No Mo Wheelz

At least no more training wheels! Watching Bryson trying to teach Ella how to ride her big bike without training wheels, Avery hopped on her little bike and took off. She is in love. Every spare second is spent circling the median while I watch for cars.

Then this week, Ella practiced riding through the downstairs of our house (um, yeah, I was taking a nap) and she figured it out too! Not that I'm excited about my walls being used as brakes, but now we have two bike riders in our house...and that means time for a family bike ride!

Part of Your World, Ariel

We got the chance to go to Tuacahn last week to see The Little Mermaid, courtesy of the awesomest job ever.

WOW.

Tuacahn is always a fun night out, but they really went all out with this production. There were bubbles and a water curtain and glow in the dark flying knives (in the kitchen scene). It. was. awesome. And what better show for little girlies than this? My kiddos knew every word and no, I mean, that wasn't my kids singing along at the top of their lungs. Ella and Aves even brought their Ariel Barbie dolls along for the show.

They announced that Aladdin will be next year--can't wait!

Over the Rainbow

Ella informed me about 2 weeks ago that the finalized theme for her party would be rainbows and that the invitation would include a ribbon rainbow. Of all the clever marketing plans she had given me over the past two years, I wasn't sure where this would go. It took me a minute to catch her vision.

We made flag banners and dot banners sewing rainbow-colored paper together.
OK, OK...mostly I just want to relish the fact that this room is clean. I might need to frame this.

We found a fun recipe for rainbow cupcakes. These are pain in the hiney to make but they do turn out pretty colorful!

This game we called Follow the Rainbow. I took rainbow-colored yarn and strung it back and forth all over the clubhouse in 9 different strands. Each girl followed her rainbow-colored string to her own pack of Skittles, going over/under/around other people's yarn as needed. Thank goodness for the clubhouse! When we walked in, all the threads criss-crossing looked like a great big booby trap. It did require some Mission Impossible skills to get to their treats!

Look at our friends! They even gave some themed gifts :) I love it.

We also did some rainbow water balloons, danced to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," and drew rainbows on the sidewalk with chalk. And we sent everyone home with some freshly sliced rainbow playdough.

Ella had a blast with all her friends, and then got to celebrate again on Sunday with family presents and party! Keeping with rainbow theme, we got her a pair of sparkly Twinkle Toes.

Happy 6th birthday Ella! Being the artist that you are, I can't think of a better theme that is appropriate for you. I hope you will always live life vibrantly and enjoy all the colors that make up the seasons of life.

Grandpa's Funeral

My grandpa, Jack Huber, passed away on July 26. He was almost 89 years old, and he was my last grandparent to pass on. The funeral was held over Labor Day weekend and I was able to bring Ella and Hazel along. Grandpa served in the Coast Guard so he had a military interment with a 21-gun salute. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo. alongside my grandma, Arline Huber. I'd never been to a military burial and I was touched by how poignant and direct and respectful the interment ceremony was.


The funeral service was held on Sunday and my dad gave the eulogy. Ella and Becca sang a duet of "I am a Child of God" (which was a small miracle that Ella would do it!). And my Aunt Sherry and Aunt Barb read scripture passages.



I have nothing but respect and good memories of my grandpa. He kept himself in great shape and was a medal-winning swimmer into his senior years, competing in the Senior Games, which, funny enough, is held where I now live. I remember swimming at the Civic Center by his house and jumping off the diving board as a little kid while he would swim laps. My grandma and grandpa spoiled all of us grandkids and would have us come stay with them for a week in the summertime to give our parents a break. I remember visiting tons of fun places because of their kindness. My grandparents were at my graduation from high school, they were at my wedding. I'm grateful to them for being a part of my life. I hope this will not be the last time I have a reason to visit St. Louis.

First Day of Kindergarten

Ella's first day of kindergarten was on Monday...BOO-YA!!! Let's just say, I was NOT a crying momma. We all walked Ella down to the bus stop for her first day and saw her off. She was halfway up the stairs on the bus when she turned around, ran back and gave me a big hug, and then ran back up to the bus. She's in Mrs. Gardiner's AM class with about all the little boys in the neighborhood and she loves it. She has been more than ready to start school for awhile now!

I really get a kick out of the random tidbits that come home from school. "Mom, did you know if you write the letters O and K and turn them sideways they make a person?" "Mom, did you know that I is a letter AND a word--two things!?" "Mom, our bus driver played Bingo is his Name-O on the way home from school today, isn't that funny?!" These are almost as good as when we went in for kindergarten testing and when asked math questions she told the tester, "I only like to do these questions with cookies and then I can REALLY tell you how many are left when you take away 3. That's how my mom shows me."

Ella, we are excited for you! Go tear it up girlie!

Crawling!

Little Hiz and her new tricks @ 7 months. Check it.

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old...

...one is silver and the other gold.

Bye friends. And not just the ones in this picture. This has been the summer of ridiculous move-outs! I kind of feel like I've moved because everyone around me is new. Cheers to good times. What did Heather say the other day? Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.

Summer O Fun

We don't have any big vacations planned this summer, but we have been enjoying a serious stay-cation since about May, maybe April. Instead of spending a lot of money on one week of going somewhere exotic, we've been spending a little money to explore treasures within reach. And so far, it's been the perfect non-stop adventure. With a little work in between, of course.

We went camping at Lava Point in June with the Boones and the Bradys! Check out this view...


Mmmmmm, dutch oven chili and chocolate cobbler. I may or may not have added a little too much cream soda. It may or may not have been hot chocolate pudding. You can tell from the gleam in my eye here that I was about to go crazy with it. I just love cream soda.


Happy little camper nugget. Pretty much all of the kids were constantly in motion, collecting bugs and caterpillars. All of their little chairs around the campfire were adorable.


Good friends, good times!


Also on that trip we ended by picking fresh cherries in Hurricane. Deee-lish!



The 4th of July this year was a blast! Bryson's sister Hillary and her husband Spencer just moved to Washington and we got have a BBQ with their family and the Quarnbergs. We were so excited to celebrate with Jim who just got home from Iraq! All the kids had fun running through the water and watching fireworks.

The kids started a face painting business on us! Hillary had brought paints and was painting little flags and stars on all our kids' faces and before we knew it, other kids were gathering and Ella was collecting fistfuls of dollar bills from kids who had pre-paid. Oh geez, that girl.


Festive little kiddos waiting for fireworks...


Last weekend, we headed to Bryce Canyon for the half marathon and a little weekend getaway. I was so excited to find out that the Hoyts were going to be in Orderville that weekend so we could get our party on!
Love love love Bryce Canyon. Seriously, it looks like the scenery is ripped from the pages of National Geographic.



The half marathon was a turning point for getting back in shape. I got 1:56:04 and was so happy to be getting back to normal again! It was the perfect race conditions too. I got a good night's sleep, didn't have to make any pit stops, had gorgeous weather--nothing to hold me back! St. George, I'm ready for you.

I think.


Nana, snuggle bug is 6 months old. Here's a picture for ya! Sorry, we never remember to take photos of her.


This pic of Avery just made us laugh. She's such a silly little sassafrass.


Bryson diverted the creek on Mossy Cave hike. We'll have to see what ecological changes he caused next time we're in the area...hmmm...


And we finally went to Sand Hollow! What a treat! I can't believe we'd never been. Thanks Hoyt family!


The girls had a blast catching fish...or watching Tim catch fish...


Row, row, row your boat, Hayden.


Ahhhhhhhh, relaxing!



The countdown to 3 years old finally came! Avery turned 3 on Monday and got breakfast in bed and a gazillion versions of happy birthday sung to her throughout the day. Then we threw a fun little water shindig with friends!



S'mores cupcakes are my new obsession. Apparently, they are the perfect treat for weddings, baptisms, and birthdays! These melted like no other in the hot sunshine, but I guess it's OK since they are S'MORES after all!


Spoiled much?!?!?


Avery got two new tutus for her birthday, lucky girl! Well funny enough, Ella can fit in Avery's 3T/4T size just fine. So they both wore a new tutu to church today! Good thing Avery is so good at sharing :) I hope Ella is just as good, I really like her new blue necklace!


Here's to keeping up with blogging so I don't have to mega post again. Phew, I think I need a nap!