PG Waterfall Hike!

On Saturday we decided to go on a hike. I know our family and hike usually don't go in the same sentence but I think we are branching out or something! We invited some friends of ours who are avid hikers, just so we wouldn't get lost and eaten by wild animals. I don't know what it is called where we went so for these purposes I will just call it the Pleasant Grove Waterfall hike, because it was in Pleasant Grove and there was a waterfall at the end of it! It was, well we were told an easy hike only like a mile to get to the waterfall, but I'm inclined to now believe that the word easy is often times used too loosely! We did make it up to the waterfall and it was beautiful! We rested a lot and I couldn't walk after but that is just the price one has to pay to see the sites, so I am told!
This picture is at the beginning of the hike and we already had a man down! Josh was in charge of holding the injured!The friends that we went with have daughters both Elizabeth's and Abigail's ages and it was so cute they held hands while walking.This is the view from the top of the waterfall. It was very pretty and a little scary as the kids would try to go close to the edge of the mountain!These are from the bottom of the waterfall, we hiked down to the bottom, then had to hike back up to the trail to get out...it was a lot of ups and downs!
Thanks to the Andersen's for coming on this hike with us we had so much fun!

5K

On Saturday May 21st Celeste, Cory, Isabelle, and I did a 5k. Now before you start to think "WOW, I didn't think she had it in her"...I didn't have it in me. Cory and Isabelle ran most of it and Celeste and I walked most of it. We did try to jog/what I call run for just a little bit and in retrospect I think that was a bad idea. But we did it. We finished the whole thing. I of course couldn't move the next day and was in more pain then I thought I ever could be (and that's saying something for me!) But I am glad that Celeste talked us all into doing this with her and it was sort of fun and just maybe I will do that again, But next time I do think I will remember to put on the sunscreen!

Spring Soccer Season

I don't know how we get talked into doing these things but yes we signed up for another season of soccer! This time it is out door and through the city of Lindon. Both girls are playing and we are spending our Wednesday nights at Abby's practice, Thursday nights at Elizabeth's practices and Saturdays at games!!! What parents do for their kids! Josh even got talked into being a co-coach for Elizabeth's team. (this is the part I will pause for a laugh) Well this year Elizabeth is doing much better. She no longer has tea parties in the goal during the game with other kids, she also doesn't ask to come out of the game (well not as much anyway), and she actually runs towards the ball and actually gets in there and kicks it and is doing pretty good, well when she isn't doing cartwheels on the field or dance moves and is watching the game! Baby steps with that one!

Abby on the other hand stands in the middle of the field and reaches out for me to come give her a hug in the middle of the game or she stops for pictures if I have a camera and am pointing it in her direction! The girls were talking the other day and Abby was asking Elizabeth why people didn't chase her in the games. Elizabeth then began to explain to Abby that she has to have the ball in order for people to chase her. I'm glad we are getting the basics of the game worked out! We only have a few more weeks of games and then we are done. Elizabeth this last week informed us that she doesn't want to play soccer next year. We asked her why and she said that it's too mean of a game and she is a nice person and doesn't want to be mean to other people even if it is part of the game! Well I think her soccer career is over after this season, I just don't know what sport we will find that you don't have to be "mean" in, at least according to Elizabeth!

Pre-School Graduation

Abby has officially graduated from Pre-school! May 19th was her graduation. She was so excited and picked out her outfit weeks in advance. She has the whole thing ready to go and was counting down the days until she would graduate! When we got there she got a little shy and wouldn't sing any of the songs though! She just stood there with her arms crossed and wouldn't sing. I asked her later why she wouldn't sing and she says it was because she forgot to wear the bracelets that she had picked out to go with her outfit! I really don't know where this kid comes from! The whole thing was very cute the kids sang songs and then they got their little diplomas and some cookies. Abby had a wonderful pre-school teacher that loved the kids and really went all out for them. Pre-school down now we are on the kindergarten!

Piano Lessons!

Last month my parents bought us a new piano so that the grandkids could start to learn how to play. Elizabeth will start lessons the beginning of June. I decided that I really wanted to learn how to play. I took lessons when I was a kid for only about a year and have retained nothing! So I found myself a teacher and started my lessons! Once a week I gather my piano books up and go to my lessons. I practice everyday and often make Josh sit and listen to me play at which he claps with the proper amount of enthusiasm for all of my mess ups and "hold on let me play that just one more time I can do that better"! Bless his heart! My goal is to someday be able to sit down at a piano and be able to just play. I figure it might take me just a little bit more time. But anyway mine and Elizabeth's first recital will be at the end of the summer. I can't wait!

Spring Reading Program

During the month of April the principle at Elizabeth's school had this reading contest for the whole school. The challenge was to read as many minutes as you could and the kids with the most minutes would win the opportunity to ride this wave thing at the schools pool party at the end of the year. Elizabeth wanted to win so bad! They would only pick the top kids of each grade to get to do this. So Elizabeth worked really hard and on her own would spend hours reading books. Well when it came down to it she was one of the top 5 kids in her class to read the most and win. Now because she is in the 1st grade a lot of the kids aren't tall enough to do the wave thingy so they decided that all 1st grades that win get to throw water balloons that day at the principle and the new principle that will be coming in next year. Elizabeth is so excited to be able to throw water balloons and I don't even think she remembers about the wave thing anymore. I am so proud of her hard work and determination to read!

Easter 2011

Easter morning the girls wake up and always find a trail of M&M's to find their baskets, this is Josh's tradition and of course he picks the candy type! The girls were so excited that the Easter bunny came a brought them surprises.

These are the girls Easter dresses you can't really see them because it is too cold here to wear anything without putting on a sweater or jacket. You have to love Utah's idea of spring!

We went over to my parents house to have a VERY yummy dinner with them and my grandma who was in town. I always love holidays for the yummy food!After dinner we always have some sort of sit down to sing a few songs and my dad likes to ask each of the kids what the true meaning of the holiday is to see how much us parents are teaching them. I was so proud to hear Elizabeth's answer she knew what Easter was really about (thank heavens for good primary teachers that remembered to teach that lesson in church earlier!) Abby on the other hand knew it had something to do with a bunny and candy! We are still working with that one. Oh and if you are wondering what is wrong with Elizabeth in this picture she is pouting because we made her sit with the little kids and she is thinking she is too big to be doing that! (Just one more thing she can tell her therapist)

After the program we went out side to hunt for eggs. I always love this part. I remember with fond memories of doing this at my grandmas and grandpas house and they would always put in a couple of eggs some money, I of course never was to one to find those eggs it was always Celeste, surprise surprise, but I remember the excitement of maybe being the one. So we too follow in that tradition and place some money in some of the eggs. I always cheat a little and like to make sure the littlest one gets at least one of those!

After everything we celebrated Isabelle's birthday which was on Easter this year. We had ice cream cake in the shape of a bunny!

Abigail Turns 5

Abigail turned 5 on April 14th...yes I know it was a while ago and once again I am behind on my updating of this blog, but really you are just lucky that I'm still doing this so lets not start with the pointing of fingers. It was spring break for the girls that week so we had the whole day to do things. First we went to Jump on it with our neighbors. It was a lot of fun the whole place is filled with trampolines to jump on. We went for an hour of fun and that was plenty of time to get us all tired! Yes I just sat there and still got tired, it is hard work watching little kids play and exert all that energy they have bottled up inside them. Later that evening when Josh got home from work we went to Chuck E. Cheese. We met my sister Celeste, my grandma, my brother-in-law Adam, Isabelle, CAL, and Deacon all there to eat pizza and play games. (Side note: you always want to invite Auntie Celeste to places like this because she is the one that will win you all the tickets- she always wins the jackpot- and that way we can pick out better prizes at the end) Abby had a lot of fun.
After Chuck E. Cheese we went home to have cupcakes and blow out some candles. All and all it was a very good day for us all we all had a lot of fun. Abby is already planning her next birthday and where she wants to have it! She likes to get a head start on these very important events!