4th of July Fun

Our 4th started out at 7 Peaks Water Park in Provo.  Since we had the Pass of All Passes that Aunt Laurel gave to us for Christmas we could get it for NOTHIN' so it was a good chance to go!  Connor had come up the night before with Grandma and Grandpa so we wanted him to be able to go.  Don took the boys down around 10:30 and Kyle and I got there around 11.  We only stayed until 1:30 because the boys were going to the movies in the afternoon with everyone but we did have fun for a few hours.  Connor was pretty brave on the slides and of course Kyle loved the little slides again like he had earlier in the week.  Cayden loved the lazy river and Caleb loved the wave pool.  After being there for a while we headed back to Mawmaw's to shower.  I layed down with Kyle for a nap, Caleb, Cayden and Don went to see Despicable Me 2 with the Gessels' and the Flowers', and Connor watered Mawmaw's plants and then promptly got bored and called grandma and grandpa to come and get him.  After the movies and a nap we headed out to the Pitt's place for the Cul De Sac of Fire.  Uncle Chris is moving to Oregon in August and they moved out of their house so it will be the Cul De Sac of Fire out at the Pitt's place from now on.  We had a BBQ of hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, watermelon, potato salad, strawberry pretzel salad, and poppy seed salad.  Then we had homemade ice cream and a delicious chocolate ganache with berries and whip cream cake that Aunt Suzanna made.  The kids had a great time playing on the playhouse and slide and Uncle Jim was a good sport like always and played football and wrestle-mania with the kids.  Kyle learned to go up the ladder, down the slide and then he figured out how to go up the slide.  Little daredevil!  Grandma and grandpa came for dinner but left before the fireworks.  This year we still had alot of fireworks but not near as many as we had in years past.  Kyle was not a fan of the fireworks at all and he sat in my lap the whole time pretty scared.  The kids did have fun with glow sticks though and they were probably a bigger hit than the fireworks themselves.  It was a fun night!  Kyle did not go sleep until almost 1am because of the fireworks going off all night long in Mawmaw's neighborhood-a problem we have not had in the past staying at Grandma Penny's because she lives on the mountain and we can't do fireworks up there.  It was a rough night for him and we were quite surprised at how much he didn't like the fireworks.  I love the 4th of July especially in Provo!  Even though it is hot, it is not unbearable like it is in Logandale. Once the sun goes down it is just lovely!  Hooray for America!

Don and Ryan manning the frill.

With Grandma and Grandpa

Climbing up!

Sliding down.

The traditional Old Navy shirts.

The 3 Amigos.

I loved this shot of Kyle and Cam in deep conversation!

The audience.

The fire starter.

A not happy camper.

Monsters University

Kyle went to his very first movie on June 24!  We went to see Monsters University in Mesquite.  He only lasted 45 minutes even with lots of popcorn and candy.  Don was kind enough to take him out in the front so I could finish the movie.  We'll wait a little longer to take him to another one.  

Army of Helaman

There was an awesome church broadcast on Sunday June 23. There was a huge missionary choir from the MTC and I just loved loved loved seeing that Army of Helaman!

Caleb is 15

Caleb's birthday was June 21.  Don took him to mesquite for sushi and to see World War Z.  We had his favorite Skor cake when they got back.  As he requested he didn't have to do any chores or schoolwork that day.  I can't believe this kid is 15!

This is the funny card from grandpa.  He got lots of money and gift cards from family that he bought multiple pairs of sunglasses with.  

Here are 15 things about Caleb.

1.  His shoe size is currently a 14!  If they get any bigger he's going to have to start wearing card board boxes.

2.  He likes to play tough guy and wrestle with his dad all over the house.  It makes me crazy!

3.  He really is quite witty and funny.

4.  He is much like his father in that he likes to make me laugh.

5.  He can wear his father's clothes.  He wore his dad suit to Prom and it didn't even look too big.

6.  He is such a big help with Kyle and takes care of him really well.

7.  When Don is gone he steps up and takes care of locking the house and helping Cayden get his insulin and get to bed.  

8.  He likes to play video games and watch movies.  He is a good partner for Don to go to the movies with especially the ones that I don't want to see.

9.  He likes to go camping and has really liked going to scout camp.  

10.  He is very dramatic and does really good in theater.  

11.  He plays the guitar.

12.  He is messy but he is not a hoarder.

13.  He likes to go shopping for clothes.

14.  He has very sensitive eyes and has to wear sunglasses outside. He is getting better with getting pictures taken.

15. He did Track and Field and threw shot put and discus.  He did get consistently better over the season.  

Happy Birthday Caleb Mitchell!  We love you!

Last Day of School

Woo hoo it's summer!  Cayden got to wear flip flops-the only day of the year besides water day that I let him do that, Grandma Dottie made scones for  a celebratory lunch and Connor and Caleb were home by 10:30.  The last week of school is such a waste!  Cayden got the American Idol award in his class.  Why you may ask?  Because he is always always always singing!

Cayden and his teacher Mrs. Shumway

Happy National Donut Day

In honor of National Donut Day we had to celebrate!  Grandpa went to our favorite bakery in Las Vegas and brought us home some yummy donuts!  BTW National Donut Day is June 7!

Mini Vaycay!

My husband decided to be spontaneous and book us a little mini vaycay at the Tahiti Village in Las Vegas.  The boys had a 4 day weekend over Memorial Day so it was a good time to go have some fun.  We only stayed for 2 nights so that we could be back for church but that was ok.  It almost didn't happen for Kyle and I because Wednesday afternoon he came down with a pretty high fever.  He was up during the night with fever of 103 and it was a really rough night.  We decided that since the hotel was already paid for and none refundable that Don would take the boys in Thursday afternoon when they got out of school and I would stay home with Kyle and hope and pray that he would get better so we could come in on Friday.  His fever stayed until Thursday evening and didn't come back.  He had no other symptoms but the fever so it was a little strange.  Don and the boys left around 4 for Vegas, checked into the hotel and then headed right for the pool.  They hung out there for a while, ordered some of the food from the pool side restaurant and the ordered pizza later that night while watching movies.  They got up Friday morning and went to breakfast at Denny's which was right on site and then went back to the pool.  Kyle was much better Friday morning so we headed in about 11:30, made a stop at Target and then met up with Don and the boys around 1:30.  We hung out at the lovely pool and the kids had a great time.  Kyle especially loved the sandy beach entry area where there were lots of sand toys to play with.  The kid was fearless though and kept walking farther and farther out into the water until he would fall over.  We had to be right by him the entire time because he would just go right under.  He was pretty good about knowing to flip himself over though.  Kyle and I stayed at the pool until about 4:30 and by then he was pretty worn out and I was getting worried about him getting sunburned.  After a really thorough bath to get all the sunblock and sand off him, he proceeded to tear up the hotel room and call papa on the phones.  I ended up just unplugging them and letting him play with them rather than trying to keep him away from them.  Don and the boys stayed at the pool and went to play in the lazy river for a while longer.  When they came back to the room we ordered dinner from the hotel restaurant for me and Kyle and then Don and Caleb went to Cane's just across the way for chicken strips.  We spent a relaxing evening doing nothing and the boys were actually asleep pretty early, Kyle barely made it to 8:30.  With the dark curtains in the room we were able to sleep to all of 8:45 before Kyle woke up.  Funny side note-I was having a hard time going to sleep and so at about midnight I asked Don for an ambien.  I took a whole one-big mistake-apparetly Kyle woke up around 1:30 and I hardly remembered it.  We had a lovely conversation while Kyle was up tossing and turning for about an hour and a half.  Don told me about it the next morning.  He finds those midnight conversations pretty funny.  The next morning we got up, cleaned up and packed up and went down to breakfast at the Denny's right there at the hotel.  I remembered Denny's as always being cheap and not as tasty but I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food really was. After breakfast we loaded up and headed across the street to where the outlet mall was. I hadn't been there in years and years.  It was very crowded but it was huge!  We shopped for a while until Kyle had had enough. Don took Cayden and Kyle home and Caleb and I finished some shopping at Costco and Walmart.  We also dropped off an ankle brace for Elder Lane who had been transferred just few days before.  It was a really nice surprise mini-vacay.