When Grandma Comes To Town!!!

We had a really nice time with Grandma who came to visit last week! We only had her for about 3 1/2 days but we were all glad for the time! I didn't capture pictures of everything we had done (trust me, I wish I had a picture of Grandma and Hayden sitting in the dressing room waiting area at Kohl's while Hailey shopped for jeans) but I will share some of the things that we did!

Hailey and Hayden worked on some duets to play for Grandma to show her how they are progressing with their music! Although Hailey plays piano and violin and Hayden the Cello, they decided to mix it up a bit and play a song with Hailey on the Cello and Hayden the violin!

They also played a duet with Hayden on Cello and Hailey on the piano and then Hayden played some songs he has learned in Orchestra. I believe Grandma enjoyed this a lot.

Tyler wanted his picture taken too!

Kurt actually took time off of work where he didn't even run into the shop!!!!!!! Wow, I was astounded . . . here is Kurt relaxing!

Grandma had brought down some gifts for the kids and they enjoyed them!

Here they are eating some licorice!

Grandma also gave the kids some really great Boise State Stuff! They loved it!

This gift was an answer to a plight. . .

Notice the fear in Willow's eyes! I have a feeling we will not have to be dealing with the dog and her garbage can shenanigans anymore!!!! Woo Hoo, Thanks Grandma!

Friday morning Grandma took the time to teach the kids how to play Pinochle. I was busy in the kitchen trying to clean up breakfast and was listening to all the instruction. . . I think I will just stick to doing dishes! It sounded very complicated but the kids seemed to pick it up.

After the instructional time, Grandma and Hailey, Kurt and Hayden decided to play an actual game.

This looks almost too serious for me . . . game of slapjack anyone?

Well, Saturday morning rolled around too quickly but we decided to have a little photo shoot before Grandma left for home.

Kurt isn't one who likes to pose for pictures much but hey, it's your mom!

After that it was time for pictures with the kids. This was harder than it looks. Trying to get them all to smile and be quiet at the same time.

I don't know if Hailey realizes that we can see what she is doing to her brother . . . and the picture is proof!

Grandma is sure that someone is having gas issues during this photo session. It was hard to control the group after she said something about that!

The kids are also wearing the hats that their Aunt and Uncle had sent down. They loved these, warm and snuggly!

We all had a great time visiting with Grandma. Hope we can do it again soon. Thanks for coming down for a visit and making some memories with us Grandma!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!!

Friday, July 10th was Grandma's Birthday!

We all want to wish her the happiest of birthdays and that she is missed very much!

Sorry this is belated Grandma - I have been meaning to get this up for you! I also couldn't locate a picture that I thought you would like so I opted for sending you this bouquet of flowers!

Hope your next year is full of fantastic surprises!

Crazy Days of Summer!

Since school let out for summer, family members seemed to hit the ground running! The kids got out of school on June 3rd and both Hailey and Hayden were enrolled in Summer Camps that began on the 8Th!
The 5Th and 6Th, Hailey and Hayden spent those days with their Dad at a job he was working at Star Mule Days. Hayden left for Grandma's on the 7Th and it was off to the races!

Both the kids had a very long week but when Grandma brought Hayden back we got to spend a little time at a local park.
This park is pretty unique - it is built with the handicapped in mind so they can play along with kids that don't have handicaps. They have a big play set area that is wheelchair accessible, a music area, water fountain play area and a rock climbing area. There are covered picnic areas, a football field, baseball diamonds, (I think soccer areas), large wide open spaces and even a fishing pond! The park is not even close to being finished but it is so big they are doing it in stages.

ANYWAY, Grandma brought us over there one afternoon to hang out for awhile and I didn't quite get a lot of pictures of the kids running around but I did get a few! Hailey missed out because she was in the last day of her camp but I am sure we will get her over there sometime this summer!

We also brought with us a football, some camp chairs (not enough) and a baseball and some gloves.

Here the boys are tossing a football - they had a lot of fun even though Tyler almost hit a family having a picnic at a bench close by ( we moved after that)!

Is that Joe Theismann or Hayden?

Grandma kicking back in the shade!

I really want to get some of these rocks in my back yard - they were cool and actually fairly high up! King of the Hill!

This kind of activity is perfect for Tyler! Keeps him busy!

You can't tell in the shade but his feet weren't quite touching the ground. I wanted it to have a dramatic effect.

Tyler conquering one of the smaller hills!

Hayden pretending to come close to falling off a tall rock.

Hayden encouraging Tyler to climb the tallest rock there - he made it up with a little bit of a struggle.

Tyler was thrilled he made it to the top until he looked down! He immediately squatted down as close to the rock as possible and got a very concerned look on his face. He wanted down . . . NOW!

We had to really coax him to get him down. He started to get a touch teary but I stood at the bottom to let him know I would catch him if anything happened.

Even though he was a little frightened I believe he had a good time - I think we all did. I didn't want to leave but there was dinner cooking and things to do. I made a mental note to myself that I definitely wanted to get to the park with the kids more this summer. It's simple, free and lots of fun.

BUSY - BUSY - BUSY!

Just a fair warning to all those that enter this post . . . it is a mess! The last couple of weeks have been super busy and on top of all of it we lost our Internet for a week! Some things have pictures, some don't and since I don't yet know how to upload videos - this is what you get!


First, Grandma came down on the 19Th of May for three separate occasions. (Why the schools pack everything in at the last moment before school is out is beyond me). On Wednesday the 20Th she went with Tyler on a field trip to the Botanical Gardens. I don't have any pics on that but I believe you saw some on a earlier blog of Earth Day. Then, on the morning of the 21st Kurt and Grandma got to go see Hayden perform at school. He had a small speaking part, they sung a few songs and he also got to play an instrument (it's like a Xylophone but I can't remember it's name now). Then that evening we all got to go and see Hailey's final Orchestra Concert!

We took video of the whole thing. They did really well. They played the Phantom of the Opera and a series of songs from the Lord of the Rings but I have to admit my favorite was their final piece - Pirates of the Caribbean! They actually brought in the band and they played together for the first time in public (they practiced only twice before) and it was incredible! Needless to say, they got a standing ovation!
This picture has from left to right, back row: Alayna (friend of Hailey's, Hailey, Casey (friend and also in the orchestra. Front, Hayden and Emmett (Hailey and Hayden's friend, Alayna's brother)!

Alayna and Hailey - BFF's!

Can't have a concert without Tyler finding his friend Erica! She is a sweetheart and lives in our neighborhood. Believe it or not they are in the same grade! (I hope Tyler doesn't take after his mother in height)!

This is one of my BFF.s Holly with Alayna, Ingrid (her daughters) and their cousin Ryder who is in town with his mom from Sneed's Ferry, North Carolina!

We were so glad they could come and watch. Grandma was with us too but it was extremely hot in there and I think she was feeling a little woosie and she made a beeline for the out-of-doors!

Grandma left to head home after the concert. We were sad to see her go but she was back down within a week!

Okay - the next item up for a looksie . . . Hailey's Piano Recital at her piano teacher's house, which happens to be around the block! Her teacher is Andrea Thurman and is doing a great job with Hailey!

Hayden in the background - waiting for Hailey to start her first piece!

Oh, here is Tyler patiently waiting too!

Hailey's first piece is the theme song to "Titanic". It is a beautiful song. But I have to admit her second piece is my favorite, "Conquistador". I make her play it all the time. As a matter of fact she tried out for the school Talent Show and made the cut and is going to play it in front of the 8Th graders!

Sorry, made her pose!

This is Olivia - she is very sweet. She is the little sister of a friend of Hayden's who also was in the Recital.

Okay - on to other things. Grandma is back down and this is the 29Th. This was a pretty neat day too because Tyler's 1st grade class sung a song at an assembly earlier (on video, sorry) and it was so fun to see him perform. This is the first time in a school setting that I have gotten to see him and I wish I had a camera that took better indoor pictures because it was so cute . . . anyway .. . . Then Grandma and I returned later for another special event.

Hayden was the recipient of the

Presidential Academic Excellence Award!

I didn't realize how much you had to do to get this. You have to keep your grades to a 90 or above for 4Th and 5Th grade and also have to get high marks on all your state exams!

We are so happy for Hayden. There is a picture of the award at the end.

Here Hayden in looking at a Caricature he had made of himself for the teacher. She likes her students to do that so she can keep them as reminders. I thought it was a cute idea!

Which one is the real Hayden?

This is Hayden's teacher, Ms. Schmidt! She is fantastic! She has been so encouraging to Hayden, especially with his writing. He has really enjoyed this year!

Here is Grandma with the kids!

Here is Hayden's award! Right now it is in a pretty important place in the home - on the refrigerator door!

Heading home! What a happy kid! So handsome in his shirt and tie!

Well, I hope that has caught you up a little bit on what is going on around here. Believe it or not it isn't everything but I tried to sum it up the best I could!