Random Stuff from May

Kathleen got to be in this fun play at school for the "gifted/talented" class. It was all about Biomes and she was one of the three main characters. It was pretty exciting.Cody went on a field trip to the nature center.

He wasn't too sure about posing with this bear:

Kathleen and I went on a date to the Cheesecake Factory. She LOVED their clam chowder. And I must admit, it was really good.
The opera came to the kids school and Kathleen got to be in it. It was pretty fun for her. And they were AMAZING!
Kathleen also got to play the part of a cactus in her school play.
Brandon tried out for the talent show and didn't make it. He threw baseballs at a target. He decided next year he needed to practice more and was a real good sport about the whole thing.
Brandon's first grade performance:
On Memorial Day weekend our pool opens up. So even though it was freezing out and a little rainy, Ryan and the kids had to go for a swim. It was no surprise to me that we had the pool to ourselves. But they had a good time (the crazy people!).

We went on our picnic in jackets:
I am not entirely sure what these two are doing here, but it was funny.
Then we went to the zoo.
And had a mad game of whiffle ball. It was cold and rainy, but we still had a fun Memorial Day weekend.
Kathleen had a field trip to the park with the 3rd graders. It was fun.
And while Brandon didn't make it in the talent show, Kathleen did. She played Jumping Jazz Cat and did a fantastic job.
Here is a cruddy picture of Kathleen in the opera.

Fear the Beard (Part 1)

WARNING...WARNING...WARNING!

Be prepared because you are about to witness something you have never seen before, and will probably never see again. And it may really freak you out!

Yes, that is right, Ryan is growing a beard. We are going on a Pioneer Trek with the kids in our ward this summer and Ryan decided it needed to be authentic. So he decided to grow his hair out and grow a beard. We weren't even sure he was capable of it, but as you can see, we are sure now. Here he is, day 1:
After one week:
Two Weeks:
Three Weeks:
Four Weeks:
I will post again in another month so you can see the end result. But I thought you might like to see him now.

On a funny note, Brandon had an assignment in school and this is what he wrote:

"If I was a monkey in the jungle, I would eat leaves out of trees. I will kiss the bananas. I will be like my dad some day. I will be big and hairy. I would be on my own some day."

Happy 7th Birthday Brandon!

I think the most exciting thing for Brandon about his 7th birthday was that he finally doesn't have to sit in a car seat anymore. He was very excited about that. And the fact that Kathleen is 8 and has 8 letters in her name, Brandon is 7 and has 7 letters in his name and Cody is 4 and has 4 letters in his name. Could life get any better?

He had a presentation at his school and was sooo cute giving it. He worked very hard on his firefly project.
It also happened to be "hat" day on his birthday so he decided to wear his Rockies hat.
He couldn't decide what he liked better, the money, or the confetti in his card from Grandma and Grandpa.
What do you think a 7-year-old would request if you told him that he could have anything he wanted for his birthday dinner? No, not pizza. Steak, shrimp, pao de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) and soda, specifically Fresca and Cherry 7-Up.

We took him to build-a-bear to get an outfit for his "Army" bear. He was so excited about his maiden voyage without a booster seat.
Oh baby, a BSU bear! Even better than the Darth Vader one he almost got.
He wanted homemade brownie bites for his cake. Yeah...not the easiest thing to get out of a pan.
Brandon loved the Lego Quidditch Harry Potter set he got from Grammy and Pompa.
A Beyblade birthday cake. I don't have real cake skills, so you get what you get.
Brandon had his party at Monkey Bizness. He said that was all he wanted for his birthday this year.

The only moment the entire time that the kids were quiet.


Brandon was a rock climbing wizard. Although for anyone who knows him, this probably doesn't come as a surprise.




Happy birthday my sweet 7-year-old boy!

May Madness

Happy Birthday to me! And yes, that is a Wicked shirt. We went and saw Wicked for my birthday. And it was wicked!
Also, on a sadder note, we had our school carnival on my birthday too. It turned out really well, but was sad because I was a little busy getting ready and working instead of relaxing for my bday. But it was really fun. Here is Brandon climbing the rock wall.
Kathleen on the rock wall (for some reason Ryan took the pictures in 'antique').
Cody on the cow train.
Ryan got me a new dress for my birthday and I love it! Kathleen made me this cute little flower to wear for Mother's day.
For Mother's Day Ryan and the kids planted flowers for me out front. I have always wanted flowers, but I tend to kill everything I touch (lucky my kids are still alive). So he finally did it for me and they are BEAUTIFUL!
Our Mother's Day tradition is that the kids make me breakfast in bed with much help from daddy. Then they all climb in bed with me and help me eat it while I open presents. It is so cute. And yes, I slept in my Wicked shirt. It was too awesome to take off.
Okay, this is kind of random, but I love the view from my bathroom window in the spring. Thanks to my neighbors for the beautiful tulips and all the pretty trees.
Brandon lost his first real tooth. He fell on his face when he was two and chipped a tooth and it got infected and he had it pulled. But this one fell out all on its own. He was so cute.
Crazy hair day:
For Cinco de Mayo, we pulled out the slip-and-slide. The weather was gorgeous. To think that less than a week ago it snowed...
Oh, and we pulled out the sprinkler for the the trampoline:
Oh, and badminton also:
Cody got himself all ready for school the other day. "Mom, don't I look awesome?" Yes, yes you do. He is wearing all the necklaces, a hat, and a bracelet that he made in preschool this year. And yes, I let him wear it all.