Carmel Apples

For Family Home Evening, we decided to try something new that we have never done as a family.  We made Carmel Apples. 

It was a really fun and yummy activity! 

They turned out beautiful!!!

We couldn't eat them the same night because we wanted them to set up.  Well, we didn't take a picture the next morning, because we wanted to remember them the way they look in the picture above.  By morning, all the carmel and treats had melted right off the apples and lay "stuck" in a pile on the wax paper.  We didn't get to devour them the way we had hoped.  We had a great time anyway, and what we could salvage from the wax paper, was simply delicious!

(Next time, we just might melt the carmel

 and dip the sliced apples in it...)

Cat in the Hat

Josie is in preschool this year and she LOVES her teacher Mrs. Heather.  This week they were working on the letter "C" so they all dressed up like the Cat in the Hat.  Josie was so proud of her tail, tummy, hat and ribbon in her hair.  Isn't she adorable? 

She is doing fantastic in learning her letters and she absolutely LOVES 

pulling out her homework when the other kids are doing theirs. 

Mrs. Heather really goes all out in teaching these little ones.  Josie brought home bread and homemade butter that they made in class during the week "B."  She just can't wait to go to school.

Summer Swimming Lessons & Pool Fun

This summer, all four kids took swimming lessons.  I can't believe I didn't take any pictures, but they sure were cute in their swimsuits.  All of them did fantastic for not having taken lessons in about 6 years or never having had lessons.  They all passed their classes and moved on to the next level.  Carter graduated from a Guppy to a Minnow, Chloe and Mason graduated from Polliwogs to Guppies, and Josie graduated from a Pike to an Eel.  Carter was able to swim 2 laps across the pool to pass the swim test so he could go to the deep end and jump off the diving board.  Chloe was soooo close to passing and with a little more hard work she will pass the swim test also.  She can't wait to jump off the diving board!  Mason is not far behind Chloe and really did well for his first swimming lessons ever.  He is a little fish...they ALL are as a matter of fact! Can't wait to see how they will do next go around. 

Last summer, Memaw snatched this pool up for a real steal of a deal, at a toy store parking lot sale.  It was less than $10.  This summer we put it up and bought the pump and filter for it.  The kids had a great time swimming in it for several months.  I think having the pool helped them do better in swimming lessons.  

Audio Books

We checked out these new playaway audio books from the library this summer. This is how I found the kids later that day...

WE LOVE SUMMER!!!!

Happy Birthday Mason & Happy Father's Day - Matt

Happy Birthday Mason

This morning, I woke up early to help the kids make breakfast for their Daddy for Father's Day.  When I woke up Mason first, I told him "Happy Birthday Mason!"  He sat right up with a smile and said, "Am I six (6) already?"  I agreed he was.  Then he said, "I don't feel six."  I reassured him he looked six because he seemed to have grown over night.  He jumped out of bed and looked in the mirror.  He said, "Yep, I am six!  Because when I was five (5) I only looked like this..." and he bent his knees to make himself a little shorter.  Even when we went into the kitchen he compared himself to the counter.  He said, "Yesterday I only came up this high to the counter and now I am this high." 

Yeah for our big 6 year old! 

Josie drew this beautiful picture on her present for Mason.  The big person is Mason and the little one is Josie.  She has really developed  her people drawings.  We love it!

Chloe and Josie went in together to buy Mason a little castle tower to store his knights in.  He was so excited about it.

Carter gave Mason a blow up water whale to ride on in the swimming pool.

Mason wanted homemade pizza for lunch.  Daddy makes the best pizza!  Mason was so happy he got to help.

Pepperoni and Jalapeno

Pepperoni and Sausage

Ham and Pineapple

Cartwheels while waiting for the pizza to cook...

The Birthday boy takes the first bite.

Carter looking through the catalog making a mental list of what he wants for his birthday in November.

Mason wanted a football cake.  I asked many questions about how he wanted it to look.  He finally told me he would draw me a picture. 

I think we got it right...at least he said he liked it.  The players are candy.  Orange against Yellow.

******************************************

Happy Father's Day Matt

We woke up early and made Whole Wheat Waffles in Dad's new waffle maker!  We were so excited to surprise him with it by showing him how fabulously it cooked homemade waffles! 
They really were delicious!!!

We then rushed off to our 8 a.m. church meetings and then returned home for the rest of the party.

This is a cute candy bar card the kids made.  You can't see it very well but is says...

Dad, we were going to give you a WHOP-ping 100 GRAND for Father's Day, but the money slipped through our BUTTERFINGERS.  We didn't have an EXTRA WHATCHAMACALLIT to sell and it wasn't PAYDAY.  We didn't think a pet KIT KAT, a trip to New YORK, or an ORBIT around the MILKY WAY would be appropriate.  We do want to wish you MOUNDS of ALMOND JOY both NOW & LATER as you eat this card.  We hope it doesn't make you ROLO-ver and get sick.  If it does we promise we won't SNICKER.  Love your favorite SWEETARTS:  Carter, Chloe, Mason and Jo-Jo-Binks.

Thanks to Pinterest for the many ideas!

Chloe made a sweet card for her Daddy.

Another candy gift that says,

"Dad, We LOVE you to Pieces!"

Much LOVE and many

HUGS & KISSES

This was everyone's favorite card...

Each of the kids answered the following questions and I wrote down their first answer.  It was so cute!

*************

All About My DAD



My Dad is _________years old.

Carter - 36

Chloe - 36

Mason - 35 (He was the only one correct)

Josie - 55

MY Dad is really strong, he could lift a ___.

Carter - computer desk

Chloe - dresser

Mason - car

Josie - house

My Dad's favorite color is__________.

Carter - blue

Chloe - blue

Mason - blue

Josie - black

My Dad's favorite food is__________.

Carter - nachos

Chloe - Chinese

Mason - vegetables

Josie - vegetables

My Dad always says, "__________."

Carter - "Good hell-a-mighty."  (I've never heard Matt say this???)

Chloe - "I love you."

Mason - "Thank you."

Josie - "Go to bed."

My Dad is the best at__________.

Carter - Wrestling

Chloe - Drawing

Mason - Coloring.  He IS the best at coloring.

Josie - All.  Everyday.

My Dad's job is__________.

Carter - at CH2MHILL

Chloe - CH2MHILL

Mason - working in the canyon.

Josie - working the canyon.

My Dad laughs when__________.

Carter - I say "I could have ripped your throats out!  But I didn't....but I coulda."

Chloe - he calls Josie Jo-Jo Binks.

Mason - he talks.

Josie - ever I cross my eyes.

My Dad's favorite scripture hero is__________.

Carter - Nephi

Chloe - Nephi

Mason - Captain Moroni

Josie - Samuel the Lamanite

If my Dad had time, he would love to______.

Carter - Wrestle

Chloe - Play games with us.

Mason - Color

Josie - Watch a movie with everyone.

My Dad and I like to__________.

Carter - Play catch

Chloe -go to Chinese.

Mason - play games. A LOT!

Josie - have a bike ride.

My dad really loves__________.

Carter - Wrestling

Chloe - Me

Mason - Mommy

Josie - Me

I LOVE my dad because__________.

Carter - he is the best dad ever.

Chloe - he does stuff for me.

Mason - he's my dad.

Josie - I love him.

**************************************************
Happy Father's Day - Papa Bob

We spent the rest of the evening picking flowers from around the house and taking them to my dad's grave.  We walked around the cemetery for a little while looking at other relatives and friends headstones.

We sure miss you Dad!

What a great day for some great men!