supposed to start at 9am, but started a half hour late because of water on the field.  Plus it went all the way to the wire.  We won in the bottom of the 6th and are still undefeated and first place in our division!

Here are the two older boys with their new helmets, just before leaving the rodeo. 

The weather has been gorgeous, so we have spent some time in the pool.  I am very frustrated, because the saltwater pump that we bought and have only used for 1 full summer has quit on us.  Now the water is getting murky and I need to find another way to treat it.  Ugh!!




I just added this one on at the end, because I thought it was cute how she was looking through the window, watching Jason mow out back.

The Rest of Grandma's Visit

 I'm finally posting the rest of the pictures from my mom's visit. We had lunch at Cheddar's, one of both of our favorite restaurants.


After lunch, we had a few errands to run and Gaven tried this hat on at one of the stores. He could TOTALLY pull it off!

We played cards A LOT while she was here.  I DO have to admit, she whooped me! 

Kamryn sported her first real pig tails:

We stayed after baseball practice one night because my boys wanted me to hit a few extra ground balls to them.  Before I knew it, the three of them were headed over for a potty break.  So what did I do... what any other mother would do, right?  I took a picture!

One last lunch out together:
(These are all cell phone pictures, hence the poor quality)

 My baby boy!

At times, the days can be quite long for Gaven.  He doesn't usually nap anymore, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays he was going to preschool from 9-2:30.  To top it off, the last few days of school we very fun filled, action packed days!  We had rented a movie and he was waiting for Braeden to finish practicing his guitar so they could watch the movie.  We found him like this:



One of the days that my mom and I were playing cards, Kamryn came walking over to us like this:

It was an ENTIRE box of tissues!

On my mom's last Saturday here, Braeden had a baseball game first thing in the morning.  I had to get a couple pictures of Gaven and "his buddy" as he calls him.  Terrance, the dad of one of the little boys on Braeden's team, has such a big heart!  I've told him MANY times that he can shoo Gaven away, or tell him that he's trying to watch the game and he needs to be quiet... but it never fails, he reassures me that he loves it and it's not a problem at all.  So, EVERY game, Gaven goes and finds his buddy to sit by.

They even play games together!  What a great sport!

This is the only picture I got at Braeden's game, because I was trying to get video instead.

After Braeden's game, we headed over to get some donuts.

The funny thing is, Kamryn didn't have a chocolate donut... Gaven just left his within finger reach at one point!

She's starting to realize that when I point the camera at her, she's supposed to smile.  We're going to have to work on it, though!


Like I said, we need to work on the smile!

 We ALL enjoyed the donuts!  Thanks Grandma and Papa!

After donuts, we headed to Carsen's game.  I love this first picture because every inning, Carsen and his buddy Lance, who plays 2nd base, stop behind the pitcher's circle and talk.  I've often wondered what they talk about, so I asked Carsen when I showed him this picture.  He told me they just talk about what they are going to do that inning.  Fair enough!

Later that inning, Carsen fielded the ball at short and threw it over to Lance at 2nd base.  We had given Carsen a hard time after the game because all he had to do was reach out and touch the runner that was running by and THEN throw it over to Lance and get a double play.  I just happened to have gotten a picture that perfectly showed what we were talking about.  I told Carsen that maybe he and Lance are just too excited to get the ball to each other!


These next pictures are a little out of order.  I used Jason's camera for these:

My mom stayed home with the kiddos one night so my dear friend Janene and I could have a girl's night at the movies.  We had such a great time.  Thanks, Mom, for watching the kids, and thanks Janene for the laughs!  Love you both!

Grandma and Kammy

We couldn't let Grandma go home without having lunch at the school with the boys!






When Grandma comes to school for lunch, ice cream is on the menu!

Someone needs to see the dentist!

We've missed Grandma since she's been gone, but we are REALLY excited that she's coming back in a month and half for baseball playoffs.  To top it off, we are ecstatic that Uncle Chris is going to come visit, too!!  Fun times to look forward to!