PrEsCHooL

To go along with turning 4, Kenlee started preschool this year.  She is attending Grow with Me Preschool which is just down the street from us.

The night before her first day she was so excited she didn't fall asleep for 2 hours.  She keep calling me in to remind me to wake her up in time for preschool.   When I went to wake her up the next morning she bounced up and ran to her clothes that we had laid out.

1st Day of Preschool

Kenlee gets to ride her bike to school for now, she looks so big riding her big bike with her cute little backpack .

Jordyn enjoys her stroller rides to and from taking sister to school.

Look Who Turned 4!

The last few weeks have gotten away from me and I am behind in our family updates.  We celebrated Kenlee Jean's 4th birthday on August 26th. This year was especially fun because she was anticipating her birthday for several months and each time she asked about her birthday the excitement would build more and more. 

The Sunday before her birthday we had a little celebration with Grandma and Grandpa Daines & Auntie April.  Spoiled little cutie got two birthday parties. Auntie April got her another beautiful Jim Shore figurine of Minnie Mouse and when we got home that evening Kenlee picked a very special place on her shelf for it.  She said it was so she could keep an eye on her, make sure she wasn't getting into trouble. Not sure what trouble she was expecting Minnie to get into but it was so funny.

The next morning (her actual birthday) we started out the morning by getting her all dressed up in special birthday clothes.  She still fit in her birthday shirt from last year and we did her special birthday twisted braid hair (we only do this style on special occasions because it takes a long time to twist all the little braids in). For lunch I took her to Wendy's which she loves and spoiled her with chicken nuggets and a frosty.  Blake actually started back to school on her birthday so we had to plan around his evening class in Brigham which meant we had a late dinner at Gammie and Poppies house that evening.  Trying to keep an excited 4 year old happy while waiting for the party to start was no easy task but I think she stayed pretty entertained.

I asked Kenlee what she wanted for dinner on her birthday fully expecting her to say white pasta aka alfredo pasta but she surprised me with pancakes.  Oddly enough I was intimidated by this meal choice because I rarely cook breakfast let alone cook/time breakfast foods for 13 people. But the meal went well and I think everyone enjoyed it (or at least humored me).  As soon as Kenlee was done eating she begged us to open gifts.  Then we gathered back to the table to do cake and ice cream.

Gammie made her a pink sparkling bear cake which she LOVED!

This year she wanted a Lalaloopsy cake with Jewels on it, to me this cake turned out sloppy but I worked so hard on it and to a 4 year old it was still amazing.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!!

Today we took her in to her well check to see how she was doing. This year was the first year she had to do the vision test and she past which was a relief, I didn't even worry about it until she started doing the test and then my mommy brain started over thinking things. This visit was the first time she let them do everything with out much fuss, she still wanted me hold her hand but I can handle that. She is defiantly growing up.

4 Year Old Stats:

Weight: 36.8lbs     50%

Height: 41 1/2ins    90%

Bear Lake Weekend with The Thompsons

This last weekend we were invited up to the Thompson's cabin at Bear Lake.  They have a beautiful cabin right by the lake.  The girlies and I headed up Friday afternoon, following Karlee and Colton so I would not get lost.  Blake of course had to work both Friday night til close and Saturday morning so we had to leave him home.  I can not wait til I no longer have to leave him behind....someday right?  I was very nervous about driving Logan canyon but thanks to our new Kia the drive was pretty smooth other then a crazy blonde chick in a dented Toyota corolla sport addition. Enough said?

We got there and took a tour of the cabin.  Both girlies LOVED the window beds. Our next adventure was to head to an awesome park near their cabin and let the girls play.  The playground equipment was not your standard issue park, I wish I had remembered my camera because Kenlee got to climb a rope web and she was like a little monkey. We walked down the boardwalk to see the lake and throw some rocks.  Jordyn was very upset when we tried to leave and she ended up armpit deep in the lake which set on a whole different panic for her. 

The rest of our family came up not to long after we got back from the Park and we got some Bear Lake pizza.  Later they went to drop the boat into the lake and Karlee offered to take Kenlee with her so we dressed Kenlee in her swimsuit and they were off.  Eventually they came back and I could her Kenlee yelling something at me.  When I finally heard her, she was telling me she was super muddy from walking back from the boat and she was SO HAPPY about it! What a girl! Once everyone was cleaned up we spent our evening visiting on the porch and getting a kick out of the bugs hitting a bug zapper (promise it was amazing how many bugs must have been hitting it).  Kenlee and I took the window beds up stairs while Jordyn used her pack-in-play inbetween us.  Kenlee could hardly fall asleep she was so excited.  She called me over several times to tell me she could see out the window and to show me the stars.

The next morning we had some breakfast and then a group of us headed down to the boat. It was overcast and windy but we hoped things would warm up.

She was excited and nervous about her adventure on the boat, I am not positive but I think this was her first boat outing that she actually got to ride on the boat and not just hang out on the beach with Gammie or Mommy.

Kenlee was super happy and sang the whole trip across the lake....

Jordyn and I trying to stay warm as we went.....

Some of the crew....

Poppi showing Jordyn the water.....

Sleepy baby, but she refused to give in yet....

Love this silly crazy little monkey....

 It was Clint's birthday and for his morning gift he got a new wakeboard. The birthday boy was the first one out and got to try out his awesome board.  He did so good! 

Kenlee got on the boat insisting that she wanted to knee board but when we told her it was her turn she panicked so Uncle Brady showed her how easy it was.

 She finally decided she was going to do it so we started by letting her practice laying on the board in the boat and Colton and Wes explained what she was going to do.

Then we headed into shallow water so Colton could help her. Aunt Karlee warmed her up so that she could be comfortable to start out in the water.

 Wind blown....

 Then Colton helped her on the board in the water....

And she was off....

Holding on and leaving Colton behind....

she did SO good....

I am so proud of her, my nervous 3 year old riding on a knee board...

She road for a pretty good while.....

Then she tipped off and Karlee and I panicked because she was freaking out so the pictures ended there.  She didn't let go of the rope so I kept yelling at her to let go of the rope while Karlee hurried and jumped in to get her. Kenlee had never really been in water with a life jacket by herself before and she didn't understand that she wasn't going to go under the water. When she first got back in the boat she told us she didn't love doing that but once she calmed down and warmed up she decided that it was pretty cool that she had done that.

 By this time Jordyn had started getting really fussy because of the cold and because she had woken up that morning at 6:00 when her normal wake up time is 8:30 or 9:00 so Wes made her a little bed under the dash and behind a seat and she fell asleep by the time he was done skiing. She slept in her little cocoon for most of the rest of our trip...

 Cute Girl!

When we got back to the cabin we got dressed in normal clothes and did a craft project.  We made paracoard bracelets.  They turned out super cute.  Even Jordyn pie has a little one. Kenlee had to have two, a pink one and a blue one that would match her Daddy's. She is a Daddy's girl which is so cute! Then we tried to go back to the park but it was super cold and rained on us so we eventually made it back to the cabin and warmed up.  After an awesome birthday dinner of pulled pork, the girls and I packed up and headed home to see Daddy.  Tiffany had come up without Brock, who had to also work, so she came home with us too.  We had an awesome time at the cabin and hope to go back again. Thanks Wes and Michelle for a great party and all your hospitality.

2013 Camping Trip

A few weeks ago we took our annual camping trip with my family.  This year was a little different and ended up just being my parents and siblings but we still had a great time.  Because many of our family members had work and school we decided to stay close so that they could come up when they could.  We found a nice little camping spot up Highcreek.  We were right next to the river which made me nervous at first but ended up being the best entertainment of the week....

The trip began Wednesday evening with the normal set up and acclimating ourselves to the area.  Blake had to close at work Wednesday night so I took the girlies up by myself and therefore had the set up to do. While I began unpacking the van and setting up the tent Jordyn found the bucket and shovel I had brought up for the girls.  She plopped herself right down in the dirt and began digging.

I made the mistake of asking her if she was dirty and she told me off a little.....

Sadly while I was distracted setting up the tent Kenlee took a tumble thanks to a rock in the middle of camp.  From what I was told she tripped and fell forward, trying to catch herself but because the dirt was powdery her hads slipped out from under her and her face finished catching the fall.  All in all she ended up with lots of scraps and bruises. Her left knee and shin were eaten up along with the palms of her hands and her poor little nose.  She had excellent medical help from her Aunt Tiffany and Aunt Karlee.  This all happened with in the first 10 to 15 minutes we were there.

After all was set up we had a wonderful dinner of Hobo dinners, rolls and salad.  Everyone was assigned to bring up there own dinners and this years were really creative and tasty.  For dessert we roasted marshmallows over the coals and made smores... there is nothing quite like a campfire smore. People slowly started to leave, Karlee had school the next day and Colton, Brock and Tiffany all had work so they didn't stay up with us.

Thursday morning after a not very restful sleep (Kenlee would slide down in her sleeping bag and whimper until I pulled her back up, it happened alot) we gathered for breakfast and then Poppi took the girls down to the river to throw rocks (which became the hit of camping). Jordyn spent hours down there throwing rocks in to the river. Kenlee spent her time throwing, splashing everyone and walking around in the water. Amazingly enough she never did fall into the water, I didn't have to hang any clothes to dry the whole trip.  The bee's eventually chased us away from the water and we took a truck hike up to the trail head above the campground.  I had worried that Jordyn would not take a nap because it was super hot still and she didn't have her own bed and routine but even in the back of the truck she couldn't resist sleeping, it was perfect.  When we got back we had some lunch and Blake made it up to see us.  The girlies were so happy to see their daddy and show him all there amazing new games (mostly the river and throwing rocks thing).

 Daddy!!!

Kenlee and Gammie dipping their toes in the water...

Look Guys! Watch this.....

Ta Da!!!!!

Poppi helping Kenlee stay dry while walking the river.....

Thursday evening for dinner we didn't have Brock, Tiffany, Colton or Karlee so we experimented with a pork roast in a dutch oven.  It turned out so amazing.  To go along with our pork roast we had cheesy bacon potato's and salad.  Not your normal camp meal but super easy and amazingly tasty.  Blake got to stay up with us Thursday night which made everyone happy.

Friday morning after breakfast we took a small hike.  On the truck ride up to the trail head poor Blake got a bloody nose and continued to bleed through the whole hike. At the trail head there was a nice guy who let the girlies pet his horse which they loved then we started up the trail.  The weather was very much against us so we didn't make it more then a mile before we started having people over heat (and Blake was still bleeding) so we stopped off at a part of the river and played for a while.  There Brady and I trekked across the river, which was much colder then down where we were, and climbed a huge rock in the middle of the river.  Unfortunately all those pictures are on his iPod, if I ever get them I will add them.

We headed back to camp and Karlee and Colton were there waiting for us so it was good thing we hadn't been able to hike like we had planned.  We spent more time down in the river (literally with our camp chairs sitting in the river) throwing rocks and trying to keep cool.  Jordyn became the nudest of camp because she broke out with a horrible heat rash all over her body.Blake had to head back to work so he left around 2:00.  We were all so glad he got to come up for a while. Later in the afternoon Tiffany and Brock came up and we had dinner which was fajitas.  Dessert was dutch oven turnovers which are to-die-for!!!

Because of the Hyde Park celebration my brothers had to march in the parade Saturday morning so we all packed up camp Friday night and arrived home a little after 10:00.  The girls and I got cleaned up and got to bed so that we could make it to the parade the next day.  It was a great trip full of fun.  The girlies had a great time and loved living out doors for a few days.  I was super tired and felt worn out by the end but it is totally worth it to watch my girls have these experiences and make these great memories.....