Lego Love

I have said it before and I'm sure I will say it many, MANY more times, Andrew LOVES Legos! I have known this for a very long time and I've seen him build the sets he gets very quickly but I am always amazed at the things he creates on his own. This one is no exception...

He created the race track with three tracks and a starting line which he spelled out 'START' with Legos. He really never ceases to amaze me.

Endangered vs. Extinct

Andrew learned about endangered and extinct animals at scouts today. He was listing the animals that are endangered and what animals are extinct when Ally piped up from the back of the car stating she knows what extinct means. I asked her what it means and she said 'you are no longer living.' I told her that was right and she said 'Nana (my grandma on my mom's side who passed away two years ago) is extinct.' I just started laughing. I thought it was so cute she would think that. She really cracks me up sometimes. She comes up with some of the cutest and funniest things.

State Baseball Tournament

Andrew's baseball team took second in their division so they got to go to the state tournament.

He unfortunately got hit by a pitch for the first time during the first game, right in his hip. I was really proud of him 'cause he just shook it off and took his base even though you could tell it hurt.

What do you do when you are a two year old forced to go to baseball game after baseball game? You play Barbies,

climb the fence,

and try to climb the tree

Unfortunately they lost their games so they didn't progress any further in the tournament but the boys had fun together and it was a great experience for them. It was a great season and we look forward to next year. Now it's time for soccer.

Cousin Phin's Birthday Party

Kelly's son Phin turned three and we, of course, were invited to his party at North Park in Provo, the one right next to Veteran's Memorial pool. The kids loved playing at the park, watching (and helping) Phin open his presents and the yummy cupcakes. Aunt Kelly gave all the kids the paper blow horns. It took Vanessa a bit to figure hers out

but once she did, there was no stopping her.

She also loved the cupcake frosting.

After the party we all went over to the pool for an afternoon of swimming. It was a lot of fun for all of us. Hopefully it was a good day for 'Ninnie' (as Vanessa calls him) too. He is such a sweet, fun cousin who we love spending time with!

What Do You Get at Little League Practice?

Well, if you park too close to the field you get...

yep, a shattered windshield. Jim went to pick up Andrew from practice yesterday and one of the boys hit the ball over the backstop and right into Jim's windshield. So not fun! We are just glad it hit the windshield and not the hood since we figure it's cheaper to replace a windshield than it is the hood of the car. Yep, we can find the positive in things. ;) ;)

Summer Art Classes

Each summer our city holds an art camp for two weeks for kids. There are various classes to choose from art, dance, singing, writing, etc. Last year Andrew and Ally both took classes and loved them. This year we were having some issues with the two of them constantly fighting so I bribed (yes, I believe in bribery) them that if they could go one week without fighting I would sign them up for the class of their choice. Ally chose art and Andrew, Lego art of course since he loves anything with the word Lego in it. They both were amazing for that entire week, not one fight among them. When it came time to sign them up I quickly realized to get them each in the class they desired I would have to be down at the high school four times a day. I was not looking forward to this and was trying to come up with a compromise, some other way to repay them for their getting along. When all was said and done, I signed them up for the art class they chose and spent each day in the car going to the school four times. They earned what was promised and deserved the chance to take their classes even if it inconvenienced me. They both loved their classes and enjoyed the projects they were able to create.

Andrew's sweet teacher took pictures of the kids' and their projects and posted them on a website for the parents to go see what our kids were doing. Andrew was even lucky enough to make the newspaper.

Yep, that's him in the back in the Texas Longhorns tee shirt. Don't comment on the shirt, it was a gift from his Aunt Tricia and he LOVES that shirt!

I'm really glad I signed them up for their art classes although next year I will be up at midnight so I can get them signed up for classes at the same time.

4th of July

I love the 4th of July!!! I don't know if it's because of the memories of the parade, water fights, barbeques, and fireworks from my childhood or the reason we celebrate the holiday, our freedom and the things we get to enjoy because of it. We, unfortunately don't take advantage of all the fun events around for our kids to help them enjoy the day. I really feel bad for them but we don't have a set spot at the parade every year like we did as kids and they just don't have as many cousins on either side for the fun water fights we had. But my kids are always up to the task of creating their own fun, including face painting.

They got together with the neighbor kids and before I knew what they were doing they were covered in paint. They had so much fun! I love watching them create and use their imaginations. After face painting it was off to Grandpa and Grandma Davis' for yummy food and of course fireworks. My Grandpa and Grandma were there also. Can I just say how much I love the holidays even more now because my grandpa and grandma are always there to celebrate with us and I love creating more memories with them and the memories my kids get to create with them also. My grandpa and I were even remembering our wild water fights from the past. My kids love my grandparents and the attention they get from them.

While writing this post I realized I didn't get any pictures of my grandpa so I'm going to have to make up for it at my grandma's 80th birthday party in a few weeks. We had lots of yummy food which was enjoyed by all.

My dad even made his famous pineapple upside down cake.

When it came time to sit down and eat dinner somehow my dad got stuck outside with all the grandkids. Doesn't he look thrilled?

After dinner it was time for sparklers.

The kids then decided to go for two sparklers each and become fighter jets flying around the yard.

Jim kept trying to get Vanessa to hold a sparkler

but she just wanted to chill by Dad.

Even with all our warnings and precautions, Phin burned his hand, Ally burned her thumb and I burned my finger. What would sparklers be without burns? Luckily none of them were too extreme.

It was then time for dessert. The kids had some very interesting dessert which consisted of pineapple upside down cake, Popsicles and corn on the cob.

Aunt Kelly brought some glow sticks for the kids to wear during the fireworks.

We did fireworks in the rain

and enjoyed the new Utah fireworks law which allows anyone to do above the ground fireworks.

So many people were shooting them up we really didn't know where to look. It was so much fun! We really had a great 4th of July and hope you all did too!