Springville Art Days!

Okay, I have been a little behind in my posting. I apoligize that my recent posts have been so far behind the actual date. There have been so many things so exciting going on and hardly any time to post. I will do my best to catch everyone up.

Two weeks ago we went to the Springville Art Days. We went to the band concert given by the National Gaurd Reserve band that our brother-in-law plays in which was followed by some comedians and at the very end there was a fantastic firework show.

We had so much fun being their with Brandon's sister and her family. Hyrum had a blast playing with the kids. He loves his cousins. Ben and Emily were content to be passed around from person to person to be held.
During the firework show all three kids got a little nervous. When the firework show first started Ben was asleep so the first bang really scared him and he started screaming;however, by the end of the show he was asleep.

I was holding Emily when the firework started and she jumped with the first few bangs, but by the end of it she really seemed to enjoy watching it.

Hyrum started out the firework show by sitting close by me and then decided to sit by dad and then decided to sit by me again. By the time he came to sit by me the second time he was shaking and wanted to sit on my lap. After he relaxed he started naming the colors and calling them pretty and saying oooo. At the end of the show he said "Again?"

Overall, we really enjoyed ourselves and spending time with family.

Pre-school Days!

Last week for pre-school we went on a "field trip" with grandma-B and my little sister Camille to The Bean Museum (I know I am pushing it, but what would a good pre-school be without any field trips?). We had so much fun! Hyrum loved looking at the animals and would run from one thing to the next. It was so funny, with the lions, we wanted him to stand by them to get a picture, but he wouldn't get to close. He wanted to make sure that there was a good distance between him and the lions. I would day that his favorite animals that he looked at were the hippo, the lions, the bears, the fishes and the alligator. What can I say, he loved it all. The babies were content to just sit in their stroller and look around. Afterwards, we went to BYU Creamery and enjoyed their marvelous ice cream cone.

This week we had a very busy week so for "pre-school" we finger painted using our fingers and sponges. Hyrum loved it! We don't get out the paint very often due to how messy it is. We made some beautiful pictures and even placed one on the door to welcome daddy when he came home from work. Next week we will be doing the letter 'b'. By the way, if you look closely at the pictures you can see Hyrum's pants are on backwards. Needless to say Hyrum dressed himself, but at least he is trying!

A is for Adventure!

One of the goals that I have recently set is to try and do some sort of a little pre-school with Hyrum. Well, we had our first day almost two weeks ago and let me tell you A is definetly for adventure! It took a lot of coaxing and bribing to get Hyrum to do the first couple of activities, but after awhile he seemed to enjoy it. Especially when Uncle Sean joined us at the end.

I took a lot of ideas from my friend Rebecca's blog and what she has been doing with her twins for pre-school.

A" Day:
We (and when I say 'we' I mean 'I') sang a song to the tune of "Itsy, Bitsy Spider" - Once a little apple seed was planted in the ground. Down came the raindrops, falling all around. Out came the big sun, bright as bright could be. And that little apple seed grew to be an apple tree.
I showed them a capital 'A' and a small 'a'. We said "A".
We looked at pictures of things that start with 'A' - ape, armadillo, ant, apron, acorn, anchor, alligator, apple. We named each item. I found the pictures on line.
We colored a picture of an alligator.

We went to the site called Starfall and did their activities for the letter A.
I showed Hyrum three different apples, one red, one green, and one yellow. They both identified them all as apples and we talked about how they are all apples, even though they are different colors.
Snack time: we ate one of the apples.

Story: We read The Ants Go Marching

Hyrum eating his green apple and coloring an Alligator

Reading a story with Uncle Sean

Happy Father's Day!

I just wanted to take a quick moment and wish Brandon a Happy Father's Day. He is such a great dad! Brandon has so much patience and love for all of his three kiddos. Hyrum loves to play with him; especiallywhen they wrestle. Ben and Emily are always so excited to see him and have a huge smiles on their faces. I am lucky to have married such a great guy.
My dad has been a great father and grandfather. He has been there to help guide me through my life. I have always known since I was little that I could count on him.

When I was a sunbeam I was asked to give a talk in the Primary Program during Sacrament Meeting. We are not talking a one or two liner we are talking about a five minute talk for a three year-old. I was giving a talk about Nephi and his brothers going to get the Golden Plates. I remember, I got confused with the names and lost my place in the talk. I looked out in the audience and saw my dad and said, "help me daddy." He came up to the pulpit helped me find my place and with the names, went and sat back down and I continued my talk. I am lucky to have such a great dad.

I have also been lucky to have two grandfathers who have been great examples to me in my life. Brandon has also greatly benefited from having a granfather who has been a great example in his life as well.

My father-in-law, Richard is a great man and has always shown me love and acceptance from the first time I met him. Also, he has been an amazing father for Brandon. Brandon is constantly telling me of the many things he has learned from his father. We are lucky to have such a father.

FHE!

Earlier this week, on Monday, we had the greatest family home evening. Brandon did the lesson and it was about how we have a prophet to guide us today and it is President Hinckley. We sang the song We Thank Thee Oh God For A Prophet, listened to President Hinckley's testimony, taught Hyrum how to say President Hinckley's name (it was so cute!) and ended with a wild game of following the leader. It was such a great night! The spirit was so strong. It was kind of reminer that even the simplest of things can invite the spirit as well as the sweet spirit that surround children.

They're Gone!!

Our good friends the Ames officially left to go on their intership 2 weeks ago. We already miss them. In fact, last Sunday, we were at church and Hyrum thought he saw Emily and when he realized it wasn't her and Brian he was so sad. Here are the pictures of them saying good-bye to Hyrum! They are some of his favorite people in the world and ours!

Reading books with "Nian"

Giving Emily a hug good-bye!

Don't We Look Cute?

Here are the two peas in a pod in their new outifits they got from our dear Aunt Marilyn. She was so nice to give them these cute outfits. They wore them to Church today and I have to say they were pretty darn cute!

It's been four years....

Brandon and I recently celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary. I can't believe how much time has come and gone and the many amazing things that have happened in our lives. I can honestly tell you that when I married him I had no idea all the trials and happiness we would find in our journey through life or that we would already have three kids. However, I can tell you that I love him more today then I did when I marry him. I honestly believe that I couldn't have married a better man for me. He is amazing!

For our wedding anniversary my parents were nice enough to watch all three turkies over night so we could enjoy a romantic get away. It was heaven!! We went to a bed and breakfast and PF Changs.

For his anniversary/Father's Day present he got a griddle that he has been desprately wanting. He couldn't wait to use it.

Squash, Here We Come!!

The babies had their first solid food (besides rice cereal) last week and they loved it!! They couldn't get enough!

It was so funny; Ben would just shake with excitment as soon as he saw the spoon. It was adorable! Emily loved eating the new food as well. Her little eyes just lite up with excitement. They both start leaning towards the spoon as soon as they see that you dipped it in the food with their mouths open and ready. Also, sometimes they do get offended if you give it to the other baby instead of them and they let you know that they are bugged!

They love their food!

Memorial Day Fun!!

For Memorial Day we had such a fun time! To start it off, Brandon and I went with my sister and dad to go and see Pirates of the Carribean: At the World's End. It was really good! For those of you who go make sure that you pay close attention (sometimes it can be hard to follow) and stay after the LONG credits for an extra clip!

After the movie, we went to my aunt Karen's place and swam at her pool. We had a blast! It was the babies' first time going swimming. At first they seemed to be a little nervous; especially Emily. However, once they got in the water they seemed to really enjoy it. Ben just kicked and kicked the whole time and Emily seemed content to sit there. Of course Hyrum had a marvelous time. How could he not, he had his "PaPa" there to play with.
Sorry the pictures aren't the best we were in an inside pool. Also, the babies were so fascinated with the water they would barely look up.

Next, we went over to my aunt Lana's house and had a BBQ; the food was fantastic! Hyrum loved playing with all the kids and the babies were enjoying being held.

Last, our good friends the Ames came over for awhile and we had fun talking with them.

Overall, it was a wonderful, busy and exciting day!

April Pictures!!

I took the kids to get their pictures taken back in April with the help of my good friend Emily and my mom. Let me tell you, that was quite the experience! Hyrum decided that he wouldn't smile no matter how hard I tried to get him to. Also, he wanted to hold his cup in all the pictures. So the picture with all three isn't really Hyrum being all lovey-dovey with his arm around them, it is him holding his cup! Overall, I think they turned out pretty good! By the way, the babies are 6 months old in these pictures!