I'm back!

Sorry all for my long hiatus from my blog.  I just got wrapped up in activities galore and forgot all about it!  Well, I'm back and promise to make a concerted effort to not go so long between posts again!

So I've got a little catching up to do.  First off, it is hot here!  Been hot for a while....I guess I am not giving my kids enough to drink.  

Eric was gone several weekends over the past couple months so I had to find ways to keep myself and the kids busy.  One day I took them hiking up Diamond Fork.  We just found a spot that looked promising and went on our way.  It turned out to be a great little spot.  Not too far off the road the river comes by and my kids loved throwing rocks into the river.  Plus there was a little grove perfect for making a teepee in.  Maggie and Joey loved exploring, but it was hard to keep them out of the river.

 Tyler spent most of his time gathering sticks for his teepee (to be pictured in a moment).

 Jacob, of course, climbed on everything he could find, rocks, trees, etc.  He loves to climb and act braver than his older brother!

 Joey, as all my kids do, loves to be outside.

 Maggie wanted a picture so she stuck a pose for me.  Can't you just see the mischief in her face?

 A view of the river.

 The best shot I could get of all the kids together.

 Tyler's famous teepee.  He wanted to sleep in and have me pick him up the next morning.  He wasn't happy when I shot him down.

 The kids found a lean-to someone else had made.

 Our path...

It's official, Jacob graduated from kindergarten.  He had a great year and really loved him teacher, Mrs. Lew.  She was awesome.  Jacob can do so many great things now, he can read, count to well over 100, add, subtract, and more.  He is a great kid and we are so happy and excited to have him start 1st grade next year (full-time school, yea!).

Jacob also turned a whopping 6 years old!  I remember well the day he was born, came out screaming and didn't stop for a year and a half.  For a while there we thought about sending him back, but I'm glad we decided to keep him.  He is so much fun.  He brings spunk and life and energy to just about everything he does.  Sometimes I think he might explode--it's like his personality and energy is too big for his little body!  He loves to get crazy, he loves to play soccer, he loves finding new ways to bug his little sister, he loves to color (and is getting really good at it too!), loves to play with his friends, and can't wait to grow up (even though I could wait a while).   He is a really loving kid and insist on being tucked in every night.  We love Jake so much and are so happy he is part of our family.

 He had a family party (above) and then a friend party.  His friend party was a "Spy Party."  The kids got invited to the ISS--International Spy School.  They each were fingerprinted and got ID badges.  Then they had to pass 5 levels of spy training.  The obstacle course was the favorite.  He had a magnifying glass cake and had a great time with friends.

Guess what?  I have a wolf in my house!  Tyler made it through his bear year in scouts and is an official wolf now!  It is suitable since he acts like a wild animal most of the time.

 The same night he got his wolf was the Raingutter Regatta.  Tyler made an alligator boat.  He did pretty well.  He won his first race and got put in the A Bracket.  He lost his next race but once he figured out the right way to blow his boat he did awesome!  The boys had a ton of fun.

 Don't let him fool you, he likes to come from behind!

All in all we've had a busy couple months.  And I am sure life will just get busier and busier as time goes on.  So I am trying to enjoy it as much as I can right now.  There are days when I have to remind myself, "Someday I will miss this," and I am sure I will.  So bring on the birthdays, the sport camps, scouts and homework.  Bring on the messes, the dramas, the giggles, the crazies.  Bring on the hugs, the kisses, the crafts, the crayons and the endless barrage of asking for snacks.  I've got to soak it all up and get my fill.