Happy 4th shirts!

Every year the kids and I do 4th of July shirts with spray paint! I did them with my YW years ago and then at family reunions, camps, and yearly with the kids! you can use just regular spray paint, any plain shirts, and some sticker, tape and a tarp and you're on your way -- I always let the kids design them and I help a little (mainly with the tape and paint) they love peeling it off when it's dry and seeing their fun flag shirts emerge! I've had some friends ask me how to do it so here ya go! Hopefully the collage helps! Happy 4th everyone!!!

Father's Day/B-Day

Ry's B-day was on the 18th, Father's Day on the 20th as well as his parent's homecoming -- It was all in all a very busy week! He had a fun B-Day and got some things for the back yard. The kids and i made him breakfast and we had a little Indian feast for his real B-day. We feel so lucky to have him as hubby, daddy, and just all in all best guy around! Ry- Thanks for all you do to make our lives so happy and for being the most amazing Dad to our kids! This is the shirt Gracie wore on Father's Day! She sure loves her Dad!

funny boy!

I keep telling myself to write down all the cute things Carter says and I saw this pic and had to laugh out loud! He is such a cute, funny, crazy kid and SERIOUSLY says something every day that I just die over. Here are a few:

As I was shopping in the grocery store....Mom, Did Jesus make humans , like, uh.... for a craft?

Another day in the store he was telling me all the things he wanted me to buy. I would tell him "not today honey" He was getting more persistent and I finally told him We really couldn't get this certain thing he wanted. He looked at me and said, "Mom, you're kind of like a witch but your skin's not green!"

Is God's middle name Patterson?

Tonight when he said his prayers he said, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Amen"

"Cupid is Stupid in Spanish!"

Our kids love making up songs and singing in the car-- they also love talking about Lagoon and the rides they want to go on when we go. One day we were passing it on the freeway and Carter started to sing...."I'm goin' on a Wicked ride with Jesus" I burst out laughing and almost crashed! I'm thinkin' about selling the lyrics to some rock band!

Homecoming

Meeting with family at the homecoming!

Lots of yummy food!

Mom demonstrating how the African women hold their babies on their backs!

Gracie and G.Grandma have a little chat!

fun with cousins

Grace discovers a cute friend in the mirror

Carter and Grandma having a good laugh!

Mom and Dad had their home coming on Father's Day and it was such a great day! We are so glad to have them home!

Aub's friend party!

Aubrey wanted to have her friend party be a WATER PARTY! It was so much fun-- We played water games and had all the water stuff out -- Carter was our little sno cone helper and Kels was the party planner! It was a fun afternoon and a great day to celebrate Aub's day! We sure love you AUbs -- We love your cute freckles, your contageous laugh, your willing and helpful spirit, and the helpful sis you are. You make our home a happy place and we love you!!!

Family B-day party

Happy #7 Aubs~!

Family ball game!

Fun!

Grandpa teaching Carter to hit!

Dad and Grace

Mom and Grace!

Aubs and Grandma!

A little texting class

Fun with G&G!

Tuesday we had a family B-day party for Aub's B-day (a day early) We went to the park and had pizza and played ball! It was so much fun and we had such a great night being together!

Returned with honor!

The cuties had so much fun making signs to welcome home G&G!

Waiting with MUCH anticipation!

THERE THEY ARE!!!!

Meeting Gracie for the first time!!!

Big hugs for Grandpa~!

Mom and Son (and bottle)

Grandma O. and the brothers!

We got to welcome home our wonderful parents from Africa on the 11th and it has been so wonderful to have them home! Elder and Sister Patterson served in the Lusaka Zambia mission for 18 months and were amazing missionaries! While they were away we moved back to UT and had Gracie so it was so much fun for her to meet them for the first time! The kids were ecstatic and it was a great day at the airport and then off to Cafe Rio! Welcome home to our wonderful parents and grandparents!

A fun day!

Last week I took my sis-in-law and cutie niece and nephew with C. and I to two of my favorite places! The "wreath guy" up in Harrisville and the Loft House cookie factory! The wreath guy is Lyle Dabb and he is the best -- I've been going there for years but hadn't been since moving back-- He is so affordable and has a huge selection -- Post a comment if you're interested and I can tell ya how to get there! Then we ran over to the Cookie Outlet cuz it's really close by! Every one of their packs of cookies is a $1~ VERY DANGEROUS! They also have other frozen things you can buy like cibatta bread, angel food cake, and mini pancakes! It was a fun afternoon!

First day of summer vacation!

Today was the first day of summer vacation and I think we survived! Gracie was up ALL night last night and is not feeling well-- Teething and a cough! So we went back to the doctor to make sure the ear infection hadn't returned -- and thankfully it hasn't -- but kind of a bummer it wasn't ears --no antibiotics and "just let it run it's course!" comments-- We ran errands, got the gals signed up for tumbling, ate lunch and then came back to the house and did a craft--(painted little bird houses) Who knows how long it will last but I'm going to "try" to have a little bit of a routine in the week. A craft on Monday, piano lessons Tues, dance on Wed, movies on Thursday, and free fun days on Fridays. Swimming lessons, soccer camp, sewing class from one of the YW, and some outings to Cherry Hill and Lagoon will keep us busy too! And then trips to Bare Lake, AZ, Flaming Gorge and Lake Powell are ones we are really looking forward to! Here's to a great summer vacation and let us pray we survive! :)

Summer rain

Sunday night was so beautiful -- It was a HOT day and sunny -- then in the evening after we finished dinner a storm rolled in and it poured for about 10 min. and then moved through -- The kids loved jumping and dancing in it and then we saw a triple rainbow! It was beautiful!

Gracie's 8 months!

Another month and she truly is growing like a flower! She is crawling EVERYWHERE and climbing up everything! She eats anything she can get her little hands on and clicks her tongue when she wants food. She loves the stairs and has had a couple little spills. She hates sitting in the grass but loves to swing in her swing outside. She can't wait to meet Grandma and Grandpa for the first time this Friday when they come home from their mission in Zambia!

Last day of school :(

Today was the last day of school for the girls -- They were so excited but also so sad -- Aubs even prayed about it the night before that she wouldn't be so sad-- They both had such wonderful teachers this year and have loved the school! They wrote sweet notes to their teachers and took them treats -- I went to school lunch the day before and had a good time and Carter thought he was so big! I sat on the lawn waiting for the girls to come around the corner -- Here they came, on their scooters both totally bawling! It was such a cute, sad sight! They told me about the flag ceremony, the school song, saying good byes, and how all the boys made fun of them for crying! We had hugs, read report cards, and ate cookies on the lawn -- It was a moment that I will cherish- I was so grateful to be their mom, grateful for the great kids they are, grateful for no more homework, grateful that we live so close to the school, grateful that we found a great place to live, grateful for the friends we've made, and more than anything, just "HAPPY TO BE HERE!

My cute friend Natalie threw a Huge party in her back yard for the last day of school. She invited the kids to come and the minute I told them they got to go...all the tears vanished and they had so much fun!