A visit to the dentist....

Jared woke up Thursday morning telling me he had a hard time falling asleep Wednesday night becaus he was too excited about going to the dentist!!! Have you ever been able to say that! Well, when Uncle Travis is the dentist, the kids get excited!!! Yesterday was their first appointment with Dr. Travis....the good news, no cavities....the bad news.....they all need to brush better!!!

Jessica just got done with her appointment

Jared....finished up his appointment, then it was Kayleigh's turn

here is Travis at work!!!

We decided to make a day out of the dentist appointment....first of all, my sister, Liz....lives just up the street (maybe 3 minutes away....with traffic) from the office.....so, the kids didn't have to hang out at the office.....Liz was kind enough to let kids hang out at her place while I was at the dentist office just in case I was needed.....then, I would go pick up the next child, and bring back the first one.....it worked really well....Liz brought Kayleigh to the office, and brought Jared back to her house.....at that point, Jessica was able to be with Liz' boys.....

After quiet time for the kids, Liz and I brought the kids to a nearby splash park....the kids loved it....I took some pictures with my phone, but for some reason when I put my phone card in, the computer is telling me there are no images.....so, I will have to try to have Matthew figure that out for me later.

We went back to Liz' house, had dinner there (Matthew met up with us....he had been further south for the day doing some work).....then, we left the kids with Liz and Travis while Matthew and I went to the temple. It was a great day! We love having aunts, uncles and cousins sooooo close, and love having Uncle Travis as our dentist!

How Does she Sleep???

I don't know how Kayleigh sleeps at night!!! When we put her to bed, she has 3 toys to sleep with....but, somehow, when we go check on her at night, she has a few more things on her bed....a few nights ago, she was sleeping with a STROLLER of all things!!! I just had to take a picture!!!

Beacon Rock

Matthew took the day off last Friday....originally, we were going to be camping....but, camping spots fill up a lot quicker than what we realized, when we were trying to make reservations....but, given he had already asked for the day off, I told him to keep it off, and let's go do a family outing. Matthew got on line and searched for options, and came up with this fun hike....a hike up Beacon Rock. It is a rock that is on the Washington side of the Gorge.....apparantly it is from the inner core of a VERY OLD volcano.....it was "discovered" and is part of the Lewis and Clark trail/expedition. It was a very family friendly hike.....it was a gorgeous hike.....I do have to admit, there was one spot that literally has no mountain or rock on either side of you....just a small little bridge....anyway, I am not a huge fan of heights, and I was ready to turn around and go back....my family continued, and I realized that I expect my kids to do things all the time that are out of their comfort zone.....I realized I could do this, so I talked myself into it, and continued on with them....I am glad I did! It was a beautiful trail, and the view at the top was amazing. If you are in the area, I would suggest that you check it out sometime.....if you don't live around here....when you come visit us, we will take you! To top off the wonderful hike, our kids were amazing....not once did we hear them complain.....a lot of hikes like this takes some coaxing from us to get them to do it....but, they just went and were having the fun the whole time....definitely a much needed outing for all of us!!!

Friends

Sorry, this post comes without pictures....I really am sorry....because I wish I had pictures to document all of this.....but, I don't....so, here is a pictureless post.


I AM GRATEFUL FOR FRIENDS THAT.....
*invite us over for Sunday dinner and to play games
*invite us for a spur of the moment date to the movies
*invite us and expose us to fun events....like demolition derby (I really wish I had pictures of that!!!)
*invite us over for Sunday dessert and socializing (I had to add socializing, b/c I stayed true to my diet, and resisted temptation....but my family enjoyed the dessert and I enjoyed the socializing!
*chat with me through instant messaging....I am not a huge phone person, but the instant messaging is great!
*set wonderful examples for me and for my children

Thank you to ALL of my friends.....you know who you are! I can't imagine life without you!!!

Jo Bros....for Jessica

Kindergarten Jump Start

Kayleigh started Kindergarten Jump start today. She will be going to a "summer school" kindergarten for the next 2 weeks.....M-TH from 9-11. This is basically for kids who may have a harder time for whatever the case may be at adjusting to kindergarten. Given Kayleigh was in the preschool program, her name was submitted by her teacher as someone who would benefit.....so, I took the opportunity, and got her enrolled....I think it will be good and give her a boost of confidence for the first day of school (she really has major social anxiety, and just freezes and wont talk in new situations)....which happens to be for her, September 11. She woke up pretty excited to go!!! She seemed to have fun. I am not sure what she was trying to do, but she was coming up with her own poses for these pics!!!

Sibling Peer Pressure

I suppose sibling peer pressure can be a good thing sometimes!!! Kayleigh told Jared he should try some, and he would like it....

Well....he did try it.....and he did like it!!!

He ended up eating six slices of watermelon at dinner last night!!! And he asked for some today at lunch time!!! I love peer pressure from siblings.....sometimes!!!

CUCUMBERSZUCCHINI

AND STRAWBERRIES......

OH MY!!!

THIS IS ALL STRAIGHT FROM OUR GARDEN!!!--Loving it!!!

(If anyone has any good ideas of what to do with cucumber, I would love to know how to use it....or if you live in the area, and would like some, let me know.....first come, first serve!)

Happy Birthday To Me

OK, so I guess I will post about my birthday....now that it is over....I am not one to announce the day, until after it has passed! My birthday was yesterday, but the celebrating began Saturday. My sister, Liz (and her husband, Travis, and 2 boys)....along with my sister Alisa and her husband Ryan came over for a BBQ.....Travis' b-day is also in August, so we called it the August b-day celebration. Can I just say, I am so happy to have family around us....finally....that we can do stuff like this with. It was a fun day to hang out, play the bean game, visit, eat, and Alisa did my nails for me. Then, yesterday was my birthday. Matthew had to do some work up in Seattle yesterday.....so, we decided to go up to my sister's (Alisa's) on Tuesday night....we spent the night there with her, then Matthew got up and left in the morning, and the kids and I hung out with Alisa.....we went to see the free movie up there.....Mr. Magorium......then went back to her house, had lunch and went to a nearby playground. (the original plan was to swim at her apartment pool, but it was only 60 degrees....so we had to change our plans)......the kids didn't do well with the change of plans.....they were pretty grouchy at each other most of the day.....sorry Alisa.....but, it was great to be with my sister on my birthday! Matthew got back around 3:30, then we headed back home.....stopping along the way at Denny's for dinner. When I got home I had several messages to listen to from family and friends....that topped off the day for me!!! Now I am another year older......trying to work on the wiser part!!!

8:30 AM

I am a little nervous to post this.....I hope I am not setting myself up.....but, I just have to brag that my kids have reached a stage that I have been dreaming of them being in for a long time....They are sleeping in until 8:30 (or later!!!).....I couldn't ask for better timing.....it is summer, and not much of a schedule to meet.....life is good!!! Just had to brag a little!!!

Cub Scout Day Camp and Heat Wave.....

That about sums up our week!!

Jared had his first Cub Scout Day Camp....and it happened to be the same week as a HEAT WAVE......Wednesday was the hottest day....reaching 109....but every day was right around the 100 plus mark......it was hot!!! Jared seemed to enjoy camp, though....he had fun going with his friends....he loved the "make it take it" stuff.....including making a "secret box" a dream catcher, and a wooden puzzle thing. He also has discovered that he enjoys archery. He has also realized that he takes after his dad.....HE WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH BB GUNS. I am really ok with that.....he tried shooting it once, but really just had no desire to ever pick up a gun ever again....his sweet little spirit just can't handle the thought of holding onto a gun, I guess. So, given that, and given that Wednesday after lunch, their troop was scheduled to be shooting for the rest of the time, I picked him up at lunch time, and we headed down to Oregon to swim with Aunt Liz, Calvin and Miles.....other than that, he was at camp in this weather from 9-2 every day.....it was supposed to be 9-3, but they cut it short. I went up to help on Monday and Thursday, and Matthew went up to help on Friday. We were drinking A LOT of water!!!! Jared ready to go to camp!


Jared mining for "gold" (gold painted pebbles)

This was their leader, who also happens to be a kid in our ward.....Reisin. he was great with the boys.....he really made it fun for them.

our troop of boys....

Sister Denfeld earned her spot in the group shot....she was there EVERY DAY.....she wasn't scheduled to be, but as of Monday, with the heat, she realized that there needed to be at least one consistent adult to watch over these boys, and know when the were acting differently, and needed extra water, or a trip to the nurse, etc. So, she ended up going through all these hot days with the boys.