Graduations!

Bradley graduated from preschool. He is so excited to be a Doodlebug Graduate!

They had a cute little program that morning. Jared, Jacob, Caitlin, and I got to watch them sing a bunch of their favorite class songs.

A-tootie-tah

Receiving his diploma.

So proud!

A picture with Miss Sara. Mackayla and Bradley have both loved her preschool, and we're sad she won't be teaching anymore.

After the graduation, Jared took us to a quick lunch at Del Taco to celebrate. There were no other kids there, so I let Caitlin go up into the playground for the first time. She LOVED it!

I picked Mackayla up on the last day of school, so this is her last day off the bus in first grade the day before.

Heading off for her last day of first grade! School was less than 2 hours long that day.

School's out for summer!! Celebrating the beginning of Summer Vacation!

That night we had a graduation for Jacob. There was never a dress code for Jacob school, and the no shirt look was very popular at the school this year.

Congratulations Jacob!

The three graduates.

They all got a little gift.

The next night we had a s'mores party.

Where's my little girl?!?! Mackayla is getting so grown up. She was my date to a baby shower for Chelsea that morning.

I worked so hard preparing this area of dirt, next to the garden, for the kids to play in. I worked the dirt a ton until it was nice and soft and perfect for playing in. They LOVE it, but I'm regretting it. :) Every time they go out they head straight to the dirt. Here they are making mud pies.

We've enjoyed lots of slurpees already this summer.

We've been spending a lot of time working in the yard. The kids enjoyed a picnic under the trampoline one Saturday afternoon.

Memorial weekend we worked in the yard a lot, went swimming, and attended a neighborhood BBQ.

Jared told the kids that it was time for bed, and Mackayla argued back that it really wasn't. After a couple of minutes, she said to check the clock because it was really only 2 o'clock in the afternoon. She is a VERY clever girl!

Caitlin is old enough now to try to join in on all the activities the other kids do. It makes everything more complicated, but she loves doing everything they do.

Mother's Day

My family gave me a wonderful Mother's Day this year! I'm so blessed to be the mother of these four amazing children. They gave me this pot of flowers for my front porch.

I got to have breakfast in bed. I was able to eat it up very quickly with three good helpers! Jared cut these tulips from the yard that morning.

After breakfast, we opened up some presents out on the deck. It made terrible lighting for pictures but it felt great and it was a lovely place to spend the morning.

Opening my gift from Jacob. Some new shoes and some Rolos.

Bradley gave me some great gifts that he made at school.

He also gave me the lawn chairs that the kids are sitting on here.

Caitlin gave me some new earrings.

Mackayla had a whole pack of papers and books she made for me at school. It was so nice. She listed me super powers were singing and getting Caitlin to sleep. I'm pretty sure she's the only person that has ever listed singing as one of my good qualities. :) I'm glad she likes it though - I'll keep on singing for her!

She also gave me a new necklace and earrings.

A Mother's Day picture with all my kids before church.

They made me a nice dinner and home-made ice cream for dessert! A perfect day! Well, it was an almost perfect day. Jacob got really mad before church because he was tired of it being Mother's Day. He wanted it to be Halloween instead. He was mad that we were dressing him in his church clothes because he wanted to put on a costume. Then he was mad when we went to sit down in Sacrament meeting because he still thought for some reason that we were going to the church for a Halloween party. He eventually did get over it. The other bad part of the day was that I missed the primary kids singing  in Sacrament meeting. I took Caitlin out for a few minutes to quiet her down, and when I came back the kids had already sang and were back in their seats! I had no idea. It was Jacob's first time to get to sing with them, and they were all disappointed that they sang to me and I wasn't even there. I felt SO SO bad!!

Before and after pictures of the boys. I had fluffed them up in the before picture, but it was definitely time for haircuts!

Bradley can read anything these days. He had picked up the book Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia), and started reading one morning. I hope he doesn't get too bored in Kindergarten!  :)

We added a new addition to the family in May also. We've all spent lots of time jumping on the trampoline this last month!

Magnificent Mackayla

Mackayla had her spring Dance recital at the beginning of May. It was a Disney theme, and Mackayla's class danced to the song from the movie Brave. Their costumes are suppose to look like Merida from the movie.

Watching another group at the dress rehearsal.

These are some action shots from the night of the dress rehearsal.

A pose by each of the princesses!

She was a beautiful dancer and we were all so proud of her.

It was a special treat that Papa and Nini were in town and got to come watch the show!

In the middle of May, Mackayla also got to have her exhibition meet for gymnastics. They have it once a year, and they get to do a little routine in each of the areas. 

Here she is getting her medal at the end!

Posing for a picture afterwards

Jacob wanted a picture too.

Here is the beginning show as they all came in.

Doing her bar routine

She had just jumped off the high beam after her routine there.

Her adoring fans!

Two pictures from her floor routine.

Mackayla has improved so much in the 9 months that she has been in gymnastics. Once again, we are so proud of her. :)