Racing Day - Part 1

Almost every year for the past several years we have signed up our girls to race in the "FUN RUN" this is a charity run that Novell sponsors. The race is on the Provo River up Provo Canyon. It is so beautiful especially this year. The river was so very high and very fast. Russell could not get enough of it. The girls have always enjoyed running, and the free; T-shirts, backpacks, snacks, etc. Devin and I love watching them be involved and all the excitement of the competition. If you know us very well we really are not the competitive type and just go for fun. So imagine our excitement when Alexa ran across the finish line after running her quarter mile and one of the volunteers shoved a #1 sign in her hands and started taking down her name. YES! Alexa was the first girl in her age division. Ladies and Gentlemen We HAVE A WINNER!!! So fun.

Look at these pictures.

This is just after the first stretch. She was a determined runner and never stopped running the whole way.

Look how exhausted she was after the finish line. A quarter mile is a pretty long way to run for a 4-year-old.

Here is the number one paper they shoved in her hand as she crossed the finish line. And the smile to go along with it after we explained to her what it was :)

Finally, enjoying the top of the tier. WAY TO GO ALEXA! We were so proud and clapped and clapped for her. She even won a medal that was real not the little plastic party land ones and she was given a huge prize. She really like that.

The Graduation Day

Katelynne and Alexa both finished school on the same day. First was kindergarten graduation. We were happy to all be able to attend. Alexa even chose to miss out on an hour of her last day of preschool to be there and Aunt Shauna took off work and drove down from SLC. I really enjoyed the program the kindergarten kids put on (of course they had the help of all their awesome teachers and dance instructor). You could tell they had put in so many hours of practice time to pull it off. What talented and smart kids. We were such proud parents. Unfortunately all the lights were off in the gym so I couldn't get any decent video or pictures. This is what we did get though.

Here is Katelynne shaking Mrs. Montgomery's hand.

Katelynne receiving her diploma from the principal, Mr. Larsen. Sadly, Mr. Larsen will not be our principal next year. He is a wonderful administrator and we are sad to see him go.
Afterwards we went to her classroom and helped her clean out her cubby and gather odds and ends. The multi-age class took some time to show us all the biographies they had written about our kindergartners over the year. They even published them, Katelynne was really excited about getting a book that was written just about her.

Here is Katelynne with her Teacher, Mrs. Montgomery, whom she adores very much. We were so grateful to have such a fun teacher this whole year. I know Katelynne is going to miss her very much and Alexa is hoping that she will be able have her as a teacher next year.

Then Alexa finally had to say goodbye to her preschool class. She has loved every minute of preschool this year. She especially loved her teachers. Here she is with her Teacher, Ms. Leber. Alexa has learned so much this year. She is learning to sound out words and she is always singing or humming songs that she learned in class. I know that she will be very happy in Kindergarten next year.
To celebrate our GRADUATES we went BOWLING!!!!!!

Russell was so fascinated by the brightly colored balls popping out of the machine. He had a wonderful time. We all had a fun time too watching him squeal at them and try to pick each one up.
My beautiful Graduates at their family bowling party.
Now on to Summer Vacation and all that brings. Wish us luck!

You did what?

Today is Kindergarten Graduation. A day to celebrate the wonderful year of exploding knowledge that our kindergartners have achieved. Now they are so wise they are capable of anything...................even this?

So this morning I was giving Alexa a shower and trying at the same time to keep Russell from jumping into the shower, throw toys into the bath or the toilet, etc. Finally, Alexa finished up and I realized as she turned off the water that I had forgotten her towel and that she was soon going to freeze. So I turn around to dash out the door to find said towel. As I yank the door to open I hear "ow ow ow, stop, stop! It is hurting!" and then tons of whimpering and crying. The door wasn't moving, as I slowly pulled it open this is what I found.......................

Yes my very wise kindergarten tied her foot to one end of a string and the other end to the door knob. Why you may ask? I HAVE NO IDEA.
I do have to give her credit though. The knot on the foot end was quite elaborate. I couldn't get it undone. So we undid the other knot and I let her work on the rest.
So, do you think she'll ever do this again? Probably not, that is because Kindergartners are very wise. Today is Graduation!

Future Minute to Win it STAR

 
Russell takes after his dad and is a natural.

DISNEYLAND

 
 
First Disneyland adventure for the Little Family minus Russell. Next time Russell and we will pick a day without rain and crowds.

LITTLE GIRLS and LOLLIPOPS

 

 

This is Amber posting for Littles. Here are two of the cutest and wettest little ladies at Disneylands candy shop.

Alexa's School Days

Here is the Preschool girl! Alexa and I had the opportunity to go to the store and choose out a shirt for her first day of school. Tinkerbell was the lucky one to be chosen. Yes, it was a warm day but that doesn't matter when you are 4-yrs old.


Boy she is silly. Someday I just might get a picture of her real smile. It seems every time I ask to take her picture a new face appears that I have never seen before. Usually that new face is totally silly.


Goodbye Mom, Dad, Russ and Grandma! Let me outta this van and onto the SHOW!


Into the classroom. Alexa was quickly onto getting her name badge and joining the other kids at the little tables. She seemed ready to just begin her school activities. Katelynne had told her so much about what it would be like for several weeks how could she not be relieved to finally get to just do it all?

School Days!

Well we are finally in a school routine, I think. The first month was just crazy and fun. We were so lucky to have visitors at our home often to come and celebrate the first days of school for each of the girls and for Katelynne's soccer games. Katelynne and Alexa really do enjoy their school very much. Russell and I are getting use to waiting. Russell loves to sit and watch the buses come and go. I think he would crawl right into one and start driving it away if I didn't hold him down.


Here is Katelynne on her first day of school. She is such a school girl now! Doesn't she look it?


Devin even got off work for the occasion. (can you tell that we are first time kindergarten parents?)


We were so lucky to have Grandma Lockhart come and join us. She really made it an extra special time.


Another thing that Katelynne was so excited about was the crazy days during green week. Green week is health and safety week at the school to make kids more aware of ways to be healthy and safe. On the first day the kids wore mismatched shoes and socks and walked to school. On the last day it was crazy hair day. Kate was so excited, this is what we came up with.





Katelynne loves to be early to class so that she can have enough time to get all of her work done and earn her prizes. I love to listen to her sing me all of the fun songs she has learned and tell me about her friends in school. I also like sitting down and doing homework with her. I am very grateful to be able to be around for all of this adventure. I even get to volunteer in the classroom sometimes. It is great fun for me.

I am going to post Alexa's first day of school on another post because this one is getting kind of long.

Soccer Days

So this summer Alexa has been able to do something first. She is the first of our kids to play soccer. Little Kickers has been just perfect for her to learn the basics in a very stress-free environment. She does try, usually, especially when Daddy is there to cheer her on. When she is not trying to kick the ball she is usually pretty entertained anyway. She often enjoys watching her shadow run and dance across the field. Her shadow even sometimes does and arabesque. In her group there is a boy who is "smaller" than the rest of the kids and so I think Alexa thinks that he is a "baby". Thus, her mothering instinct kicks and and she tries to hold his hand and help him down the field. Or she tries to give him hugs and play with him. Really I don't think the boy likes it that much but, you can only do so much from the sidelines.

Here are some pictures.

This is a serious discussion on "DO NOT TOUCH THE BALL WITH YOUR HANDS"


Nice kick Alexa!


Here is the big throw in.


Soccer is awesome!


Here's to being a soccer mom! Even if it is little kickers :)

Alexa's Hair Cut

So Alexa and I decided to take the big plunge and cut her hair. (this was a little while ago I just never posted the picts).
So here is the before picture.


Look at all those golden locks!



Thanks to Megan we came out with a fun little bob.



Alexa Absolutely loves her new hair cut.


She even lets me flip it up now and it is darling. The long hair was so beautiful but this cut is very fitting for her little personality and it makes our live so much more peaceful when doing hair.

You are a cutie Alexa!

The First Adventure of the Season

So we finally made it. Out of our little "at home" world and off into the great beyond, well Payson canyon anyway. Devin and I decided we would go and test mine and Katelynne's endurance skills on the oh so famous 1/2 mile grotto trail. (Famous for destroying a years worth of beautiful nature walks and much much more money and heart ache when the boulder took out Devin's ankle). But to our dismay the roads are still closed for impending stormy weather.

We were not to be deterred though, we found a smaller trail to climb over boulders, enjoy little yellow flowers and hold hands up and down the tricky parts. Devin and I had so much joy watching Katelynne take the lead and climb up and up each new boulder, laughing and chattering the whole way. She would point to the top of the mountain and tell me that is where she wanted to go. Russell and Alexa enjoyed the nice bouncing of the backpacks the whole way up. On the way back down however, Alexa took the lead, walking. She told me the whole way "Mom, you can hold my hand on the tricky parts" and yes, we held hands much of the way too keep me from slipping down the path.

Russell really enjoyed all of it at the beginning at least. He just looked around bright eyed and squealed at everything. We are quite sure it is genetic on how much he loved it all. The whole way back down he "sang" to me as we walked. I think he really just wanted to go to sleep but I like to think he was serenading me from the pack.

And yes, Katelynne did much better than I did on this trek. I will not give up though. There will be more hikes to come.

Here are some pictures of how we felt.

Russell and Mommy - Here we are both smiling. When we were walking I was panting and Russell was either squealing or sucking on the hood of my jacket. I must say I was grateful that he only pulled my hair out once.

This is the real reason to come out into the wild.......to let the WILD RUMPUS START!!!!

Here are my boys looking completely at home and content in the mountains.

The expression of true joy that comes from climbing boulders and having your picture taken at the same time.

General Conference Thoughts

So here are some of my brief thoughts...

1. Go to the Temple. Go now. Go whenever I can. Make it a priority.
2. Become a "sister scriptorian" as stated in the March Visiting Teaching message. Know the scriptures, share the scriptures and bear testimony of their truthfulness in the home.
3. Love my family then love them some more and then love them some more. Don't loose patience, just love them always.

Well, more later but these are my goals for now.

Kristine

A little of this and a little of that.

Oh busy days.
We are doing Joy School now, well since January. Both Katelynne and Alexa seem to be enjoying it. I also enjoy having something worthwhile to work on and prepare. It is quite an adventure for me and am still learning much.

A couple of weeks ago we had to cancel school because of the dreaded RSV! Yuck, I know. Luckily we have all come out of it smoothly. Now Russell is working on his fourth tooth and his scream. Yes, when he finds something interesting he holds it out at arms length then squeals at it. Everything from his tooth brush to a pink kids plate catches his eye these days. For a while he said the cutest baa baa baa baa. Loved it but nevertheless screaming is more fun.

Katelynne is learning so much these days. Everyday she gets better reading and loves it. I think a whole new world is opening up for her as she expands reading knowledge. She was so excited about learning to tie her shoe at Joy School and shares this with everyone. Katelynne is now learning to jump rope. If only the good weather would hold I think she could accomplish this goal soon too. Her other favorite is Russell. She can make him laugh like crazy and she just loves him so much!

Alexa is also learning so much. Since we started Kindergarten Readiness in Joy school Alexa has been practicing writing her name. So far she has her "A" down and the kind of the "E" and now and then with a reminder she gets something that looks like an "L" and Something that resembles an "X". She is working so hard, I am so proud of her. Alexa learned to Zip her own coat in Joy school and is proud of that. She is so full of energy and loves to play and run and sing and anything loud. Sometimes it is too much energy for Russell but he still thinks she is fun to watch from a distance. Alexa comes up with some pretty funny things too. I'm always entertained with what comes out of her mouth.

Here is a picture after our Krispy Kreme outing as a family.

We loved going and watching the doughnuts be made. Best of all was eating two doughnuts each. Then when we returned home the Krispy Kreme hats became the new fashion for a couple of days. So, that night I pretended to serve them dinner like a waitress and made a small menu and asked them what they wanted to drink and so on. They loved it and half way through dinner Alexa said:

Alexa: "Next time I want to be the 'Stuffer'!"
Me: What is a "stuffer" Alexa?
Alexa: "A person that gives out all of the stuff." (waitress)

So now we have "stuffers", "bussers" and Chefs at our house. Don't you wish you could eat at our place?

Well this post is long enough for now and I'll try and post more often.
Kristine

Funny to him, Scary to me!

So we have been playing dress up often lately. Well the other day Katelynne found her scary green teeth. She has figured them out and loves to try and chase people around with her scary grin. She often was about popping out and trying to frighten me, which sort of works when she puts on her most scary face and has green teeth.

Not everyone is fooled though.......
Here is Scary Face trying out her spooks on Russell


Not only does it not scare him, it makes him smile.



And if Smiling isn't enough, he wants to grab the scary green teeth and try it out for himself.

Sittin' Up

So one day I decided to sit Russell up in the bobby and let him play with toys. He liked the toys and yes ended up all over the boppy. Laying back on it laying over the side, Face first into the carpet or bucket of toys...you know how it is. Well later that day I put him just laying down on his blanket flat on his back. Result, crying baby! I thought maybe he was teething or something. Then I tried to lay him down again on his blanket..... More crying. So then I sat him back up in the boppy. The result...... Happy baby! So you see below, this is how you will find Russell almost every day. He just loves to sit up and see the world. He loves to sit at one end of the hallway and watch his sisters dash around the circle and pop out at him. He also loves to empty the bucket of toys over and over again.
YaY for Sitting up!

Halloween Pictures

I know the Mummy looks the scariest but don't let the witch fool you. The Mummy ran around laughing while the rich ran around saying "ha ha ha I eat children". Scary, I know, she was the witch from hansel and gretel i guess. I'm not quite sure why but both girls wanted to be scary costumes this year instead of sweet little fairies or princesses.



Devin made both costumes this year, didn't he do an awesome job?

And Russell was a humble Scarecrow who spent most of the event in a carseat sleeping.


Thanks to Grandma Lockhart and Devin we had delicious homemade doughnuts and hot Cider after the whole event.