Playing in the Rain

A few weeks ago, we had a quick thunderstorm pass through just as the kid were getting ready for bed.  Abbie has been wanting to splash in puddles ever since we gave her these cute rain boots.  Normally I wouldn't say yes to playing in the puddles when the kids were already ready for bed, but Abbie looked so darn cute in her boots that I couldn't say no.  Only Ashton and Abbie wanted to, but I think that they had a good time, even though the puddles were almost dried up by the time I got out there with my camera.

Look at her wild hair.  

Party Time

Tonight Lexie's primary class had a going away party for her. It was really fun for her and helped her feel special.  She came home all smiles.  I was so appreciative that her teacher took the time to do something for her. He is a very busy man. During the planning, her teacher made it seem like it was the "end of the year, but early so Lexie can come" party, when all along it was a going away party for her.

This is the sign that her teacher and all her classmates made and signed for her.

Playing Catch Up

We had a super busy month of June. Some of it I have documented, some I haven't so here is the second half in condensed version.   Lexie had her piano recital.  She has taken piano for two years now and is really good.  She is sad to leave lessons here, but I have already promised to find her a new teacher in Minnesota ASAP.  

This is a picture with her teacher, Taylor, he lives up the street from my parents.  She played Beauty and the Beast for the recital.

That seems like such a long time ago, even though it was only a few weeks.  

Next, Lexie got to go on a real live cattle drive.  Helping my Grandpa move cows are some of my favorite memories from my childhood so I was super excited when she was asked to go.  Man was she ever sore the next day, but I think she had a good time. 

My brother's family was here from Texas for the whole month of June so we spent a lot of time at my mom's house, especially the kids.  They stayed the night as much as I would let them, which was a lot.  

They almost moved in permanently.

Here are all the Taylor grandkids...  as you can see Natalee was against posing for a picture, and Drew is wondering what all the fuss is about.

We made a out and back on the same day trip to Vernal, man I really hate those, I always feel like a have been hit by a truck the next day.  But we survived to do it again another day.

Of course horses were the highlight of the trip, or maybe the 4-wheelers, it depends on who you ask.

Abbie and Natalee riding the horse.  Natalee and Braelee had an unscheduled trip to the hair salon the day before we went to Vernal since they cut their own hair in my mom's basement.  They said they were playing Rapunzle.  They are now both sporting cute little bob's for the summer.  

Last Friday Lisa rented a bounce house/water slide for Josh's birthday.  A little early party, but she wanted Rhett's kids to be here to enjoy it.  My kids had a blast, especially Ashton.  

He played for 8 hours straight.  Even eating lunch one bite at a time between slides.  I put sunscreen on him a few times, but his back was bright red by the end of the day.  But only his back.  

The next day, he wanted to go back and do it again, sunburned back and all.  Too bad it was for only one day.  

I think all the kids slept well that night.

Busy, yes we have been busy this month.  In between all of this I have been dejunking and cleaning like crazy trying to get my house ready to sell.  And us ready to move.  We don't have a move date yet, but hopefully we will soon.  Now for Jake to find us a place in Minnesota.  

Grandpa's Hat

My cute girls. Abbie wanted to wear grandpa's hat, and she looked so darn adorable that I had to take her picture.  

Lexie looked pretty cute herself.  This totally brought out the green in her eyes.

It's Official

Tim, our agent, put the sign up in our yard today...we had our first showing yesterday.  Hopefully it won't take too long to find a buyer. 

Autographs from Friends

Last night I finally went through the backpack full of papers that Ashton brought home from his last day at preschool.  There was some seriously cute papers in there, but this one has to be my favorite of the whole year.  An autograph paper of all the kids in his class.

I just love little kids handwriting.  I can't believe that Ashton is going to be in kindergarten in the fall, in some ways it seems like it has taken forever to get here, but then again wasn't he just born yesterday?

MY man

I LOVE this man.  I am a sucker for a man in uniform, especially MY man.  He works so hard to provide for our family.  He is my best friend.  I don't know what I would do without him.

More From Family Day

Jake's unit had family day on Friday and we had a great time there, this was a new adventure for our family, not family day we have been doing those for as long as I can remember, but family day with an aviation unit.  They had lots of things for the kids to do: the standard bounce house

Searching for mines...

The "mines" were money, my kids walked away with a couple bucks in change.  (probably cause they had an in with the people in charge, this was what Jake was in charge of ;)

They also got to climb inside a black hawk, this is the same one that we got to watch take off after family day was over.  

Then they took on the climbing wall, all three of them.  Good thing Abbie got a little help from Jake.  But there was no way she wasn't going to give it a try if both Lexie and Ashton got to.  

Lexie made it all the way to the top.  She has been able to do that since she was 4 or 5.  

While we were waiting in line for food, the kids talked Jake into letting them pay to try and dunk the general.  I am talking The General.   Big guy in charge.

  He was a good sport and got thoroughly soaked, by my kids included.  

It was a fun way to spend the afternoon, and we got to spend most of that time with Jake, what a bonus for us!  

"That was amazing!"

That was Abbie's comment to Jake after watching this at the family day at the armory.  Sorry it is a little long but I wasn't able to edit it on the computer.

I have to admit that I thought it was pretty cool too. I have never been that close to a helicopter taking off.  Ever.  I guess there are advantages to Jake being in an aviation unit now (though he won't be staying now that we are moving :(

My Little Graduate

My little guy, is growing up.  I can't believe that Ashton had his preschool graduation Monday night.  It was really cute, the kids sang tons of cute little songs that they have been learning this year.  Then each kids was given a certificate by their teacher.

Ashton has had a love/hate relationship with preschool this year, but I think overall he has had a good year.  His teacher, Miss Amber, was wonderful I am really glad that she cared about him so much.  She made sure that he had a good year and learned a lot and most important, had FUN!

Here they are together after the program.

Josh was in the same class as Ashton which was good for both of them.  It was always to funny to see them together because Ashton is always the biggest kid and Josh the smallest.  Here are both the graduates.

Probably the funniest thing that happened during the program was that Josh feel asleep during the sining, and nearly feel out of his chair a few times.  

Notice the girl next to him is asleep too.  

After the program we went to Arctic Circle for shakes.  The kids played in the play place and the adults sat and talked.  

Josh is trying to such his ice cream through a straw..

Ashton enjoying his raspberry cheesecake shake.

Leah, a girl from their class was there too, it was cute to watch them play together.  Leah is Ashton's favorite friend at preschool.