June Activities

We had a really good month this month. Here's the little things we did this month:

-Pony Express Days: Our city had lots of fun stuff planned to kick off the city days. We spent the first day at the park for family fun day. They had bounce houses, vendors, foods, and a train. We didn't get to do ALL of it, but we got lots of business cards for people to help with the house projects we had in mind this month. We missed the carnival (which was too bad, I was looking forward to that), the boutique shops, and the fireworks, BUT we did make it to the parade Saturday morning. I usually don't like parades, but this one ended up being so fun. We had so much fun with that one.

-I finally got a pedicure! I had been looking forward to this since Spring started and it felt so good to get soft skin, a nice massage (in the chair and on my feet/legs), and pretty toes. It was also nice to catch up with my mom, grandma, and Rachel.

-Pierce got his FIRST haircut this month! We had noticed his hair was getting quite fluffy and when we'd go swimming it would float around his head (like a pretty princess haha). So we finally got his haircut on the 14th. We took him to Sharkey's, a new place nearby. It was SO cute and had a lot of fun chairs for him to sit in. It also had a cute hair wash area and minicure area. They even let the girls watch shows on TVs to keep them entertained. AND they gave them all sucker sand the girls got pretty rings. It was a fun experience for all of us.

-We got some BIG news in that Larry got a new job, but it wouldn't be remote anymore and the location was pretty far away so we would have to relocate. This obviously put a halt to our new yard plans and getting our basement finished soon (which was too bad), but it meant we got to spend some time house hunting and builder shopping. I was sad, at first, to leave this house, but after some adjustment period I got over it and it's an exciting change for our family.

Anyways, it was a very, very fast month and I can't believe we fit so much in (all this on top of Father's Day and Lucy's birthday and adjusting to the first full month of summer break). I'm tired just reliving all of it now haha.

Father's Day Weekend 2023

Father's Day weekend was AMAZING! For me, at least. I feel kind of bad for how Larry's turned out though. I feel like I got another Mother's Day weekend though, it was so good...again, for me.

Our original plans were for him to leave for Wendover Friday night and stay until Sunday night. However, when he looked at hotel prices he decided he'd just do a Saturday to Sunday thing instead and just try and stay up (maybe take naps in common areas or on the bus). I told him it didn't sound as much fun, but he figured it would be good enough.

I decided I'd do a trip to the zoo with the kids, it sounded like a lot of fun, and I figured I could invite mom and grandma along and we'd all have a nice day there. Stace ended up deciding to come along too so I knew it would be a lot of fun.

Larry got to sleep in a bit on Saturday and then head out for the bus ride out. I got the kids ready for the day and we headed out right after lunch time (kids could get a decent nap on the drive to the zoo and then, most likely, on the way home too). Going to the zoo ended up being SO much more fun than I thought. It was SO nice to visit with mom and Stace (Grandma spent the day with Tanny). The weather was FANTASTIC. I brought the perfect amount of snacks for the kids (even though I only planned enough for my kids...it worked out great still). I stayed on top of the sunscreen so none of us got burnt. We even had enough time for the kids to enjoy the splash pad for a little mid-zoo break AND mom treated us all to some ice cream (well 4 cups that we all shared, but same difference).

We ended the visit saying goodbye to Stace and her boys, getting pics, and riding the Carousel (a huge favorite of kids). The kids got WIPED out and slept pretty good on the drive back. We got home just in time for dinner. Since they had a late nap I let the kiddos stay up while I did dishes and cleaned up a bit and let them get out any extra energy.

I decided to do bath night on Saturday since we were SO gross from being outside. Larry told me to call him once they were all down because he had gotten a hotel room (I assumed he got too tired). He ended up telling me he lost ALL the cash he brought with him and we have a strict no using cards for more money rule when gambling so he had nothing to do for the next day (the bus wasn't due to pick him up until 8 PM). He said he decided he's done going out there until he has someone to go with (kind of me, but I don't plan on going out there for a LOOONG time).

Today he said he spent as much time as he could in the hotel room (until checkout at 11), he loaded up on the free breakfast items, then just read the book he took out with him (that he was already almost halfway through), TWICE. He walked to the closest grocery store for snacks and the park across the street to get some fresh air, and that's about it. It sucks because he didn't bring a change of clothes, a phone charger, anything else to entertain him so that's all he did.

I feel bad his special day was such a bust! Luckily, he has a birthday coming up that we can, hopefully, make up for this weekend. He's still on the bus to come home and I can't wait to see him and relax in our comfy bed (he said he didn't sleep the best in the hotel since he didn't get to have a fan directly on him). Last year wasn't the greatest either (with a new baby and my anxiety and all) so maybe next year will be his year haha. Luckily, I do have a few goodies for him to "open" (I may have forgotten to wrap them, but they are in a box for him to open at least) and some cute little "Father's Day" worksheets the kids did for him to laugh at when he gets home (though I may wait till tomorrow to give them to him since he gets home so late tonight).

So Happy Father's Day to our special guy who works so hard each day, is able to balance school/work/and 4 kids with a (sometimes) crazy wife haha. Happy Day to the guy who makes us laugh with tickles and jokes. To the guy who makes us Mac N Cheese every Wednesday. To the guy who goes along with all my crazy plans and activities out of the house, even when it feels too hot or we're both exhausted. To the guy who is always willing to let me take a nap during the days and encourages me to find ways to relax more. To the guy who is the greatest ever!! We love you so much!

Lucy is 3!

Our little Lucy Lou is finally 3 years old. I cannot believe my precious littlest girlie is now a year older.

To celebrate we went to Corey Wride Park. We had gone a couple weeks ago and we all had so much fun we figured we'd do a party there. The pavilions are never that busy, so I didn't bother reserving anything, I figured we'd be good enough. We picked out and ordered her cake way early so that was nice. I got her presents early enough and did some "birthday table supplies" on fun field trips to the dollar store with Cara and Gwen. 

In the morning I had a pedicure appointment so I picked up the cake as well as some food from Wal Mart on my way home. When I got back and nap time finally ended I had her wiggle car gift waiting at the bottom of the stairs. After playing for a few minutes, we rushed the kids into the car to head to the playground. I noticed on my way to the park there were TONS of parties in backyards on the side of the road. I was nervous when we got to the park and I saw quite a few people under the pavilion. I checked online and it turns out you have to reserve it and it had been completely booked for the day. I did notice a note saying there was a separate pavilion by the splash pad that doesn't require reservations and luckily, that had an open table so we swiped that for our guests. 

The kids had SO much fun in the splash pad, it was hard to tear them away for food, cake, and presents haha. But we got through those as quickly as we could so they could rush back to playing and splashing. 

I was really happy that the food turned out good (I didn't get anything with a plan, I just grabbed what looked good as I was walking around), the cake was SO yummy, and she got some good presents. The kids had so much fun (we ended up staying at the park for 3 hours and they still didn't want to leave haha).

We came home in time to get everyone ready for bed and they passed out.

Today, I got up early and put her table together, got her last presents put into gift bags, and put up the streamer "gate" to run through haha. She absolutely loved her table surprises and the gifts she got (a new battery for the play car in the garage, some bubble wands, a new book, and a helmet and some pads for riding bikes and her new wiggle car. I also let her stay up a little bit for nap time to come outside and play with us with popsicles (the Creamies kind). Then, we let her pick out where we went for dinner (she selected Arctic Circle because of the play place), we got 4 small shakes to share and some yummy food (much better than the McDonald's we got this last week). The girls played their little hearts out and then we headed home for bed time.

It's been such a good day to celebrate our last little girl.

Look at her sweet smile

To my Lulu,

Thank you for being such a silly girl and never being afraid to show your emotions haha. You are such a smarty pants and have figured out "why you don't do [x,y,z]" so quickly. You love to be a little mama and get after your siblings, even Pierce, when they do things you know they shouldn't do. 

You have gotten so smart in the last year and went from babbling big baby to a smarty pants that knows so many new words, knows how to hop and spin (without falling down), and how to keep up with your big sisters (which isn't always easy). You've transitioned into a big girl bed, sharing a room with your sisters and you've done SO well with that.

You love to sing car songs all the time and it's the sweetest thing ever (you usually do the baby bumble bee or baa baa black sheep songs). You love to dress up and be so girlie with your sisters, but you mostly love to cuddle up in my lap all the time. I love how sweet and snuggly you are. Even if I groan a bit because I'm trying to get some work done, I still absolutely love how much of a koala baby you are haha.