Summertime...and The Livin's Easy

The picture below was a regular occurence at our house during the summertime.  This was the first year our family had Cherry Hill AND Lagoon Season Passes and we took full advantage of them.  Every day Ella would come home and crash.  We had SO much fun with the Shill, Hammer, and Herget families and loved when cousins came too.  Here are a bunch of pictures to prove it...

Lagoon-A-Beach

 

Lagoon

Cherry Hill

 We LOVE it when we see friends at Cherry Hill...especially when it's the Allen's!!

Dear Summer, how we miss you so!  You always treat us so well.  We can't wait for you to visit us again!

Dinosaur Park

We have lived in Utah now for 10 years!  I will post about that another time.  We finally made it to the Dinosaur Park this past summer.  We brought along our friend Payton who we get to hang out with every once in a while.  I have to ask, why have we never done this before?  It was so much fun!  The kids loved every second of it.

 The kids goofed off the entire time.  I think I took over 50 pictures of them being silly.

 I wasn't expecting much which is probably why I was so impressed with all the dinosuars and all the little trails you can walk on.  It was definitely a fun way to spend an afternoon.

 On the way out the kids got to pan for gold.  I think they could have done this for hours.  Luckily for me the park was closing so their time was limited to about an hour.  They all got some nice little nuggets to take home.

Yea, for the Dinosaur Park!

Ella's Record Breaking Dentist Trip

Ella has always loved brushing her teeth.  It's one of her hobbies.  Seriously.  So when the dentist told me she had 9 (yes, 9) cavities at her last checkup I didn't believe it.  I made them show me every cavity in her mouth.  Apparently she only enjoys brushing the front part of her teeth.  Anyway, she was SO good about getting them all filled.  She even gave us some comic relief afterwards...

What would we do without Ella? (besides save some money at the dentist)

Birthdays

My twins that were born 6 years apart, aka Emma and Ella, had their birthdays in June.  With the marathon, the bishop thing, girls camp (I was in charge of it), the karate stuff and the recital all happening at the same time we had to postpone the partying for a few weeks.

When we could finally breathe and think about parties, Ella was positive she wanted to have her party at Flippers, just like Ben.  She had a blast!

 

Emma had a party too with her friends.  For some reason all the pictures turned out blurry.  Lee must have been taking the pictures for that one (wink).  But this was the most exciting thing for Emma anyway...

...being able to attend Young Women!!!  My firstborn is growing up.  She is beautiful inside and out and am so very proud of her!

Dance Recital 2011

In lieu of a new season of dance which starts next week I thought I'd post pics from the last dance recital back in June.  These girls are gorgeous and are constantly amazing me.  I think I got most, if not all, of their costume changes.  Someday I will post video as well.  For now, here are some pics...

Emma was in 6 dances this year. 

 Eva was in 6 dances this year as well.

 Ella was in 2 dances.

 I barely survived all of the costume changes.

 I anticipate there will be more next year.  It's madness, I tell ya...MADNESS!

I say this every year - It is such a challenge to drive them back and forth (it's far), to come up with the money for all the costumes and shoes not to mention the classes themselves, and I have to admit my sanity suffers just a little as well.  But it is all worth it after seeing them shine on the big stage!  I love my dancing daughters!!

Green

Ben has been very busy these last few months in karate.  He has gone from a purple to blue and now a green belt!

 

When Ben first joined with the dojo, his instructors told him that if he worked really hard he could be a black belt by the time he is 11.  That is something Ben is constantly striving for.  He wants it.  If he keeps at it, I know he will make it.  Ben has even decided that he is ready to start competing in tournaments.  His nerves often get the best of him so it has taken him a while to commit.  His first tournament is in a couple weeks.  I know with a little practice and determination he will be aawweesome, ayah!

Double Graduation

My oldest AND my youngest both graduated this year!!

 Ella from Kindergarten and Emma from 6th Grade!  They are growing up way too fast! Ella will be going to school ALL day now.  She is so excited to be able to eat lunch at school and to have three recesses.  This is Hannah, Emma's good friend that she has known since Kindergarten.  They are off to Jr. High.  Look out world!!

This is Emma's teacher.  I think she was sent from Heaven above just for Emma.  She is exactly what Emma needed at the exact time she needed it.  I will always be thankful to her for what she did for Emma this year.

As hard as it is to see my babies grow up, nothing gives me more joy than to be able to sit back and watch them grow and blossom into beautiful little flowers.