May Miscellaneous, 2019

We all totally love Penelope and the kids think its especially fun when she comes to our house to visit.  On this day Luke was having a tough time and lying in his bed being sad.  I brought Penelope in and after he held her and played with her for a bit, he suddenly found his spirit and smile.  

Luckily she's patient with everyone's loving on her

Tim and Luke went to Fathers and Sons and had so much fun, well at least they did until it was time to go to bed and it was freezing cold.  Apparently they didn't sleep much so they got up early Saturday morning and headed to IHOP for breakfast.  If the point of the activity is bonding, I think they got plenty of that.  

After Tim got home and cleaned up, he headed out to Ogden to spend the day with Brycen.  Their definitely always involve food and they said that Texas Roadhouse was delicious.

While Tim went to hang with Brycen, the kids hung out with Grandpa and Grandma Whitesides.  They built marble races, jumped on the trampoline, and made slime.

My cousin Suzi invited me to ride the Frontrunner Century Ride the first weekend in May.  It was a metric century, so 62 miles, but that still seemed like a long way for an early spring ride.  It had rained and been cold most weekends before the race, but somehow we got lucky and had beautiful weather.  We rode with a group of her friends, mostly guys, who were willing to pull for us, so it was fast and fun!  Over the last few years Suzi and I have ridden a lot together and have had a great time.

Tim and Brycen showed up at the end which was a great surprise

The moment when they learned to make fart noises with their arms. 

Ruby loved this fancy hairdo

Hope's Baking School

Cupcakes

This year for Mother's Day, the guys got together and planned and took care of making dinner.  They even had the kids practice a song to sing for us.  Before everyone came for dinner, I had the most enjoyable day resting and hanging out with the kids.  Luke and Ruby both wanted a half hour of alone time with Mama.  Ruby and I had a picnic and Luke and I did sack races.  Even though I'm with them a lot more now, it was still really great to spend the one on one time with each.

Luke and Ruby started swim lessons at Utah Swim Academy.  Their methods are a little different - they really focus on survival swimming and making sure the kids can float and get themselves turned over if they were to fall in.  Luke has picked it up really quickly but Ruby has been a little more of a challenge.  I'm not sure if either will ever really fall in love with swimming, but I definitely feel better just knowing how much their skills have improved. 

Erika stopped by for a few minutes on her way headed south.  We love any chance to see her - Luke and Ruby are especially in love with their big sister!

Luckily Taylor lives close so we are able to see him more often

Tim's reward for a hard ride in the wind. 

Luke started a new season of baseball and was so excited to no longer be playing T-ball.  I had the option of coach pitch or machine pitch and picked machine pitch because I thought it would be easier.  Turns out that hitting from the machine is pretty tough, and I could have probably transitioned him a little better.  But he didn't seem too intimidated by any of it and was just excited to play ball.

Ruby and Tim found plenty of critters at the river trail.

  

And a few crazies!

While Grandma was gone, Brycen and Erika visited Grandpa and took him some soup.

And just like that, the school year was over!!!  Luke had such a great first grade year and learned so much.  He loves school and is always excited to tell me all of the things he has learned.  I knew that he had really grown up but couldn't believe the difference when I put his pictures side by side.  I know I can't stop time, but I sure hope his love for learning and life never dulls. 

These girls gave the cutest performances!

Always dress up, every day!

Preschool Graduation - Ruby

Today we went to the last of Ruby's three preschool graduations - did I really just say three?  Yep!  We really aren't trying to turn her into a baby genius (she already is), or overwork her before she starts kindergarten.  It just worked out that we could enroll her in all three, and since each was so different, we decided it wouldn't be a bad thing for her to attend all of them.

The first graduation was from Provo High's preschool.  Man did Ruby love being a Baby Bulldog.  She loved being a part of the high school and told everyone she met that she went to the new Provo High.  Ruby always said this was her favorite of her preschools - I think it helped that her bestie Brexley was in the class, and she got to hang out with high school kids.  This graduation was in early May because the high school students needed to finish testing and the academic part of the class.  We had a great time at the graduation party, but I think she was a little sad to see it all end.

They had ten stations with games, activities, face painting, and root beer floats.  Each kid got a punch pass and once they had rotated through all of the stations, they were able to get their diploma. 

I have always preferred home based preschools and really wanted Ruby to have that experience again.  By the time I started looking most schools were full.  I had so many people tell me about Mrs. Stephanie so I kept emailing and pestering and lucky for us a space opened up and we were able to get Ruby into her preschool.  There was a lot more structure, and I think it was sometimes tough for Ruby to buckle down and work - she definitely preferred to be chatting or playing with her friends.  In fact, she made a really great friend, Anna, and will be especially sad not to have class with her anymore.  They were cute together and even had their own special handshake/greeting.  Mrs. Stephanie's graduation was really special and I loved that each student had a moment to shine. 

Two years ago Luke did "click click" or Upstart, an online preschool that is funded by the state.  Ruby has been waiting for her chance ever since.  Most of the time she loves to get on the computer and do her "homework".  I think her favorite part of the entire program was her chicken - we all had fun watching it go from an egg, to a chick, to a full grown chicken.  Today we went to graduation which was really a chance for them to assess how much each kid has learned.  They also make a big deal about the kids graduating.  Ruby did great and was really excited to get a picture with Rusty and Rosy.  Now that we have finished all of her graduations, it feels like kindergarten is just around the corner and I'm not sure that I'm ready to let my baby go.