Family

We were snuggled up on the couch, just relaxing, all of us somehow squashed on top of Dustin, and Kennedy squeezes me and says,

"The best thing to be is a family."

I caught Dustin's eye, he had heard, and we both grinned. Amazing. Amazing that she gets it, the most important thing to know in life, and she's only five. I told you she's a genius.

An exciting week!

We have had a really fun week so far! On Monday, Kennedy had her Preschool Graduation Party. They had a professional clown come to the park and entertain the kids and do balloon shapes. Kennedy loved it! Grandma Josie and Grandpa Jay got to come, and Dustin was able to take half the day off and be there as well.

Kennedy has had such a great experience at preschool this year, learning so much and making lots of friends. Her teacher was just amazing, and I know Kennedy will miss her. It was kind of bittersweet for me, thinking this was her last preschool activity, she will be a full-fledged grade-schooler this fall! I can't believe how fast she is growing up.





Yesterday was Kennedy's end-of-the-year dance party. She was so excited for this, they have a drill-down (which she had been practicing a lot for, and was happy to take 3rd place), an awards ceremony, and then they get to spend the points they earned through out the year in a little "store." Everyone brings treats and takes lots of pictures...well, I do, anyway. I was so proud of Kennedy, she got her "4th Year Dancer" award, a good attendance award, and the high points of her class award. Each time her name was called, she'd turn and just grin at me, she was so happy. I loved it!




She has had a great time with Dance Tech, I can't believe she was just a little older than Hudson when she started. I can't imagine him in a weekly class, standing in a line following directions for a half hour...they would kick him out for sure, the little wild man!


Then, the biggest news of the week, last night, Kennedy lost her first tooth! I had hardly come to grips with the fact that it was really loose, and I asked her to let me take a picture of her wiggling it...

She pushed it forward, and out it popped!

She was elated!

It was so fun to help her put it under her pillow, and see her joy this morning when she found a dollar (doesn't inflation suck?) there in it's place. I love having firsts with Kennedy, she is so excited and optimistic about everything, she truly is a joy in my life.

Dance Recital

Ok, this is a little behind, I haven't even sat at the computer for days! Have to admit, it's been nice!

Kennedy had her recital last Wednesday, and she did so great! Grandma Josie and Grandpa Jay came up to watch, and the lucky girl got flowers galore. As Dustin says, you can call my parents a lot of things, but unsupportive isn't one of them! We love you, G&G!

I'm sorry, but she is so talented, I can hardly stand it. I just about burst with pride watching her! She has really learned how to "perform" this year, and I love it! She works the crowd with a huge grin on her face, it is so adorable! She danced two dances, one jazz and one tap, and stole the show. See for yourself (she is front and center)...

After the recital, we went to Leatherby's for ice cream, and it was pretty phenomenal, their sundaes are delicious! We had to take some pictures, it's pathetic how happy a dish of that cold stuff can make me...and I definitely passed that on to my kids, poor little munchkins. It was inevitable, though, I got it from both sides! Dustin did not get a picture with his Dr. Pepper...boring.

Mother's Day

I had a great Mother's Day yesterday, as always, because I am lucky enough to be the mother of Dustin's kids...He is the best husband ever. He makes sure the kids realize that it is a special day, and helps them treat me extra special. He was on call this weekend, and despite running on practically no sleep, he still made me feel like a queen. He and Kennedy gave me the best gifts, and he made a delicious Sunday dinner, which is actually pretty typical, but still oh-so-appreciated. I am so lucky to have him and my two little sweeties. We were so sad not to be able to spend the day with the other special moms in our lives. We hope you had a great day, too, and know that we missed you very much!

Check out this loot! Cutesies, chocolate dipped strawberries, new book, all good!!

And my little cuties!

By the way, Hudson absolutely loved nursery today. Never cried, never wanted to leave once. Why? Mom and Dad were with him the entire time...new calling for us! Probably a good thing, as it was looking like we were going to have to be there anyway...

We had a good day Saturday, running errands, planting some flowers (please no more snow!), and playing outside. The lake is almost full, so we took the paddle boat out for a spin, and it was so fun, I cannot wait for summer. We are excited to spend our first full summer here in the new house, and to be able to enjoy this excellent lot.

First paddleboat ride of the season! (I know, no life jackets, naughty...)

Tahoe going for a chilly swim!

Hudson with his very favorite toy...

Our flower beds aren't ready yet, so we are making do with pots...Kennedy picked these herself.

Children's Museum, Cupcake heaven

Yesterday was another rainy, cold day, so Trulie and I took the kids to the Museum here in Rexburg. It's mostly a Rexburg History museum, but they just added a childrens room, and the kids love it. They had so much fun playing on the fun tree house, with the musical exhibits, and the art supplies. Hudson is so busy, it was great for him to be able to burn some of his excess energy climing the steps to the look-out, banging drums, and crawling through tunnels. Kennedy expressed her inner rockstar and enjoyed the stage and dress-up clothes. Jace walks around with his arms waving in the air anyway, so the maracas were definitely his thing. They had an art project for the kids as well, Marble Painting, and Kennedy loved that.









Afterwards, we hit the Cocoa Bean Cupcake Cafe, Rexburg's latest and greatest. Gourmet cupcakes and steamers, it's a beautiful thing. Some say that a 1:1 cake-to-frosting ratio is crazy, Hudson and I say it's heaven. A perfect day.



Hudson and Mommy sharing a Vanilla Vanilla, and Kennedy enjoying the spinny stools.




Hudson trying to pick just one...


We miss you already, Trulie and Jace!! Thanks for coming up to visit, we had such a great time!

It's not Winter anymore...

It's official. We can't really say that summer is here, or really even that spring has fully sprung, but it's not winter anymore. How do we know for sure? Snow cones! The first snow cone hut has opened here in the Burg, and we are thrilled. You know me, there's no such thing as ice cream weather, and the same rules apply to snow cones. Unfortunately, the powers that be (snow shack owners) don't agree, and real snow cone season is regrettably short. I passed that outlook on to Kennedy, and the first snow cone of the season is pretty much the second best day of the year, after Christmas. We got Hudson his own Kiddie Pina Colada (no stains!) and he agrees with us, they are the best! I remember getting snow cones with my mom as a kid, back when the drive between Logan and Richmond was so long, and it's so funny to me that I'm the mom now, getting weird flavors like Mango, or Kiwi, or Pink Lady, and Kennedy just wants something normal (?) like Tiger's Blood. I love the memories, past and in the making, and the timelessness of something as simple as getting a snow cone with your mom on your way home from town.

Trulie and Jace are up for a visit, how happy are we? Tru is one of my best shopping buddies, we are really bad for each others' will power, and we are having a great time hitting the Rexburg hotspots...thank heavens for brothers who pick such awesome wives! It is so fun to watch him and Hudson interact, they are hilarious!

Oh, and a quick shout out to Nate: Happy Birthday! We are so happy that you are part of our crazy family, you are an amazing husband and daddy to Jenna and Preslie, such a hard worker and all around nice guy...and the best part - you get us....or at least you are good at pretending that you do...Love from spudland!

It's done!

After a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, the swingset is up! We are so happy to have that project over with. This picture doesn't really do it justice, it is so shiny! Thankfully, we had a beautiful weekend, weather-wise, and we were able to finish the paint and get everything assembled. The kids love it, Kennedy especially is in heaven, finally able to get under-dogs from daddy again! Our good friends the Pococks stopped by as we were finishing up, and Chad saved me from having to get too sore of a back...Next up, sand box!

Kennedy is obviously feeling much better, I'd say pretty much recovered from her sore throat. She had some company four-wheeling on Saturday afternoon, the little boys next door broke out their little ATV's and it was a regular moto-cross rally behind the houses. They are so cute! Kennedy has been playing with them outside a bit since it has warmed up, and she is happy to have neighbor kids to play with again. There are four boys in the family next door, and there are three that she has buddied up to. Hudson loves them, too, and though their names are Thomas, Jacob and Andrew, he calls them all Taft! He thinks any little boy bigger than him is Taft...We better get the real one up here soon so he doesn't get too confused!

These two were the only ones I could get to slow down for a picture!

Kennedy and Thomas






Ever since that sad day when Main Street Grill in Preston closed its doors, Dustin and I have been on a quest to find calamari that was as awesome. Unfortunately, most places, it is disgusting. Dustin and I had a little date night on Saturday, and I am very happy to report that the quest is over. We tried the new Italian place here in town, Amici's, and we hit pay dirt! Woo Hoo! Yummiest food in Rexburg, possibly south-east Idaho. (mom: good calamari, huckleberry italian soda, seafood fettucini, tiramisu....get up here now.)

Happy May Day...

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

I took these this morning right after we woke up...on MAY 1st!

I'm actually not quite as mad about it as I could be...Kennedy's preschool class was scheduled to take a field trip to a sheep farm this morning, which she was heartbroken about missing. Hopefully it was rescheduled!

I helped my mom with a little project last night, a family spotlight for her ward newsletter, I think....I made this for her, and I thought it turned out cute so I decided to share...love these guys!!!