Alexa's Baby Shower & McCormack Fun Night!!!

Today was Alexa's baby shower.  It was a nice party.  She got a lot of fun things.  We were able to spend time together and visit.  The shower was at McKell's house.  We had a brunch.  I made a party favors for the shower that said, She's ready to POP!!!  And gave caramel popcorn with it.  It turned out cute.
Tonight we all got together at Mom and Dad's house.  We made pizza and the kids had fun in the backyard.  We laugh so much when we are all together.  Brian and Hillary brought all the fixings for the best ice cream sundaes.  They had waffle cones, 4 different kinds of vanilla ice cream, mint and chip ice cream, hot fudge, caramel, chocolate sprinkles, colored sprinkles, marshmellow creme and whip cream.  The best sundaes.  I love my family. 

Hair cuts and swimming

Today was really wonderful.  I made Abby and me appointments to get our hair cut.  Abby's hair is so fine and so thin.  We decided to cut it short again to see if we could get it to look a little thicker.  She looks so cute and sat so still.  She loved being pampered and taken care of.  I was also able to get my hair cut and colored.  It was fun getting our hair done together.  After our hair appointments we went to Cassie's for a day of swimming and taco night.  We made all the same games in the pool.  Julie, Amy, Cassie and I all swam with the kids.  The kids love it when we get into the pool with them.  They want us to play all the games and make whirlpools and throw them in the air.  Kevin also came down for the weekend.  He was throwing all the kids in the air and they were doing back and front flips and having so much fun.  Kevin was so tired by the time he was done.  Amy brought glow sticks for the pool.  They didn't work to good this time because the pool was a little to cloudy but hopefully next time they will work perfectly in the water.  Once it got to dark we had the kids come in and they all snuggled up together and watched a movie.  The adults played a game.  It was a new game that Cassie and Ben have played and we had so much fun playing it.  We were laughing so hard we were all laughing.  Dad even played.  We laughed so hard when Dad described Betty Boop. 

Britton's first game and a clean house

Today I needed some help cleaning.  We have been so busy and I have been a little behind on my chores.  So I asked the kids if they would help me out.  I knew that if I didn't get the house clean before the Beck's come I am going to be in big trouble.  Anyway Britton vaccumed, Bryson mopped, Parker dusted.  They all helped clean up any toys.  The house got cleaned so fast and they did such a good job.  Thanks boys for all your hard work it really me helps a lot. 
Abby had her last fairy camp day.  We were invited to watch at the end so they could perform what they learned.  They told us all the fairy colors and what they mean, they did a fairy dance, they sang a song, and did a cheer.  Abby was given a fairy name and it was Pearl because she is so pure on the inside.  She had a lot of fun at camp.  I was so glad that she was able to do this. 
Britton had his first soccer game with the Strikers.  He played great.  He was able to play on offense most of the game.  He stayed in his position well.  Great job Britton we are so proud of you.  We went out for ice cream after the game to celebrate.  We went to Dairy Queen.  Then we went to Mom and Dad Mack's to see Julie and Megan.  They have come to visit for the next week.  Let the fun begin.

Soccer camp, fairy camp and pine wood derby

Somedays I think that I must have decided that I needed to play a game against myself and try and see how many things we can try and accomplish in a certain amount of time.  Britton has had soccer camp all week and has been loving it.  He loves soccer and meeting the players on his team.  He is hoping that he is going to get to play offense and not defense but we will have to see how that goes.  Abby is attending a fairy camp for the week.  She is going to a house down the road with a bunch of girls from our ward.  There are not a lot of girls her age so she is excited to play with anyone in our area.  She gets to go Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and the class is from 1:00-4:00.  She hasn't told me very much about what she does but she is having fun.  Tonight we had our pine wood derby.  The boys hadn't even finished there cars until about 5:00 and the meeting started at 6:30.  Brittons car was silver and orange.  Brysons car was red, yellow and orange, and Parker and Dan did a car and it was black with yellow lightning bolts.  They didn't win for sped but they had fun.  Britton got the most votes for kid approval.  Brysons car was voted most cheerful.  Parker and Dan's got 12th overall and Parker was happy with that.  Bryson also earned his Wolf badge tonight and was so excited about that.  He also earned a gold arrow and 4 silver arrows.  He has worked so hard on his scouting.  Britton moved on to Boys Scouts tonight and walked over the bridge.  I am kind of sad that Britton won't be in scouts anymore.  It was nice for Bryson to have Britton with him.  Life moves so quickly. 

Car wash and slurpees

Today we decided to wash the car.  After going to the drive in last night we thought the van could use some TLC.  Parker helped me clean the inside of the van.  He cleaned so good.  I vaccumed and he did all of the washing of the panels.  Then we got lots of rags and bubbles and started on the outside.  We washed and squirted but the best part was each time we would rinse the van the kids would just be in the way so we had to soak them.  They loved it and I loved soaking them.  I love the laughter that always is present with water.  It seems that anytime we use water the kids giggle and giggle.  After we washed the van we were tried and hot.  So we picked Britton up from soccer camp and got our first slurpee for the summer.  I remember years past we would get a slurpee at least two or three times a week.  I love slurpees!!!

Homework in the summer and Dinner with Dr. Hall

Each day we have the kids work a few sheets out of a workbook.  They get to rotate from four different subjects and also do reading minutes each day.  We think that it is important to help them work on these things throughout the summer so when school comes along they will retain some of what they have learned.  I feel like I am helping my kids and offering them something good.  But my kids think that I am mad at them and that is why I do this.  I told Britton today that I lay in bed at night and think how I can destroy his day.  Homework is definitely the best way.  If they do there work without complaint it usually doesn't take to long.  But today it was 2 1/2 hours of worksheets.  I totally wanted to give in and say okay just go play.  But we finally got it done and I reminded them that if they would relax and just read the instructions they wouldn't have to redo it some many times.  Hopefully tomorrow is better.
Tonight we were invited to go to Dr. Hall house for dinner.  He invited the Sandberg's, Parkin's, Hartvigsen's and Us.  It was so fun.  He provided the hamburgers and hot dogs and we brought salads, chips and dessert.  He has such a nice house.  We had such a fun time.  He has a play room with a dodge ball set up.  The kids played in their for so long.  He has some really cool murals on the wall like cat and the hat, and Baer Rabbit.  He also has a hidden door that opens to a secret twisty staircase.  And his house was totally kid friendly.  He has a home school group that comes in and also a preschool group that goes their.  He also has a huge backyard.  We had a big game of baseball.  The kids loved that.  We all had so much fun just visiting and playing.  We love Dr. Hall.  We were able to take a picture with him and all our kids.  He has delivered are our kids, my five, Cassie's four, Amy's two and Julia's four. 

Drive In

I took the kids to Cassie's for some swimming.  It was a nice day and the water felted to good.  We played lots of water games like marco polo, rainbow, sea monster, shark attack, surfing, trick contest(which everone wins) and whirlpool.  The kids love to swim and could last for hours.  Brynlee is even enjoying to swim this year.  We put her in her life jacket and a little tube and she just floats around.  She has realized if she kicks her legs that it will move her.  Abby is wanting swimming lessons and I need to get those scheduled.  The boys love to swim and are always learning new things to do in the pool and getting more confidence. 
After swimming we hurried home and had dinner and went and got some treats and went to the Drive In Movies.  We went to see Brave.  The Sandberg's went also.  The kids played a little football before it got dark and had fun running around.  We laid down the seats in the back and put down the futon mattress in the van and had lots of pillows and blankets.  We brought treats and card games.  Brynlee didn't like the movie from the start and wanted to go home.  And Abby about two thirds the way through the movie said that her throat was hurting and threw up.  It was lovely.  Dan wasn't with us because he still isn't feeling very good.  So I had both girls unhappy.  I was able to talk Abby into staying until the movie was over so the boys could enjoy it.  She lucky threw up in the street on the side of the van so it wasn't right where we were.  She never did through up again.  Our kids seem to have sensitive stomaches, if they eat to many treats they seem to have a problem with it.  Well, I am glad this night is over.  It was fun even with the unhappy girls.