Dates With Kids!

I decided before I went to New York with Morgan that I wanted to take each of the other kids on a one on one date. Two weeks ago Brooklyn and Brinley were at a girl scout camp all week so I decided to take Mason on his date. He had a gift card to Big Al's, which is a bowling/arcade center, he wanted to go with me to play the arcade games. We had a great time and Mason was in heaven! He probably told me about 10 times "Thank you mom for taking me here. " We then went to our new Sonic restaurant for half price drinks. Last week Mason was in Scout camp all week. He had a fun time for his last year of Boy Scouts. I went to help on Thursday for the entire day. I was kind of dreading it all week but it ended up being very fun. The boys have so much fun doing boy things: BB gun shooting, volleyball, nature trail hikes, cooking bloody fingers (hot dogs w/ketchup), and archery. Later that evening Mason said "Mom do you know what the two best things about this summer have been?" He said going to Big Als and today when you came to Cub Scout Camp with me. He then gave me a big hug! Little things like that just make my day! While Mas was at camp I took Brooklyn on her date. She wanted to go to lunch and to the Kitt Kittredge American Girl Movie. We had a great time and the movie was so cute! Brooklyn had fun and wanted to have our picture taken together in one of those booths at theTheater. The next day Brinley and I had her date. We both rode bikes up the street to Wendys. She did such a great job riding her two wheeler all the way there. She got all her favorites: chicken nuggets, fries, frosty, and mandarin oranges. Of course she couldn't eat it all! We then rode our bikes to a new park that is close by. On our way there I ran over some broken glass and popped a hole in my tire. I had to walk my bike all the way home while Brinley rode. Brinley still had fun on the date, especially at the new Park. All three of the kids just loved having me all to themselves and I loved it also! Thanks to Morgan for babysitting each time I went out with her siblings. She will get her turn this week because we are off to the Big Apple tomorrow morning!!!

First Day of Boating!

After almost two years of having our boat we have finally taken it out! We bought the boat at the end of the season two years ago and only took it out once for a short ride. Last summer we were so busy with building our house and moving we had no free time to boat! We actually did take it camping last summer to only discover, while we were on the lake, that the boat wouldn't start! We were so bummed! By the time it was fixed it was too late in the season to boat. SO, we have been very excited to FINALLY get out on the boat and have some fun! Last weekend it was very warm so we postponed our food storage canning in order to go to the river. We had a great time! Our friends the Larkins have been constantly trying to get us out on the boat! So they were more than willing to come with us and show us the ropes! A BIG thank you to the Larkin Crew for thier help!Tamara took these pictures of us on our boat. When Jon was in High School he went back East to NJ for three summers in a row with his best friend, Scott Comiso. He worked for his grandpa crabbing and on their free time they boated. Jon is a great driver and skier. He just needs to teach me now! The kids loved swimming, playing in the sand, and especially tubing! Maddie and Brinley were a little nervous but the big kids only wanted to go faster!
Our boat is old and not nearly as nice as some that we saw on the river that day, but we love it. We can't wait to take it out again!

American Idol!

Last weekend I went to the American Idol Concert with some of my friends that also loved Idol this past season! It was a great concert and worth every penny! There were tons of people at the Rose Garden including several grandparents that were there without any children! The concert started with number 10 Idol performing three songs. Each Idol performed in order that they were voted off the show all the way up to number one, David Cook. All the top ten Idols did great but some of my favorites were Michael Johns (bad picture), Brooke White:
David Archeleta:And of course the winner David Cook:I was a Archeleta fan all throughout the season, but Cook brought the house down the other night. Archeleta sounded great, but David Cook was a great performer and really entertained the crowd! Monique you would be so proud of your boyfriend! It was a fun, Friday night!!!

Done With Diapers!

After twelve and a half years of doing diapers I can officially say that we are DONE! Maddie has been potty trained for about a month now and it feels great. We had been practicing going potty in the toilet for a few weeks when Madelyn told me that she had to go poo poo in the toilet while we were at Stake Conference. I figured that she just wanted to leave with Brinley and I. I took both of them to the bathroom and she sat right up there and went in the church bathroom. That was the turning point for her and she has practically been dry every day since then. Jon wanted everyone to know that he was a big factor in potty training Maddie. He thinks he trained all five of our kids but I'm only giving him one, Mason. He fully trained Mason and helped with the girls! Who ever trained the Jackson Five we are just glad to be DONE. We are yet again entering into a different stage in our lives. This one includes no babies. WOW!