Let Freedom Ring

With a recent schedule change in Joe's department, he was left with five days off. Due to some pregnancy things and plans we opted out of planning a vacation, instead going for a stay-cation of sorts. We loved the freedom of not having to worry about work and just go play together.

Monday was the quietest day of the week where we just played games in the sprinklers and went out for ice cream. On Tuesday we went on an adventure into the mountains. We are blessed to live so close to so many mountainous areas and really should take advantage of day trips like these more often. We packed up some hobo dinners and some s'mores supplies and headed to the Smith & Morehouse area where we set up shop in a campground there. This place was beautiful!

We hiked down to the river - risking life and limb at extreme heights over tree trunks and...okay well the tree trunk was only like two feet off the ground, but still - the kids thought is was brave!

Our home is just down the street from this same river, but even and hour and a half away the kids enjoyed watching and throwing rocks into it. They also managed to survive a few pictures.

I love this one of my three favorite people

Not sure why Noah did so great with dad but not so much with Mom...
Another shot of our green and lovely spot

Notice the blue sky in the above picture? Too bad that didn't last. After our river adventure we headed to the lake to fish a little where it promptly started to rain. We headed back to the campground and, because it let up a little, decided to stick it out, start a fire, and cook our hobo dinners. The kids were not as up for the play in the rain plan as I would have hoped so they ended up with a movie and snacks inside of the car.

With wet picnic tables, hobo dinners got the car treatment as well.

We did get them out long enough to get them smelling like smoke and sticky from yummy s'mores and are greatful that the weather dried out long enough to enjoy at least that part of our evening. The rain really didn't ruin anything though, as the kids immediately asked if we could do it again tomorrow.

We also enjoyed a BBQ with a couple of Joe's works friends and their families where we swam and visited. I really like this group of people and my kids loved playing with theirs. I think Chloe might have stayed in the pool for three hours straight! Thursday brought date night. Joe and I went out with friends to see a movie and I loved getting the break. On Friday we enjoyed another BBQ - this one following a softball game between the Riverdale Police Officers and Firefighters. Better luck next time RVPD - the food was good though!

With the 4th of July falling on Sunday this year, Utah decided to do it's celebrating on the third. We enjoyed a parade, and watching dad work at it, swimming, a BBQ with my family, and fireworks. The day was great! On Friday night Chloe told me, when we were discussing getting to go swimming at grandma's the next day:

"I've been thinking about it all day and I think I am ready to jump off the diving board by myself tomorrow." I know there are many kids, including my cute 3 year old nephew Riley, that are swimming and jumping off boards solo at this age, but still I was suprised my sometimes shy little girl was ready to make the leap. As soon as she got done letting me take this picture:

She ran straight to the diving board without hesitation. Documenting her first solo jump:

Her proud post jump face

Jumping from this board was what she did for the rest of the time we swam - here are some still shots of the jumping

Another video, this one of her now running and jumping in one smooth move


There are some perks that come with being in a law enforcement family. One is VIP parking at the fireworks. Another is getting the rare chance to drive there in daddy's police car. The kids thought this was the COOLEST!

I'm always wary about keeping the kids up late for things such as this, knowing I will pay for it the next morning. They had such a great time though that it made it worth it!

Best shot I could get of Noah's slightly freaked out face from the fireworks:

So today is the actual Independence Day and after all of our weeklong activities we have so far enjoyed a relaxing day of church (not so relaxing, but done by noon), naps, and yummy BBQ leftovers. As I think about all we were able to experience this week I am grateful for a day to celebrate the opportunity we have to live in this free country, to do what we desire and to live as we choose in this beautiful land. I hope we never take for granted the freedoms that we have and the blessing it is to be American citizens. God Bless the USA!

More Kidlet Pics

I think these are two of the most adorable faces I have ever seen. Here are some more pictures taken by Aunt Wendy!

www.wendymcbridephotography.blogspot.com

Kids Day For Dad

Being that their day was full of activity, I really think the kids enjoyed this Father's Day more than Joe did. They were so excited to do all the projects that they had come up with that for Joe their enthusiasm was gift enough.

Joe had to work a Sunday shift, but he stopped home regularly (one of the huge benefits of moving to the city in which he works), and each time he did a surprise awaited.

First we made cards. Nothing fancy or professional, but perfect.

Here is the inside of Chloe's:

Noah drew on his, but because he picked orange as his writing color, whatwe wrote didn't show up well on camera (ok, maybe it's just my bad photography skills, but we'll blame it on the orange). The message he wanted me to write for him to his daddy was too funny:

Lightning McQueen

Doc Hudson

Flowers

I Love You

Fire Hat

Diego

Love, Noah

When Joe stopped home next later that afternoon, he came home to this surprise...

Or at least that's what they were supposed to look like. Chloe found this recipe in Family Fun magazine and has been wanting to do this for weeks. Unfortunately, and I will spare the long story, we were unable to buy some of the decoration pieces, so ours ended up looking more like this...
Bubble gum replaced carmels, grape fruit rolls replaced frosting, and they actually ended up turning out better that I thought they might.

We were unable to visit our dads due to Noah's lovely cold, but that allowed for one last surprise, making one of dad's favorites - homemade macaroni and cheese. This was also a miracle that we were able to pull something together as, prior to Sunday morning, we assumed Noah would be better and we would be eating with family. The time together ended up being relaxing and perfect. Being the wonderful dad he is, the kids were rewarded with some great father-kid playtime for the rest of the evening and they giggled it away.
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I am grateful to have been blessed with wonderful fathers, from my own, to my father in law, to the father of my children, and love this day we have to honor them!

Giddyup!

Chloe had the opportunity to give her first talk in Primary today! She has been a little nervous but also very excited all week to get the chance to "teach a lesson" in primary. I wish I could have videotaped her actually giving the talk but I settled for getting some pre-talk pictures.

Chloe picked her own outfit and hairstyle for her special day

Here she is holding her talk and the picture that she showed during it.Her topic was: The Holy Ghost Testifies the Truth of All Things

Her talk went as follows:

When I come to church it makes me feel good inside.

When I help others I feel happy.

I also feel good when I:

Have Family Home Evening or read scriptures with my family,

When I say my prayers,

and when I look at my favorite picture of Jesus.

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In Moroni 10:5 it says "...by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

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I know that when I do things that help me feel good inside that it is the Holy Ghost telling me the church is true.

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She helped alot with this talk, picking the things that make her feel good and it was fun to get to talk to her more about the blessings of the Holy Ghost. If there is anything in her talk that you want to know more about there are several links marked!

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"Hey Chloe, did you have fun giving you're talk?"

"Uh, yeah Mom, when can I do it again!"

In other news, Noah has been sick for the past couple of days which has caused us to miss enjoying what have finally been beautiful days, but aside from whining about wanting to go swimming, they have found other ways to occupy themselves. For Noah, who it obsessed with horses, it has been to find a new horse riding toy:

Giddyup partner, and please, get well soon!

It's A...

BOY!

We are so excited to get to add another crazy boy to our crazy little family! I am currently accepting name suggestions...

Little Cuties

Here is a sampling of some of the great pictures Wendy took of my kids. I think this first one might be my favorite of the two of them together, but there are several that I love: You can look at more of her great work or get details for her to take pictures for you by clicking on the link on my blog side bar or by going to http://www.wendymcbridephotography.blogspot.com/

The Graduates

Some may remember this post when Chloe started preschool last fall. I still have some of those same feelings but I have also seen what a wonderful experience this has been for Chloe. She has grown socially and has become, if it's even possible, even smarter - I mean she is my child, right?! Miss Hill has become one of Chloe's favorite people and she loves this little group of friends she has made. I tried to upload pictures from her actual graduation, including cute homemade graduation hats, song singing, and showing off her piano playing skills, but for some reason the computer won't upload these ones. So to make do, here is Chloe's class picture as well as her official preschool picture taken at school. Too cute if I do say so myself (forgiving that these are pictures of the pictures and therefore have a lovely glare)

Chloe's classmates: Top Row L-R Mya, Abby, Cadence, Josh, Miss Hill

Bottom Row: Carter, Jocie, ChloeOur other graduation celebration came in the form of my youngest brother, DJ (most people now just call him David - not me) graduating from High School. Being 13 when he was born, I have been able to watch him grow from infant to this point. He is such a good brother and a good person. My kids love Uncle DJ and I love him too. Even as the youngest he is still an example to me in so many ways. Congratulations little brother!

The pictures that follow are from the yummy dinner we enjoyed in celebration of DJ's graduation. We went to Kobe a tepanyaki restaurant where the prepare the food in front of you. I add these because Noah's reactions to this were hilarious:

We begin: "Hmmm, what is this guy doing? I'm not sure I'm going to like this very much."

"FIRE" (didn't really get that one in time on camera)

"Get me out of here!"

"I'll come back for one more try, but you better keep those flames suurounding the table at a distance!

"Phew, I made it. This place is pretty cool Mom!"

In other weekly news, the kids have really been enjoying having weather warm enough to play outside in. I am constantly begged to invite friends over or to go to a playground somewhere anywhere. One of Chloe's favorite toys is the 4-wheeler she got for Christmas. She is very good to share with friends.

Noah got one too, but has been a little intimidated by it's size and speed. He prefers to roll in is "race car"

I laugh at the things that make kids happy. On a recent Old Navy trip Chloe found this Barbie shirt and declared that she had to have it. They were buy one get one free so Chloe went in search of one for Noah. She didn't have to look far as she found Noah's favorite, Cars, on a shirt as well. These two have lived in these shirts. As soon as they are washed they go right back on - and sometimes they don't even make it that far before Chloe has her's on again. They make me laugh.

Last weekend I finally made it around to having Chloe and Noah's 4 year and 2 year old pictures done. I snapped this one before we left, but you will have to wait another day for me to post my sister-in-law, Wendy's, cute picture taking skills. Certainly doesn't hurt that she had such cute subjects!