Annual Deer Hunt

Opening morning!!  Casey wakes up...leaves us in the trailer while he goes hunting and we sleep in a bit longer and then have Captain crunch for breakfast!

Well.....Caleb didn't.  He woke up not feeling the best and felt pretty crappy the whole weekend.  He was pretty all right if the ibuprofen was running through him though.

 The Saturday afternoon crew is always the biggest.  I'm glad that this year we got a picture!  

I made dutch oven chili and biscuits on Saturday night.  I'm just at camp babysitting my kids anyway....so it gave me something to do.  It turned out pretty tasty! 

 Oh Saturday night.  I got dinner over with and mostly cleaned up.  Everyone wanted smores so we did that and I cleaned it up.  Sat down and Caleb didn't feel good and wanted to go to bed....so I got that taken care of.  Came back out and was holding cute Lexi and she started falling asleep, so I went in and got her all ready for bed and tucked in.  Finally went out to relax by the fire and the other 3 had decided they wanted to go to bed.  So I went into the trailer and got them all taken care of.  I went to go back outside and everyone was putting their chairs away.  Not looking for pity...but this mom stuff sure isn't about the mom at all!  

 I always bring a few new things from either the dollar store or Smith & Edwards to help keep the kids entertained.  Coloring and sticker books did the trick this time!

 Caleb is always in heaven when he gets to spend time with his cousins, Tyson & Shayden.  Luke was in heaven because we let him have a stick in the fire.   He did pretty good and only needed a few reminders to keep it down and be careful!

 The three amigos!!

 I made the boys play Qwirkle  with me.  I love games.

 My little ladies sure do love getting dirty!  and they love being old enough to roast their own hot dogs & mallows!

Taylor was the only one that was interested in going hunting with Casey.  She is always just happy to do whatever.  Easy going Tay.

 I took the kids home on Sunday evening and Casey  & Colby stayed up on the mountain the rest of the week. Turns out they both got deathly ill.  So they stayed up there coughing and being miserable for days.  Casey is really upping his selfie game lately. 

Until next year Elk Valley!  I'm getting this camping thing down and it seems that each year gets a big easier.

And they're 5

I don't get it.  I swear just yesterday I was rocking these little people to sleep!  When in the middle of toddlers and babies, it seems like it is lasting forever - but I honestly can't remember it that well!  I do love this stage though.  Learning, laughing, trying new things, making new friends, and still loving on me!!

For their preschool spotlight their teacher sent home a pre-made poster for us to fill out and they were so upset! (Mostly Alexa) because Taylor & Rylee have their preschool posters hanging in their bedrooms and Lex wanted one of those!  So I made them some pretty cute posters.  Luke picked some blue tape and race car stickers for his poster....

 and Alexa picked pink tape and mermaid stickers for hers!

 My little girl wanted a pink ballerina cake and it turned out pretty cute.  She is such a little sass master.  She might be the smallest of the group, but that doesn't mean she isn't in charge!  She is Luke's second mom and his best friend and she loves to boss anyone around who will listen.  She is a fantastic hugger and has the heartiest laugh!

Luke loves Bonnie from Five Nights at Freddy's.  I don't even understand what that game is all about.  It's a little bit scary and the characters are strange.  But he loves that purple rabbit named Bonnie.  He is still a mama's boy and I don't see that changing int he near future.  He kisses my hand every day I drop him off at pre-school.  Every second of every single day he is asking for a snack.  He loves to eat.  He'll wake up in the mornings and grab his stomach and hunch over and tell me how hungry he is.

 Love. Love. Love.  And I don't think I can every host a birthday party without balloons.  They just really make it a party!

 This picture makes me giggle.  I was taking Lexi's picture with her picture and Luke is in the background smiling with his new blanket and thought I was taking his picture.

 The next morning they spent a few hours creating new things with this cool toy.  This creation is a birthday cake and candles!

Seaquest

Casey & I decided to take Luke & Alexa on a date for their birthday.  We went to Seaquest in the Layton Hills mall and it was amazing!  It was quite pricey though.  You had to pay for your entrance and then pay for tokens to feed the animals.  It was a perfect day to go!  Early on a Monday morning.....no field trips....no mom groups....we pretty much had the place to ourselves!

The first exhibit was IGUANAS!  I really thought that Luke would be quite squeamish on this adventure but he was in heaven.  Iguana's are so creepy...but I loved them too.  They have a vending machine when you enter to get little cucumber slices to feed to them.  Luke seriously couldn't get enough.

Lexi on the other hand was  NOT in heaven.  She wouldn't get close to the big tortoise to feed him his carrots.  She FREAKED out when a bird landed slightly her hand.  She was a pro at posing for pictures and at the VERY last encounter she decided to be super brave and try to feed the little sharks a fish.  They didn't seem to hungry though.

 We even had to opportunity to hold a tarantula.  I can't believe I did it.  And I can't believe I faked enjoying it long enough to get a picture.

 Luke (& myself) LOVED the little fish that eat the dead skin off of your hands.  Casey hated it AND Alexa hated it.  We even tried to bribe her with a gift form the gift shop and she still couldn't do it.  I told her they were tiny fish kisses and she still couldn't do it.  Luke & I could have stayed there all day!  They have a pedicure station set up with the fish- I'd totally do that.

It really was a great outing.  I loved the stingrays because it looked like they were smiling.  I love my twinsies so dang much.  

September

Casey, Shelby, Colby & Logan started of September hiking in the 100 degree heat!  They were searching for a mine but didn't find it.  But they found it on google maps later - so that counts, right?

Peach days parade!  We met up with Shelby's family and Caleb's friend Dreyson.  The girls came home from school with peach days crowns and I was a little worried.  I have only shown my kids the parade part of peach days and not the carnival part yet.  I thought maybe the school had spilled the beans!  

FINALLY!  I found something that Caleb really enjoys!  We have tried soccer, tball, baseball, ninja class and Flag Football is the winner!  He was always so excited for game day and the last game of the season he asked if he could play next year too.  Of course!!!

Luke was adorable this summer.  What is it about 4 year olds??!!  We were receiving the irrigation water one morning and he was pretending to be gold panning just like dad.  And the grasshoppers are horrible this year!  But Luke is a mighty hunter.  I was finding dead ones EVERYWHERE.

Casey, Shelby, Uncle Darrin and cousin Justin went searching for gold in Idaho City.  They found little gold, but I think they made some fun memories.  Casey must like me....he finds hearts on his adventures and takes pictures of them for me.

We got a basket of produce one morning and there were some larger sized green onions in it.  Casey told the kids that whoever ate one he would buy them a Slurpee.  Taylor rose up to the challenge.  

One of my bunco friends was turning 40 and her husband wanted to celebrate with a Park City birthday bash.  We were able to find a sitter and we headed to Park City for the night.  We got in a tiff though.  So, that sucked.  But we faked it for this nice picture.

For Labor day we met some of Casey's family at the new splash pad in Brigham for a little picnic.  The little kids definitely had a ton of fun!

Anderson Fall Picnic

 It was a perfect day for a picnic.  Taylor & Rylee were so happy that Yoda got to come this year!  They want a dog so bad....I just don't though.  What do ya do?  I love these pictures of my twins and my twins.

A good highlight for I think everyone, except for Taylor & Rylee, is a good game of Spank the Berry Bird.  

I found this darling fuzzy caterpillar and these two blondies loved it.  About 10 minutes later I was itching like crazy and a rash started on my arm.  It didn't affect anyone else, but dang!  He was mean to me for some reason.

Another highlight of the afternoon was SMORE TIME!  This many kids with this many hot sticks is always a bit nerve wracking - but we all survived.

 Caleb is working on perfecting his mallow toasting.  I'd say he's got it down!  Look at the squishy goodness AND look at that cute face too.

 Nom, nom, nom - and really?  Taylor & Rylee are only 10 months older that Eva!  They are tall girls!

 We were in a primo spot.  There was plenty of trails, a bridge with water running over it, and trees around us.  The kids stayed busy and played so cute together and the adults were able to sit and visit without worrying.

Say cheese!

 I always enjoy the fall picnic.  Good weather, good food, good people.  Who could ask for more?

Back To School

What!  This kid is in 5th grade!  Last year of Elementary school.  He isn't big enough!!  I've always been worried that he's going to get pushed into a locker in middle school.  I'll break some necks if that happens.  I hope that he can make some great friends this year and carry those friendships to 6th grade next year!

Teacher:  Mrs Wilding
TV Show:  Sponge Bob

Movie:  Pearl Harbor

Song:  Thriller, Michael Jackson

Color:  Blue, Red & Black

Food:  Kraft mac & cheese & garlic bread

Treat:  Kit Kat

Activity:  Fortnite (video game) and flag football

When he grows up:  Join the airforce or the army

I have no worries about this cute little 2nd grader.  Taylor is so easy going and almost always cheerful.  I hope she makes some great friends and says hi to her sister once in a while.

Teacher:  Mrs. Ulsh
TV Show:  Liv & Maddie

Movie:  Ella Enchanted

Song:  Rewrite the Stars, Greatest Showman Soundtrack

Color:  Turquoise

Food:  Pepperoni pizza & salad with ranch

Treat:  Brownies with frosting

Activity:  Science experiments

When she grows up:  A mom & a doctor

 My little identical twinsies were put into the same class this year!  I hope that they are friends in school.  Or at least I hope that they have their eye out for the other one at all times!  I never worried about them going to school because I know that they will always have a friend.

This little miss is 7 going on 17.  Rylee has already asked questions about shaving her legs and how to know which classroom to go to in high school and wants to know if it's hard to drive a car.  Slow down little lady! 

Teacher:  Mrs. Ulsh

TV Show:  Fuller House

Movie:  Greatest Showman

Song:  Havana, Camilla Cabello

Color:  Purple, hot pink & turquoise

Food:  Hawaiian pizza & salad with ranch

Treat:  Milky Way

Activity:  Swimming

When she grows up:  Veterinarian

 I love that they look like triplets.  They really do love each other and I hope that they stand up for themselves and each other this year.  Kids can be so mean!  Best. Year. Ever. 

 All the big kids went to school so the littlest got to go on a breakfast date with just mom & dad!

 But a couple of weeks went by and it was their turn!  Off to Kaylee's Kiddie College!  They will go twice a week with 2 optional field trips a month. 

I won't lie.  I'm a little worried about my little sidekick.  He loves me...which I love...but I hope that he adjusts and learns to become more independent.  He has definitely shown a lot of interest this summer in numbers and letters.  He is ready to learn a LOT!

TV Show:  UmiZoomi

Movie:  Nightmare before Christmas

Song:  Monster, Skillet

Color:  BLUE!

Food:  Oatemeal with fresh blueberries.

Treat:  Milky Wave (he loves coclit)

Activity:  Riding his stride bike & swimming

When he grows up:  "I want to have muscles"

 This little miss sass is ready for the social aspect of school!  She isn't interested in the learning part at all.  Just the art and the friendships.  She'll be amazing at it all though.  I'm glad that she is there to help her big brother out.

TV Show:  Zig & Sharko

Movie:  Aladdin

Song:  Set it all Free, SING soundtrack

Color:  PINK!

Food:  Mac & cheese with hot dogs in it

Treat:  Twix

Activity:  Riding her stride bike

When she grows up:  A real mermaid

I'm not crying...you are.  But for reals.  I got a little choked up dropping them off.  I know that I'm still needed....but I was REALLY needed for a lot of years and that is changing.  I'm not happy about it, but I'm not sad either.  It's just a new chapter that I need to get figured out.