The Zoo...again!

One of our best purchases this year was our Zoo membership. We've gone several times and the kids love it! Here's more pictures of our last visit:

We found a spot in the Zoo we hadn't been before. It had a sand pit to dig for bones. The kids spent quite a bit of time in there digging away!

Zoey was the one flinging sand at everyone which didn't make other parents very happy. She did have to have a couple of time outs for the flinging!























Jaed acted to "cool" to dig at first but just couldn't resist participating in the fun that his sisters seem to be having. He got down there and started digging but kept a "bored" look on his face the whole time. When we said it was time to move on he was one of the first to say, "Ah, already?". He's such a funny boy!
























When I said I wanted to take a few pictures, Indi was one of the first ones to jump up and start posing.























I think Josie wins for the best pose though! She's the one that I have to tell to act "normal" so I can take a decent picture. Sometimes I just let it go and snap the shot while she's doing one of her dramatic poses!
























I think I caught Kaia sleeping while standing up!

























We pass this ox and carriage every time we come to the Zoo but it always seems to be full of kids. Well this time it was all alone so the kids were excited to climb all over it! Here's Jaed posing as the "King of the Hill"!
























We let Indiya invite a friend to the Zoo with us, so that's the extra child in the picture.


















Here's Thayne and I still smiling after a long day at the Zoo!!

Hockey Girl!!

New family hobby

Our little family has found a new hobby. It's called Geocaching! It's like a modern day treasure hunt. You get coordinates from a website and get your little handheld GPS out and start searching. The GPS will get you within about 10-15 feet of the treasure and then you have to start looking on your own. Usually the treasures aren't very big, but if you take something from it you have to put something else back in it.

The kids LOVE it! You don't always find the treasure right away and sometimes you feel like giving up the search but if you hang in there a little longer, you usually find it! Here are pictures from one of our treasure hunting trips.

We had to hike a bit on this trip. The kids were so excited to see where we would end up!


Here's Kaia hiking in the tall weeds guessing out loud what she thinks will be in the treasure box!























Zoey is not too sure about these tall weeds. She kept asking to be picked up, but I just held out my hand and she would hold my hand and keep on stepping!























We've made it to the general area of the treasure so everyone is looking around to see if they can find it. Kaia and Zoey usually stayed close to Indiya because if they needed help she wanted to be the one to rescue them. She would always say, "Oh, I'm coming baby. Just stay right there!".

























Here's Josie with Dad and Kaia. Josie thought she found it but pulled up a piece of garbage instead of the treasure box. We heard, "I FOUND IT....oh...wait it's just garbage!" about every few seconds from Josie. We would even try and explain to her that it was in a box or container but it didn't seem to sink in.


















Jaed was the one to find this treasure. It was hiding in an old hallow log! Some of us had passed that log several times and didn't see it but he looked harder than us and was the real treasure hunter!
























The treasure was a plastic container full of small children items. The kids were so excited. They each got to pick an item out and then we filled it back up with items we brought for the next treasure hunters to find!
























Here's Thayne and the kids feeling pretty great with another found treasure under the belt!

Jaed's Babptism

Jaed was baptized well over a year ago but I thought I had lost the pictures of the event. I was going through some old files and found them! Not sure how they got there but I'm excited I have them!

Here's Thayne and Jaed right before the baptism. Not sure what's going on with Thayne's hair....
























Jaed got a new suit from his Grandpa and Grandma! Don't they both look sharp......except for Thayne's hair. Yikes!























Mom, Dad and Jaed!



















Here we all are! I made the girl's dresses just for this day! They all look so dang cute!

School Night

Last week the school hosted a "Back to School" night and we decided to go. The kids were so excited to show us their classrooms, their desks, their art projects on the walls, and their teachers. We already knew two of their teachers because two of the kids had them last year but it was nice to see them again and chat with them a bit.

Jaed has two different teachers this year. He has a morning teacher for certain subjects and then has an afternoon teacher for other subjects. His teachers said that he's doing well and behaves great. What a difference from Kindergarten!























Josie was so excited to show us around. She was sure to point out the desks that were against the wall all by themselves. Those desks were for bad kids and one of desks she was showing us belonged to a boy next to me. So.....yep....he heard her say that he was bad and had to sit by himself. I don't they'll be friends anytime soon! Josie's teacher said that she is struggling with some things so we may be back in to find out how to best help her.


















Indi was anxious to show us all of her art work on the wall. She said she knew we were going to come and see it so she took extra time on it so we would be surprised. She did do a great job. Her teacher said that she is very well behaved, above everyone in her class academically (which will result in more work to keep her challenged) and is the class "mom". She loves to go around and see how others are doing and help when she can. I chuckled after hearing that because she does that at home too :).

Spray Park

Hot weather and spray parks are a great combination! Zoey, Kaia and I been heading to our local spray park with friends and while the kids play I get to relax and visit with other moms. We spent 4 hours at the park the other day and it was so nice! Here's some pictures of the great time the girls have:

Zoey runs through the water and then runs back to me with a huge grin on her face.


















Kaia loved filling her cup with water and pouring it on Zoey. Of course, Zoey didn't love it too much and would come tattle on Kaia!























Zoey followed Kaia around all over! Sometimes Kaia would try to get away from her and hide, but Zoey always found her!
















































Kaia never let go at the cup. I'd see her fill it up and go pour it on kids she didn't even know.























Zoey's relaxing in the water!

Kindness

During family night, this week, Thayne talked about kindness and how we need to be kind to others as well as our own family members. We've been having a little problem with that in our house so a reminder lesson was a good thing. For our activity we all had to say one thing nice about each person in our family. We were shocked that Zoey participated and was responding when told it was her turn. She did not like it when it was our turn to say nice things about her. She covered her ears and kept saying, "NO", "STOP IT". I do have to say I might have be a little disappointed in some of the things that were said about me. Maybe I was just being to sensitive but I think I was hoping for more lovey dovey things. Not sure. I decided to write them down:

What was said about Zoey:

Dad: "I love to hear Zoey talk. She's getting so good at it!"
Mom: "Zoey always wants to know where everyone is. She loves her family!"
Jaed: "Zoey is very cute!"
Josie: "Zoey gets me stuff when I ask her to."
Indi: "Zoey makes me laugh all the time."
Kaia: "Zoey tries to give me hugs."


What was said about Kaia:

Dad: "I love to snuggle with Kaia. She's a great snuggler."
Mom: "Kaia has a great sense of humor. She makes me laugh!"
Jaed: "Kaia looks cute in her glasses."
Josie: "I like to hear Kaia say that she loves me."
Indi: "I like when Kaia cries she comes to me to hug her."
Zoey: "Loves to play."

What was said about Indi:

Dad: "I love that Indi is willing to try new things!"
Mom: "I love that Indi tries so hard to be obedient and wants to do her best!"
Jaed: "Indi likes to play games with me."
Josie: "Indi likes to play with me, especially playing dolls."
Kaia: "Indi gives me hugs!"
Zoey: "Helps me."

What was said about Josie:

Dad: "I loves that Josie has a great imagination!"
Mom: "Josie always does a great job of trying to take care of me when I am sad or sick!"
Jaed (after a VERY long pause): "Josie is very creative."
Indi: "Josie always wants to play with me and be my friend!"
Kaia: "I like when Josie plays with me and lets me in her room."
Zoey: "Plays with me."

What was said about Jaed:

Dad: "I love the fact that Jaed likes everything that I like!"
Mom: "I love that Jaed helps me when I ask and he never complains."
Josie: "I like when Jaed plays with and is nice to me."
Indi: "I think Jaed takes care of me and protects me."
Kaia: "I like it when Jaed hugs and tickles me."
Zoey: "Gets me drinks."

What was said about Mom:

Dad: "I love that Mom takes care of me!"
Jaed: "I like it that Mom takes us to school."
Josie: "I like it that Mom hugs me a lot."
Indi: "I like it that Mom lets us ride bikes to school."
Kaia: "Momma kisses me when she comes in my room."
Zoey: "Gives me hugs."

What was said about Dad:

Mom: "I love that Dad encourages me to go out with my friends and doesn't complain when I do."
Jaed: "Dad loves to play games with me!"
Josie: "Daddy loves to snuggle with me."
Indi: "Daddy gives me lots of hugs and kisses!"
Kaia: "I love to snuggle with daddy when I sneak in his bed at night."
Zoey: "Gives me candy."

Nature Hike

Thayne and I took the kids on a nature hike (ok, it was more of trail than a hike) this weekend and the kids loved it! I made a scavenger hunt for the kids so they had something to do while we walked around enjoying the environment. Even little Zoey was loving the scenery and participating in the hunt. It was so nice to spend some quality family time with Thayne and the kids. Every time I looked at the kids my heart would fill with love and I was amazed that I could be a wife and a mother to such a wonderful group!

Jaed loved looking for animal homes and animal tracks. We were so loud that we really didn't spot any major animals which he was disappointed about but still enjoyed it.























The first thing Josie did was grab a plant with some thorns and cut herself. After we put a bandaid on she refused to touch anything or wander of the trail.....which probably wasn't a bad thing!























Indi said a couple of different times that this was a great day and the she loved her family so much. She is so sensitive and sincere! She sang different songs while walking on the trail looking for things on her list.























Kaia was so excited that I brought snacks for them! She also loved to find different kinds of bugs on the trail and was sure that they all had happy families.























Zoey had a smile on her face the whole time. She loved being outdoors, unrestrained and running around. Every time someone pointed at something she got so excited and pointed towards it as well.























We found a little fort/shelter made out of tree branches that the kids thought was so cool!


















There was a little bridge/path that led out to the pond so you could see better and the kids used it as a gymnastics beam!


















We saw a lot of logs and branches all around. They were great for sitting on to rest a bit.

Service

A friend of mine found an organization that finds people or groups to prepare sack lunches and then distributes them to the homeless here in our area. When she was telling me about it I thought it would be a great opportunity for our family to participate. We get together once a month and make the sack lunches and then the next morning we take them to the designated spot and help hand them out to the homeless that come. Our first time doing it was the week before school started so my older ones were able to come and help with the distribution. They were so excited about doing it. We had a talk before we went about what the word "homeless" meant and they all seem to understand. Well, the moment we got out of the car, Josie yells, "Where's the homeless??". Of course, there was a line of homeless people already forming to wait for their lunches. I was dying! I immediately went over to her and told her that they are people with names and that she shouldn't call them "homeless people" to their faces.

Each of my kids were able to help hand out a food item as the people came down the line. Josie was in charge of handing out the danishes and she took her job very seriously! She would have a danish in her hand and if the person tried to ask for a different one she would say, "Um, sorry this is the one I have in my hand!". Of course, the person would chuckle and take the danish and thank her but I'm was dying.

Kaia was in charge of handing out the little straw for their coffee. What a mess! She wanted to put it in their cup and not just hand it to them, which caused some coffee splashing. She would try and stick the straw in the cup but it would get stuck on the side so then she would either keep pushing the straw down or pull it out and shove it in again. Each time more coffee would splash out and sometimes it would land on the hand of the person. I was there with a napkin trying to wipe off hands, the table and any clothes or shoes it landed on as well. I tried to tell her to just hand the straw to them and not in the coffee but then the next person would come up and put their cup out towards Kaia for her to put the straw in it, so what else what she was she suppose to do.

Zoey was so scared of the all the toothless men that wanted to talk to her that she was constantly hanging on to my leg with her face buried in my pants. Needless to say it was quite an experience but one that will hopefully be remembered a great time of service!
Here's our sack lunches and the kids are ready to start handing them out! Not sure what's wrong with Josie, but she's not looking very happy.


















Here's the line that the people go through to get the lunches and other food that was donated. There's Kaia with her straws...ready to start splashing some coffee!


















Here we are all together!

School..........What???

Yep, the summer is over and the kids started school today. They were so excited (and I was too :))! We went school shopping last week and they each got a brand new outfit to wear as well as all the supplies they needed. Their backpacks have been packed for 4 days (and repacked several times!). They were all up at 6 this morning to "get ready" even though we didn't need to leave until 8:30. Jaed is the only one with a new teacher this year. Josie has Jaed's old teacher and Indi has Josie's old teacher, so we're very happy about that. Hopefully Jaed's teacher will be good....and he'll be good in her class! Here's there first day photos:


Jaed, always the serious one. It kills him to smile in a picture! Can't believe he'll be in 4th grade!
























Josie is the one I always worry about. I hope she has a great year and makes some good friends. She'll be in 3rd grade....wow......where has the time gone!
























My little Indi was all decked out. She had bracelets, ear rings and a necklace on. She felt like a beauty queen. She said she thinks she'll be one of the cutest 2nd grades there! I believe it!
























I think Josie was the scared one today. She was so afraid she'd get in the wrong line, go to the wrong class and not see anyone she knew. The minute we showed up she was waving at everyone! I made sure she was in the right line and ready to start the day! Indi was a little nervous but as soon as she saw some friends she relaxed and was excited to get in there. Jaed....well he acted like this was no ordinary day and waved at a few people with his serious face. He's been counting down the days since school got out last year, but you would never know it! He's such a funny guy!
























And here's my little girls who will be spending the year at home with me! Kaia was pretty emotional this morning. She wanted to see each of their classes and wave at them (which we did) but she still cried on the way out to the car. It was a very quiet cry (which isn't normal for her :)) but by the time we got home she was ready to play with Zoey. We all hugged and talked about what we were going to do today. I think she'll be ok. It made me a little sad to see Kaia cry. She is so tender! Zoey was ready for the older kids to go. She was practically pushing them to their class lines and saying "bye" the whole way. Guess they cramp her style!

Roller Skating

There's a great roller skating place by our house that us quite popular. We finally decided to check it out and now we're hooked. Indiya had her birthday party there and part of the birthday party package was a free pair of skates for the birthday girl. Then I hit the thrift stores and found a pair for Josie and Kaia. I couldn't find any used ones for Zoey so I found cheap adjustable ones at the toy store. Jaed has no real interest in skating. He's tried it a couple of times but hates to fall and doesn't think it's worth learning if he's going to fall. He comes but normally brings a game to play or a book to read! Here's some pics of our adventures at 'Skate City':

Here's the girls all ready to go skate:


















Indiya was skating around like a pro after about the 3rd visit there. I was amazed at how fast she caught on to it!























Kaia was so scared of falling that she wasn't quite as risky or brave as Indi, but she kept right on moving out there:
























Josie had the hardest time with the skates, but everytime she falls she jumps back up and keeps trying!
























This picture was taken of Zoey right after she fell and got back up. Normally she just shuffles around out there and does a great job:
























Josie became the mini mom to comfort Zoey: