May Instagrams

5.1.2013

I seriously love this girl's art! #avri #bee #zebra #giraffe #ladybug

5.1.2013

I almost said 'no' when Avri asked to sleep in Emery's bed tonight...

#sogladisaidyes

5.7.2013

Finals are over!! #oneyeardown #threetogo

5.9.2013

The girls have a new 'secret' hideout.

5.11.2013

Ended a great day with a great dinner date!

5.14.2013

DIY sprinkler project = success!! #couldntwaittotryitout #gottalovepinterest 

#lovemyhandyman #summerfun

5.16.2013

Found these little divas prancing around in my heels after dinner. 

#housefullofgirls

5.18.2013

Loved seeing this girl today! #oldroomies #goodtimes

5.24.2013

Just found Claire under Emery's bed with a sticky glob of Avri's gummi bears. 

#troublemaker #goodthingshessocute

5.26.2013

Playing Primary #avri #loveherimagination #happysunday

5.31.2013

At the Playmill with some of my favorite people people! 

#beautyandthebeast #yellowstone #yummyfudge

Memorial Day Weekend

Oh how I love the weekends! It was so nice to spend the weekend together and not worry about anything but having fun! After lunch on Saturday, we headed downtown to check out the filming of the Food Network show, "The Great Food Truck Race". We got there toward the end of things, but there were still lots of camera crews and long lines. The girls weren't too interested in standing in line forever, so after a little while we walked around downtown and stopped at a couple stores. I scored a darling mirror for the girls' room at an antique shop!

On Sunday evening we took the girls to visit the Field of Heroes at a local high school. There is one white cross to represent every soldier who has died during the recent war. There were thousands!! It was neat to explain to the girls what it means to live in this great country and how important it is to be grateful for our service men and women who help protect our freedom.

Monday morning we met up with some neighbors at a fishing pond. The girls had so much fun and Avri and Emery both caught a fish! We had a picnic lunch and enjoyed a beautiful day!! On the way home we stopped at a playground and the girls played and explored to their heart's content.

 

Avri was soooo patient. She was so determined to catch a second fish, but just wasn't having any luck. When we were ready to leave she said, "Well I really wanted to catch my second fish, I tried really really hard!!" We were proud of her hard work and her good attitude! The picture of Emery is her reeling in her catch on the first cast!

Proof: I was there too, and Claire left this cute little piggy in her hair for a record amount of time!

I thought it would be fun to compare how much the girls have grown from their first day of school...

And here's the cute appreciation gift we gave their teachers:

Our cute neighbors invited the girls to their Friends & Family day at clogging. They loved it! Avri took it pretty seriously and caught on really quickly. Emery loved watching herself in the mirror and got closer and closer with each new move she learned until she was RIGHT in front of the mirror. Too funny! Avri now claims that she is dying to be a clogger. And a cowgirl. And a ballerina. And a gymnast.... :)

 

Emery: Preschool Graduation

Emery's Preschool Graduation Program was at Pizza Pie Cafe. The kids got to take a tour of the kitchen, then make their own pizzas. After everyone ate they had a cute program with songs and things they recite (days of the week, months of the year, etc.) I'm sure Emery's favorite part of the program was when they played Freeze Dance at the end. :) She has done so great this year working on letters and numbers, going on fun fields trips, making new friends, and learning to enjoy learning!

Mrs. Bev gave Emery a folder with activities to practice her learning and skills over the summer, some pictures from throughout the year, and some of her schoolwork so we could see her progress.

 

Emmy & Mrs. Bev

Avri the Author

Avri is becoming more and more confident in her writing skills and is becoming less dependent on us to help her spell. I love how she sounds things out and then writes and writes. Books, lists, notes--I find it absolutely adorable!!! Here is a cute book she made, and then a story she wrote for Grandma Sherry and Grandma & Grandpa Jones:

"I am funny. I am fun. I can run. I was a baby. I am cute. I'm a loving girl. I am careful. I am caring...This is a book."

"I am modest. I am good. I am a dancer. I am a cowgirl. I love my family. I love my friends. I follow the prophet. I follow Jesus and Heavenly Father. I am a example. I care. I do love my family."

"I love puppies. I am polite. I am friendly. I am kind. I am grateful. I am grateful for my family. I love toys. I love friends. I love school. I love my Grammy."

"I love my parents. I love everything. I love animals. I love fairies. I love princesses. I am fancy."

Is that not the cutest book EVER?!?!

"The Title Is Butterfly"

"Once upon a time there was a butterfly that fluttered around. It fluttered across town until it got caught in a net. It was scared. Finally the butterfly got out. It fluttered and it fluttered and it never got caught again and it was free."

"Written by Avri"

Avri's creativity never ceases to amaze and surprise me. This afternoon she was getting a little bored, so she drew her own "Pin The Tail on the Zebra", made a tail, got a scarf (blindfold), and then invited everyone to play.

Of course Dad took the game *really* seriously, and pinned the tail on Emery. ;)

Avri: Kindergarten Graduation

I will admit, I got a little teary-eyed as I saw my cute girl walk down the aisle to the Graduation March. It will be all too soon that she is making that walk to graduate High School!! She was so excited to see us and did such a great job as they sang "Zippity Doo Da" and "I've Been Working on the Railroad". Avri has done excellent this year as she learns to read, spell, write sentences, and learn math. She has loved school and is SOOOO excited to be in 1st Grade!!

 

 

Avri with Mrs. Jensen & Mrs. Critser

Just because she's so dang cute...

Mother's Day Weekend

I had such a great Mother's Day weekend. We had a family get together on Sunday, so James was sweet enough to plan a special day for me on Saturday too. I woke up to the sound of papers rustling and tape...the girls were decorating my room and the house with cute little notes that said things like, "You are beautiful", "You cook the best", "I love you Mommy", and "You listen to the Prophet" (Emery) :)

I was treated to an amazing breakfast of crepes. James is pretty awesome and whipped up some delicious ones with fresh fruit and whipped cream. After breakfast the girls gave me their gift...a gift certificate for a mani/pedi. It was so nice and relaxing to have some time to myself and get pampered a bit. When I came home, we dropped off Avri at a birthday party, and James, Emery, Claire and I headed to the park for a picnic. After the picnic we did a little shopping, picked Avri up, and then did some more shopping. That night, James planned a babysitter and took me out to dinner with some of our favorite people, Brandon & Lyndsie. We had so much fun with them and it was the perfect way to end such an awesome day. James really knows how to make me feel special!! As an added bonus, he cleaned up and did all the dishes that day! :)

Throughout the day I kept thinking how awesome it was to feel so important and I realized what a great mood I was in. I was treating everyone nicer, I was more patient with the girls, and just more happy. I didn't even get bothered by James' whiskers in the sink after he shaved. ;) I knew he was working so hard to make me feel special that I was happy to help him too. It was such an "Aha Moment" for me. If I make my girls and husband feel super important and go out of my way to make them feel special...they will probably be happier and treat me (and others) more kindly. I believe the Mother sets the tone in the home, so if I'm happy and treating others kindly and making them feel important--that's the standard, and hopefully everyone else will learn from that and become more kind, always striving to help others feel special. It reminds me of a quote from President Hinckley that of course I can't find anywhere. It talks about polishing others until they shine and become beautiful, rather than dwelling on imperfections.

On Sunday James and the girls continued to make me feel so loved. After church we headed down for a family get together at Sherry's and enjoyed yummy food, beautiful weather and great company. It was such a wonderful weekend!! So grateful for my loving husband who encourages me and believes in me and has blessed me with three beautiful daughters who are ours for eternity. I'm also so grateful for my little ladies who can make me so crazy, but who bring such joy!! They teach me something everyday and I am in awe of their great qualities and sweet spirits. Thank you Avri, Emery, and Claire for believing I am the best Mom in the world.

Weekend in Logan

We spent a quick but fun weekend in Logan. We went down for Brock's ordination to the Aaronic Priesthood, and to see Kassie perform in the ballet, Cinderella. And I even snuck in a trip to Hobby Lobby. :) Avri loved the ballet and was on the edge of her seat, peering down onto the stage. It was adorable. Her enthusiasm wore off after awhile however, and she asked when it would be over a couple different times (not whispering!!), and let out a few not-so-subtle yawns as well. Gotta love kids. ;)

On Sunday, Brock was ordained outside in the sunshine! We're so proud of him and are so grateful our girls are blessed with so many awesome cousins to be great examples!

Mikele and Ave carrying Kassie's flowers to the show.

My cute date

Avri and Kassie the lightning bug

The girls with Cinderella

Grammy reading a story to some of her girls.

Brock with his Uncles, Bishop, Dad, and Grandpa Murdock