Party Hardy, Party, Party, Party!: Outside Fun in May

Happenings in May:

Attended Emergency Expo

Planted Garden

Kyle put in a new door in our duplex

Mother's Day

Hazel Took Her First Swimming Lessons (which she got used to, but wouldn't let the teacher touch her)

Temple

Kyle and Dillan participated in Legos @ the Library

We attended The Sound of Music performed by a local teen group, including Shayden Nagle (cousin). It was awesome! Good music, good plot, patriotic, values, family-oriented, love, trying to follow God.

Kids biked the Spring Water Corridor Trail, while we walked.

Ward Talent Show. Dillan did cartwheels and I played the music video the Mia Maids have been working on during their class activities.

Field Trip to Old McDonald's Farm (kind of lame when we go to a farm regularly for our milk).

Hazel got a twin bed!

Father/Son Campout: Dillan and Kyle got to do black powder rifles, tomahawk throw, knife throwing, obstacle course, paintball slingshot, service, walk on stilts.

Barbecue at the Howard's.

I also had a neat experience inviting the neighborhood girls to Activity Days. 4 of them went. The topic was missionary work. They got to meet the sister missionaries, hear all about missions, hear a lot about the gospel, write letters to missionaries, and received copies of the Book of Mormon and the Articles of Faith Card. They told me the church is Beautiful! And for 2 of them the card was their first picture of Jesus. In the car on the way home I was able to talk to them about the Holy Ghost and baptism. 2 weeks later there was another Activity, and 2 of them were able to go. They earned prizes for memorizing Articles of Faith. In the car ride home they recited the ones they had memorized and I got to teach them what it all meant!

Mt. Talbert Nature Park in Happy Valley, Oregon. We had a picnic first, at the Trailhead. Hazel hiked the whole thing herself! Almost 2 miles.

Both Dillan and Hazel were into climbing every tree and stump. Hazel learned about roots. They criss-crossed all over the trail and she asked about every single one for 5-10 minutes: "Is this a root? Is that a root? What's this? Is it a root?" and then she would try to pull in out of the ground! It was slow going, but we enjoyed the time together.

The kids and Kaelynn Dover

Playdate with Dylan (Dillan's best friend) at Blue Lake Park. They are the teeny kids in the middle. We were supposed to go to the Splash Pad there, which was closed, that's why Hazel is in a swimsuit. The park is cool! Tons of pavilions, grassy areas, playgrounds, a lake, paddleboats...

Life...is...good

These kids have so much love!

Dillan learned how to spike his hair. He spiked it several times a day for at least a week. He was constantly touching his hair and getting mad if anyone else touched his hair, because it might get messed up! Then we made a rule that he could only spike it once a day. Lucky for us, he fizzled and doesn't ask us anymore. It was hard to wash all that product out of his hair!

So handsome!

The kids do chores as negative consequences. They are getting really good at doing chores! And good at Following Instructions and Accepting "No" Answers (which includes anything they don't want to hear). Hazel has masted "Disagreeing Appropriately." I hope I get it on video one day.

They are standing on the legs of chairs, which are laying down.

Dillan's playing with his laundry instead of folding it.

Yes, that is underwear on their head! They are very creative when folding their laundry!

We went camping at Lake Merwin Campers Hide-Away for Memorial Day Weekend with the Dovers. The Grandparents own a lot with a camper on it. We totally enjoyed sitting around doing very little for 3 days! It rained the last night, but those Oregonians were used to it and very prepared! We ate normal camping junkfood (which we thoroughly enjoyed) and didn't feel good by the end of the trip, but we still had a blast! Campfires, s'mores, camping, exploring, eating, good views, good people, our kids had friends to play with, card games, conversations, walks. Thanks for the fun weekend Dovers!