I LOVE SUMMER!!!

Okay, it's technically not summer yet, but it's finally warm enough to really enjoy the outdoors! The boys and Nick had a great time camping at a fathers & sons camp, while Sadie and I settled for a girls' night walk to Walmart.
We've also been gardening with my sil, Shelly, and the kids have loved all the bugs, worms and snails they've encountered. This picture is of a BLUE potato bug, though my camera phone doesn't show it well. We looked it up and found out the poor bug has an indovirus, which turned it blue.
Nick and I enjoyed a peaceful hike the other day, which ended up being shorter than we planned because I forgot about spring runoff. In the fall it was a mellow trickle with several ways to cross, but now it's all under a foot of rapid, cold, newly-melted snow! It was still beautiful and we loved having a date night! Thanks Dawn & Eric for babysitting. :o)

In homeschool we just finished a quick unit on plants. I'll hopefully have time to post copies of the lapbooks they did. Studying plants is perfect for this time of year and the boys are super-excited to start learning about rocks and minerals next. I'm hoping to take a trip to Southern Utah to see all the cool rock formations, but we'll have to see if we can squeeze it in (and if our van can handle it). Summer weather here we come!

Happy Birthday Brandon!!!

Yes, this is a bit late. His birthday was over a week ago, but it really was a fun party. Each game was based on a book in the Magic Tree House series. His cake is an igloo, from the book Polar Bears Past Bedtime. Some of the other games were a lava jumping obstacle course from Vacation under the Volcano, deciphering the Egyptian Hieroglyphics from Mummies in the Morning and a treasure hunt from Pirates Past Noon. Everyone had fun and it worked for both boys and girls of different ages. :o)
We had pizza with a stuffed lion on the center of the table, which was from Lions at Lunchtime.

Happy Birthday Brandon!!! You are a wonderful, fun, energetic, cheerful boy and we love you!

Happy Mother's Day!

Thank you to all the mothers in my life! To the one who raised me and the one who raised my husband, you have set a shining example of service, hard work, compassion, nobility and selflessness. To my grandmothers, you have given me memories of laughter and joy, and instilled a love of extended family. To my sisters, though not mothers of children yet, you have shown me forgiveness, endurance and spontaneous fun. To my sisters-in-law, you have brought wonderful new ideas and experiences to our family. To so many friends and sisters in the gospel, you have each touched my life in glorious, sweet, surprising ways. I am surrounded by such amazing women! Thank you all for your encouragement, kindness, support and smiles. So much of what I have achieved in this life is a result of your love and examples. You represent everything that a woman has the capacity to be; what I am striving toward as a mother, sister, daughter and friend.

Thank You! Happy Mother's Day!