Samantha is SIX

Six. Years. Old. It is incredible to me that I have been a parent for six years. Samantha has been such a fun little girl to have in our family. Here is a look at Samantha at 6...

• She has lots of friends and loves being with people.
• She is still very mothering, especially to younger kids.
• She is likes things to go her way and since she is the oldest, she usually gets it.
• She is a great problem solver. She does get frustrated when she can't figure out the problem on the first or second try and she'll shut down and walk away.
• She is very sensitive and gets her feelings hurt easily.
• She really likes crafts.
• She is learning to read, but is not a fan of trying.
• She really, really doesn't like anything that involves work (homework, chores, etc)
• She is the BEST big sister to Lily. Seriously, the best. She loves her completely and never complains if we ask her to play with Lily for a few minutes or to help her with anything. She also takes very good care of her and makes sure she is safe.
• She is very creative and can make a story out of everything.
• She doesn't like to be the center of attention.
• She is very affectionate and loves to give/get hugs multiple times a day.
• She is riding a two wheeler, but is still a bit cautious about her limits.
• She is a little fish and LOVES swimming. She is also a great swimmer for someone who has never taken lessons. She doggy paddles, but since last summer she has been able to swim almost the length of a pool (she can make it the whole way but will have to either rest on the side for a minute or float for a minute while she rests)
• She has become quite the hiker/climber and loves to run wherever we are going
• She is very well behaved and other than fighting with Paul we don't have a lot of problems with her.
• She likes to tell jokes. I don't get them. :)
• She tells me all the time that she loves me and that I look nice.
• She is wonderful and we love her!

For her party this year she wanted to have a water party. I talked her out of that and she decided to have a PJ party instead. The girls came over and made their own pizzas, watched a movie (that did not last long), played outside, had cake and ice cream, and opened presents. 6 year old girls are very giggly! I think she had a fun party and hopefully it lived up to her expectations!

In her new tent. This was the hit present and I could hardly get her out of it.

  

The cake she wanted. I thought it looked like it should be for a 16 year old, but there ya go

The friends..Abby, Ava, Madeline, Sammi, and Addison

Happy Father's Day to You

I am lucky enough to have a number of amazing father's in my life. My own dad is the best I could have asked for. A lot of who I am today is because of the wonderful example he has been to me and because of the support he has always given me. It has been an amazing gift to have a dad that has ALWAYS been physically, spiritually, and emotionally present in my life. I cannot wait to have him home and be able to spend time with him again. I (and my kids!) have missed him tremendously while he has been gone. He is truly one of the best men I know and I am so very lucky to call him dad! 

I also married a wonderful dad. I love watching the way Adam interacts with my kids and seeing the love he has for them. He has made family a priority and I love that the kids have such a good relationship with him. In fact, Paul regularly tells me, "Mom, I love you but just so you know, I love Dad more." I am so glad that he feels this way and knows how blessed he is to have Adam for a father. Here are a couple pictures we took on Father's Day...

Dad with the kids

The boys

Being goofy (Lily wasn't having any more pictures, she was hungry)

Trying to be silly, Paul wasn't totally sure

Paul didn't get the idea of fake fighting, he is really punching and pushing Adam...oops

The Summer So Far

After Vancouver we have been rearranging the house and doing some spring cleaning. In between days of chores we have tried to get the kids out to do some fun activities. Adam took Paul camping overnight and I took Samantha and Lily swimming up at the Castle Rock pool. It turned out a lot more fun than I was anticipating since Lily had fun and was happy the whole time. We have also gone up to Garden of the Gods to hike around and to Helen Hunt Falls. Our plan for the summer is to go hiking a couple times a week as well as getting to the park. We also would like to go camping a couple times. We'll see if all that happens. With the heat, smoke from the fires, and fire restrictions we may not be able to do quite as much as we'd like.

Garden of the Gods

Hiking at Helen Hunt Falls

 Playing in the water after the hike

Vancouver

The first week of summer I was lucky enough to go visit my parents on their mission in Vancouver....by myself!! Adam is amazing. It was so nice to have time with my parents all to myself and get to see where they have been living for the last year and a half. I had such a fun time. Here are the highlights...

Picking me up at the airport. I flew into Bellingham and I was amazed at how small it was. By far the smallest airport I've seen. After they picked me up we had a picnic at the park across from their apartment.

 

Monday: We went to the office so I could see where all the magic happens. Here's my cute mom at her desk in the office

Here's the nice Elder Traxler

Here's what he looks like after someone has had an accident :)

On Tuesday we went to a fun mall that had a Japeneese store in it. After that we went to Tsawwassen Beach. None of the beaches in this area have sand, it was still cool but not what I was expecting.

We also went to Pt. Roberts, where they get their mail. Here is another beach, all rocks. I didn't realize how much water there is in Vancouver. It's everywhere.

On Wednesday we went to Gastown (shopping) in downtown Vancouver, to Chinatown, and rode on the skytrain and seabus. Samantha has been talking about double decker buses lately and I'm not sure why, but I had to make sure I got a picture for her.

A view of downtown from the seabus

On Thursday we went to a cool restaurant called Cora's that did amazing things with fruit and a cute little seaside town named Steveston...but I didn't get any pictures. Friday we went to a BEAUTIFUL park and then to another seaside area named White Rock. I was amazed at all the green and the huge trees. It's difficult to really get a perspective, but I tried. Here we are in the middle of the park.

 This gives a better idea of how tall the trees were, there is a playground in the middle of the picture.

On Saturday we went to Lynn Canyon Park and Suspension Bridge. On our way we stopped by to see the old mission home. It was in a really cool area.

 The bridge and the park were my favorite place that we visited. It was just so green and beautiful. Here is my mom and I on the bridge.

Still holding hands...they are a wonderful example and I hope Adam and I are as good of a couple as my parents when we have been married that long!

The Final Days

This school year went by so fast! I am amazed at how quickly we were at the end of the year. Here are a few pictures from the last few days of school...

This is at field day. So before this picture half of the kids were on the other side. Then, when Sammi's team won the tug of war all the kids decided they wanted to be on the winning team. So, the other side of the rope is empty.

Samantha and Ava

Sammi and Paul being dogs at breakfast. Sammi made them both collars with tags that say Bolt

Paul and his best friend Ty

Paul and Miss Paula

Paul was about done on his "graduation day" and I couldn't get him to take his picture with his teacher. So, here is Ty and their teacher, Miss Karissa

Lauren's continuation

Paul's last day of school, they met at the park

Graduation

He did it!! I have to brag about my wonderful husband for just a minute. He has done so amazing the last two years in his counseling program. He only got one B throughout his whole program. He also got amazing feedback from his professors about his skills. The middle school where he did his internship was so impressed that this last year they had him be the full time sub for the counselor on maternity leave. They also fought hard to figure out a position that could keep him there next year. He really has impressed everyone that he has had contact with and it is obvious that he is REALLY good at what he does. I am so proud of him and all his accomplishments...way to go Adam! Also, a big thanks to Kim who made a huge effort to make it out here for his graduation. We loved seeing you!

The fam at his program's ceremony the night before the college's graduation

Wonderful parents

Woo hoo!