FIRST GRADE IS PRETTY COOL, MOM!

That is the first thing Camden said to me when I picked him up from school. In Herriman we have year-round school. Year-round works really well for our family because Camden has breaks, but they arent long enough to make me a crazy mommy. Today was Camden's first day of FIRST GRADE! I have to say first grade was way harder for me than Kindergarten. I did not shed any tears when he started Kindergarten, but when I left him today I had a moment. I felt nervous for him and excited for him and proud of him and kind of sad that he would be gone the entire day. I thought about him all day and hoped that when I picked him up that he would have good things to say. When I picked him up he told me how much he loved school and his teacher and his friends and about all the things they did. SIGH of relief!

Flaming Gorge 2008

This last week we went to Flaming Gorge with the Hicks' family. It has been a tradition for many years. We went to a new location this year with cabins set in the middle of nowhere. It was fun! Some of the family stayed in cabins while others brought trailers and RVs. We spent the days on the beach and visiting sites while at night when the kids slept the adults built bon fires and shared memories. We laughed so much on this trip. They also had a little pond with a dock. They had a paddle boat that the kids got to paddle around. It was so pretty I had to get a few pics with my kids on the dock. They had a great time!
A teepee that was on the property

We had such a great time at the beach. Camden loved the water.

playing in the sand

Morgan loved the water and had a great time playing on the beach

On Saturday we took a drive up to Flaming Gorge dam. After the tour of the dam we visited an outlook. Nathan took a great picture looking down on the water and an eagle flying overhead.

Camden checking out the view from the overlook visiting center

Right outside our cabin was a field of wild flowers. I took a few pictures of Morgan playing in them koolaid face and all.

Riley at "the Rock"

Flaming Gorge became a tradition after a family trajedy. In 1965 Keith Woodruff (Nathan's Mom's brother) and his wife Lavon (Nathan's Dad's sister) were camping with their family and two of their newphews in Sheep Creek when there was a flash flood and they were killed. The above picture is of the plaque that they placed on a rock that they found in the area after the flood. So, every year the Hicks' family along with extended family(Swensons, Woodruffs, and Squires) meet at the rock in memorial of the family that died.

Memory Lane!

I got this from Cheryl's blog and thought it was cute!

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments. I would love for everyone to play along. Don't be shy leave whatever memory you would like.

Fluffy

This is a picture of our sweet mini (although not very mini) rex bunny, Fluffy. We got her nearly a year ago from a family in Bountiful that couldnt keep her. We instantly fell in love with her. She is sweet and patient and even lets the kids pet her. We have had a great time with her this summer. We can let her out in the backyard and when we go out she stays really close to us and hops around playfully.

Yesterday was a sad day for our family. When we went out to feed Fluffy we found she wasnt breathing. The kids found her so I couldnt avoid them seeing her. Luckily, Morgan did not understand. We were sad all day. The kids kept trying to figure out ways to bring Fluffy back which broke my heart. When Nathan came home we dug a hole in the backyard and had a little funeral for her. Camden and Riley both gave talks about Fluffy. It gave us an opportunity to talk about death and where our spirits go when we die. Losing a pet is so hard!!

Happy 4th of July!

We had a fun July 4th. We spent it with family and friends! I didnt really take any fun pictures, but I kinda liked this one. My kids had a great time playing in Aunt Nancy's backyard and watching dad fly his 12 foot kite. They loved eating hotdogs and red, white and blue jello treats, and watching fireworks.

Up and Going!

I have not had a computer for a few days, so I am going to post a few entrys. We finally got the greenhouse finished and I wanted to share a few more of the pictures.

Water Park!

Yesterday we went to the splash park with Nancy and her kids. We had a great time and the best part it was free fun! Nancy and I had a fun time talking in the shade while the kids had a fun time running back and forth from the splash park to the playground. We were having such a great time that the kids got tired before we did and were begging to go home. FINE! Happily once I got home all my kids collapsed from exhaustion and I had a few minutes to myself to clean up and get dinner ready.

Camden had a great time playing on the slide and playing in the water, but I dont think I ever saw him completely wet.

Morgan had a great time putting her hands in the water and jumping in the puddles. I ran with her through the water and she kept saying "that was fun" and "I like that" like she was trying to convince herself that is was fun.


And then there was Riley!




Riley had a great time running through the water. Not afraid to get it his face, up his nose, or to be right in the middle of it. In the last picture he is pouring water down the slide. The kids had this great idea that if they brought water from the splash park over to the playground they could create their own water slide. It was fun watching them pour water and then fly down the slide most of the time losing their ability to stop and landing on the ground at the bottom of the slide.

One more note: My poor boys look so sunburned in these pictures which they are because they took their shirts off the day before while playing in the sandbox, but I promise that they were wearing sun block at the splash park and I am not a complete loser of a mother! :}