my Sunshine

Family Pictures

We had our family pictures done in May, the day before Mother's Day. It was a relief to get them done professionally, as we have been wanting to for years.

We went up to the AF Ampitheater, and a little park near there with a bridge. The photos turned out so nice. I seriously cannot believe we look this cute! I will try to just put in some of my favorites since there are so many good ones.

Last Week of School

The last week of school is always lots of fun.

On Tuesday, we had Audrey's Graduation and the pool party. I am one of only a few teachers brave or crazy enough to get in the water with the kids. It is a lot of fun, but I have to swallow my pride first.
Wednesday was the dance festival. Thursday was the last day and we got out at 10:15am.

You can see Kimee in the middle in her pink shorts. She did a super good job on her dance, which she said was really hard to learn. She usually stresses out a lot about the dance festival because she has to learn the dance so quickly. This year she was annoyed that there were so many kids who didn't do the right steps and just goofed around. Third grade did the song, "We're All in This Together". It was really cute.

Kimee with her teacher, Miss Baer, on the last day of school.

Audrey with her teacher, Mrs. Nuttall, on the last day of school.

They both had amazing new teachers this year who put their whole heart into their classrooms and did an incredible job.

Audrey's Kindergarten Graduation

Audrey had her Kindergarten Graduation on May 29, 2012. She was sooo excited for this day. We were surprised when we saw the program, that Audrey had a speaking part!

(I took a lot of video, so I don't have many pictures.)

So proud of our adorable Audrey!

Memorial Day Weekend

For Memorial Day weekend, we mostly did work around the yard, once again. We had just had concrete poured for the patio and were getting ready for the next section on the driveway.

On Sunday, we were able to attend Easton's Farewell before going on his mission to Toronto. We will miss him so much. He is such an awesome cousin and nephew.

I thought this one was so cute- Maddi whispering in his ear.

The girls would not sit still for a picture.

They love their cousins so much!

Dave discovered a new favorite treat, thanks to Carol and Costco. It's a Chicago Mix popcorn- cheese covered and caramel corn.

Maddi loves Dallin. She hadn't seen him for quite a while, but as soon as she did, she said, "There's the boy I like!" She spotted him at church first, and then wouldn't leave him alone at the luncheon. I'm pretty sure Dallin enjoyed the attention. Too bad Maddi is not a decade or so older.

On Monday, we went on a hike up to Battlecreek Falls with Grandma and Grandpa K.

Kimee and Audrey decided to bring their Build-a-Bear's on the hike (on their backs).

It was so cute to see Kimee helping Maddi and being her buddy.

Getting in the water downstream. It feels good to cool off.

It was hot and tiring, but so much worth the reward at the end. It was a memorable experience for us all. My mom was thrilled that she was able to do it. On the way down, a lady passing us commented to my dad how impressed she was that he was able to do the hike, at his age. It surprised me because I still view my dad as a 40 year old (He's 72, and in really good shape). My mom's response was, if that lady only knew how many times dad goes up and down flights and flights of stairs at the temple each day.

Maddi's Haircut

Maddi was waiting for me to do her hair, and within seconds she had picked up the scissors, went to her room and chopped off a big section of one side and a section out of her bangs. I was not happy, but since it was laid back summertime, I wasn't too worried. Luckily, we had just had our family pictures done. She reminds me so much of my sister Lora, and now with her hair cut crooked, even more so. I still think she's pretty cute despite it all.

Oh, and it doesn't help that she had just biffed it two days earlier on the sidewalk at Daddy's softball game, so she had a big scratch on her cheek. This poor child!

Annular Eclipse

On May 20, we had some fun observing the annular eclipse (Ring of Fire). Luckily, our neighbor had a welder's mask and let us share it with them. I think the kids were more excited that they got to play with their neighbor friends on a Sunday than to see the eclipse. It turned out to be a pretty cool thing to see.

Audrey waiting behind Darcy, not so patiently, for her turn.

Dave was trying to take a picture with his phone. Didn't work :) He has the binoculars and paper for another trick- to see the shadow of the eclipse.

Audrey's Tooth & Field Trip

Audrey lost her 2nd tooth on April 18, 2012. It was really loose in the morning. On the way to school (at noon) she said that she really wanted to loose her tooth at school so that she could get a little tooth necklace. When we got there we went to the office. I wiggled it a little, and she really wanted me to pull it out (so very opposite from Kimee). So I pulled. It was still stuck, so I pulled harder and it came out. It bled, but Audrey didn't care. She was so happy to get her little tooth necklace.

On May 18, I was able to take the day off and go with Audrey on her first ride on a school bus! Her kindergarten class has gone on a few walking field trips, but this was her first big one.
We went up to "Farm Country". It was raining pretty hard and really windy- crazy (I don't think it rained for a month before or after this day). They did a good job accommodating us indoors.