Over-nighter

Quinn has had a conference in Salt Lake, Wednesday-Saturday. Twice a year, at the same time as their graduation, they have a conference for all the mentors, etc. If they live more than 30 miles away from downtown then the school pays for a hotel stay (at the Radisson) for them. He came home Thursday Night because he had to teach class AND had a church softball game, but he stayed down there tonight cuz he had mtgs until late tonight and then has graduation early in the morning, so it wasn't worth coming home.

We met him down there on Wed. evening and the kids had a fun swim and REALLY thought it was cool to be able to sleep on the 14th floor of the hotel too. ANY adventure away from home always fun! They all, surprisingly, slept really well-Ash in his porta-crib in the bathroom, and each of the kids in a bed with quinn and I. The kids loved it even more when daddy SUPRISED THEM, with breakfast in bed (from the hotel). Since we were already downtown we spent a few hours at Hogle Zoo.

We weren't too far from home, but still had quite a two day adventure!

Worth Trying

I picked this up at Smith's last time I was there, and thought this looked good.

If you like curry, with a little spice, it IS DEFINITELY worth trying.

We really like it!!

Another Talk

I am posting this, not to bore anyone else with yet ANOTHER talk of Ame's (I swear it feels like we are doing this EVERY month, and she keeps volunteering, so I willingly, without complaint, continue to help her share her testimony), but to make a gma and gpa proud, AND of course her parents are ALWAYS super proud of their oh so smart girl!! Where does she get SOO much confidence, and that memory??

Grandma and Grandpa we instantly thought of you and

HAD to include you in her talk!

cuz we are soo proud of YOU!!

Happy ME Day

Well as the YOUNGER kids say it these days, MY day was pretty CHILL.

Birthdays just aren't what they use to be as a kid. All the HYPE isn't all there anymore.

But I still appreciated all the LOVE I felt this day!

I got to sleep in a bit and woke up to Kaipo banging dishes around in the kitchen

( I knew QUinn was on calls for work).

A few minutes later this is what I was presented with for my

Breakfast in Bed.

Thanks buddie, you're such a sweethheart!

(the PLATE was actually full when I got, this was after HE had eaten most of it)

Then Ame didn't want to be OUT-DONE by her brother,

so she brought me another addition to my Breakfast in Bed!

Thanks for the OVERFLOWING bowl of somewhat soggy cereal.

Ame LOVES doing the SUPRISE Breakfast in Bed, but the only time she is ever really

out of bed b4 me and actually helps with a REAL meal, is on Mother's Day.

But I LOVE all the thoughtfulness from my kids.

My neighbor also sent over some YUMMY zuccini bread, of which I ate at least half of B4 10am!

I also got a surprise phone call from my MOM and DAD, that just MADE MY DAY!

thanks you two, for remembering me (before you went to bed)!

Here was ONE of my birthday SURPRISES.

Ame and I tried it out a bit already. I love that this system is so interactive and my kids WANT to do it. I think I will REALLY like this, but I am still testing it out, and learning how to use it.

After trying out my gift and hangin' out with my family, I decided to take some ME time and go somewhere all by myself (which rarely happens). I just headed to mall to do some browsing, with a few things in mind. I came away with only a pair of earrings, but much more relaxed!

Later in the day I had one of the cute YW in my ward drop this card off.

Isn't it sooo cute... I just loved it!

Another friend brought me over a gift certificate to

Ben Franklin Craft (can't wait to use it).

Quinn had class in the evening and couldn't miss it cuz he cancelled class

last thursday-the night b4 the 4th

(if it were me I would have thought ahead ...saved the day off for something

MORE special, but whatever)

He did let class out early though, so we could all go out to eat.

He also said he tried to get a baby-sitter, but it didn't work out.

That was OK cuz I really didn't mind having my kids there to celebrate with me.

And what better place than OLIVE GARDEN, one of my all time favorites.

We just rarely go there, cuz it gets to be so expensive! Especially with 3 hungry kids in toe.

But it was soo delicous and soo worth it this time!

The girls on one side

Ash in the middle

Big boys on the other side

(for those who don't know, QUinn got braces a few months ago.
He's never really been one for a "teeth" smile.
I guess he is getting more comfortable, now that he's got straighter teeth)

And to top the night off, we had this delicious mousse cake!

I am looking forward to one more of my gifts.
QUinn's sister works at a Spa, as a Massage Therapist, down in Provo
and she is soo GOOD. I can't wait for the next we time we head down there...
I will be feeling OOHH soooo good!

Fun Center

We went with my good friend, Jodi (the one I did the 5K with) and her kids to

Classic Fun Center today. They have several different inflatable slides and bounce things,

a "Pirates Cove" filled with lots of climbing area, and all the typical arcade games.

And then of course roller-skating,

which my kids have never done at an actual roller-rink.
Here's Ame's skating pose

Kaipo didn't enjoy it so much, probably because he was wearing the kind meant

to be worn WITH shoes and he didn't have any on (he wore flip flops).

These ones were just borrowed from the fun center, and quickly returned.
They also allow kids to ride skooters, belive it or not.

So Kaipo rode his skooter instead, and continued to ride the WRONG way,

no matter how many time I showed him which way the RIGHT way to go.

Here's Ame with her buddie, Lindy

Watching this brought back memories of my YOUNGER years @ Roller Towne.
Anyone else remember that place?

We got there just in time for the lights to be turned down and the strobe lights to come on.

Nothing like IT

We hadn't made any homemade ice cream yet this summer,

so I decided we couldn't go any longer! We got out the OLD machine and she still

runs as good as ever. Just doesn't quite know when to stop, so I finally just unplugged her.

(One of these day I guess I need to break down and just buy a new one)

This was our family home evening treat.

There's Nothing Better !

It's always a little soupy at first, but a little freezer time takes care of that.

(We made mint oreo and it was oh so good)

OUR 4th of July

I started out the morning with a 5K Run, with some friends. Here are a few (right-Jodi, my good friend and YW president in my ward; left-Jamie, my cute friend and neighbor...she's a BIG time runner, so this was a breeze for her; and then her sister-in-law came too).

Last year I walked the 5K and felt much better about running it this year.

I couldn't believe how many people from our small city of Riverdale ran it.

I would guess somewhere around 200.

I thought it was actually a FUN way to start my day of celebration!

After the run was our BIG city parade (it lasted just about the perfect amount of time-40 minutes or so). The kids LOVE getting lots of candy and seeing a few familiar faces pass by.

We headed down to Utah county later in the day and spent the evening with Quinn's family.
Ame and cousin, Ella


Momma and her boy

Ash loved grandma's old small trampoline

And once we started lighting fireworks...the mischief began
(can you just see it in his face)

He kept trying to get to the firecrackers, from EVERY angle

all the kids took turns CHOOSING which one they wanted Uncle Kaleo to light next

Once in while Kaipo took a front row SEAT to check things out

We had tried to (last minute) get stadium of fire tickets, but had no luck.

The BIG draw this year was Miley Cyrus. Ame was VERY bummed she didn't get to go!

But we still had a FULL day of FUN, with friends and family.

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I tried to take a few minutes and explain the importance of this day with my kids,

why we celebrate and what FREEDOM really means. It is a huge concept for kids to understand, and appreciate.

I did a little googling and researching, myself, to spend a little time contemplating this

momentous day and its oh so important meaning.

Here are few thoughts that touched me:

The story of the birth of the United States is thrilling and inspiring,

full of heroes and their words and deeds.

With these memorable words, Thomas Jefferson, at the age of 33, laid the cornerstone of

the United States of America.

We hold these truths to be self-evident,that all men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,

that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

John Adams said this in a letter to Abigail Adam:

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore.

AND SO WE DID!

To all those We love ... Hope you had a Happy 4th of July
(we missed you Grandma and Grandpa Asplund-WE LOVE YOU)

MORE swimming

On Tuesday, we packed a lunch and met my sister Karli to enjoy some fun in the sun time together! The aquatic center by my moms house, in North Ogden, really is KID friendly. The only thing it isn't really is MOM friendly. Maybe just not so much when you have 3 kids all interested in a different spot of the swim area. I told Quinn after returning home... it was fun, but I don't know if I will try that WITH all 3 kids again, without an extra hand (or two)! I realized this was the 1st time I had taken all three adventurous kids swimming this year.

I have taken Ame and Kaipo, but not WITH Ash too.

Ash LOVED the water and did NOT want to sit still to play too long with cousin Kaiya.

She was such a good little girl. Just sat there with Karli and splashed in the water.

My experience was somewhat different...

Following Ash's EVERY exploring move, while trying to keep a watchful eye on Kaipo-who kept going deeper and deeper into the other side of the play area. Ame TRIES to keep Kaipo in close range to her, but that just turns into a pulling and pushing experience between them.

The pool doesn't allow arm floaties, so I felt somewhat less stressed about Kaipo when

I found the FREE life-jackets to borrow.

Ame was disappointed to find out that she wasn't quite 48 inches,

which meant she wasn't quite tall enough to go on the BIG twisty slide.

But everyone found lots to explore and do.

And most importantly...we ALL kept cool (and NO sunburns)!

This was the biggest HIT for Ash

All in all, it was a VERY enjoyable day (just NOT relaxing)!

more swimming

Thank goodness for generous friends, with all the heat we have been having, who have invited us over for a swim! In addition to swimming with Katie and her kids on MOnday, we (along with another family) were invited to our Previous Bishop's house, for a fun family home evening activity of swimming and treats. We had such a great time...we just missed daddy, who was teaching.

The kids loved going down the slide

swimming with friends

and jumping off the diving board

The kids loved it when mommy even took a dive off the board and

recued their goggles from the bottom of the pool.

Didn't get it on camera (a little hard to when you are doing the dunking and the picture taking), but Ash loves to take a plunge UNDER the water too.

I kept dunking him under the water. He couldn't get enough and was having a blast!

We were so grateful for the great time we had swimming TWICE in one day!!

Robinson Friends

We have been so lucky to get together with our great friends the Robinsons, twice in the last week. Unfortunately BOTH times I forgot to take pics. How could I do that with all the fun we were having. They came up to our house for dinner last week and then we went down to their place to go swimming this week. It is perfect for our kids to get together, they are almost exact ages and have such a great time together.

Ame and Savannah are inseperable the second they get together and are such cute friends! Kaipo and Cooper are SOO much alike, maybe a little too much!

They both get a "taste of their own medicine", while playing together.

Luckily we didn't have too much fighting, mostly playing.

And Julie and her cutie pie daughter, Ava, joined in the fun.

Ava just fits right in with both the older girls AND the boys (who are close in age, with her).

Such fun times we have had with our great friends. We hope to be able to see them a little more often, since we have such a good time together with them.

Quinn and Ryan "conveniently" fit in a round of golf too,

while Katie, Julie and I got to chat AND juggle ALL the kids.

Nothing better than sharing good food, with great friends!

(since I didn't get any pics, I borrowed a few from Katie's blog...thank you)

Outside

This is a little past due (sorry Ash-mommy kind of forgot to get it on video until today), but Ash is FINALLY walking. He has gradually taken more and more steps. But just this past week he has started doing it ALL THE TIME. I forgot how quickly they just become a pro at it! This milestone, sad for me to say, really makes him feel NOT so much like my baby boy anymore.

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For some reason, this utility box, between the neighbors house

and ours is a favorite playing spot for Ame and Kaipo.

They must think it is like a little stage for them to perform on.

And they both LOVE to be the shining star!

Here they are flexing their very large muscles.

Ame is just BEING Ame


Kaipo is leading and singing VERY loud & proud
"I am a Child of God"

And once again...our boy doing some cruisin'

Swim Lessons Wrap-up

The kids got to PLAY on the slides the last day of class. The indoor slide is a BIG twisty one and Ame was too scared to go on her own, as were most of the other kids, so she went down with her Substitute Teacher (we were sad her REAL teacher was sick on the last day). Afterwards she said she could have EASILY done it on her own, but she couldn't go again cuz they blew the whistle to get out. Maybe next time BIG girl!

Ame has made some great improvements this time. She is proud of herself

for what she has learned, and so is mom and dad! Way to go little mermaid!!

Kaipo LOVES being in the water!

I was very impressed at how well his teacher did with Kaipo and she
was VERY patient with him. He did GREAT for his first independent lessons.
He really LOVES to put his face in the water too!

As you can see from the video, OUR biggest challenge was getting Kaipo to STAY on the step when it wasn't HIS turn. Mom got a little TOO frustrated sometimes, watching all the other kids sitting so properly on the step and having to somewhat calmly ask Kaipo repeatedly, "Stay on the step and wait your turn". Sitting still is just NOT possible for this little guy! We are glad you enjoy the water soo much, and hope you always will be our little fishy. I am really proud of your accomplishments with swimming Buddie. Way to go!

this years 1st!

The kids and I took an early morning trip to Walmart, to try and beat the crowds (and b4 Ash needed a morning nap). As we entered, the first thing the kids saw was CORN ON THE COB. They have been asking SOO much lately for it, and I have had to keep telling them, "we should be able to get some soon". Little did we know, their wishes would be coming true this very morning! So tonight for dinner we had our first Corn of the Year! And it did not disappoint!!

In addition we had shells and octupi (thanks Debbie for the great idea).

This is actually our 2nd time having it. It was good Ame suggested it, cuz I didn't know

what we were going to have with our corn. At about 4:30, after doing everything from cleaning windows, to weeding, to changing out dressers w/summer clothes (it finally felt safe to do it),

I didn't have a whole lot of other ideas. And on the nights when Quinn teaches class,

which right now is 3 nights a week, I don't feel much like fixing any kind of grande meal.

The kids were excited and everyone was happily filled!

Don't they look like they are loving their cobs!

We look forward to MANY more nights of enjoying this yummy addition to our meals.

A Day of fun...and more fun!

Ame's friend, Mandi, from her primary class, had a LUAU Birthday party today.

They had A LOT of fun: playing water games, eating hawaiian food & breaking the pinata.

They had a "house-full". There was like 15 kids there.

Her mom was brave! (she did seem to have several extra helpers though)

Ame was really cute when Kaipo and I came at the end, to check things out and pick her up.

She took Kaipo by the hand and showed him everything they had done, and helped include him.

Here's some of the kids waiting in the shade after they had their turn at the pinata.

So after the birthday party, we were taking one of Ame's neighborhood friends home.
Her mom had blown up their BIG water slide in the back yard and invited us to stay and play.
Well how could I tell the kids NO at that point. So I went home and got swim suits and towels, and we spent the afternoon having MORE fun.

Ash was SOO determined to get up this wall,

so Kaipo was showing him how to do it,

with a little help, he made it to the top and enjoyed a ride down the slide!