other summer events

This summer has flown by. The kids go meet there teachers tomorrow, then back to school on Monday.  We have done quite a bit that I haven't blogged about yet. Here are some of them.

- Father's Day and our 9th wedding Anniversary, sadly that was also when we were driving home from Farmington, NM on our drive back from Colorado. We celebrated Father's day when we got home and our anniversary the following day.

- Many, many trips to our neighborhood pool.

- Several trips to the library. Maeley has read 36 chapter books so far this summer.

- We saw Monster's University in theaters opening weekend. We love Monsters University, so naturally we loved this new one too. Fun fact- Derek and I saw the original in theaters when we were dating before his mission. 

- Each of the kids got to spend some one-on-one time with my mom piecing a quilt together. My mom let them choose whatever fabric she had from her stash and let them choose how it went together. They all had a good time however I hear Zoe had the best time of all.

- Maeley, Chase, and Zoe went to Legoland with Tama and Papa, Parker, Braden and Aunt Kimmy. This was the week after Chase's birthday. He told me, "This is the best July ever!" While the kids were gone it would have been ideal for Derek and I to get away but with work it wasn't an option. Instead I got 3 nights of not making dinner because we ate out.

- I bought new bedding for our room which has sparked a whole room redecorating! That's what I love. When we moved in our home we sold our king size bed. We had needed a new mattress but I couldn't justify buying a new king one when we would be getting rid of a queen size one.  We painted the walls this weekend and I've been searching Craigslist for a bed frame with no luck so far. I know what I want and won't settle.  We may be making another one. It will all come together it just takes patience. I love our room so much already!

We've got a few fun things planned before summer breaks comes to an end. I'm ready for a schedule but I'm not ready for homework.

Chase's brithday!

Let's first start off by saying that Chase is indeed loved by many and was definitely spoiled.

We had his birthday party with everyone after his actual birthday so his actual b-day was pretty low key. He got to go shopping with Grandma and have lunch at McDonald's. After Derek came home from work Chase opened presents then we went to DQ for dinner. He was really wanting chicken nuggets and hamburgers. That seemed like a great excuse not to cook.

From mom and dad he got a Lego construction worker key chain/flash light. Lego alarm clock, and a large blue Lego brick storage container.

Lego sets from Maeley and Zoe.

 

As you might guess his big birthday party with family was a Lego themed party. Seriously his life is all about Lego's right now.

 

His birthday party was Saturday.

 

I thought the Lego banner I made was pretty cute.

My sister is amazing! She made the cookies and cake. She's always outdoing herself. They were awesome!  Thank you so much Laurel for making them!

Chase McCane. When he heard there was a Lego minifigure named Chase he thought that was the coolest thing ever!

Chase had a very special guest show up at the door. Aunt Kimberly!

This picture is just too cute of the two of them.

 

Chase got such wonderful presents. I might add that all the clothes he got is such great timing with school shopping about to begin. (Schools starts in less than 3 weeks!). And Chase was thrilled with more Lego sets and a Lego book.

 

Happy 6th Birthday Chase!

We love you!

Round 2 of swimming lessons

Each night the kids were always so excited to go to swimming lessons.

Zoe is hilarious in this picture!

She was always so afraid to jump into the water to her teacher. But finally she had the courage and went for it. It definitely surprised her teacher. Each time she does a belly flop but she loves it.

Chase is doing well but not as eager as the girls to swim. I think he's like me, hates water on his face.

The last couple days Maeley's class got to dive off the diving board and swim to the edge. She loved it!

She is seriously a little fish.

 

We have been swimming more this year than I think we have ever before, combined.

 

At the end of this session both Chase and Zoe moved up to the next level. Maeley did not but she improved tremendously and besides she had moved up after the first session while Chase and Zoe did not.

Colorado: part 5

The last full day started off with another hike. This time we were all prepared for it. This one was also a bit longer. The night before we looked up the Colorado Trail and realized its over 500 miles going from Denver to Durago. Once we got to the trail we hiked about an hour and then headed back. After all, there were 4 kids and 2 babies on this hike. Zoe stayed back with Tama.

I love this picture because Maeley was so excited to do this hike after the hike the afternoon before. She's just staring off with a big smile on her face.

Marc, Eunmi and Sonya

Steph and Braden stopping for water.

 

We could not get Lydia's attention for this picture. She was only interested in the water.

My hiking buddies.

We will definitely be going hiking again once its cooler here.

Maeley liked to stay up at the front and lead.

 

 

 

In the afternoon we all went to Breckenridge.

 

We rode gondolas to the ski resort for some fun activities. And lets face it, that was a fun ride in and of itself.

 

Derek and Maeley rode the alpine slide. I was completely surprised she wanted to go but Derek said she had a great time.

 

Everyone else expect Marc, Eunmi and I (and of course the babies) rode a roller coaster down the mountain.  After that we walked around shops in Breckenridge.

 

Enjoying delicious ice cream cones.

I was a bit nervous because these clothes were what we were wearing for family pictures later that evening. Luckily no one dripped.

Chase loves giraffes. Seriously, he is the cutest little boy ever!

 

 

After dinner back at the cabin we did family pictures. Zoe was in bad mood because she was tired. And the sun light was so different than the previous nights it was hard finding the right place to take pictures. And lets face it with 18 of us its difficult anyways. Note to self, take pictures one of the first nights not the last.  

 

Everyone on the Jones side.