Preschool Graduation

Rachel's Preschool teacher decided to do a graduation for the kids in her preschool class.  Rachel isn't really graduating but everyone got to go to the party and show the family some things they have learned.

 Preschool classmates from left to right:

Kale, Laney, Jonathon, Rachel, Maleah, Julianna

and a picture with Ms. Hannah

Ms. Hannah made everyone a book with their homework that they did for the year.

Rachel's Achievement of Completion for the 1st year of Preschool

A close up of her certificate

Here is a cute video of her class singing a frog song.  So cute.
http://youtu.be/xUJBR9s87Fw

Here is the alphabet song
http://youtu.be/6HRFaKVFpG8

Another Anniversary in the Books

Yep Scott and I have now been married for nine years.  It's been a quick nine years and I can hardly believe it.  Since he had to study for his boards we really didn't do anything special for our Anniversary.  I got us a baby sitter so we could go out to dinner and then run errands.  Exciting huh!  Well we ended up eating at Costa Vida since we hadn't been there forever.  After that we went to Lowe's and found a net to put over our strawberries and stakes to help hold the net up.  We then went in search of a printer.  Our printer died and we tried all the troubleshooting ideas until it said we needed to buy new print heads.  At that point the print head is 60 bucks and we can practically buy a new one for that amount.  So we went to Wal-mart, Staples, Best Buy and then back to Staples to actually get the printer.  We had to be home by 8:00 so that our baby sitter could go babysit for someone else.  So that was the extent of our celebrating.  Happy 9 Year Anniversary Babe!

Day after Camping

Of course we were all tired after getting home so late and so Rachel ended up sleeping in until almost 9:00.  I was so happy because I needed the rest so badly.  We came down and eat breakfast and she then asked if she could have her table and chairs.  I said sure.  She told me she wanted to have a tea party and so what do we do, we had a tea party instead of getting dressed and ready for the day.  PJ's and all.

 Elmo, Bunny, and Rachel

She decided on what we were all going to eat and was so happy about it.  It was fun

Memorial Weekend Camp Trip

Scott's family has started a new tradition of going to Uncle Melvin's ranch and camping for the weekend.  Last year they had tried to go camping up in the mountains but it was so muddy Scott's dad's truck got stuck up to the axles and it took a day to get them unstuck.  So they have decided to just make this a tradition of camping at Melvin's on this weekend.  We originally weren't going to go but since Angie decided to get married on the 25th we thought since we are only an hour and a half away we should go up for the night and then we would head back so that Scott had a couple good days to study for his boards.  He did study most of the time in the car on the way there and back while I drove.  We got up to the ranch around 4:00.  As soon as we got there they celebrated Colby's 8th birthday.  Here are the pictures of the party.

 All his presents

 Some kind of angry bird gun with balls.  We bought him a cars t-shirt.

 Angry Bird cupcakes.  They were really good.

 Just hanging out laughing and talking while the kids were all off playing and having fun with each other.

 Rachel's kind of age wise by herself.  She is a little to big for Aubree and Karlee but not really old enough to hang out with Lexi and Bryson so much.  So she just goes back and forth between them and then also just hangs out with the adults and makes us all laugh.  She was on one this weekend and had most of us laughing the whole time.

Of course one of the best parts of camping is the great food.  Yummy fried chicken and dutch oven potatoes.

 Aunt Amber bought all the kids these spray bottles.  Rachel was so happy.  She actually had asked me if I had brought hers as we were on our way there and I was trying to figure out exactly what she wanted.  Nope I hadn't but Amber had.  This was our saving grace.  She played with this the whole time we were there.  She hardly put it down.  

We asked her where she wanted to sleep that night and she said she wanted to sleep in grandma's camper.  Unfortunately for them they got to witness Rachel's night terrors and Scott's asthma acting up.  I had taken Nyquil because I wasn't feeling so well and told Scott he was on kid duty.  Well it wasn't going well and I was awake anyways and so I ended up over in Rachel's bed and every time she woke up screaming I was right there to rub her back and get her back to sleep.  It was another restless night that was for sure.

The next morning after breakfast we went to see the baby birds that Uncle Melvin had in this barn.

 Everyone heading up to see the baby birds. Rachel of course is getting Hunter to go with her.  She loves this dog even though he is old and grumpy.  Anytime she can have with a real dog she is happy happy happy.

 The baby bird.  Melvin just picked it up and I was worried but he told the kids it was okay.  Yesterday it didn't have any feathers and today he actually had feathers growing on him.

 Can you see the excitement in her face?

 They all got to touch the bird.  She thought that was awesome.

 This was her other past time.  When she wasn't spraying something or someone she was picking the flowers.  There were all kinds of flowers.  We took her on a 4 wheeler ride and she picked up different ones that we found on the mountain side.  She loved it and we had to get her water to put them in so she could keep them.  We brought home a bag full of flowers that got to sit on our counter for a few days before we finally said okay they are dead and they have to be thrown out.

 

 Another of the great reasons to camp at Uncle Melvin's ranch is the kids can wonder where ever and we didn't have to worry about them.  They could go where ever but they would never be in danger.  She loved walking up to Uncle Melvin's porch and sitting on the following bench.

 I love the look on her face.

She and Aubree were spotted there several times during our stay.  They were so cute together spraying the bench and all the flowers around there.

Little buddies walking back down to camp.

We had to sneak up on Aubree and Rachel to get the pictures of them on the bench.  This is of Scott's dad sneaking up and getting the pictures.  We left after dinner on Sunday night and headed home.  Scott did homework until it was to dark to study.  We ended up getting in around 11:00.  I was glad we went but I was so happy to be home in my own bed.

Angie's Wedding

This weekend brought us to Pocatello for Angie's wedding.  Those of us who could make it were there to support her in this happy occasion in her life.  She needs some happiness to make up for the year of crap that Derek has put her through.  I was happy we could be there to show our support.

 Rachel really wanted to go jump on that trampoline so bad.  It was all we could do to keep her off it. This was the compromise is that she didn't have to sit in a chair during the ceremony she could be on the grass.  I think she picked grass through the whole thing.

 Hanging out waiting.

 Tristanne was so scared.  We all felt for her because she is so shy.

Madilanne & her new half sister.  Aren't they the cutest in these matching outfits.  They actually look like they could be sisters they look so much alike.

 Kevin & Angie

 Breanne was the one to carry the train down the isle for her mom but I didn't get a good picture so this was the best picture I got of her.  All the girls hair was so cute.

After the ceremony we ended up leaving though because we were heading to Montpelier to spend time with Scott's family while they were doing their Memorial Weekend Camp trip at Uncle Melvin's house.  So we gave them our well wishes and left.

Scott's Graduation

So I was beginning to think this day was never going to come.  It was a hard journey but we made it.  I'm so proud of my husband and the hard work that he puts into providing for our family.  Today he graduated from Nurse Practitioner School from Idaho State University Meridian.  Here is her announcement that we sent out to family and friends.

Scott's parents, his Grani, and my parents were all able to come for the weekend and see Scott graduate.  It was fun to have them all here and celebrating with us.  The graduation was at the Boise Centre.  Scott had to be there early and so he and our dads went down to save us seats.

Pictures they got of him before he was hooded and got his diploma.

 I drove the females down about an hour later.  We figured Rachel wouldn't last much longer than that so we wanted to not make her sit there any longer than she had too.  

The crew to support Scott.

 

This is how we kept Rachel happy for most of it.  She was happy to see her dad graduate and then she was ready to go.  I had to tell her we couldn't leave until Dad got up to leave.  The ceremony last an hour and a half which is the longest it's ever been.  One side note to this is it was exciting for me to see all the Pharmacy students that started here at ISU Meridian graduate.  This is the 1st four year class to graduate.  One of my favorite students Elizabeth Thompson even won the Outstanding Student Award.

We were having technical difficulties with Scott's Dad's camera so I ended up filming with my camera and we didn't get very man still shots.  Here is the video of Scott walking in to his seat.

After the Ceremony we took a few pictures together. 

Family Picture.  I love that Rachel has her hand up like, "Yeah he's done."

 Scott's side of the family.  

I just wished someone would have told me my shirt looks dumb.

My side of the family.

 

 What the happy Graduate looks like after he is hooded. 

Hoods are so funny looking but it's his so who knows what we do with it now.  Afterwards we were going to go to Fudruckers for dinner but because we were so late getting to Graduation I had to park in the 5th level of the parking garage.  Well after sitting in line for 1/2 an hour and I had only moved 4 parking spots I suggested we head down and eat at 5 guys burgers.  So that's what was for dinner.  Not the nicest graduation meal but it will do.

Scott Walking the Stage

Here is the actual ceremony of Scott getting his diploma

http://youtu.be/yFqB__sxllg

Mother's Day

This year we were able to have my mom, Scott's Mom and his Grandma at our house for Mother's Day.  It was a great day.  We had church at 8:30 so we had to get up and get going.  Scott bought corsages for all of us women.  They turned out gorgeous.  I didn't get any pictures of any of the corsage but they all worked out great in matching everyone's outfits. Rachel got to go up and sing for Mother's Day.  This was her 1st time and she did an awesome job doing it.  I was such a proud momma.  For church our Mother's Day gift was a CD by of Mother's Day Songs by Janice Kapp Perry.  I was so excited.  After sacrament we came back home and Scott and his Dad spoiled us all day long.  They made lunch that consisted of hamburgers, salads, and then made fudge for dessert.  Scott wanted to try and make cherry chocolate fudge.  It turned out good.  After that they then made the jello salad for dinner and made divinity.  Dinner was ham, Texas roadhouse rolls, jello pretzel salad and scalloped potatoes.  It was a great day.  Scott and Rachel got me the 3 pack ebooks from Josi Kilpack.  I was totally excited.  So it was awesome to share it with everyone.  One of the best Mother's Days that I have experienced.

Soccer Game #2

This week we ended up having grandparents and great grandparent there for Rachel's soccer game.  It was the same thing this week.  She didn't want to play once they started playing.  She wanted to just sit on the sideline and be cuddled.  We got her out there a few more times and were able to get some actual action pictures.  It's nice that Scott's dad has a good camera.  Be prepared for lots of pictures.

 Retying up the cleats.

 Practicing kicking the ball.  She uses her left foot the most.

 There goes the ball and her going after it.

 Standing in a circle kicking the ball to each other and learning each others names.

 Yeah I'm trying to get her to stay on the field.  She was done playing when it was actually time to play.

 Alright I will play with you.

 I also played Goalie with her.  Trying to teach her how to be a goalie.  We totally kept that ball out of the goal.

 She got to play goalie and in this picture and the next is an action photos of her kicking the ball.

 Picking up the ball as the goalie.

 Get that ball.  She played well in the goalie spot.

 Check out that stance.  She's got it down.  Take up as much space as possible.

 We were trying to get her to smile but she wasn't having it.

 Running to get the ball.

She's going to get that ball.

 I love this picture.  Look at her tongue hang out.  She likes to do this after seeing my dad do that.  It's so funny.

 Keeping the ball away from this big kid.

 Kicking the ball but this big kid is trying to take it away.

She kicked it away from him but she's trying to get to it before he does.

 Get it Rachel don't let him have it.  I'm pretty sure he stole it from her at this point but she did good getting that far and getting to kick it.  Almost made a goal.

Cuddling with Grandma.  This is where she preferred to be most of the game.  I think she started to like playing but she is little compared to some of those boys.  Hopefully by the end she will actually stay out on the field and play.  We will see.