ROAR!!!!

I cant believe summer is over!!!! School starts for Jaden and Ella this Thursday! I had no intentions of sending Ella to school this year because so is so young, but when Jaden's preschool approached me and asked me to be one of their teachers on just the days and just during the times Jaden is in school, and that they would have a 2 year old class Ella could attend for free, I couldn't resist! I must say I am VERY excited! I have really missed teaching and its so great that this works out so well! I feel very blessed!! We ended up deciding to send Jaden Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays and then I will teach just Tuesdays and Thursdays! This ended up being a great blessing to allow Ella and I to still have one day together while Jaden will still be in school.

I told Jaden he could pick any one thing to do before school started up this week and he picked the Dinosaur Park! He absolutely loves dinosaurs and loves going, so we called up some friends and off we went!

Jaden and Connor are best buddies and thought these were hilarious!

 Jaden loved this visit to the dinosaur park more than I can ever remember! He took his dinosaur encyclopedia with him and just kept saying "mom that dinosaur is here in my book" after EVERY dinosaur! :) He also wanted me to read the plaque about every dinosaur and tell him "where they lived and everything about them"

 

It was a great activity to end the summer! Jaden couldn't be more excited to start school, and like I said, I am too! I am sure Ella is going to love having so many friends to play with too! The other day I had to go in to work on my classroom and so I brought the kids along too! There was this cute little girl named Geraty there and she and Ella will be in the same class. They are already little buddies and Geraty just loves saying "Bye Lela" over and over and over :) The kids have great teachers this year and the curriculum rocks! I can't wait to see how much they learn and grow!

Splishin and a Splashin

The other day I was talking to my sister Rachel and she asked me how I often I go to the splash pad in Ogden.....

How did I have NO idea Ogden had a rockin splash pad!?!? 

Needless today the next time it was time to run some errands in Ogden I grabbed the kids swim suits and we found it! I wish we would have known about this at the beginning of the summer! The kids had a BLAST!!

Here is Ella getting used to the water!

 I love this picture because Ella is running right next to the NO RUNNING sign...haha

 Jaden has really come to love swimming this summer, he had so much fun!

 Say Cheese

 Now back to the fun

I don't think I'll be feeling to guilty the rest of the summer on the days I have to drag the kids down to Ogden to run errands, as long as we hit the splash pad at some point, I think they will be happy little campers!

Monkey See Monkey Do!

 This last week we headed down to Salt Lake to go check out the new zoo exhibit with the cousins! 

I was so impressed and the kids had such a great time together!!

Out little monkeys!!!

 I love what great little buddies these two are!!!

Enjoying the carousel

 It was VERY hot outside so we HAD to stop for an ice cream break!!

 more monkeys

We had a great day!

We missed you Libby Hailey and Johnny, we'll catch you next time!

A camping we will go!!

This year during Shawn's week off we decided to head up to Oakley and spend some time at his family's cabin. We had so much fun we decided that we really should make a tradition of it!  We only brought up one of the kids toys and it wasn't even played with much! The kids just had a great time doing everything else up there! It was some much needed quality family time! Especially since I had just gotten back from 4 days at girls camp! As much fun as girls camp was, I missed my little family and was so glad to be home and have this time with them!

Here's a little of what we did....

We caught frogs...

 We played in the dirt and drove remote control cars!!

 

 We drove the three wheeler over and over and over again!!

This little Ella Bug would squeal with joy and jump up and down EVERY time she heard it start up!

 Jaden has always loved riding!

 We threw rocks in the river

 and played on the three wheeler some more!

 We did a lot of fishing. One day a moose even came down while were were fishing and hung out in the water for about a half hour! He was HUGE and the kids thought he was SO COOL!!!

 We played fetch in the river with Dukey

 

 and threw some more rocks

 We even went down to Kamas one day and went out for ice cream and....Gluten Free Pizza!!! 

I was in Heaven!!

What a great week! I love my little family!

Red White and Blue go Country!

I LOVE the 4th of July! It is definitely my favorite holiday! I love the sunshine I love the time spent with family I love the food, I love that there are no presents involved, but that new outfits are a must! I love the fireworks! This year was no exception and was probably one of my most favorite yet! 

 

Every year Liberty has this great red neck, if you will. fourth of July celebration that is just so much fun!  There is everything from muttin bustin to chicken catch to catching fish with your bare hands! There are bounce houses , shopping booths, and carnival games! 

This year Jaden wanted to do it all! He was so excited! A few weeks out of the blue Jaden told me he wanted to ride the sheep at the 4th of July. For those of you who know Jade, I was a little shocked but excited that he would even want to, so I said ok! He started riding Duke all over saying he was practicing for the sheep! It was pretty hilraious! Well as the 4th approached I honestly didn't think he would do it, so I had Shawn take him and I videoed, (but it wont load for some reason ) knowing the chances of him getting on were much better that way! He did a great job, he got just out of the gate before being bucked! He was so brave though and not a tear was shed! We were so proud of him, and he wants to do it again next year! 

  Jaden also did the cake walk the chicken catch (no chicken this year) the stick horse races and the sawdust dig!Then of course was the fish catch! Jaden was SO excited! Right before they went in they dumped some huge fish in for the kids to catch. Shawn was as excited as they were! He was looking for them when they got in when Jaden turned to him and said "daddy, i already got one" Sure enough, my 4 year old had caught a trout in his bad ALL BY HIMSELF!!! He was sure proud...so were we!

 Stick horse race

 Sadly this is the only picture I got of Jaden and Ella together all day, dropped the ball!!

They sure are cute though!

 This year was also so great because not only did we have Shawn's parents up but Shawn's sister Amy and her family came up too! We had a great time and after the festivities headed back to our house for a bareque and home made ice cream! We had so much fun! They had to leave early but we ventured back out for the fireworks at Liberty park! For about an hour before the fireworks started they had music playing on large speakers and the kids had a ball dancing...again no pictures sorry!

It is a tradition in Shawns family to go up to the Oakley Rodeo over the 4th weekend and it is a tradition we LOVE!! Shawn's family has a cabin up my Smith and Moorehouse so we headed up Friday, went to the rodeo and then stayed the night! Jaden loved every minute of the rodeo and so did his daddy!

 Ella was on my lap and super wiggly so no pictures of us :)

After a late night of fun the next morning after a nice run we headed to the lake for some fishing! Jaden got to use his fishing pole grandma and grandpa got him for the very first time!!

 Ella of course wanted in on the action! Cute Hayley was nice enough to share with her! Look like a purchase is in order before we head up again :)

 Playin in the dirt!

 Daddy fishing

Jaden's first real fishing trip...he thought it was pretty cool but kinda boring sometimes!

 All the boys...

 Heading back to the cabin!

Amy was the greatest and took the kids on lots for 4 wheeler rides! 

We had such a great time and wish it could have lasted longer! Can't wait for next year!

Walking on Sunshine!!!

 We have been having some fun this summer...we have been enjoying the sunshine and even the rain too! Here are some pictures! 

Snuggling in bed with our teddies! 

 We hit the zoo with some friends!

Jaden had his last day of preschool!!

Here is is with his AWESOME teacher Ms. Kellie!

We house sat for some friends and Jaden and Ella LOVED playing on the trampoline!!

"Cheese"

Jaden doing "tricks" and Ella riding Duke

Rainy day fun at the mall!

Its always a party at the Best's

We went to Liberty park in Salt Lake with some family and friends to start off the summer right! What fun!

Ella loves her some Cheetos!

Jaden and his big boy bike!!!

Swimming in the pool Nana got us!

Playing with our friends and the youth carwash!

                                  Being "Holy Ghostses"

We built a firepit in the backyard this year and it has been a lot of fun!

McKenna and Ruby are SO clever and crafty! They made these little cars for Ella and Jaden one night!

So far this summer has already been awesome and we count all our little blessings every day! Here's to more sun shiny days smiles and memories!