Kindergarten Graduation

What can I say?  I am way behind on posting!  Here's some quick pictures from Kaden's Kindergarten Graduation:

They sang a couple cute songs

Going up to get his diploma.  I was all ready to to get a picture and . . . .

Stupid lady stood up right in front of me!  I wanted to yell at her!  She was on the front row and kept standing up and blocking everyones view with her big fat head!

Kaden and his buddy Austin B.

Kaden and Austin W

Kaden and his teacher, Mrs. Gregory.  I cannot say enough good things about her!  She was amazing!  (yep, that's my darling daughter flashing everyone in the background.  Makes a mother proud)

Kaden, Mrs. Gregory, and Austin Welly.

Kaden had a GREAT year - but I really don't feel old enough to have a first grader!

6 weeks and counting...

I have a little over 6 weeks til this little guy is born.  No c-section date yet, but it's comin quick!  Probably Aug 4th or 5th. I just bought my first thing for him - there's really not much you have to get by your 4th kid. :)  But I couldn't resist this cute little outfit!  45 days until we get to meet little Kolten Rhett. . .  but who's counting?

Memorial Day Hike

Memorial Day weekend we went to Thatcher.  Matt, Lane, Logan, and my Dad had planned an overnight hike up on Mt. Graham.  They had a great time - us girls and the kids went up the 2nd day to pick them up and have a picnic in the mountains.

This is where the boys spent the night - looks real comfortable, huh?

The first day of the hike - the boys hiked down to see the slurry bomber wreckage.  We have heard this story several times from my grandpa.  My dad has been there several times and the rest of the guys finally got to go see it.  There of course isn't a trail to it, so it's a few miles of "bushwacking" through the mountains.

The wreckage is at the very top of the picture.

Here's a little history on the wreck that Lane looked up:

This crash occurred on June 27, 1974 on “west peak” of the Mt. Graham range in the Coronado Nat’l Forest. Pilot at time of crash was George H. Stell & his only son Greg. It is a PB4Y anti-submarine patrol bomber adapted from the more common B-24 “liberator” bomber. These models were then later commonly used as firefighting tankers “slurry bombers”.

Pictures of what the plane looked like

Pictures from the wreckage

California 2010

I'm finally posting pics from our trip back in April.  Here's some of the trip's highlights we want to remember - and some parts we wouldn't mind forgetting!

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To remember: A pretty fun car ride - lots of new toys, activities, movies, and snacks

To forget: Getting stuck behind not one, but TWO pileups on the freeway!  It turned into a VERY long car trip.  Having to evict our tenant just a couple days before we left and having to deal with all of that by phone during the trip.

To remember: Enjoying the hotel room, relaxing, having picnics, and playing at the pool.

To forget: Matt getting really sick not long after we arrived and spending all night in the bathroom.  Mom trying to entertain the kids and keep them quiet so Dad could sleep most of the next day.  Dad having to stay up late and miss some trips to the pool to work on a big project that was due in one of his classes.

To remember: Our trip to Huntington Beach - there was hardly anyone there, the weather was beautiful, and that beach is just gorgeous!!!  Lexie's first trip to the beach - she was deathly afraid if the water got anywhere near her!  Kaden and Bailey had a blast running around in the surf and building sand castles with Dad (who was feeling much better).

To forget: Somehow between the beach and the car, getting tar all over our legs, feet, and shoes.  Let me just tell you that stuff does not come off easily!

To remember: Taking the kids to Disneyland for the first time!

Highlights for Kaden: seeing the star wars show and riding all the "big" rides with dad. 

Highlights for Bailey: seeing Cinderella's Castle, meeting the princesses, and riding the carousel (yeah - of all the rides there this was her favorite!) 

Highlights for Lexie: meeting Mickey and Minnie - she talked about it the rest of the day!

To forget: the incredibly LONG day, waiting in line for 75 minutes to see the princesses, mom having a major meltdown mid-day (I'll blame it on low blood sugar and pregnancy hormones), waiting in lots and lots of lines

It really was a great trip and we are glad we did it!  The kids are still talking about it - they LOVED it.

Mother's Day

I had a great mother's day this year - the kids and matt spoiled me.  One of my favorite things was a little survey Kaden did at school.  His teacher asked him the questions and wrote down what he said:

What I Know About My Mother
1.  How old is your mother? 30
2. How tall is your mother? 7 feet tall
3. How much does your mother weigh? 20 pounds (He told me later - "Yeah I was nice and said you only weigh 20 pounds, but I know that's not true cause I weigh 60!")
4. What color eyes does your mother have? blue just like me
5. what makes your mother laugh? When Lexie runs around crazy
6. What does your mother like to do for fun? When dad has the girls, mom and I go to chick-fillet for lunch and come home and play.
7. What is your mother's favorite food? pizza
8. If your mother could go anywhere on vacation, where would she go? To the beach with her mom (I guess he was listening when I said I love the beach and that Nana loves the beach too!)
9.  What does your mother do after you go to bed? She makes popcorn and watches tv
10. If your mother had $100 what would she buy? A lot of material
11. Does your mother have any brothers and sisters? 4 brothers and 1 sister
12. What is your mother's favorite food to cook? Ramen noodles (Seriously?  I consider myself a pretty good cook and this is what he comes up with? It made me laugh!)
13. What is your mother's favorite color? Red
14. Could your mother add 100+100 in her head? yes
15. How many cartwheels can your mother do? 2
16. What kind of job does your mother have? She takes care of us
17. Can your mother dance? yes
18. What do you do to show your mom you love her? I like to talk with her a lot.

He's such a sweet kiddo!  Love him!

Ballet Recital

Bailey's dance recital was last saturday and she did GREAT!  She remembered the routine and wasn't nervous at all to get up there!  Just another reminder of how big she is getting.

I told her I wanted some pictures - and here's the poses she came up with. :)  Of course Lex had to get in on the action.

A HUGE treat for Bai - she got to wear a little bit of makeup

Getting her medal

Ms. Rachel and the whole class

Bai and two of her best friends - Kristy and Leyanna.

Zucchini Oat Bread

We are already getting zucchini from our garden.  And while I love my normal zucchini bread recipe - I saw this one last summer and wanted to try it.  It has become one of my favorites and my kids love it.  However I asked Matt today how he liked it and he said..."It's ok.  You can tell it's healthy."  Good to know since I've been making it for the last year. 

Anyway....I think it's delicious and wanted to share.

Zucchini Oat Bread

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray
1-1/2 cups sugar
2-1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3 eggs
1 cup applesauce
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups shredded, unpeeled zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
3/4 cup raisins

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with cooking spray; set aside. Combine 1 tablespoon of the sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon; set aside. Combine flour, oats, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and remaining cinnamon; set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat eggs with electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes or until foamy. Add remaining sugar, the applesauce, butter, and vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture, beating on low speed just until combined. Stir in zucchini, nuts, and raisins. Spoon into prepared pan. Sprinkle with sugar-cinnamon mixture.
2. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on rack. Wrap and store several hours before slicing. Makes 16 slices.

**I bake it in two loaves instead of one big one - so it only needs to bake about 45-50 minutes.  So good toasted with a little bit of butter on it!  Yum!