Growing Pains

So, I was always warned that kids grow up too fast! It never seems possible though. Somehow, Lauren grew up! She is getting ready to attend Astro Camp with her school. It's a THREE day TWO night camp up in the mountains. They do all kinds of science experiments. It looks so fun! But it really hit me the other day cause she brought home her check list of what to pack and the itinerary. I was so nervous for her starting 1st grade. I thought, who will she eat with? What if she has to go to the bathroom, it seemed so long for her to be gone. Now, it will be three solid days! How will she take a shower, she'll be eating on her own, tucking herself into bed! I asked her if she was nervous at all. She said, "NO! It's going to be so FUN! I can't WAIT to go!"

I also went to the parent orientation at the middle school last night. Lauren will be starting middle school next year. It seems so huge to me! Again, she's not nervous, just me!

Once again, our family is turning a corner. We all grow and learn together!

Sweet Sydney

Our sweet Sydney will be baptized in less than two weeks! Everyone is invited! Please contact us if you'd like to come!

Playing in the sand

After a day of riding, we cut it short and pulled all the kids in. It was so crowded and busy! But we still had fun! We met up with a friend from AZ and his two boys and another friend of ours from CA came with a friend of his!

Here are some fun pictures of the kids!

Getting there

We went to Gordon's Well this weekend, which is the Imperial Sand Dunes. The ride there was so beautiful! Most of this area is NOT covered in snow. I couldn't resist taking a few pictures along the way.

Hwy 79 close to Warner Springs.

San Felipe Rd. close to Hwy 78

A very silly Sydney!

Can you see the white toy haulers? This was the line getting ready to head to either Ocotillo Wells or the Sand Dunes. (We did NOT realize this was a holiday weekend until we were on the road and sat in a line of TRAFFIC of Toy Haulers, RV's and trucks loaded with ATV's!

Happy Valentines Day! (part 3)

Did I mention it POURED all day today? Well when I went to pick up Kaycee from kindergarten the temperature gage in my car said 36 DEGREES!!! What??!!! You could see a few snow flakes trying to form, but it melted before it hit the ground. However, just a few hundred feet higher in elevation, and it snowed. The hills all around us were covered in snow by late afternoon. The sun came out just before sunset and it was so beautiful! So I grabbed my NEW camera and headed up the hill to take a few pictures before dark.

Now I need to get off the computer, get my kids off the Wii, and onto some minor things like dinner, homework, chores. . .

Happy Valentines Day! (part 2)

Gary and I both agreed that we wouldn't do anything this year. Well he LIED! He got me this GREAT new camera!!!

Now I feel so bad cause I didn't do ANYTHING this year! I mean NOTHING!

Happy Valentines Day! (part 1)

We woke up to a VERY rainy Valentines Day! I got to "help" in Lauren's class. They did a very cute flower pot project. Then I got to "help" in Kaycee's classroom. They did several rotations. I say "help" because Matthew decided he only wanted Mom today and wouldn't go to his play group, so I got to run into the girls' classrooms, take a few pictures, give a few hugs and head home.

Sydney's 8th Birthday parth

Flu Shot VS. Flu

To all the bloggers out there, I am so curious. Did you get the flu shot this year? If so, did you get the flu? I'm wondering if we had the shot this year if we would have avoided our last week of illness!

How do you spell relief?

Our family got hit HARD this last week with a flu/virus. Sydney started it out a week ago today with a fever, headache and sleeping most of the day. Lauren got it Wednesday, Kaycee Thursday and Matthew has had a mild case of it over the weekend. The kids have all gotten a really high fever (Kaycee and Lauren hit 103) and it has wiped them out. It lasted about 4 days for most of them. I thought I would escape, but it got me yesterday! Oh the pain! Now I know why the kids have been crying all week! It's like a bad headache combined with sinus pressure and a tooth ache all rolled into one. I couldn't get up for most of the day. My fever (which hit 101.7) finally broke last night. Today I feel very groggy and tired, but thankfully not achy anymore. I'm so glad there is no school today!

So, after 7 full days of this thing I hope we are finally all done! Gary has been the last hold out. I hope he doesn't get it! He had to take over yesterday for me and do everything!

Our weekend

We have had a busy couple of days!

Friday was the 2nd grade field trip to Legoland! It was canceled earlier in the year due to rain, and we were all so happy that it was not raining on Friday! I decided to stay home this year, but volunteered to watch all the younger siblings of those Mom's going on the field trip. So, I ended up picking up FIVE kindergartners on Friday afternoon! They were all girls and we had a fun Legoland party at our house. We made a fort, made valentines and of course had a lot of snacks!

On Saturday Gary took Sydney to her friends baptism, and then out for a date. I watched our neighbors and Lauren was invited to another birthday party. Guess what they did? Went and got their toes and nails done! She loved it!

Sunday it poured all day. Lauren woke up not feeling well and this morning Sydney woke up not feeling well. Great, time for another round of colds and flu!

I realized Friday night that I didn't take one single picture of Kaycee and all her friends! Gotta get better at that!

One last thing before this post gets too long--

Yesterday in Senior Primary, Sister Eisenhut left some time at the end of sharing time for the kids to come and talk about or bear their testimony of President Hinckley. I can not say how impressed I am with these kids. Several got up and they bore the sweetest testimony's of the Gospel and of their love for the Prophet. One got up and shared President Hinckley's favorite scripture,which I didn't even know. These truly are the strongest spirits saved for this time. The spirit was so strong in that room! I was so grateful that I was able to be there and share in that.