Ruby is 2

Ruby is 2 years old! She's such a fun girl.  She loves going to gymnastics, playing with the kids, watching movies on my phone, playing babies and dancing.  Some things she says to me that I love are: "Tank you, mommy" she says it all the time. "get me now" She's trying to say "can't get me now" and she wants me to chase her.  "Play me, Mommy". She wants me to play with her.  Usually we're playing princesses or babies.

Ruby has grown to love more rough-housing as time has gone on.  She will lure you in to chasing her and tossing her around.  She never seems to get enough; she always ends each session of 'fun' with "Again! Again! Again!"  She is very good at thanking others.  Even when we're giving her medicine or her 'contacts' (eye solution for pink eye) and she's been a little difficult, she'll follow up with a "Thank you, Dad!"  She loves to drink, especially powdered drinks (pink lemonade, tang, chocolate milk).  These are all referred to simply as "Tang".  She has also knows how to operate and asks for iPads, iPods, iPhones, etc. by name.

She's so tiny.  She has the small version of a big person's body.  It's been nice to have her be so light, especially when compared to Seth.  She and Seth are still both excited to meet their dad at the door when he comes home from work.  She makes you feel special.  I always sing to her after reading her a book at night.  She usually gets her three standard songs, but she always wants an encore of 'Beam' (Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam).  And then she wants it sung again.  Again!  Again!  Again!  

For her birthday, we had the Deans over for cake and ice cream.  She helped me make her cake.  She picked an orange cake with pink frosting and blue letters.  She was so proud of her cake. She got a little people princess castle and a baby with a car-seat.  She loved all her presents and had fun playing with everyone. We sure love our little doll!

Favorite food: fruit snacks, chicken nuggets and ketchup (kepup)

Favorite Movie: Shrek or Despicable Me, whatever movies I have on my phone

Favorite color:  pink
Favorite song: I am a child of God, popcorn popping, or any song they sing at nursery

Best friend: Seth

What do you and your mom do together: Play princesses and babies

What do you and your dad do together: Toss on the couch

Favorite place to go: Gymnastics, Nursery or the Deans' house

Favorite Book: Cinderella

New family pictures

Aaron is 7

What makes you happy: Playing football with my friends
Favorite food: fettucine alfredo
Favorite thing to do: football
Favorite TV show: Johnny Test
What are you really good at: Playing soccer

Favorite Movie: Madagascar 3

Favorite color:  blue
Favorite song: Fire burning on the dance floor

Best friend: Tyson

What do you and your mom do together: Play tetherball

What do you and your dad do together: Help make ramps

Favorite sport: soccer

Favorite place to go: Laser Quest

Favorite animal: dog

Favorite Book: Fortune Wookie

What do you want me to be when you grow up: Police Officer

For Aaron's Birthday this year we went to Laser Quest.  Grandma Zonda, Grandpa Cliff, Casey, Kristal and Grandma Donna came too.  We had a great time. He had a football cake he picked out from Costco and we got a couple of lego sets and some gummi bears.  The rest of his gifts were money and he put that away in his savings account.  He's proud of how much money he's collecting.

Fake Camping

We try to go camping in the spring and fall, but sometimes we have a hard time finding a weekend that works. So this fall we went fake camping. It was the best.  We got all the good parts of camping without the horrible sleeping and everyone being grumpy the whole next day because they didn't get enough sleep.  We went and got a campsite and hiked around and we did a fire with hot dogs and smores. And then when everyone was tired we drove home.  Everyone took showers before getting in bed.  It was great weather.  We had a great time. We love Valley of Fire.

Back To School To Prove To Dad That I'm Not a Fool

Danny is the big man on campus, the elementary school campus that is.  He started 5th grade this year with Mrs. Jackson. 

Rachel's coming around the bend, just one year behind Danny and has Ms. Adams for her 4th grade teacher.



Our first grader, Aaron, has Ms. Mott (a BYU grad). I think he'll be in good hands. 

Here's the triumverate of awesomeness!

Jean has taken it upon herself to pre-school Seth a couple of hours a week, while Ruby will go 'unschooled'.  I really like Seth's teacher.  As Napoleon Dynamite would say, "Lucky!"

Aaron joined the swim team

We couldn't get enough of the Olympics and Michael Phelps this summer.  We loved watching all of it.  The boys even watched the swimming and taught themselves how to do flip turns in our pool.  Aaron did great learning the strokes at swimming lessons this summer and has a natural talent at it so he decided to try out for the swim team at the YMCA and he made it!  We were so proud of him.  The team practices four days a week so it was a real commitment. Aaron did great.  It was fun to watch him progress and work hard.  He just did it for the month of August because it's just too busy during school for us to be able to make it to practice every day after school.  He's hoping to start back up on the team next summer.

Summer goals and the Luxor

This year for the reward for the kids completing their summer goals, they all decided they wanted to stay at the Luxor.  Here's a run-down of the kids goals for the summer:

Danny:
Play-shoot baskets for 15 minutes or swim 4 laps
Pray-Read scriptures every day
Learn-
Serve-Do something nice every day

Rachel:
Play-Practice tennis once a week
Pray-Finish memorizing the Articles of Faith or read scriptures every day
Learn-
Serve-Babysit the little ones for mom for 10 minutes a day

Aaron:
Play-shoot 50 baskets or swim 4 laps every day
Pray-
Learn-It started out as ready Harry Potter and he got about 1/3 of the way through and we switched it to just read a book every day
Serve-do something nice for someone every day 

So we stayed over-night at the Luxor.  We had a fabulous time.  We checked in and walked all around the big pyramid.  We had pizza for dinner, then went swimming in their fun pool.  Then we came back the and kids had a great time in the hot tub in our room.  Then we watched the Lorax.

The next morning we got up and swam again and then we went to the Pawn Shop from the Discovery show "Pawn Stars". The kids thought that was amazing.  Aaron kept saying he couldn't believe we were really there.  It was pretty crowded and we had to wait in a line just to get in the store, but it was fun.