Kennedy's Dance Recital

Kennedy had her end-of-year dance recital on May 16th. (I'm just a little slow...please check out our recent awesome road trip over to Jackson Hole on Jenna's blog...)
She did such a great job! She has such a great dance teacher (love you, Lori!) and, I think, lots of talent! She did her first lyrical this year, to the song "I'll Try" (which I just found out is from Peter Pan Return to Neverland) and really loved the soft, pretty ballet steps. I loved that dance, I'm sad she's done with it! I loved the song, and the choreography for the dance was so pretty. She also did a tap dance to "Upside Down" by Jack Johnson, which was darling.

They had their recital this year at the Colonial Theater in Idaho Falls, which is where Kennedy and I went to the Nutcracker in December, so she was very excited to dance on that stage. The best part was that Kennedy had a great cheering section! Wes, Megan and their family came up to spend the weekend, and it was so fun to have them there! They brought their little friend, "the other Katelyn" and she was a complete doll. Kennedy was excited to have one more little buddy to play with.
Kennedy was so excited to show off her dances, she kept telling me before the recital, "I hope I do REALLY good since pretty much my WHOLE family is going to be watching." And then for several days after: "Which dance do you think was Wes' (or Megan's or Taft's or Katelyn's or Seth's) favorite dance? Do you think it was one of mine? Which one?" It was cute.
We had a great time with our visitors, luckily the weather was pretty gorgeous so the kids got to play in the lake a little, go for paddle-boat rides, and just run around a lot. We love having visitors, thanks so much for making the trip, Wes and Meg! It really was a big deal to Kennedy to have someone besides mom and dad for her to show off for...We love you guys!


Cute kiddos waiting to go into the theater...
Katelyn J, Taft and Seth, with Huddy and Katelyn in front

Of course we went out for ice cream after, and where is better than Leatherby's? With their monstrous sundaes, it's becoming a great tradition...

Hudson's "nilla in a dish" required MUCH concentration...

What is sweeter than kids with bubblegum icecream cones??

Now that is a sundae that is worth the calories...

My New Niece!

Little Halle Kay...

She was born last week, and I tell you, was I happy to get these pics in my inbox! I can't wait till I can go to Utah and meet her! Isn't she beautiful? Her hair looks just like Kennedy's and Hudson's did. There is nothing like a newborn...



Congrats Delaney and Rod! We are so happy for you! Love her already...

Our Own Private Idaho {BeAcH}

We are so excited for summer! Yesterday was actually HOT, like, I got in the lake hot. Like, 5 hours on the beach hot.

We had some friends over for lunch and had a fun time picnic-ing on our new grassy picnic spot. It's not yet lush and green, but the sod (from the new flower beds that we cut out and moved down a few weeks ago) is doing pretty good! Plus, Dustin brought over a couple of loads of sand and we have a pretty sweet beach! Probably the best beach in, say, a 50 mile radius... :)

Well, after lunch and playing, we went in and I put Hudson down and Kennedy did her homework, but we just couldn't stay inside, so we went back out for a few more hours while Hudson snoozed. Ahhh, laying in the shade, reading my latest Dean Koontz in peace, that is my heaven. I didn't even think about the chores I should've been doing. I went in and woke Hudson up after a few hours and then we played in the sand some more.

Not a bad sand castle! And after only one lesson!

Those are some happy faces! And yes, Kennedy's pose scares the crap out of us...

Enjoying some snacks after some serious sand building (and demolishing)...Don't you love our red-neck umbrella-support-system? It was a gorgeous day, but, yes, we were still in S.E. Idaho. Hello, wind.

What a great day! Summer, bring it on! We are ready!

All I want for Christmas...

Is My Two Front Teeth!

Too bad it's only May...

Is it wrong that I am just DREADING the huge teeth that are on their way? That I'd probably rather have the huge gap than the huge teeth? Oh well. Awkward stage, here we come!

She almost has a little lisp right now, and I think it is so cute!

Linemen turn me on...

Or at least one in particular does.
You know. When the power's out, he fixes it.
Sometimes it takes longer than you might expect. To get the power back on, I mean.

Dustin is such a rock star this week. He's been working on about 4 hours of sleep since Monday night. We had a huge wind storm on Tuesday (yeah, not so strange for Idaho) and it knocked a LOT of lines down, apparently, because Dustin has only been home to sleep for seven hours since then. Poor guy! I just wanted to say, I think he is a stud muffin. I am getting better at doing stuff alone, and handling things when he's gone (not counting missing garbage day yesterday), but I sure don't like it! I miss him so much! The kids miss him so much! Hudson talked to him at lunch today and when he heard Daddy's voice he just started crying. Which made me cry. My heart really goes out to single moms when I have to do it for a few days by myself, and it sure makes me appreciate what I've got. So, if you do get to come home at midnight tonight, like you are hoping, know that I love and appreciate you so much, Dustin! (Plus, I'm certainly looking forward to your next check :) )

(Dustin was giving a pole-climbing lesson during this picture, but he usually has on a bit more gear than this. It's so hot.)

Happy Mother's Day!

Well, I sure am having a great day! Dustin surprised me this morning with these darling patio chairs that I've had my eye on for a few weeks.

Aren't they darling? And they are so comfy.

I am spoiled! Kennedy brought home a cute little planter that she decorated at school, and wrote me the sweetest card. Hudson made me a card with Daddy and one in nursery.

I just have to say, I LOVE being a mom. I especially love being a stay-at-home mom. I love spending my days with Kennedy and Hudson, and watching them learn and grow. The time is going by too fast! Everyday one of them does or says something that makes me think "Can't you stay like this forever?" It is particularly wonderful to be the mom of Dustin's kids. He treats me like a queen, and I don't take it for granted! I recently heard someone say they want to have a marriage just like mine someday, and it was the BEST compliment. We really are best-est friends and I wouldn't be half the person I am without him.

I hope all of the other special Moms in our lives - Josie, Marcia, Sisters, Aunts, Grandmas, and friends - had a great Mother's Day as well. We love you!

By the way - I got a hair cut, did you notice? CHOP! Thanks, Jenna! I like it a little more every day!

Hot Tamale and Sparkle...

Our new kittens!

As it turns out, despite all of our best efforts, we have a kitten-loving little girl. We have been promising Kennedy "you can get a kitty in the spring," for about 3 years. Well, this past weekend, like on the perfect storm, everything came together at the right (wrong?) time and place, (our cat-chasing dog Tahoe has apparently ran away - been missing 2 weeks now; Kennedy now knows when "spring" is, as in, now; Trina's cat had kittens and were ready to leave their mom while we were visiting...) and the day of reckoning came.

We are now cat owners.

We went to pet smart on Monday, and, as fate would have it, Dustin, who terrorized many cats throughout his youth, spent $85.00 on paraphernalia for two little tiny kitties. You know, I heard this rule and I love it: "There are two things you never pay for: a hat, or a cat." Well, even though we didn't actually pay for the cat, I think we sorta broke it. Oh, well. Just look at these happy faces and tell me it isn't worth it. So we went to Trina's on our way home and the kids picked out their two favorites. We had wanted to only take boy kitties (I'm so not interested in making more. Kitties, that is.) But since Grandma Josie told Kennedy that she needed to get two kitties, so they could be friends, we had to take a girl, too. Kennedy was pretty much in love with "the blonde one" and, even though it's a boy, she named it "Sparkle" and put the pink collar on it. And Hudson named the girl "Hot Tamale," in honor of his favorite monster truck. I don't think cats can be gender confused, but we are trying our best :)

Here is Kennedy, trying to tell her kitty what to do. This has been a pretty common sight this week. She is really working on teaching Sparkle to "shake." I'll keep you updated.

And now that we have been in the cat business for about a week, they aren't too bad. They are pretty fun to watch, and the kids are endlessly entertained when they are outside with them. I do, on occasion, feel sorry for the little furballs, as I watch Hudson dump another little shovelful of sand (or water, or mud, or cat food) on Hot Tamale, or Kennedy try to take a terrified Sparkle for a ride in the basket of her bike...but, really, they were pretty used to being mauled at McKenna's house, and they seem to not mind too much.

And Dustin has surprised himself a little, I think. They wandered away during a rainstorm yesterday and Dustin made a few cold, wet search and rescue missions looking for them. Kennedy carefully dried them off and snuggled them when they came back. So, McKenna, thank you very much! I promise we are taking good care of the kitties and they will be excited to see you when you come visit (soon?)!

Cache Valley Weekend

We finally took a trip down to Smithfield over the weekend, and it was so great to see everyone! Wes and Megan blessed baby Cole on Sunday, so we took a long weekend and tried to fit in as much as we could. We got to see all of our siblings except Jeff's family, and we missed them!

On Saturday we took the kids to lunch with Wes and Meg's family, and then we went to see Dustin's sister's new house. Good job, Laney and Rod! They have done some remodeling and it is darling. We are so excited for baby Halle to come, and for her to see her cute pink room!

After lunch we went to Darin and Trina's to see McKenna's kitties. They were so darling, and it was cute to see the kids lovin' on them, especially McKenna.

McKenna is a true animal lover, definitely her mother's girl. Apparently, when the kitties were born, one didn't make it, and McKenna tried giving it mouth-to-mouth. Whoa! That is real love! It was also pretty funny to see the kitties with Trina's boxers. They were so VERY interested in every move the kitties made.

My parents, Jenna and Preslie drove up to Smithfield to meet us and Garret, Trulie, and Jace for dinner on Saturday night. We thoroughly enjoyed Callaway's with them. We hadn't been there in so long, and it was delish, as always.

On Sunday, Cole's blessing went very well. Wes did such a good job. I know you always say that, but really, it made me cry. My hubby comes from good stock, I think! However, I'm really disappointed with myself. By the time I got around to pictures, he was the only one who was still in his "outfit." No picture of him and daddy on his blessing day...oh, well, I guess that happens when you are number 4 of 4 crazy kids! I was so happy that we got to stay at Wes and Megans, they are such awesome hosts and I got a little extra time to enjoy this little angel. He is so sweet and roly-poly, I could not get enough of those cheeks! And just look at those little legs! He could make anyone baby-hungry. And I was not a hard sell...

We had a great time afterward at their house with yummy food and good company. We were so happy to have a little bit of sun that afternoon so the kids could play outside together. They made a trip up to the barn to see Wes' new little mule colt, Sunset. Isn't she adorable!

Hudson has SO MUCH fun with his little boy cousins. He tries to do everything they do.

Kennedy was so happy to see Sunny again, she is so impatient for Dustin to get our pasture ready so she can come up to Rexburg.

Kennedy is pretty jealous that Taft, Seth and Katelyn can just walk up to Grandpa's anytime they want and see him and the animals. Taft cracks me up around the horses. As Wes says, he thinks he is the man from Snowy River and doesn't hesitate to hop in the corral and try to show off.

Here is Dustin, trying to have a little snooze after lunch, and some of the girls decided that while he was vulnerable they would try to get in a little payback for all of the teasing.

(having a nap in the middle of the floor in that position? He does kind of look like he's asking for it...)

Jami, you'll be happy to know, they fared no better than you usually do... :)

On Monday we went down to Bridgerland and had breakfast with Wes in the cafeteria. He really talked up the breakfast burritos, and they were awesome. I really should have taken a picture, it was huge and delicious. It was so great to be in Cache Valley on a relaxing Monday. We stocked up on our Utah faves: We hit Pepperidge for cookies and goldfish by the pound, and Lee's for Casper's Dressing and DeVerle's seasoning.

Monday afternoon, we picked up Jacer and met Garret at Bluebird* for lunch. Jami, Jenna, Preslie and my mom came too, and it was just another party. We were a little early, so we took the kids to the park to get out a little energy. Let me tell you, having two of the sweetest people in the world for parents and being the littlest guy on the playground did not stop Jace from being the biggest bully there. He was hilarious, growling at everyone and pushing the kids who stalled on the slide. What a guy! I loved having a little time to play with him. Don't worry, G&T, he will be fine. Hang in there a little longer... :)

All in all, a GREAT weekend. OK, I can come back to Rexburg and be happy again. For a little while anyway....

*Ahh, Bluebird. You know, we've lived in the 'burg for about 5 years now, and we get to where we think, "we're fine up here with our Bajio and Papa Kelsey's and the Backyard and Fong's Chinese, and every sort of fast food you could ever want, and let's not forget all the yummy dessert places," but then we actually drive through Logan. Bluebird! Juniper! Mandarin Garden! Hamiltons! El Toro! That's not even counting Callaway's, Firehouse and Feng Shui in Smithfield. We even miss Chili's and El Sol. JEEZ! If you live there, please enjoy it!