Ashlyn's 1st soccer team-Dollphins

These are some pictures from Ashlyn's first season of soccer. Her teams name is the Doll-phins. It was so much fun, especially according to her because her team always win. She said, "it would not be fun to be on that bee team because they lost!" It was fun to watch and I had to do everything to keep myself from running onto the field and and telling her exactly what to do. I think I am going to be one of those parents that the coaches and referees hate! LOL!

Ryker's first day of Preschool

Yesterday was Ryker's first day of preschool. He goes to school M, T, W from 1:20 to 3:40. I officially have 1 1/2 hours all to myself during the day! Ryker loved preschool, he goes to the same teacher that Ashlyn had last year and we of course think she is the best. I was a little worried about him because he has never really been away from us and on his own before(not even in nursery because I have been the nursery leader ever since he was old enough to go in). Well he did great, I got him out of the car, he walked right up and said, "bye mom". When we picked him up he said, "I had fun". He is so cute. We love him so much.

Goooooooooaaaaaaaalllllll!!!

For those of you who don't know Pete and I very well, we love the game of soccer. Ashlyn had her first practice yesterday-I don't know who is more excited the parents or Ashlyn! She must be pretty excited though because Monday we went and bought her cleats and shinguards and she HAD to wear them all night (literally) you can see she fell asleep in them. Same thing Tuesday night, she came home from school put the cleats on, took them off to ride her bike and take a bath and then back into the cleats and once again fell asleep in them. We are so excited and can't wait to watch her play her first game.

Happy 3rd Birthday to Ryker

Yesterday was Ryker's 3rd birthday. Wow, what a big boy. We had a great day with him yesterday. To celebrate his birthday we went to Dave & Busters. The food there is great and the arcade is endless amounts of fun for the kids. After dinner we headed back for his Harley cake and some ice cream and opened presents. His fav. presnt was the garbage truck he got. He had to sleep with it last night! He was so happy, we love him so much and are so greatful to have him as our son.

Ash first day of Kindergarten, No more training wheels, and Ryker potty training.

We have had a couple of firsts and a potty training miracle!

Ash Started her first day of Kindergarten today. She was so happy and eager to go, we are so proud of her. She goes to school at Pathfinder Academy(charter school) M-Th from 7:50-3:00. She had a great first day but was exhausted and fell asleep at 6:00 pm and slept the whole night through.

Yesterday on the way to church Ashlyn said, "I want to take the training wheels off my bike." We were like okay, she is 4 1/2 she could probably learn. So after church we get home, Ashlyn brings her bike inside the house so dad can take the wheels off and then out we go to give it a try. Well needless to say we didn't even have to teach her how to ride it-she did it on her first try and didn't want to stop. She is very strong willed and can do anything she puts her little head to.

And last but DEFINATELY not least Ryker is finally potty trained. He hasn't had an accident for a week now and I am shouting for joy! I was feeling kinda down since Ash was potty trained by the age of 2, and here Ryker is almost 3 and still wasn't doing it. But last week he decided to be my big boy and has gone on the potty all week. I guess I can feel somewhat accomplished-at least he isn't 3 quite yet!

I don't know what the heck I am doing!!!!!!!

So in May my sister in law Tia called up and said, "we are going to run a marathon". I said, "okay," not really thinking much of it. We started training on May 27th, we have a weekly schedule of runs we do. The first few weeks weren't so bad, a 3 miler on Monday, 4 on Wed., 3 on Thurs., and 5 on Sat. So I was feeling pretty good thinking, "oh this is easy". NOT TRUE! I am now 9 weeks and 176 mi. into training, I have to run 12 miles for no particular reason tomorrow and I am starting to wonder what the heck I am doing! The run schedule for next week is 4 on Monday, 6 on Wed., 4 on Thurs., and 14 on Sat. My body is starting to fall apart-my knees feel like they are going to fall off, I already have toenails that have fallen off, and I have like 6 blisters on my feet right now despite buying new running shoes from a custom running store. I thought my accomplishment of running a half marathon (13.1 mi.) back in February was huge but now I am running half marathons every sat. just to train. Oh and by the way, did I mention-I haven't lost a freakin' pound since I have started all the running. Well, I have 9 weeks left and just needed to complain to someone-sorry it had to be you! If you have any words of encouragement I could sure use them right now.

2nd week in Utah

First of all I need to put a picture of Aunt Nikki Dee on here. My kids love her to death. Ash cried on and off all the way home that she just really misses her (she still cries that she misses her)! Nikki was great every morning the kids would go jump on her before she would go to work(half the time she was late to work because of them). Then they couldn't wait for the minute she walked in the door after work. Nikki would play any game they wanted, watch any movie they wanted, and read any book that they wanted-every spare minute of her time was spent with the kids. They really love and miss her.

Our 2nd week started off with a phone call from Peter on Sunday telling us that he got called to be the YM President, congrats to him!

Monday my sister Katie watched all the kids so that my mom and I could go hit a round of Golf. We didn't golf very good but boy did we have a good time, following golf we got to go have lunch-just the two of us.

Tuesday not much happened. Ryker got to go have a special day out with Grandma while Ash and I spent hours at the dentist getting our cavities filled.

Wednesday we went for a family swim in my parents neighbors pool-we had a great time. That night we picked Peter up from the airport and met up with our good friends David and Tiffany Rognon. We went out to dinner at Iggy's(we use to eat there almost weekly with them), saw their new baby girl Hadley, and hung out at their house for a while.

Hard to see but pic. of Ash holding Hadley

Thursday we rode the new Frontrunner commuter rail from Layton down to Salt Lake, we got off went to the Clarke planetarium, and then over to the Gateway for lunch and a little shopping. A little later in the day we had family pictures taken.

Pictures from the Frontrunner


Ashlyn and Taylee

At the Clarke Planetarium

Ashlyn on Mars

Ryker on the moon


I won't bore you with family pictures but here is one of my whole family. From left to right . My brother Cale and his wife Natalie, daughter Taylee, son Dylan and my mom his holding his other son Hunter. My sister Nikki is next to Cale. Then there is me and my family. And last but not least my sister Katie and her husband Barry and son Jackson. Of course those are my parents in the middle.

Friday 4th of July. Me, my mom, and my 2 sisters participated in the Layton City 5K that morning. Went to my parents ward breakfast, then over to a carnival in Kaysville. That night of course we had to go to good ol' Layton High fireworks-cuz that is what we do every year.

We all look really hot at 6:30 in the morning!

Pictures from the carnival



*We had a proud parent moment at the carnival. This is Ashlyn climbing up about a 20 ft. rock wall. As you can see in the first picture she is just about to the top of the tree(the tree is to the left), the 2nd picture she is above the top of the tree, the 3rd picture she is about to the bell on the top(she ran the bell), then the 4th picture is of her descending. The lady helper (who was running the rock wall) was so excited when she made it to the top, she said there are a lot of 10 yr. olds that don't make it up there.

In between the carnival and fireworks we hung out at my moms, ate dinner with Barry and Katie and the kids played.

At the fireworks

Saturday we were able to hang out with Todd and Ashley again. We found some babysitters and went and watched Hancock. We later went down to their house for a BBQ and the kids had tons of fun on all of Rileys motorized vehicles.

Top pic. is Ryker riding the 4 wheeler and bottom pic. is Ashlyn

Sunday we left to come home-a long 13 hour drive. We had a blast while we were there. Thank you everyone who made the time to be with us and who made the effort to make us have such a great trip.