One Smart Cookie

I love the learning process! Maybe love it more watching it happen in little ones. Here are a couple of Addy's recent writing projects (with translation underneath). She'll ask, "how do you spell (so-and-so)?" I say, "how do you think?" And we get some great responses.

"Lauren Fell's (note the apostrophe on top of the 's' - all by herself) Pocahontas headband"

And here she writes all the "ABC's" and then "Now I know my ABC's, next time won't you sing with me. To Mom, (heart)-Addy"

Late summer into late fall

Better late than never, right?

Snippits from the last two months:

Trip to Provo temple

Only campout of the season...in our backyard

A walk on a beautiful fall day

Pumpkin carving

Snow White came to visit us this Halloween

...so did a happy vampire

The gang before trick-or-treating

Getting the loot

What's for lunch?

Mackie-onie and cheese and eddy-mommy...Lauren's favorite! :) Anyone decipher?

Addy starts Kindergarten

We knew the day would finally come, but so quickly??! Addy started Kindergarten at Lakeview Elementary on Wednesday. She was pretty excited about going, but had a little sad moment early on. Days 2 & 3 seemed to be better and it'll all look up from here! She's our little darling!

And while she was at school, this little one helped me make some brownies. She's gonna love the mommy-me time.

Whew! Summer 2009

What a summer! Barry's brother, Lee, and his family (Joanna, Sam, Owen, & Imogen) were here from England for 5 weeks this summer. We had a TON of fun with them and kept VERY busy. Here are just some snippits of our adventures.

Addy & Britt on the Alpine Slide in Park City

Lee & Owen on the Alpine Slide - they loved it!!

Temple Square shot.

We also visited the Conference Center, Beehive House, Church Office Building, Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Energy Solutions Arena. Had some fun times in Salt Lake.

Who are these ghetto kids playing in street water in their underwear?!?

Baz & Lee against the Flaming Gorge dam. These two & Sam had a great time at Scout Camp fishing, boating, tubing, and bonding, of course.

Lee & Sam fishing

Baz, Sam, & Lee at Flaming Gorge

We spent many days at Seven Peaks. Here's Owen & Addy.

Addy & Lauren

We spent a weekend in southern Utah. Here is grandad with Sam by the Mirage in Las Vegas.

Here's a group shot at Zions National Park.

We spent a week at Wolf Creek with the whole family again. It was a great time. Two days were spent at the reservoir with a wave runner. Here's our family Christmas picture this year (right?!!).

Lee & Jo spitting it up in front of our summer home...

Addy, Baz, Owen, & Lee

Lee & Baz - couldn't get enough of each other!

Moms are smart

I decided to break out some "Cup o' Noodles" for my kids' lunch the other day. You know, the ones that you fill up with boiling water and let sit for 3 minutes to "cook" the dehydrated stuff inside? Something told me it was a bad idea for Lauren (2-year-old) to eat hers in the cup, but I didn't listen. Well, of course, a few minutes into it, hers goes spilling all over the place. And, as I'm sure most mothers do, I say out loud to myself, "How did I KNOW that would happen?" Addy pipes up, "Because you're smart and mothers know everything." "Who told you that, Addy?" "You did a while ago." That's right, Add, that's right...don't you forget it. :)

Happy 4th of July!

Our 4th was filled with food, swimming, games, relaxing, and fireworks. We always have a great time at Nana and Granddad's with all the cousins and everyone. Here are some pix from the day.

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

Cuzzies

Baz & James having a game of ping pong (aka table tennis)

Brendan & Addy in the pool

Addy & Lauren in the pool

No more Michael

I just found out that Michael Jackson died today. How sad. He was only 50. It's a shame he went all weird because he made some dang good music. He's one of my faves.

Snakes on a plane

Forget "on a plane..." How about in my flippin ROOM!?!? What????

I'm glad I've got a brave husband to catch the little bugger!

FIVE ALREADY?!?!

Our little girl is 5 YEARS OLD?!?! Crazy as it seems, 'tis true. We had a little mommy-daughter date the night before. All Addy knew was that we were going to go somewhere special - the rest was a surprise. We went to see "Beauty and the Beast" at an outdoor amphitheater. It was a great play! It was stopped once for a "rain delay" and just as it was over, the heavens were OPENED in all their glory. We ended up soaked and crying (just one of us) after it was over, but it was a fun, special night.

Addy with the "B&TB" backdrop in the distance

She wanted a swim party, which seemed like a good idea at the time. Wouldn't ya know that this just happened to be the week of rain. Since there was a glimmer of blue sky when kids arrived, we went straight out to the backyard for some water fun. It didn't last a real long time, but they had fun splashing and playing.

Some of the partygoers in the pool

Lunch time!

Cute cupcakes!

Blowing out the candle

Addy with fun presents from friends - THANK YOU ALL!

We had a birthday celebration dinner at California Pizza Kitchen that night with the local grandparents. After 24 hours of celebrating, we were experiencing meltdown moments.

Lauren, Baz, Nana, Parker, Granddad, Papa Tom, Grandma McConnell, & Addy

In her first nightgown...she loves it!

Lauren had to get in on the action too...princess nighties

Preschool Graduation

Addy graduated from preschool on Thursday, May 21. The program consisted of lots of songs and poems that they learned during the year. We're so proud of our big girl! She's kind of in the middle of this pic with the striped dress on. Roll on kindergarten!

Here's our graduate (the shadow might hide the whopping cold sore on her face - bless her...she's just like her dad)

Grandma McConnell sure loves her little granddaughter. She brought graduation gifts for the big girl...her own computer!?! What kids are expected to know these days!... (Thanks again, mom)
After-graduation activities...playdough with Lauren (again, thanks to grandma)

"Brat"

So, we're probably terrible parents for letting our children listen to Madonna this young in their lives. They've got good taste and love to dance...who better to dance to then Madonna, right? (disclaimer: Addy does understand that even though Madonna is a good singer, she isn't very modest.) Ok, so here's a conversation today:

Mom (to Lauren, after wasting edamame): "No, Lauren - no more. We don't waste food."

Addy (giving Lauren another edamame pod anyway): "Here you go, Lauren. You can have one more."

Mom (looking at Addy with raised eyebrow after Lauren popped out the bean and, indeed, wasted it): "You know there's a reason why mom and dad say no sometimes. Do you know what people would grow up to be if they could just do whatever they wanted or say whatever they wanted?"

Addy: "What?"

Mom: "Brats."

Addy (after internalizing for just a moment): "Madonna is a brat."

Mom (caught off guard and looking forward to the explanation): "Why?"

Addy: "Cuz she says, 'I can do whatever I want.'" (See album "Confessions On A Dance Floor")

Mom: "You're right!"

I love it.

Springtime

Some pictures of spring events around here:

Addy with the dyed eggs

Lauren loved dipping the eggs


Lauren finding some easter eggs


Addy getting an egg

Love this pic - She looks pooped out

Egg hunt #2

Egg hunt #2

Look at all these eggs!

All the kiddies after egg hunt #2

Easter Sunday

Pretty girls with pretty flowers

In between rain and snow, there were a few nice park-friendly days.

Bless this little redhead - I think she's starting to get freckles.

Cute sisters