Summer Nights

Summer nights in Colorado Springs are the best!!! What's better than being a kid and playing outside until well past the sun goes down. Bedtime has been getting later and later here at the Carlson house. I am wondering when to start getting them ready for the school sleep routine...

Claire and Kate's chalk guy. It spanned the entire length of the driveway. Check out his belly button...too funny!

Jake playing with the screen door. It seems to be his new favorite game. I don't think the screen door is going to make it through the summer!!!

Primary Teachers

So, we were in the car the other day and Kate was sad (I don't remember what about) and Claire asked Kate if she was okay. Kate gave Claire a grumpy face and a grumpy response. Being somewhat of an attentive mom I quickly intervened and asked Kate to tell Claire thank you for asking. Claire had such a cute response. This was our conversation:

Claire: "Hey mom, I know a story about that one!"
Me: "huh, you know a story about what one?"
Claire: "About that one!"
Me: (confused) "okay Claire, tell us your story"
Claire: "Well, my teacher told me that there was a guy with ouchies on his arm and he had to wrap cloth on them."
Me: (still confused) "huh?'"
Claire: "ya, he had yucky skin and Jesus helped him"
Me: "oh, was he a leper?"
Claire: "Yep, and Jesus healed the guys and only one of them said Thank You. We should remember to say Thank You!"

My heart melted! I am so grateful for primary teachers that are there to help us teach our children. So, to you primary workers out there (especially those of the 10th ward) they are listening and as a Mom I am so grateful to you for all your time and effort you put into my children. Thank You!!!

What a way to wake up...

So, about 7:00 this morning I hear Jake stirring so I head into his room to get him. With sleep still in my eyes I walk in to a smell that you never want to be greated with. I look at him and notice something is off. Yes, it was all over the place...from head to toe (including his hands!), all over the bed, crib, and blankets. AHHH! I scream for Kent to come into help. We'll just say that I should have listened to Michelle E's advice earlier and bought those Pampers!!!. So, after 2 baths, clorox wipes, and Lysol spray we are doing much better. It is a good thing we love our kids so much!!!!

4th of July

The day was spent on the go from breakfast on to way past bedtime. It was such a fun filled day! We started with a brunch over at our good friends the Powells (our wonderful neighbors who live behind us). This has become a tradition and we always have such a great time. From there we spent the day at a block party. The kids had such a blast playing on the bounce house, riding in abike parade, playing water games, getting rides on the quad, and eating lots of snow cones. After a bbq dinner at our house we headed to Memorial Park for some fantastic fireworks with friends and family! We were all exhausted by the end of the evening but can't wait to do it all again next year.

She's getting so big...

My little Abbie is growing up so fast I can hardly stand it. She is such a responsible kid and has been such a helper since Jake was born. So, last week she asked me if she could go to the mall with some friends without her younger siblings. That sounded resonable to me. She deserves an afternoon focused on her. Of course she tried to see if I would just drop her off. Yea right, she is only 9! She knew that wasn't possible but she gave it a good effort!! She also gave me all the rules before hand like trying to not be right with them the entire time, and absolutely no camera. I had mentioned that maybe it would be fun to bring along the camera and she freaked out and pleaded with me not to embarress her. So, yesterday I got a babysitter and picked up two of her friends and headed to the mall. She was so cute with her friends and there were a few times I tried really hard to not laugh at loud. It totally threw me back to that age and I had to laugh (at least inside!) I tried to give them their space but Abbie was really so sweet and a couple of times even held my hand and gave me a few thank you kisses when the friends weren't looking. We got a yummy treat at Dairy Queen and then the girls proceeded to spend all their allowance at Bath and Body Works, Claires, and JCPenny's. It really was such a fun afternoon and Abbie was so grateful to have a "big girls" day all to herself. When did she get so big!!! (notice no pictures...I followed the rules!)

Utah part 3: fun with the cousins

One thing I love about going to Utah is that the kids play ALL day. No, "what should I do" or "I am bored!" They are just off playing until we have to drag them in to eat and sleep. Here are some of the things they were up to.

Climbing The Cherry Trees

Jodi has some great trees in her back yard and the kids could spend all day climbing, hanging out in, or under them. I took some pictures of Kate and Sadie one afternoon. Check out the ant on Kate's neck in the last one. AHH!!! I didn't even notice it until I was downloading my pictures. No cares in the world!!!

Swimming, Jumping, and Hanging Out Outside

We still made good use of Carrie and Anthony's old yard even though they have moved. The Lee's (Jodi's new neighbors) were so nice to share their trampoline and pool. The kids had such a blast!!

Doing Girly Things

They did take some time out to do some more girly things too. Carrie had sent Kate some makeup for her birthday to do dress up with. So, they spent some time making each other over and putting on their fake nails I had bought them. They only stayed on for maybe 10 min. but they spent the rest of the day trying ways to get then to glue on!! Also, Jodi spent an evening making darling bracelets with them. They turned out soooo cute!

This is what the boys did when the girls were acting like girls!

Saying goodbye is always the hardest part...

Utah part 2: visiting friends and family

One of the great things about this trip to Utah was being able to catch up with some old friends and to be able to see lots of extended family in such a short period of time. I do have to say though that it really was so sad to not have the Pabst's living there. It just felt like something was missing. On our drive there Claire said a couple of times how excited she was to see Maya. I had to remind her that Maya lives in Oregon now. She would say "Oh yea" with the saddest pout on her face. The first day we were there she walked around looking kind of lost and wondering what she was supposed to do without Maya. She spent a good part of that day just snuggling up to her JoJo. Jodi would ask her if she wanted to go out and play with the other kids and she would just say, "no, that's okay". It took her a little bit but she finally realized that the older kids would let her tag along. We missed you Pabst's!! Thank you Jodi for being such a fabulous hostess!!!

My cousin Aimee's wedding was at Memory Grove in Salt Lake. It was such a gorgeous spot and we had beautiful weather. Aimee looked so gorgeous and happy! Here are some pics from the event.

Aimee with her new hubbie Matt and her family

Me and my cousin Julie

Aunt Debbie and my Mom

Some of the handsome men in my life: Dad, Jakey, Kent, and Drake

It was so fun to spend the rest of the week catching up with old friends too! We were so happy to see the Roos' at Kate's b-day party. Then, our good friends the Ahlanders organized a little get together with some couples that we hadn't seen since we moved. The Davidson's were so gracious to offer their home. We ate great food, Cafe Rio and some delicious cake and ice cream for Julie's 40th, visited, and laughed a lot! Getting back together felt like we hadn't even been away for 2 years! I am so grateful to have such wonderful friends!!

Fiona, me, Mary, Julie, and Arleen

The couples!

I also had a chance to meet up with some of the girls from my old Girls Night Out group. I have missed them so much and it was so fun to get together and go out to dinner. We missed you Michelle and Shea! I don't think I laugh more than when I am with these girls.

me, Kellie, Brittany, and Michelle

My Grandma Rula, Aunt Jill, and Uncle Fred just recently moved from Ione, CA to American Fork. We got together and went to dinner at Chuck O'Rama (one of my Grandma's favorite places to eat :) It is so great that we get to see them more now and I am so grateful that my kids are getting to know their Great Grandma Rula!