Major update, Kayda's dance class, my birthday, Paytons cheer, Payton's soccer

I am way behind on my blog like normal so I am going to try and do a quick catch up. We are still busy like always, but I love our busy life and couldn't be happier. Kayda started a dance class a few weeks ago and she loves it, she is one of the only little girls that is actually looking at the teacher and trying to do what she tells them too, instead of just running around the room in fun ballet skirts. She is taking tinker bell ballet and I think she will want me to sign her up for another class when this one is over. With her short muscular body I am wondering if she should try gymnastics next.

Kayda at dance class

I turned 30 a few weeks ago, and I had a great day. I ran with friends in morning and then meet friends for lunch at Joe's farm grill. Kayda was my little buddy all day and was really good after lunch we went and got snow cones at Payton's school and then we went to Payton's first soccer practice. That night Vanessa was really nice and watched our kids for us. Reddin and I got dinner to go from liberty market and ate outside at a park and then went and got custard. Reddin surprised me with sprinkle cupcakes that morning, which I enjoyed all weekend long.

Payton went to a cheer clinic at the high school and go to cheer at a Friday night football game, she was so cute and said she really like it.


Payton also had her first soccer game last weekend. She was so cute in her soccer uniform and had fun running around. They plan 4 on 4 and they don't keep score so that is perfect for 5 year olds. I don't know much about soccer, but it looks like fun. She is number 3.



This last weekend I also competed in a Triathlon. I did the sprint distance so it was a 750m swim, 12 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run. I finished in just under 1.5 hours. I had a good time. The swim was a little harder then I expected, because it is harder to swim in a lake with people running into you, but it all turned out ok, and I am pretty happy with my times.

Barb and I after the tri we had almost the same finishing time

The girls and I after the tri, they liked the snacks I go after the race

labor day camping

We went camping with a group of friends over labor day weekend and we had a great time. We where there for three nights which is the longest I have ever camped in a tent, but I really didn't mind. My girls had so much fun and did great when it came time to go to sleep at night. There where some ravens that liked to make noise in the morning around 5:45 am, but for the most part the girls slept until 6:30 or 7 every morning. On Saturday I ran 20 miles with Lindy and Cynthia and I had a lot of fun. It was a hard run, but it was nice to be outside in cooler weather and get to see the beautiful scenery and even some elk. We spent afternoons at the lake and the kids got to canoe and we spent a lot of time just talking with friends and enjoying really good food. We all had a great time and I am glad we went and that we had friends to hang out with. I didn't love the traffic getting there or getting home, but I still think it was worth it.

Happy Birthday Kayda!

Today is Kayda's birthday and I cannot believe my baby is 3. I remember driving to the hospital at 5:00 am on Friday morning and how excited I was to get to finally see/hold her. We love her so much and are so glad she is a part of our family. She makes us all laugh everyday and brings a sweet fun lovely spirit into our family. She loves her big sister and wants to do everything she does. She seems older to me then she really is, and I think that is because she is always trying to keep up with Payton. Today Kayda is having a few little friends over for a princess party. Reddin and I stayed up last night setting everything up and I think it looks pretty cute. I hope they like it.

(the set up for the princess party today)

We also already had a family birthday party for Kayda on Saturday. She had a good time eating cake and ice cream and loved playing with her cousins on the slip-n-slide. She got some really cute things, she has loved being spoiled the past few days.

Happy Birthday Kayda we love you and hope you have a great day.

Payton's First Day of School

Payton started Kindergarten today and she did great. We were a little later then I wanted to be, because Kayda was crying and sad. She said she was going to miss Payton and I think she felt left out when we took pictures of Payton and not her. Anyway I left Kayda with my mom and Payton and I drove to school and I parked. When I went to open the door for Payton I could tell she was sad. She told me she was feeling a little nervous. I told her it was okay and talked to her the whole way to her class. I told her that it was just like preschool, but with lunch and recess and that she was going to have so much fun and make new friends. She never started crying she put on a brave face gave me a hug and walked right into her class. I was so proud of her. I was doing okay until I walked around the corner and saw some of my friends crying. I only cried for a little bit, and the whole day seemed weird without her. I missed Payton too and couldn't’t wait to go get her. When I picked her up she said it was good. She said she found her friends (Valerie and Owen) at recess and played with them and that she talked to a girl at lunch. I think she will make new friends soon. Her teacher is Mrs. Shafer and I have heard she is a great teacher. I am excited to see Payton learn and grow this year. We are all so proud of her.

Payton coming out of her class at the end of the day.

She lost another one.

There is entirely too much growing up going on in this house. Yesterday Payton lost another tooth. Reddin helped this one come out also, but it came out really easy it was ready and there is already another tooth coming in behind it. I know I have already mentioned it, but I really am sad that Payton is growing up and going to be going to Kindergarten. I am going to miss having her with me all day and I know Kayda is going to miss her also. We have been school shopping this week and I have been surprised at what Payton has picked out for clothes. I guess I have always picked her clothes for her in the past. I feel like she normally has a cute t-shirt with a skirt or shorts on and I think she looks great. I have let her pick out a few outfits and she has wanted fancy clothes. The jean shorts with butterflies on them, and shirts with bling on them. I like what she has picked. We still need to shop for a lunch box and maybe a water bottle, but we are getting close only a few more weeks.

Kayda is also growing up way to fast also, she has turned into a good little swimmer this summer, she is sleeping great in a big girl bed, and loves playing with her sisters friends. She loves to watch movies, but sometime she will fall asleep if we start a movie in the afternoon so I try to avoid that. She still sucks her thumb and I really haven't tried to stop her I guess I should start encouraging her to stop since she will be 3 in a few weeks. Kayda keeps telling me she is going to miss Payton and that she wants to go with her to school.

(This is kayda right after she woke up yesterday after a nap, I think she was sad we were giving payton so much attention for loosing a tooth)

Patyon Lost her First Tooth

Payton just lost her first tooth, or maybe I should say Reddin pulled out her first tooth. I am sad for me, but happy for her. I am sad because my little girl is growing up and I am not ready for her to have big teeth and to be a kindergartner. She is growing up so fast it seems like just yesterday she was a baby. I am happy for Payton, because she was so excited to have a loose tooth like her older cousins and she is excited for the tooth fairy to come tonight. Congrats Payton you are growing up so fast. The scratch on Payton's face is thanks to Kayda we are working hard to teach Kayda not to scratch, but poor Payton always seems to have some mark from her little sister. I hope that Kayda grows out of this stage fast.

Before Reddin pulled out her tooth, we could tell another tooth was coming in behind the loose tooth so it needed to come out ASAP.
This picture was taken a few days ago, my girls go to the gym usually at least 4 days a week and they usually aways come home with their faces painted. Some times they come with their nails painted also, and they always have 2 or 3 pictures that they have colored for me. I love my girls and I am so happy we are having a fun summer playing at the gym, watching movies, swimming, and playing with friends.

4th of July and More

I don't really know what we have been up to lately, but I feel busy all of the time. I think the heat is just wearing me out, but we are still having fun swimming, and hagging out with friends. I am now in charge of the Relief Society Meetings/ Activities and I survived my first one. We had a purse party with games, food, and a little message and everyone seemed to like it, now it is time to plan the next one. I also taught for the first time in Relief Society and survived that also, I was really nervous but it went okay and I learned a lot.

Last week Reddin went to Havasupai with the young men and he had a great time. They left early Monday morning and came home Wednesday night. We said that everyone had fun and that everyone survived the hike. I think I want to try that sometime he makes it sounds like lots of fun. Picture of Havasupai

Payton and Kayda are becoming great swimmers and I am so proud of them. We usually end up swimming 4 or 5 times a week and I think Kayda gets better every time. Payton is already a strong swimmer and I don't worry about her she is learning back stoke and is a different girl in the water. I feel like she is comfortable and confident and I love that I wish she would feel like that all the time.

For the 4th of July we went to a movie as a family, went to swim lesson, went to lunch with my parents and brother, and then went swimming and had a BBQ at Reddin's parents. We finished the night with sparkler in the street and both my girls where scared of them, maybe next year will be better.

I don't have to work this week which is a nice little break. We went to the zoo today and it wasn't too bad. We went mainly to play in the splash park there, but we saw 7 or 8 animals along the way. After the zoo we went swimming and then came home I am hopping we all go to sleep early tonight because I am tired.

Kayda, Valerie and Payton at the zoo