No Relaxing Weekend

So, one of the things I admire most about Jarrod is that he is so driven. He never stops until he accomplishes what he wants. This weekend was a good example of that! He was so determined to get projects done around the house that we hardly had a moments rest. Friday night, after a long, exhausting day shopping at Home Depot, we came home and started painting the kitchen. The kids decided they didn't want to help, so they took off to spend the night at Grandma's. Jarrod started taping and prepping the kitchen around 6:30 and we painted until midnight. The next morning, he had me up bright and early. Saturday's project was painting the Master bedroom. That took all morning and into the early afternoon. I pooped out way early! It was a good thing that my mother in law came down and helped, or Jarrod might have noticed that I kept slipping away to go check facebook, or just sit down and take a break. That man about wore me out this weekend!


Guess maybe I should have put away the laundry, or cleared the couters before I took pictures, but like I said, I was pooped! These pictures will just have to do.

This weekend we went to Snowflake and played in one of the coolest parks around. Pioneer Park in Snowflake has always been one of my favorites. I love the grassy hills and the huge shade trees. My kids loved it too! Kinsley was more than willing to pose for a few pictures. Karter was doing what he does best..climbing and sliding. Kamryn, would have spent hours digging in the sand. We stayed and played for about an hour and a half. We would have stayed longer, but see what rolled in? There were a few sprinkles at first and then within seconds, we were running to the car for shelter. The storm didn't last long, but by the time it stopped, we were already on our way. Have so much fun playing with the kids. The simplest things really make them happy.

Kinsley made me a new pair of 'slippers'. And we had all kinds of fun sculpting a volleyball out of the sand. After the park, we headed to Showlow for a quick trip to Home Depot (home improvement post to follow).

So for some crazy reason, I decided to take the kids school shopping today without Jarrod. Don't know how he dodged that one, but he did. We had a lot of success shopping and finding some cute stuff for the upcoming school year, but I about went bonkers on Kamryn today. She was very umm..Challenging today to say the least. When we finally made it home tonight, Kinsley and Kamryn decided they were going to try on their new bathing suits. But before Kamryn tries hers on, she had to try to beat her brother with it first. As she is swinging the hanger and all at her brother, the two peices seperated (its a tankini), and I hear this blood curdling scream come from the other room...not from Karter either (even though he was the one being attacked with the hanger). No, it was from Kamryn! She comes running into the kitchen holding the two seperate peices of her bathing suit and crying, "Mommy, I broke my swim suit!" Apparently she didn't look too closely at it when we bought it. I had to explain to her that she hadn't broke it, but that it was supposed to be in two peices. Just when that little turkey about has me pulling my hair out, she does something cute like that to redeem herself.

Eclipse

This is old news, but I have to post it! Last November, a bunch of us girls got together and went to the midnight premier of New Moon. It was so much fun that we decided to make it a tradition. So with the release of Eclipse, we headed to the theatre again, only this year everything was bigger and better. We even had a friend make t-shirts for all of us to wear (Look how cute we all are). We all met at Eva's for dinner in Snowflake before heading to the movies in Show Low. Just like last year, we were able to watch the previous movies before the premier of the new one. It was so much fun hanging out with all the girls. Can't wait to do it all over again when Breaking Dawn comes out.

Looking Good

Last year before Karter started Kindergarten, he decided he wanted to get his hair cut in a faux hock. After the first day of school, he came home and decided he didn't want it anymore, cause there was a little girl at school that was making fun of him. I tried to convince him that it was probably just because she liked him, but he didn't want to hear it. So, I was kind of suprised yesterday when he told me that he wanted to cut his hair this way again. Way to go buddy! Who cares what the mean little girl at school thinks. You rock the faux hock!
Can't tell very well in the pictures, but they used a colored spiking gel, so his hair is 'metalic blue'. He couldn't wait to get home and show all his buddies and Grandma. He doesn't even want to swim today, cause he wants his dad to see it (and this guy loves to swim). Hopefully by the time school starts, it will grow out a little longer and we can have it cleaned up again. Looks pretty good though, and it is a huge improvement from his grown out shaggy look.

Celebrating our Independence

This year we decided we were staying in Joseph City to celbrate the 4th. We usually go out to Woodruff, but sadly there isn't much going on out there anymore. It used to be the funnest day of the year in Woodruff! The day would start with breakfast cooked and served by the Elders and then there was always a short program with patriotic songs and usually a tribute to some of the older people in the community (Kind of like a Hall of Fame thing). Then the footraces, and water balloon volleyball, softball, and volleyball or basketball inside the church when it got too warm to play outside. Then deffinently a dip in the river to cool off before heading into the fireworks. I missed seeing all the friends I grew up with though. The fourth is still the one day out of the year that almost everyone comes home to visit. So maybe next year we'll go out for breakfast and come back home for the celebration later on in the day here.

The Chamber put on a really fun celebration, with carnival/old fashioned games. The day started with a red white and blue parade. Kids, and adults too dressed up in R,W, & B or decorated their bikes or strollers and paraded down Main St. Then there was a flag raising ceremony and Melisa Farnes sang the National Anthem. There was a waterslide, dunk tank, putting green, ring toss, a game where you bounced a ping pong ball into a cup (and won a real goldfish), pony rides, horse shoes, and my favorite a sand volleyball tournament.

Jarrod, Misty, Al and I competed in the tournament. We had a lot of fun! Our first game started out a little shaky, but somehow we pulled it off. We didn't fare so well our second game. We ended up losing to team Mosier. But we had a lot of fun and that's all that matters, right?

After the tournament, it was lunch time so we all headed up to the house, ate lunch and took a dip in the pool. Wish I had gotten more pictures, but I was too busy playing and having fun.

I am so greatful to live in this wonderful country and to enjoy all the freedoms that we are blessed with. I'm proud of my roots and my upbringing in the gospel. So thankful to have the freedom to choose to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Can't wait until this time of year rolls around again.

Our Graduate

This month has brought all kinds of excitment! The school year has come to a close and the kids are soo..ready for summer. Wednesday night, Karter graduated from kindergarten. Here he is with one of his best buddies! Kinsley and Karter both did very good in school this year. They are good students who try their best. So fun watching them grow and learn!