Rhylan is six!!! 5-30-13

We started the morning opening birthday presents!!  She received some fun gifts, but her favorite was the Hello Kitty scooter (she picked out!)  She also opened lots of art stuff, a jump rope, sun dress, sparkly shoes, fancy belts, glitter nail polish, neon head bands, beginner piano books, and knee pads/elbow pads. It was strange to have a birthday without a bunch of toys--she is growing up!!)

Rhylan has grown us so much this last year.  She finished Kindergarten near the top of her class.  She is so smart and always obeyed all the rules.  She loves to make new friends, cares about others and is always trying to serve people around her.  She loves cats and horses, she wants to be a pop star, animal doctor, or dolphin trainer when she grows up.  Her favorite toys are Littlest Pet Shops and My Little Ponys.  She loves to sing and dance, help cook, do chores, play with stuffed animals, do art and make crafts all by her self.  She play with Gracin and Hazel so well.  She always shares her toys with them and makes sure they are happy.  Rhylan likes to surprise people with a clean toy room or making our bed or cleaning up a mess she sees without being told. She is one special girls and we LOVE HER!!!

 

We had a birthday party in the afternoon.  I swapped a friend in our ward, family pictures for this cake!  Isn't it perfect.  Rhylan stared at it at least 30 min waiting for her friends to arrive.  It even had cats on it, her favorite!!  For the food, we had puppy biscuits (chocolate animal crackers), Kitty food (gold fish), Bird berries (blue berries), and bunny bites (carrots and dip.) And cake of course!

 

 

First, each girl received a Secret Pet shop at the adoption center.  Then they were able to decorate their houses for their new Pet Shop animal.  Rhylan's loves art so this was a great activity for her party.  Next, they took their houses and new Pet Shops to the toy room and made a town and played for a while.  Rhylan just loves to be with her friends, I thought she would much rather just play than have a bunch of party games.  I was right!  While they played I painted their faces.  They were able to choose puppy or kitty face.  They were so cute!  Then presents and cake.  I think it was a success.  I was a bit nervous.  This was her first part that wasn't all the kids from our ward.  In fact none of these girls were in our ward they were all from her kinder class.  They were so happy to see each other- it had been a WHOLE WEEK since school was let out.

Daisy, Rhylan, Megan, Jannah

Make a wish!!

Smiles

I love these three smiles!!

A week in the mountains 6-5-13

It's been getting over 100* every day here. So I took the kids up to Pinetop for 5 days for our summer break.

We were able to hang out with cousins.  Desmond and Hazel.

 

Movie party

Our first night there we just enjoyed the weather.  My dad took the kids on lawnmower rides, they jumped on the tramp, rode the porch swing, and playing on the tire swing.

The next morning we went to the nursery to get some flowers.  The kids found a dog!  They all really like dogs.  (Too bad I don't)  They also were able to pet two large tortoises, chase a cat, and watch koi fish.  When Rhylan told Riley about our adventure on the phone, she said "we went to the botanical gardens!!"  I guess it was pretty great place.

Rhylan helped Grammy Sue plant all the flowers.  She was having such a good time.  Right in the middle of planting she exclaimed "I"M LOVING THIS!!"

We even tried the sprinkler a time or two.  Rhylan posing with Grammy's hat!

Book Club!

Our local Bookman's is having a really neat summer book club every week.  We have been every week and have tons of fun.  And its all free!  The first week "Cat In the Hat" was there to read stories, and sing silly songs.  He had all the kids laughing.  Rhylan and Gracin really enjoyed it.

The next week the local orchestra came and had an instrument petting zoo.  The kids were able to play every instrument.  Gracin like the violin the best.  He went back several times to play in again and again.  Rhylan liked the cello and the trombone!

A superhero in the house

Iron Man is always in our house...

But this superhero is new... Nacho or Iron Batman? not sure:)

Hazel found a muddy puddle

Enjoy the cuteness:)

Hazel found this tiny little puddle.

She threw rocks in it

She splashed in it

And eventually she sat in it.

Memorial day Weekend 5/27/13

I just think her outfit was so cute!! It was perfect for the holiday. She thought she was so big sitting up here all by herself banging away.

Riley knows I love to hike, camp, picnic, etc.  Anything outdoors and I'm game!  He found a cool hike for us in the mountains just south of town.  We had such a nice time as a family.  Rhylan kept stopping and staring at the views.  She kept saying "this is so beautiful!!"

Last day of Kinder!!!

We pick up this sweet girl on her last day of Kindergarten!!  She spend the day outside playing games and having so much fun!

He can put his shoes on!!

Yes they are on the wrong foot... ALWAYS, but he did it all by himself!  I couldn't break his heart by telling him they were wrong!  He was so proud of his new skill he has mastered.  Gracin isn't very independent.  He would be happy for my to dress, feed, pretty much do anything for him all the time.  He always says "I can't do it!!"  before he even tries.  He is a momma's boy and loves to be babied.  I was happy to see him using a little bit of independence this day.

Last day on the bus! 5/22/13

Everyday at about 10:30am Gracin, Hazel and I would make the short trip across the street and down the block.

To the corner where we would sit on the curb, under the shade of a tree, to wait for the school bus.  We usually had a snack, made letters with rocks, or crushed seed pods.

Rhylan loved riding the bus home from school.  She would be sad when I happened to pick her up from school myself. There were only about 5 kinders on the bus.  I think that is were she had most chance to talk to her friends. 

Here she is with one of her besties Julia.  They got off at the same stop every day:)