Kids!

The kids have been driving me CRAZY this week!!!  They are getting so bored and I'm getting worn out.  School starts 3 weeks from today and I'm running out of things for them to do.  Today we cleaned (like we do everyday - according to my kids I'm a very mean mom), went to the YMCA (I had training for my new class), we had lunch and quiet time (again with the mean mom comments), then Kaylee wanted to make sugar cookies.  So I backed off and let her make the dough all by herself and then the kids cut the cookies out using ALL of our cookie cutters - Halloween, Christmas, Easter, etc.  Now they're all downstairs playing the Wii (it's been raining on and off today) and I need to get dinner going.  I hope it's nice enough to go to the pool tomorrow!  I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel on ideas to keep them busy.  I did get a cute video of Tanner playing with cookie dough.  And I found a picture of Kaylee with Roxie on my camera - though I'm pretty sure I did not take that one.  Judging by the mischievous smile on Kaylee's face, I would bet she got Emma to take the picture, even though they're not allowed to lay a finger on my camera...hmmm...

Kaylee and the pooch

I did it!!

Yay!  The blog is completely updated!  Now, to keep up...

Aaron is home after a week with the young men.  He went with them on their High Adventure trip - kayaking in the Apostle Islands.  Next time it'll have to be just me and him.  They came home a day early because of wet everything (sleeping bags, tents, clothes, etc.)  He's getting ready to start teaching Seminary (an early morning scripture study class for the high school kids in our church).  Aaron starts duty days tomorrow and then classes start at MSU next Monday, so I have one more week to get the house, YMCA and Primary (was just called as President a month ago) settled before I add studying to the pile.  I'm taking Microbiology, a Marriage and Family class (hoping it'll be easy-peasy) and a Nursing Perspectives class.  Shouldn't be too bad this semester.  I'm only teaching water aerobics on Saturday once every 6 weeks, but I am going to be teaching an Express Body Sculpting class on Tues/Thurs at the YMCA.  My knee is still bugging me, so I have to bow out of the Mankato half-marathon.  I'm finally OK with that.  I will be overhauling my long term training goals, so we'll see how that pans out. 

The kids are bored out of their minds.  Mankato schools don't start until Sept. 9, so we still have about 4 weeks.  And the pool closes this Saturday - aaagh!!!  The girls are still trying to decide what extracurricular stuff to do, though it sounds like ice skating lessons might be it.  Emma doesn't want to do Girls on the Run.  *sniff*  Oh well.  Dallin will be doing flag football and floor hockey this fall.  Tanner is starting preschool...my baby!!!

That's what's been going on with us.  Stay tuned for more...

Wisconsin Dells

On the way back from Chicago, we stopped in Wisconsin Dells and stayed 3 days at The Polynesian water resort.  The kids had a blast and I even got some poolside reading in. 

Cute kids!

Emma chillin' in the lazy river

Kaylee after a big slide

Dallin (I'm sure he's having fun despite the face...)

Daring Tanner

Dallin thought going headfirst was funner than feet first

Tanner having too much fun

All tuckered out

My favorite time of the day!

Trip to Chicago

After a crazy, busy, non-relaxing summer, we finally got a chance to take a short vacation.  We drove down to Chicago to visit our good friends, the McPheters.  We had so much fun!

Millie & Tanner

Averie & Kaylee

waiting for breakfast at the Bongo Room

got this pic of Averie without her knowing

Tanner showing off his towers of cream and butter

This was the favorite out of all the dishes - Brioche french toast

Red velvet pancakes

Lemon blueberry pancakes with mascarpone something-or-other on top - mmmmmmm

The Jeffrey & McPheters broods

snuggling up in the basement

I love this pic of the guys - this is outside of Frontera Grill (a restaurant owned by Rick Bayless)

At the splash park

hanging out with the McPheters

Kaela & Emma

Millie

Tanner gettin' crazy

cute Isabel

Kaylee & Emma having more water fun

cute pic of Isabel & Kaylee

Dallin trying to outsmart the fountain

good lookin' kids after church

Emma & Isabel

Kaela, Isabel, & Kaylee

July 2010

Dallin turned 6 (what!?!) at the end of July.  Poor guy - Aaron and I were recovering from summer classes, so he didn't get much of a party, though his friend Landon came over for some cupcakes. 

Mmmmm...cupcakes!

Showing off the goods

June 2010

June was a crazy-busy-insane month for all of us.  I started my 2 summer courses (8 credits in 5 weeks - needless to say that will NEVER happen again unless I have a full time nanny, chef and maid), Jon & Tara adopted a baby (yay!), Dallin had 2 T-ball games a week, Aaron and I took a getaway to Duluth for our anniversary and a marathon.  We got some good pics with that new camera - here are some highlights.

The wind up

Nice catch!

Typical...

I like his face in this one!

Dallin and Landon

Beautiful Duluth

Larry, Shannon, Aaron & Me

Ready to go, bright and early!

Almost done!

We did it!!  (Sooo not fair that Shannon looks like she just stepped out of a salon!!)

May 2010

In May, when the weather in Minnesota is bearable again, the kids had their fun run at school.  Apparently this is when I got my new camera (thank goodness).  Here are some fun pics of the kids and a couple cute ones of Tanner.

Emma after the run

Red-faced Dallin

Smiling at the home stretch

Cute Tanner

So tired after all that excitement