Summer started off cold and windy probably because I signed Ashley and Owen up for swimming lessons at the outdoor city pool. Even though it was cold they still enjoyed swimming. Everyday after swimming lessons we went over to the park and they got a free lunch.  Then we would head home to play with friends. One of the days we got to babysit my 4 nieces and nephew while Aunt Ruby was working and Uncle Scott had a class at BSU.

 

The second week of swimming lessons was a lot nicer since the weather warmed up. We even got to take Landon with us one day. The kids wrapped up their two week session of swimming lessons and get to move up to level 2 which we'll start in July.

 

Today, we are celebrating Father's Day. We made Mike biscuits and gravy for breakfast and he received two new shirts and a remote control helicopter. The kids helped him fill up the pool in the backyard then played in it.  We will BBQ steak later this evening. Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful Dad's & Grandpa's!

 

Ashley and Owen trying to stay warm at the pool

 

Ashley and Owen at the park for lunch.

 

Mike and Layla

Playing with cousins, Layla, Lexi, Alyse & Ashley

 

Landon at the swimming pool during Ashley and Owen's lessons

Owen and Ashley getting their certificates at the end of swimming lessons

Landon at the park with us.

Ashley and Mike playing guitar

Mike on Father's day eating breakfast and opening presents

Mike and Ashley with the new remote control helicopter

 

Father's Day cookies - Yum

Swimming in the backyard pool

Washing my car. Yay!! :)

Old fort Boise Days

Ashley was her cousin Amanda's little sister in the Old Fort Boise Pageant in Parma, Idaho. Amanda did great and received the Miss Congeniality award. Ashley had a lot of fun at the pageant. Then they got to be in the parade on Saturday morning. It ended up being cold and raining for the parade so they had to wrap up in blankets. Ashley loved getting to throw the candy in the parade. Alysha said good bye to everyone and we headed to the airport to send her off to Texas for two months. We will miss her. :( Once she was on the plane I headed back to Parma to belly dance with my troop Habibi Nada.  We had a fun time dancing even with the strong wind. Once we were done, Ashley and Owen got have some fun at the carnival. It was a very busy day but lots of fun too. :)

Old Fort Boise Days Pageant

Ashley and Amanda ready for the parade

Alysha saying good bye before heading to the airport.

Belly dancing at Old Fort Boise Days

Ready for my solo

Ashley and Owen at the carnival

Kids on the swings.

Busy end of the school year!

The last few weeks seems to have just flown by. While the kids were busy wrapping up the school year, I was painting in the garage. I painted props for the Canyon Dance Academy's Spring Recital of Pinocchio. They asked me to paint a carnival background which I did.  It ended up being 5' tall by 15' long which seems huge until on stage. I decided to add an ocean background, painted on the back, toy shelves, donkeys and a school/town background.

The kids had a great year at Heritage Community Charter School but are very happy to be on summer vacation. We started off our first day of vacation at Petco buying Alysha's new baby bearded dragon, Pepe'. Then we went to Home Depot for the kids workshop to build little wooden organizers. Home to clean up the house and do a few chores then back to Petco for the Reptile Rally. The kids did a scavenger hunt, learned about reptiles and Owen's leopard gecko, Marble won the Cold-Blooded Beauty Contest. We then came home and BBQ'd hamburgers with my sister and her family followed by Ashley's dance recital. I helped out on stage moving the paintings on and off stage during the performance and Ashley did a wonderful job dancing. It was a very busy day and even though the summer is looking busy we should be able to slow things down quite a bit. Which is really sounding good to me. :)

 

Owen, Alysha and Marble at the Reptile Rally at Petco

Owen and Marble at Petco

Marble won first place.

Alysha with her new baby, Pepe'.

Pepe'

Ashley on stage with her Ballet 1 class.  (She is in the front, middle with her arm up the highest)

Ashley in the front line on stage

Ashley on stage at the recital

Ashley after the recital with her flowers

My pretty little ballerina. :)

Background paintings for the 5th grade play

Okay, I was at the airport getting ready to leave for Arizona when I received a phone call from the school. It was a lady helping with the title one 5th graders. They wanted a few background for their play on Literacy Night the following week. I told them that I would do it but I wouldn't be back until Monday. Of course I didn't know that I'd catch a cold while I was gone. So I ended up getting a copy of the play and the drawings from the kids on Monday then I stretched out what I was going to paint. Tuesdays I spent all day painting and finished the bean stalk, forest, castle tower, picket signs and TV. Today I got the news station and desk signs painted and added some glitter. Then we took them to the school so they are ready for the kids to use for dress rehearsal and the play tomorrow night. It was a very quick project and I didn't have time to add to much detail but the kids were super excited about them. Looking forward to seeing the play.

TV for News Room

Castle Tower background for Sleeping Beauty

Forest Background for the Three Little Pig's Cooking Show

Jack's Bean Stalk for the Strike

Picket signs for the protesters at Jack's Bean Stalk

Our new college graduates.

This weekend my parents, sister and I flew to Flagstaff, Arizona to see my brother Cody and his girlfriend Marisa graduate from Northern Arizona University. Cody graduated with a B.S. in Business Management with a major in Finance and Marisa graduated with a B.S. in Early Childhood Development. We had a nice visit and got to meet Marisa's family.

NAU's graduation. Cody was on stage but was hard to see.

Mom and Dad with Cody

My family

Cody and Marisa holding the graduation candy bar card I made for Cody.

The twenty pounds of candy bars in my carry-on luggage for this card was probably why I had a hard time going through the airport security. :)

Dinner with Marisa's family in Sedona

Marisa and Cody with their graduation cake. I had a nice visit and will have to go again with Mike and the kids to see the Grand Canyon and all the other interesting scenery.

Grandma Jane's Birthday Party

We all got together to celebrate Grandma Jane's 92nd birthday at our house. We had a nice BBQ and the weather was sunny even if it wasn't super warm. She had a nice time seeing some of her great grand children, opening presents and eating chocolate cupcakes.

Photo of us moms for Mother's Day.

Grandma Jane with great grandchildren

Grandma Jane with her son