August 2014

• Zoo
• Hiked Triple Falls 3.4 miles: Hazel road on Kyle's back (helping him train for his upcoming backpacking trip), I packed Lincoln, Dillan hiked.  We went to the top of a waterfall and were able to wade in the water, we enjoyed that :)
• Chainsawed half the rhododendrons in our backyard.
• Celebrated our 7th Anniversary! Dinner at "The Farm" Dessert at "Papa Hadyn".  It was weird to be just me and him for all of that, we need to do that more often :)
• 2 summer performances at the library: a puppet show about dinosaurs and a puppet show about science
• YW pool party.  Apparently I'm the fun leader who did a cannonball into the pool
• Blueberry picking twice
• Dillan had a play date with his cousin Isaac, he loved it!
• Had 2 serious talks with an experienced Sister in the ward about homeschooling.  Between some life experiences, scriptures, visiting Dillan's classroom, talking with this sister, much prayer, and pondering at the temple I feel that the Lord wants me to home school Dillan this year.
• Fun with neighborhood friends (Howards, and kiddie pool at Dovers)
• As part of the summer reading program Dillan chose a free pass to go ice skating.  I took him on a special date. After 1 lap he was able to skate on his own! Daddy took Hazel on a special date, out for lunch.  The seating in the food court at the mall was on a bridge over the skating rink, so we got to see them way up high each lap.  (on this same day Kyle had a dentist appointment and Dillan had a play date with Ammon) It was quite the day!
• We went to Lake Merwin for Cavan Dover's Birthday.  Picnic, swimming at beach, boating, tubing (even Hazel did it!), wave running, mud bath, barbecue.  So much fun :)
• We found out the dishwasher in the duplex had been broken for quite some time, but the renters wanted to space out our costs so they hadn't told us!  We got that fixed quick.
• Grandma Kathy Tanner got Brain Surgery, removing a tumor between her brain and skull (thereby not actually brain surgery)
• Temple
• Tennis
• Lincoln check-up, he's perfectly normal (18 lbs)
• Kyle-another training hike while the kids and I did Saturday chores and discovered a new park with the Dovers (Mienig Park)
• Kyle hiked Mt. Whitney! Gone for 6 days with his dad, brother, and 2 sisters. It's the Highest Point in the continental US.  Everyone got altitude sickness.
• While Kyle was gone we picked berries at Grandma Hardy's, Slip 'n Slide, blanched and froze corn from their garden, learned that the kids are sensitive to dairy (Hazel "peed out of her bum"), swam in the Hulet's pool, went to the Estacada Skate Park with bikes and scooters (Dillan's new favorite activity), made zucchini bread, went on a bike ride to celebrate the rain, had Grandma Hardy over for dinner(usually when Kyle is out of town we unexpectedly show up at her house for dinner). Lincoln learned to clap, started army crawling, and got teeth 6 & 7.
• Kyle came home!

I began trusting Dillan with holding Lincoln and carrying him around.  This was a favorite place to take him to.  They're hiding!

He is asleep.  Fell asleep during Rest Time while looking out the window!  Most of the time when I go in to get him at the end of Rest Time he is laying in his bed, staring at the door, waiting for me.

I don't know why I think this is hilarious, but it is!

8 months old

We worked on this song for Memorial Day, and she is good!

Mommy and Daddy!

Brought to you by Dillan being allowed to carry Lincoln around

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Mmmm....I love these kids.

Its on all exposed skin, very thorough.

He just discovered this trick his remote control car guy can do.

Another skill discovery, they can climb on top of the car!  And they love it up there, a new favorite place.  Every once in a while I wonder what the neighbors think when they drive by.

Too Much Fun?!

Week 1: swimming lessons

Slip n' Slide at Gma Hardy's

Dishwasher repaired

Justine (sister in law) Baby Shower

Picnic (in the backyard), kids pretended the blanket was a ship and we were out at sea

Happy Valley Splash Pad, Dinner at New Seasons

Kyle finally got home from New York, taking an extra day due to bad weather

Split wood and Gma and Gpa Hardy's

Had a 4th of July dinner and fireworks there as well

Blew bubbles in the backyard

Kyle: training hike to Munra point, Gma Me and Kids: hiked to lake at Fairview Park

Week 2: Johnson cousins in from out of town

swimming lessons

visiting teaching

fixed Kyle's Bike

skate world (roller Skating)

kids played in pool at Dover's house

bought Dillan a new bike

berry picking

trim Hazel's hair

Hazel Birthday Party at splash pad

Week 3: Road trip to St. George, gma and gpa Tanner, Uncle David and Family, Uncle Daniel

lots of swimming

splash pad

eating out

children's museum, Provo tabernacle

tennis

hike

Week 4: Kirkham Family reunion in Junction City

4 wheeling (dillan's favorite)

Reservoir, mud bath (Kellie's favorite)

Fixed Fence Post

Week 5: blueberry picking

clean out Lincoln's clothes

Kyle haircut

visit teach

put together swingset

puppet show at Library

 After 2 sessions of swimming lessons Hazel still wouldn't let the instructors touch her, but she did everything else!

 Dillan passed swimming level P3 even though he can't float on his back, because he's too skinny :)

 He got his Birthday Roller Skates!  See video below to see how quickly he picked up the skill!

 Picnic!

 Sharing!

 We all went to Skate World while the Johnson cousins were here.  She's adorable!

 This is what I saw when I walked in at the end of Rest Time.  Where's Hazel?!

 There she is!

 Kids playing with Lincoln

 He can finally eat some "solid" foods and feed himself!

 We made it to Grandma and Grandpa Tanner's

 Play-doh party in St. George, because you can't be outside ALL day in the pool.

 Hazel fell asleep on Grandpa while we were all watching a movie.  Then she peed on him!  Can you see it?!  We were not very empathetic, it was too funny :)

 Splash pad in St. George

 Lincoln and Isaac are very close in age

 Early morning tennis: Kellie, Grandpa and the grandkids

 Sara has got the LOOK!

 Hazel has her own look :)

"Cup Soccer"

 Grandma Kirkham, recovering from cancer treatments.  She wore a wig the first time she came over so as to not scare the kids.  By the end of the week they asked her to take off her wrap to see what her head looked like.  They still talk about how Grandma has a wig, they think its fascinating.

 St. George Carousel

 A family tradition, Concretes and Neilsen's.

 4 wheeling at Kirkham family reunion in Juntion City.

I LOVED this family reunion.  We relaxed, hung out, played in the big yard, enjoyed each other's company, campfires, and a few games.  So chill and fun.  And what better company than family?

Clarification: Lincoln did not go with us off-roading.

 I think Dillan went 4 wheeling more than anyone else, at least 6 times.  He may win "Had the Most Fun" contest.

 My cousin Kurt giving him a ride.

 Our bedroom in Junction City.  We were in the Courthouse, the only nice building in the town.  There was also a gas station and general store, and that was pretty much everything.

 Hazel's Birthday present!

 The kids picked Silly Putty as one of their prizes for the Summer Reading Program.  I hate silly putty!  It gets easily stuck in hair, carpet, and grass.  This is a hilarious use of it though!  They had eyebrows made out of it as well.

What is Hazel doing?  Guess! (I'll tell you at the bottom of the post)

That's with 1 week of practice!

He may not smile a lot, but he's expressive with his whole body.  His waving arms and wiggling legs show his joy and excitement.

This is one of those "Joy in Your Posterity" moments

That's right, her birthday cake was drumsticks.  We also played in the splash pad and played kickball.  Her cousins drew her pictures as cards.  Conner was particularly excited about his: "Remember, the Sucker Plants are very important!"  (which were lollipops that he drew)

Cup soccer!

Clarification: "not put together yet" means there is a slide and teeter totter to be added.

Answer: She is singing into the bucket!