Kids Weekend part 2

On Sunday, the last day of our kids weekend, we took the kids to Hogle Zoo. It was in the 90's that day and it sure felt like it, but the kids were pretty good about not complaing and we had a fun time see all the different animals. Our favorites were the Elephants, Giraffes, and Monkeys. Parker love the snake area and Paxten seemed to be fascinated by everything. There were a lot of areas in the park that were under construction/renovation which was disappointing, but will give us an excuse to come back next year when it is all done. We packed a picnic again this day into the zoo and the kids rode the merry go round inside the zoo.  After we had seen all there was to see, each of the kids picked a souvenier from the gift shop and we got in the van to head home. All of the kids were asleep in no time, we wore them out! We had such a fun time together. It is great to have a sister to do these fun things with and I think we may have to make this a tradition! The kids loved being together and doing something out of the ordinary, we only wish that Matt would have been able to go with us as well.

Fair Time

We love it when the fair comes around. And the kids are getting old enough to remember the years past, so there is no escaping it now! We went to the parade on Saturday morning with those that were here for the reunion. It was just like every other year as far as parades go, but it has become tradition. Then we went over to the fair for lunch and rides. The kids had pizza, Matt and I had Mammoth burgers, and they were so good. Parker was in kind of a crabby mood and all he wanted to do was "have a fun day" meaning he wanted to ride the rides, and get a toy and do only what he wanted to do. I kept telling him if he would change his attitude and decide that he was going to have fun no matter what, then he would. Well after we finally made it over to the rides, he seemed to have more of a fun time. My sunburn from the previous day, really made my day miserable, but I tried not to let it affect the fun the kids had. They loved the rides and could have gone on them all day if we had let them. Thank you Grandma Yancey for the ride tickets. After the rides, we let the kids each pick a grab bag to take home and open. We were only there for a few hours, but that was enough pushing 2 kids in a stroller and another to try and keep track of on the side. Matt and I may go back again by ourselves tomorrow and call it "date night." After we left the fair, about 1/2 hour later, it began to pour rain and it rained hard for about 2 hours. Glad we left when we did!!!

After Lava

These were the kids on the way home from Lava. Love it when this happens. Swimming sure does the trick!!

Yancey Reunion

My mom decided it was about time we had a Yancey reunion. We haven't had one for like 2 or 3 years. So she planned one the weekend of the fair, Labor Day weekend, hoping that people would be able to come and to enjoy the fair as well. It turns out it was a bad weekend for most everyone and only a few from Carla's family ended up coming. Carla, Rachel, Caleb & Laura and their kids Evelyn & Adam. Charyn, Zander, & Jackson came for the day but she was on call for work and was unable to spend the rest of the weekend with us. Even though there was a small group of us we managed to have a good time. We went to Lava on Friday and spend the majority of the day swimming. We had planned on going to Ross Park and even called ahead to make sure they would be open. They said "yes thru the Labor day" so we packed a picnic lunch and got all ready to go. When we got to Ross park they were CLOSED!!! The didn't tell us they would be closed the Friday before Labor Day. Luckily Lava was open, so we hopped back in the car and drove a few more miles to Lava. The weather looked like it was going to storm, so were were hesitant to have to pay and then have to get out in a few minutes if it rained. But we were lucky and the storm clouds passed and we had a great time. We swam for about 3 1/2 hours and rode the slides a lot!! I didn't put sunscreen on the kids or me because it was so cloudy when we first got there. Boy did I pay for that later. I was burnt to a crisp!! But it was still worth it, having one last hurrah before school started. We were glad some family came and enjoyed the day with us.

The Swing

Paxten has loved having a swing set in the back yard, in fact all the kids love having a swin set and it was definitely a good investment. Although I am not sure how many more years it will last! Anyways.. Paxten loves to swing and I often find him bent over the swing swaying back and forth. He can't quite get on the regular swings himself, but can lay over one and swing gently back and forth. He loves it when I puch him and as he is swinging toward me I move out of the way, like he is trying to get me and a just barely miss getting hit. He usually laughs and smiles and thinks it is the greatest thing ever! I love his little laugh and his cute little smile. I don't want him to grow up!!

Paige's Swim Lessons

Paige was in Level 2 during the second session, and it was difficult for her to touch the bottom of the pool in most of the area. So the teachers had a hard time teaching her it seemed like. They ended up moving to she shallow baby area and having her do some of the lessons there. She only had 3 kids in her class and I felt like she could have learned more because there were 2 teachers for the 3 kids. I felt like the teachers she had didn't know exactly what they were supposed to be teaching, and they seemd to goof off alot and just let the kids play. The exit skills she needed to do to advance to level 3 were: 1. Float independently on front and back for 10 seconds each side. 2. Perform front glide for 3 bodt lengths then swim front crawl for 15 feet. 3. Perform back glide for 3 body lengths then swim back crawl for 15 feet. 4. Perform 10 continuous bob while blowing bubble out of nose. Paige was able to do the 1st and 4th skills well, but need work on the actual swimming part. She too had fun and loved to go off the diving board and off the slides. At least the both had fun right!

Family Reunion

We had our annual Williams reunion at Heise this year at the beginning of July and had such a fun time. I love that we still are carrying on this tradition and that we all love to get together and enjoy on another's company. I love that my cousin's kids and my kids get to know each other and look forward to seeing each other again. It is such a wonderful blessing to have such a close and loving family. We had a great time visiting and catching up with each other, swimming, golfing, miniature golfing, eating, and camping. We love going to Heise and my kids had looked forward to going for weeks. They all had a wonderful time and I am happy to report that we didn't loose any kids this year, and we didn't have any injuries either, so it was a great year!! Parker is quite the hunter, last year he caught a mole running on the ground and this year he couaght a frog in the grass. That boy is ALL BOY and love to be in nature and getting dirty. He was in HEAVEN!!! I am glad he likes to be outdoors and uses his imagination and some of that energy he has!! We look forward to the reunion each year, and miss those that aren't able to attend. This year those that were able to make it were: Roseanne & Gus Tanner & Stephanie, Alexis, and Taylor Lauren and Rhett, Macsen, and Maddoc My Mom Matt & I, Parker, Paige, and Paxten Charyn & Zander Marilyn & Val Andrea & Wacey Brooke & Chase, Marriner, & Sadie Cole Zina, Luke & Caitlan Sarah & Tim, Rachel & Kenneth, Derek, Blake, Emily, Bryce Kyle & Katie, Kolten, Kaleb, Karter, Kooper, Kylee Rebecca & Travis, Tyrell, Jadelynn, Skyler And Grandpa & Grandma Williams

Ross Park

We love the swim park that is pretty close to us and unfortunately I haven't taken the kids for a few years, I have been hesitant to take 3 kids by myelf, and the summer is a really busy time for Matt, so it is almost impossible for him to go with us. Well Matt's cousin Summer is here visiting from Texas and we all decided it would be fun to go to Ross park with the kids and swim and play. I decided it would be easier with the help of Grandma Kerry and Aunt Tara. So we went and had such a great time! The kids all absolutely loved it and swam like little fish, the didn't hesitate in the water at all, so I guess the lessons are helping in the that aspect of swimming. We stayed for almost 4 1/2 hours and the time flew by. The kids were worn out by the time we left, but immediately wanted to know when we could go back. It was a great day to spend with the Keller side of the family!

Family Bikes

Matt and I decided to invest in some bikes for ourselves to that we could go on family bike rides together. One Saturday a few weekends ago, when Matt had the day off, we went to Idaho Falls and got ourselves some bikes. We also bought one of those seats that hooks on to a bike so that Paxten could ride with us. After over an hour of trying to put that seat together and attach it, we finally finished. Luckily Paxten loves to go on rides and has loved the seat, so it made all that hard work worth it. We are enjoying going on family rides together in the evening when it cools off and love the fact that we are getting some exercise in as well. Good investment!!

Swim Lessons

I decided it was about time for the kids to start swim lessons. I haven't really been putting it off, I just kept forgetting to call and get them registered. Well I finally got aroung to it and there were two sessions left for the summer, so we signed Parker and Paige up. They were super excited and asked me daily when they would be starting. Finally the day came and they were so happy. They both started out in level 1 and Parker moved up to level 2 on the first day because he could put his head fully under water for so long. He moved up to a class that had 10 other kids and was quite large. The first couple of days I was worried that he wasn't learning anything because it didn't seem like he was paying attenetion and the teachers, who are teenagers, weren't helping him out as much as the could have. But it is getting better, I am not sure he will 100% pass this level and may be in it one more time, which I would rather have him know the skills and then advance rather than advance just because. So we are just finishing up the second week and we will see how he does. Paige loves being in the water and just seems to play and learn to get comfortable with her face getting wet. She has gone off the diving board several times and showed absolutely no hesitation about it. She cried last Friday when there weren't any lessons because she wanted to go so bad. So she is absolutley loving it. I guess, them having a good time and learning something along the way is totally worth the money spent on the lessons!

Family Pictures 2012

We got our family pictures back the other day from the phoographer and I am super excited about them. I think they turned out pretty good for having to get 11 people to look at the camera at the same time. The weather was beautiful and I think we had a good choice in clothing colors. I love my little family as well as my parents and my sister's family!!

Pool Fun

 

The kids convinced me to get our small pool out the other day and they had a blast playing in it. It did attract most of the neighbor kids and at one point there were 7 kids in the pool. A few too many for me to handle, but I have a hard time saying "no!" This will be the first of many time the pool with be out. It is pretty cheap and fun entertainment for the kids and it keeps the cool and happy. I am hoping we will make it this year to Ross Park to let them play there, I know they would love it. Next week we are going to Heise and it will be a blast the kids are really looking forward to it. In the meantime, the little pool with had to do.

Play Time

 

The kids love to be outside and can play outside all day long if I would let them. Paxten especially loves to be outside and always wants to be doing what the older kids are doing. He does not like to be left out!! The kids love to play at the park or at the various schools before lunches and the could play on the playground for hours!! Aren't they the cutest kids?? I sure think so! I love seeing them healthy, happy, and full of all that energy!!!

School Lunches at the Park

We have been going pretty regularly to get free school lunches for the kids and we have been rotating the schools and parks we go to for a little playtime variets. This particular day we went to Jensen's grove. The kids had fun playing and they were "starving" by the time it was lunch time. I was so suprised at how well Paxten ate his hamburger. I think this is the first time he has ever eaten a hamburger and he probably ate 1/2 of it!! I think my boys are growing, they sure can eat when they are hungry. We are loving spending time outside and can hardly believe June is over already, the summer is flying by!

Splish Splash

Last week I watched one of my friend's kids while she was at work, there was a mix up with her normal routine and I was happy to help her out. Her little boy is Big Brother's best buddie and I knew he would have a great time spending the day with him. The kids were really good and didn't any arguments or disagreements. They all played together super good, which I was so grateful for. We got out the kiddie pool and let them play outside for a while. We ever rigged up the slide on the playset to be a water slide and the kids went super fast down the slide. It wasn't the warmest day out, so each of the kids were shivvering as they were playing but that didn't stop them from having fun.

Summer Lunch

In our school district they participate in a program called Summer Food Service Program and provide free lunch for children 1-18 years old. So I decided to take Parker & Paige to get them out of the house and hey you can't turn down a free meal. The program started this week and we have gone 3 days, it has been a fun time for the kids to eat in a lunchroom and then to be able to play outside on the playground equipment for a little while. Paige is sure an adventurous little girl and can play with the big kids. She climbs right up the stairs and goes down the slide all on her own. (of course I am right there with her) She would spend hours playing on the slides, climbing up the stairs, walking across the bridge, and playing in the wood chips. Today she started throwing a big tantrum when we had to leave, boy they learn that young. I am hoping that being by other kids and playing with them will help Parker learn to be more kind to others and to share. He seems to be doing good and really loving his time with friends. He doesn't really throw a fit when it is time to leave because he understands we will be back tomorrow. Today as we got home he said to me "today's a fun day" I am trying really hard to be a "funner" mom and to do more with my kids, to get them and me out of the house more often. On Monday we are going to sign up for the Summer Reading Program at our local library. It gets kids involved with reading, learning and activities. I think Parker will have a great time going to the library and having story time and then to be able to pick out a book to take home for the week will be really exciting to him. We will probably also do the Summer Movie Time at the Theater. Wow!! It is going to be a fun and busy summer. We are excited to have fun together and to enjoy the nice weather (when it decides to get here!) What are your plans for the summer???