Last Days of Summer

Hard to believe that summer is almost over - our school district backed the first day of school to September 4, so we still have a few more weeks. But the reality of no more sleeping in, practice schedules, homework, early bedtimes, etc is starting to appear. We have had a pretty lazy August, which has been nice. Here is some of what has been going on ... A yard transformation - going from this:

to this:

Now we have more "play" area for the trampoline that was dug into the top tier, and swing set that is coming soon (as soon as new grass takes). We have had lots of swim days (and ice cream) with friends.

Lagoon Day with Jason's company - gotta love the matching company shirts! I am a total chicken when it comes to roller coasters so Hayden came along to ride the rides with Mia. They had a blast!!

And some play at home days - I have a jar of fun ideas for them to pick from when they say the dreaded words - "I'm bored!" They have made obstacle courses, wrote a play, helped me bake goodies and even got creative with play-doh and wrote out the alphabet.

Piper has loved having so much attention and going and doing all the things the big girls do. She has discovered the trampoline and loves to jump! And she cannot get enough of the pool. She also watches the girls practice their gymnastics and she tries to do what they are doing -- she is going to be shocked in a few weeks when the girls go back to school and she is stuck with me all by herself.

Summer Fun - FLORIDA

We just returned from two sun and water soaked weeks in Florida. And it was awesome!! The girls had so much fun being back in the water every day again (we are having major pool withdrawls after our move to UT). We spent the first week at the beach. However, not overly relaxing with a toddler who just wanted to be in the pool or ocean (she loved being out in the waves). But super fun to watch her enjoying the sand and ocean for the first time. And then we spent the second week in Orlando. Even though we go to FL all the time, this was still a trip with lots of "firsts" for our family. 1. Piper's first trip to Florida!! 2. Piper's first time to the beach. 3. Mia's first time up on water skis. 4. Mia's first time up on a surfboard. (Her favorite movie and motivation is Soul Surfer - I thought it might make her afraid of the water, but it just increased her desire to learn to surf.) 5. Piper's first 4th of July fireworks shoe on the beach. 6. Jason's first time paddle boarding in the ocean. (He admitted it was harder than it looks. But he was doing it with Mia and Lily sitting on the board with him.) 7. Our first time to the water park at Sea World in Orlando - Aquatica. (Highly recommend it - we had a blast!) 8. Our first lesson on how to make whole wheat bread with meemaw. 9. Lily and Piper's first trip to Gatorland. (Not a usual Orlando stop for most tourists, but a must-see for all. The thousands of alligators there are incredible.) 10. Piper's first time drinking meemaw's awesome Pina Coladas - loved them!! Overall, it was such an incredible trip. None of us were ready to come home - and next year we will definitely plan to stay longer (if my parents don't mind the mess and noise of our family for 3 weeks). Check out the slide show of our trip highlights:

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Our Performers!!

This past week was full of practices and then awesome performances by our older girls (great for Mia and Lily, not so great for Piper who got to ride in the car a lot)!! We started off with several days of practices, pictures and the final performance for Lily's dance class. I have never been a "dance mom" but I have to admit, I really enjoyed seeing the different levels and their dances. Lily was adorable and was front and center performing her routine! It just sealed the deal that she has decided to try out for the company dance team. Lily and I are excited, but Jason is dreading dance competitions and more performances. Poor dad of all girls!

However, Mia is Jason's saving grace - she prepared last week for her first triathlon! Our rec center did a novice race (6 lap swim, 2 mile bike and 1 1/2 mile run) for all beginners. Mia watched Jason do his race a few months ago and was determined to try it. After just a few practice swims with dad and one run with me she hit the starting line (with Jason doing it along side of her). It was amazing to watch her in action - and her super competitive face. She finished in great time, and she even received a blue ribbon for her FIRST PLACE finish in her age group.

So, in the down time Piper's performance for the week was sitting and watching her favorite show - The Backyardigans - and just being happy to be home and out of her car seat. :)

We also had a fun visit from some of our Texas friends, who now live in Las Vegas. It was so great to have them with us for a few days! We took the girls downtown for dinner and to see Temple Square on Monday night and we went up to the rooftop of the conference center. What an amazing view and interesting to see the gardens and waterfall that exist on top of the roof. I had never been up there before, and the girls loved it.

(Rebecca, Mia and Lily)

Extra Long Weekend Without Kiddos

Jason and I get to go on a fun trip each summer with his company - no kids! This summer it was in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. What a beautiful place! If you have not been (and have no interest because it is in Idaho) think again. I want to go back and take the kids. The most amazing scenery with lakes, trees, mountains, incredible weather and a cute little town. One of the famous spots is its floating green - we got to go hit a few balls the first night and try to hit it - no luck! I always look forward to these trips because an early summer break from being a mom is nice, but we have friends we only see on these trips and that makes it all the more fun - catching up, eating desserts together and sharing crazy kid stories. It was a great weekend. But Saturday was best. Sleeping in, a long run/hike a late leisurely breakfast with friends and strolling through stores. Jason and I love our time away together, but it is fun to get home and see my girls, too!! After a little relaxation we are now ready to tackle 2 weeks in Florida was the kids. Sounds like that should be relaxing, but when we add Piper to the mix there will be no sitting and reading by the water. We will be running and chasing that girl. :) The Floating Green. A view from our hotel balcony. I had to add this photo of Lily and Piper playing outside - like mother like daughter - Piper has her diet coke cup (its empty!) while driving in her car.

One Year Later

Our lives have changed a lot in the past year! And this past weekend we had to time to reflect on that fact. Friday, June 1 was one year since Jason's dad passed away. In a lot of ways it seems to have gone really fast, but when you realize how many changes we have been through, and all of the events he has missed, you realize a year is a long time. From the time of his death - we left Texas, moved into a new home, started new schools, have new friends and have had many family dinners/get togethers with Jason's family now that we are so close. And it is hard to think that grandpa hasn't been here with us for any of that. And now that it is summertime, the girls are sad there will be no camping trips with grandpa!! On Saturday we went to the grave with Jason's mom and put out some new flowers and the girls wrote messages for grandpa on balloons that we let go. It was a beautiful morning and great time to be together. I love this one of Piper looking at the headstone - so intently!! Letting the balloons go into the air. Watching the balloons go up into the clouds.

Lily Is a Preschool Grad!!

Goodbye Preschool!! Lily graduated this week and couldn't have been happier to drive away from preschool and never look back. She is SOOOO ready for kindergarten. However she is quite bitter that now that we live in UT the kindergarten class is only 1/2 day, not a full day like Mia had in TX. But we are already counting the days for summer to be over and school to start. Mia on the other hand is heading into her last week of school and can't wait for summer vacation and no more homework, projects, spelling tests, etc!!! I am looking forward to having both girls at the same school. :)

Lily and Mrs. Ashley (her academic teacher)

Lily and Mrs. Amy (one of her dance instructors)

So, Lily had 5 preschool teachers this year so I wasn't sure what to give them - I came up with this idea at the last minute. Thank goodness for Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and their delicious caramel/chocolate apples!!

Happenings

I finally got to downloading some pictures tonight, and thought I would post just few to show what has been going on around here as we wind school down and get ready for summer. Lily has been busy with her dance lately - she was invited to be part of a dance dvd that will be coming out sometime soon. It is the same company that created "Signing Times." This show will be about weather and she is a cloud. It was a long, tiring day of filming, but Lily was a total trooper. She loved it from the moment they walked in the door, put on costumes and got to have their hair and make-up done. She smiled and danced like a beautiful cloud for hours. I was fascinated with the whole production process - the green screen, tons of video cameras and the work that goes into getting these little girls to cooperate and perform over and over. We are excited to see the finished product when it is done.

Lily's class also went to the zoo. It was Piper's first time to the Hogle Zoo, and she thought it was great. She is a complete animal lover so she was memorized at each stop by the animals. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed the visit so much. And it made me realize that there are a few things about Utah I do like better than Texas: going to the zoo in May in Texas was miserable - you are covered in sweat, the animals aren't out and moving and the kids are complaining. It's good to have moments like these to remind me to be happy about the little things here. But I have to admit, my heart is still in Texas on most days. And we have had a few moments with Mia lately, too. She has had tears over the fact that she misses her friends, the swim team, her school and our pool in Texas. That is when I have to put on my happy face and help her see all the good things we have here in Utah (even though my heart is breaking and I feel exactly like she does).

We even made it to a Bees baseball game one night. We aren't much of a baseball family, but we love to eat at games!! After the hot dogs, fries, chicken strips, cotton candy and hot chocolate (it turned out to be cold that night) were done we did watch some of the actual game before heading home. :)

My husband has found a new hobby these days - training for triathlons (sprints). He did a few in Texas before we left, and last weekend he did one here in Bountiful. The girls and I were there at the transition point cheering him on!! After watching the whole event very intensely, Mia is now convinced she wants to try one, so she and Jason are going to train this summer and she is going to try to the novice race in the fall. Jason now has the added pressure of not letting his 8 yr old daughter beat his time in the next race. If you haven't met our Mia, she is quite a competitor!!

Up next - Lily is finally done with preschool and graduates tomorrow. And Mia is wrapping up 2nd grade, and ready for 3rd!!