Hallie's Dance Recital

Hallie has been so excited for her dance recital and even more exciting than that was the fact that both of her grandmas were going to be there. She has been practicing really hard and has gotten quite good over the past year of dance. She danced to the song "Lollipop" and the girls had suckers as a prop to dance with along with their costumes.

Such a little poser

With a great sense of humor(thanks to her daddy)

Hallie did a fantastic job and barely even watched her teachers. She was smiling ear to ear...we are so proud of her. It is fun to watch your kids learn and grow. To find what they like and don't like and what they are great at. Afterwards she was really excited when we gave her a little treat(a bag of jelly belly jellybeans) and got a bunch of pictures. Matt's mom had to leave after Hallie's dance so she could travel to a convention so that is why she is missing in our group pictures. We also missed Matt's dad he was planning on coming but got held up at work:( but he was so sweet and sent Hallie a text both to wish her good luck and a follow up one to see how it went and how she did. She thought it was so cool that she got a couple text messages addressed to her and I thought it was so thoughtful of him to remember her.

We waited to have my mom come after the baby was born so that she could be here for Hallie's kindergarten graduation as well as her dance recital and we were so glad that she could be a part.

About every time we stopped Hallie asked for another picture with her grandma. They seem to have a special bond almost like she just gets Hallie. I often wonder if its because she is the first grandchild, the first one to make my mom a grandma. Whatever it is I'm glad that she has that and is so very loved.

We are excited to see what Hallie decides she wants to try and excel at. I think she will be great at whatever she does. She is such a sweet, loving, smart, and talented little girl at whatever she has done so far and I'm sure it will continue. Matt and I feel very blessed that she is ours.

Take My Picture & New Bikes

Monday while Hallie was at dance practice my mom wanted to do some shopping so we headed down to the mall. As we wandered thru quilted bear Gracie found this booth that was full of furniture made of pallets. She wasted no time rearranging and taking a seat before asking for her picture taken. Of coarse she isn't always that willing when I want to take her picture so I was happy to oblige. 

We also found Emery a headband to wear with her blessing dress on her special day and a bird for my moms kitchen. After a few more stores we headed to get Hallie and then home for lunch. It was a fun way to spend our morning.

That evening my mom watch all 3 kids while Matt and I went out on a date! It was much needed and so nice to just spend some time with Matt. We decided while at dinner that we would stop at Walmart to grab a few things on the way home. While there we decided to look at the bikes. We have been talking about getting Hallie a bigger bike for almost a year but just haven't done it. So that night was the night. We also decided to buy Gracie one as well since the bike she currently had wouldn't keep its training wheels in place. When we got home the girls were ready for bed and were so excited when we told them we had brought a surprise. They initially thought it was a treat so you can imagine how excited they were when Matt brought their bikes in!!!

They have been riding their bikes everyday and really enjoying them. Hallie needs more space than the back patio since she is now riding without training wheels so we have been practicing at a near by paring lot. I can't believe our girls are this big and getting bigger everyday. We want them to have the world we love them so much.

A Sunday Drive

Sunday after everyone got home from church(I have been staying home with Emery since I'm not ready to take her to church) we ate dinner and then loaded up to go for a Sunday drive.  To where you may ask...the poppy fields in Mantua just east of Brigham. They only bloom once a year and only last a couple weeks but are absolutely beautiful. The girls had changed into pjs when they got home form church and decided they wanted to wear them on the ride as well they were so thrilled and thought they were so silly. When we got there there were quite a few people there taking pictures and just hanging out. We got out and did a little exploring. On the south side of the fields there was a dirt road going up so we followed it and found a beautiful green meadow at the top of the hill. It was so beautiful I only wish that pictures could capture that. The girls wandered around singing songs and dancing having the time of their lives. 

After a while we headed back down to the poppy fields. Quite a few people had cleared out. The girl couldn't wait to run through the flowers and they even found a few that were on the ground that they carried around.

Gracie found and climbed this rock and then asked to have her picture taken because she was higher than the mountains(according to her) and was Rapunzel in her tower.

My mom had never seen the fields so it was fun that she got to come with us. We really enjoyed having her with us for the week she was here.

When Hallie was about 9 months old we did our family picture in this same field. It was fun to think about how far we have come now that we are a family of 5! Funny enough Emery happen to have her poppy blanket on that day the girl thought that was so funny. We called it her camouflage. 

Hallie was captivated by how many flowers there were and some of them as tall as she was!

Matt took Emery's first ever selfie with the poppies...she was even awake for the occasion 

Daddy and Em selfie

There was also a field of sunflowers nearby that the girls headed to next

Then came the silly pictures

I love these 2 and hope they always have the confidence to be themselves

We headed for home just as the sun went down. We loaded up and headed back down the canyon. Just as we came back into Brigham the sun was settling and the light was hitting the temple just right. It was beautiful. How blessed I am to have this family I do...forever. It was a great day.

Our Awesome Daddy

It didn't take Emery long to figure out how cool her daddy is. Her eyes are getting more developed and you can tell she is seeing more clearly and recognizing each one of us more and more. In this particular picture Matt had just gotten home and once he started talking to Em she was captivated. I thought it was a pretty sweet picture and moment for this daddy and his little girl.

The Circus Takes a Trip to the Zoo!!!

When we decided my mom and Kimber were going to come at the same time I really wanted the cousins to all get to go to the zoo together like we did when Kimber lived here. It was important to me to have the kids spend time making memories together and that is just what we did. With having limited time the scheduling it worked out that we needed to go on Saturday. Nic and Kyle had made previous arrangements to run in a race and so we were brave and took all the kids without them. Matt stayed home to work on house stuff. And we were off. We had 3 strollers, a leash, and one carseat to contain our crew. They of coarse all of them wanted out at each exhibit. 

Right now they have an awesome Jurassic Park exhibit going one. The kids loved it and every time we found a new one they would all run to it to see what moved or what noise they would make. This one they could climb on and they made the most of it.

Em was so good and would just look around and then fall asleep. Only to wake up and eat several hours later and then she would be sleeping again.

Last but not least we rode the train before heading home

It was an exhausting fun day. It was fun to see the kids play together and have fun. But we were definitely glad to get home to relax.

Oh What do You do in the Summertime

Friday Kim, Nic, and my mom went to Tremonton to visit several family members and run some errands. I had decided I would rather stay home and take it easy. I am still really paranoid about germs and having her passed around so we decided to stay home. A fun part of our summer is free lunch at the park that the school district offers. Last summer we only made it a handful of times and this summer I am hopeful that we will be able to get there a few more times. The girls love getting to eat and then play with their friends. I bet you can't tell by the looks on their faces.

Hallie's Kindergarten Graduation and Celebrations

Hallie has been so excited that this day was coming and even more excited when she found out all of her cousins were coming. This was her cheering section minus Matt that was setting up the camera. Joy got there a few minutes late and we were happy to have her join us as well.

The class sang some songs, shared some poems, and talked about what they liked the most. It was fun to see the different personalities of the kids and them focus on their strengths to share with the audience

Hallie demonstrated some sign language

Then she played hot cross buns on the piano

Then they presented the graduates. They received their diplomas and a metal for their achievement 

This is Mrs. Hansen she has been fantastic and Hallie loves her. She is a great teacher and we will really miss her. I will also miss her 11 student class size it will be a big adjustment going to public school now we have been spoiled.

Hallie and the other little girls in her class

The entire cheering section

Our little family of 5

Hallie got spoiled.

Nic, Rigs, and Kinley brought her the balloon and the taffy

Kim brought her the flower lea

Gracie picked out the hula hoop and cotton candy

Mrs. Hansen gave her the purple sunglasses 

Then we headed back to the house to have a picnic lunch of KFC..per Hallie's request. Then Rigs got to open his birthday gifts from Grandma since its next week

Then we went to do some swimming and although it was still a little cold the kids didn't care. Kim and Nic were troopers and got in with the kids so they could practice swimming without their floaties. Luke has been taking swimming lessons so he isn't supposed to wear and sort of flotation device

The kids were so funny they played red light green light and kicked until they were tired.

Then we headed back and got everyone changed and warmed back up. We then settled the kids in to watch a movie while we took it easy. After the movie Nic and Kimber headed back to Nic's so she could spend some time with Kyle. It was a fun day spent celebrating Hallie and her accomplishments. We are so very proud of her. I was also thankful for the support we had from family. I think Hallie felt very special and she was very spoiled. Now on to first grade!!