Preschool!

My mom has finally decided to start up Preschool again out of her home.  We have been trying to talk her into this for a long time because she loves it and misses it so much. Our friend Shirley Cornwall decided she was going to start one up, and my mom is joining forces with her.  They are going to be a great pair, and I am mad that they are doing this after I left town!  Anyways, it is starting up in the Fall, so if any of you are interested in finding out more info let me know!

The Mountains

Last weekend we enjoyed the canyon that is literally in our backyard.  On Sat. we hiked up to Donut Falls and the girls loved it!  Katelyn is such an outdoor girl and loved the challenge of hiking and climbing rocks.  Taylor was obsessed with every little detail, especially the ants.  She would squat down and admire them for as long as we would let her.  She also loved riding on Chad's back in the backpack...we need to buy one of those.  It was gorgeous and we are blessed to have the mountains so close.  Then Sunday evening the entire family went up Millcreek Canyon and it was just as beautiful.  We have decided that during the summer, while it's beautiful, we are going to go to the mountains once a week.  I am excited to head up there for smores!

Summer Days

We have had a busy month!  Katelyn is taking swim classes and summer school at her new preschool.  She absolutely loves preschool and that hasn't been a problem.  Swim on the other hand has been difficult.  After last year traumatizing experience with swim class, Katelyn has been scared to death to put her head under water and swim without floaties.  Thanks to the dope who almost let her drown 3 times, Katelyn just screams and cries all day long when she knows she has to go to swim class.  But after I pretty much drop her in the pool and ignore her screams, she sticks it out and survives.  She tries so hard to be brave, and tries to listen to her teacher as her little chin quivers.  She tries so hard to hold back the tears.  So, after every class she survives she gets a snow cone (reward for us all!)  The teacher is great and actually manages to get Katelyn to put her head under water.  

We have gone to the park a lot of evenings to ride bikes and spend time together.  Every time we are together as a family I am in awe.  I don't think I will ever get over or take for granted what a blessing it is to have a family.  Chad was helping Katelyn with her bike and I was pushing Taylor on her bike, and I just thought "I couldn't have done this on my own." I could have never taken the girls to the park and managed them both on bikes on my own.  These small moments in life make me feel like I am the luckiest girl in the world.  I love to be a family and to spend time together.  And I love that Chad loves it as much as I do!

Build A Bear

I forgot to post these cute pictures.  For Katelyn's birthday Grandma Patti took her to lunch and Build A Bear to make her very own special animal.  She chose this cute bunny and princess PJ's with bunny slippers.  She loved her special time with Grandma and now sleeps with "Sarah" every night.  Thanks Grandma Patti!

Chaddy Daddy

It has been a great Father's Day...the girls loved making cards for Chad and giving him their gifts.  Katelyn was so excited to give him a certificate that said he got to spend the day with just her.  I asked her what she wanted to do with him, and she said "go swimming then to dinner at the Spaghetti Factory!"  They will have a fun "date" doing that together.  

The girls call him "Chaddy Daddy" and it's adorable.  The very first time Chad and the girls met, there was an instant connection and it was miraculous for me to watch.  I never imagined that someone could love my children as his own or that there would be such a connection.  I am so blessed to have Chad in my life and the girls life.  He is an amazing person, husband and father who is always trying to do what's right and what makes us happy.  His role as a father has been flawless and effortless.  It all just fits, we all just fit.  And Chad has done awesome things for us and I want him to know how grateful I am to have him in our lives.  Katelyn and Taylor love him so much and follow him every where he goes when he is home.  The Lord has blessed me with the perfect man for our family...and I will be eternally grateful for that!

And to my dad...YOU ARE THE BEST!  Thank you for all of you unconditional support through it all.  Whether it was spoken or unspoken I always knew you were there for me.  I am so grateful for your influence in mine and the girls lives, especially the past 2 years.  We love you so much!!!

This Is The Place

We went to This Is The Place Monument on Weds. and the girls had a blast!  There were ponies and a train to ride and a petting area with baby animals.  It was so cool, because usually they don't let the kids get close to the baby animals.  But at this place they let the kids run around with them and pet them all they want.  Taylor absolutely loved it!  She ran after the baby lambs and goats and just wanted to squeeze them and love them.  She kept crouching down and looking in their faces saying, "Hi baby lamby!"  "I'll hold you...you are so cute!"  She just couldn't get enough and I couldn't get her out of there.  There are so many outdoor places here with animals for the kids.  They love it!

Haircut

While we were in CA, I decided to get Katelyn's hair cut.  It was a hard decision since I have been getting so excited for it to get long.  But it was looking scraggily and her hair is too thin to be long.  Thank goodness she has another round of hair coming in-she has bangs from the new growth.  Hopefully her hair will be nice and thick.  She doesn't look to happy in her "after" picture because she was in one of her stubborn moods. Thanks Melissa for the adorable cut!  

Then Colten and Noah came over before we had to head out to give Katelyn a birthday present.  She sure misses those two and asks about them all the time!  And of course my trip wouldn't be complete if I didn't get to see Genine!

BEFORE

AFTER

California

We came down for our weekend trip and for Katelyn's birthday and had a blast! I really enjoyed seeing friends and having some alone time. There are so many people down here who were truly lifesavers during my hard times...they were truly angels who sustained my life! It is so awesome to see them and to be happy now! They celebrate my joys with me, because they really understood my sorrows. I love my friends and the Mint Canyon Ward so much-you guys are the best!
It was great to get together with family and get the cousins together. If I didn't come down here every other month I think I would die!

Katelyn's Real Birthday

For Katelyn's real birthday (June 11th) we went to Sea World! Chad flew down just for the day, and the Deleons and Mom and Dad joined us! Of course it was a blast! We love Sea World! It was awesome to see Katelyn and Jordan together for the day and the kids just loved touching and feeding the animals. Taylor was the perfect age to enjoy the park and she got so excited to see everything. It's days like this that make you LOVE being a parent and LOVE life!

Katelyn's Birthday Interview

How old are you?

4-Now I'm an adult!

What's your favorite color?

Blue

What's your favorite breakfast?

Waffles

What's your favorite dinner?

Cheese pizza!

Who is the Pres. of the U.S?

I don't know...is it you mom?

What's your favorite thing to do with Chad?

Dance

What's your favorite thing to do with mom?

Dance

What's your favorite thing to do with Taylor?

Tickle her and chase her

What's your favorite movie?

Wall-E...I love it when Eva says "Who are you?" 

What does mommy say to you?

I love you

What does Chad say to you?

I love you too!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Chaddy, (giggles) then there would be two Chaddy's!!

How does it feel to be 4?

Good, because I feel better!

Katelyn is the spice of life in our family!  She has so much passion and when she loves something or gets excited about something, it's quite a site!  She has always been so good at sharing and playing with other kids.  She is so nice to people around her and is always looking out for her sister.  She loves to randomly say to either Chad or I, "I have a secret"..."I love you!" I am looking forward to her fourth year!  We have survived the terrible two's and three's, and now four is looking a lot less dramatic!  Katelyn is growing up so much, and it's great that she finally understands the "whys" and can comprehend things when I explain them to her.  Katelyn, we love you and our family wouldn't be complete without you!

Katelyn's Utah B-Day Party!

Katelyn is one lucky girl!  For her 4th Birthday she gets two parties-one in Utah and one in CA...and she gets to go to Sea World on her actual birthday!  It doesn't get better than that!  Her party here was a huge success.  We just got together with family and went to an indoor swimming pool/rec center.  There was a water slide, lazy river, and water playground-all indoors!  Then we headed to our house for pizza, cupcakes, presents and a pinata.  We were so excited to give Katelyn our present-her very own play kitchen.  She freaked out when she saw it and has constantly been playing with it since.  The family got her a bunch of dress up stuff and she loved it!  We put one of the princess dresses on her, and she strutted out like a true diva!  It is so weird to see her act so girly!  I never thought she would be interested in dress up...until she gained 10 more girl cousins! The pinata was a hit of course and Katelyn was beaming the entire day!  There is nothing better than seeing pure joy on your child's face and watching them have the time of their life!  It was a good day!