Swimming Lessons

The kids took a 2 week swimming lesson course in June at an outdoor pool. The last day of class they got a free day and were able to use the diving board and slide. Unfortunately it was 60 degrees and raining, but they were determined to stick it out so they wouldn't miss out on all the free play. Brianna missed the last day of class because she was on a plane flying to Washington.

Tucker jumping off diving board

Water slide!

Hayden with his class

Just Playing Around

We have had weeks upon weeks of rain, so the kids have been cooped inside the house for the most part. Lately they have been interested in playing cowboys, especially Mason. Most of the hats are too big, but that doesn't deter him.

The cutest cowboy ever

Howdy partner!

Even Brianna enjoys playing cowgirl

Last week Devon and Sarah came to one of Hayden's T-ball games. I guess Spencer was really excited to watch a game. There were some really cool trees by the field, perfect for climbing. It took some coaxing to get Hayden to come down and participate with his team.

Spencer

Mason

Hayden

Family photos

We had Kelsey take our family picture this weekend and I wanted to post the top three so you can all see how comical, err, I mean how lovely our family is.

One year older

Brianna turned 9 years old on Friday. We gave her the option of having a friend party or going to see a movie with the whole family. She chose to go see the movie UP in 3-d, which was a wonderful movie. I would recommend it to everyone ages 3-99 : ) The 3-d was neat, but most of the movie was in 2-d, so personally I don't think it was worth the extra $3 a ticket, but it was still cool.

After the movie we went to Kelsey and Ben's, where Mason was being babysat, and had a BBQ and of course cake and presents. I decided to try to make a balloon cake to go along with the movie UP. I thought it turned out really cute, but we had to tell Brianna what it was because her vision didn't extend past the "pile of cupcakes".

Balloon Cake

Singing Happy Birthday

Mason and Hayden enjoying their cupcakes

Opening present from Grandma Gosney

Brianna's biggest present from Gabe and I came last, a plane ticket voucher to fly to Washington to visit her grandparents.

Kindergarten graduation

Hayden has officially graduated from kindergarten! He has been so excited all week to become a first grader, and now it's official.

Hayden and his teacher Mrs. Barnett

All the kindergarten classes combined to do a really cute program at school. I video taped one of the songs they did, at first Hayden isn't really putting much effort into it, but then he picks up some energy when they sing "X, Y, Z"!

Alphabet song


Hayden receiving his diploma

Before school this morning the boys wanted to get pictures taken of their slick hair-do's. The summer hair cuts are growing out and now require some gel. I think I'll be getting the trimmers out again next week so we can shave them down once more.

Hayden's tee-ball game

Hayden had his first tee ball game last night, and he did great! He got to bat 4 or 5 times and hit the ball each time. The first time he was at bat, the assistant coach didn't know he was left handed, so he kept trying to position Hayden in the right handed position until he was lined up enough to swing at the ball. Hayden swung and hit the ball which went all of 3 feet, but he ran like the wind and made it all the way home. After that we told the coach he was a lefty and he had a much easier time.

Swing batter, batter swing...

Hayden's homerun

The other kids also had a lot of fun running around and playing with extra baseballs they had out in the grass. I was fortunate enough to be sitting a few yards away from 3rd base and had the ball land in my lap while I was video taping...

Ball lands in Anna's lap

Tucker's Dog Restaurant

This morning I found Tucker in his room feeding all the stuffed dog animals he could find. It was pretty cute so I had to video tape it.

Discovery Park

For family night this week, we went to the Lindon Discovery Park. All the structures are made of wood and they have a huge volcano, a rocket ship, a castle, a colony of beehives and lots more. The kids had a lot of fun, may be too much fun because Brianna made herself sick from too much spinning and swinging. But then she recovered and was good to go.

The kids all had a great time spinning, Mason couldn't go as fast as the big kids though.

Mason wanted to try the big kid swings. He did great the first time. The second time he forgot to hold on tight and daddy forgot he was pushing a 1 year old.

Don't worry, he recovered.

Happy Mother's Day

Last night as the kids were getting ready for bed, I heard Brianna discussing all the things they could do in the morning to surprise me: unload the dishwasher, wake up early and make me breakfast in bed, clean up the kitchen... This morning was nice, I didn't have to wake Gabe up 3 times before he got out of bed, the kids were fed and dressed without my help, and I got a yummy breakfast served hot to my room. The other things came to pass eventually and the nicest thing is that I didn't have to do any of it. This one day almost makes up for the other 355 days of the year that I do have to do it, almost.

The girls club!

Sandbox creations

Eleven Years and Counting

Gabe and I celebrated our 11th anniversary on the nineth. Sometimes I feel like it's been that long and other times I can't believe it's been eleven years since we were married. This is our life together so far in a big, big nutshell: 1998- Got married, moved to Provo where Gabe attended BYU and worked delivering pizzas and Anna worked as a preschool teacher. 1999- Moved to WA to live with the Gosney's for the summer (there were 9 people living in the house), Gabe delivered newspapers and worked for a cleaning company while Anna taught preschool at a daycare center. In the Fall we moved back to Provo and shared a 2 bedroom apt. with Devon (fun times). Gabe continued with his schooling, started working for Big Planet and Anna worked for a telephone survey company. 2000- Gabe continued his schooling at BYU, we moved to American Fork to nanny for a single dad of 3 children in exchange for free rent. 4 months later, we moved back to Provo into BYU family housing, Anna quit her job and Brianna was born. 2001- Gabe continued his schooling and working for Big Planet and Anna starts working for a cleaning company. 2002- We move to a 3 bedroom apt. still in family housing and Hayden is born. We move again to a 2 bedroom duplex that has a yard and washer and dryer (yay!) 2003- Gabe gets a job with Verio, Anna starts teaching preschool again, we buy a new car and our first home. One month later we are surprised to find out we are pregnant! (too bad the new car wasn't a van). 2004- Gabe continues working for Verio and Anna teaches preschool. Tucker is born and Anna starts cleaning houses again. Gabe transfers to UVSC and continues working towards his computer science degree. 2005- Gabe gets a promotion, Anna is busy with 3 kids and cleaning houses. 2006- Gabe gets another promotion and starts working a small side job he can do from home on the computer. Anna is still cleaning houses and Brianna starts kindergarten. Gabe buys his Audii and baby #4 is on the way. 2007- Gabe receives another promotion, Anna stops cleaning houses (ya-hoo!) We sell our town home, Mason is born, we move to our new house in Spanish Fork then pack our bags and attend the family reunion with a 3 week-old : ) 2008- We landscape our front and backyard ourselves, Anna visits the chiropractor many times and Hayden starts kindergarten. 2009- We buy a dog, we sell the dog. Gabe finishes his last 2 classes at UVU and is on the doorsteps of graduation (he just has his senior project that he'll finish in the Fall). Gabe buys his BMW (we're not expecting this time!) Tucker is enrolled into kindergarten and on May 9th we celebrated surviving it all so far.

Of course it's not all about surviving, it's about enjoying the voyage. My motto for this year is : "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain".