Black Family trip to Bear Lake

My sister Kristen has come to visit this week.  It's been so much fun to hang out with her, and to have the kids play together.  We were able to go up to Bear Lake for a few days.  Bear Lake was gorgeous, and so peacefull.  We had our family, my parents, Kristens family, and Mike's family there.  Kyle wasn't able to make it but Sarah came up for one of the days. We had the best time.  The kids loved kyacking on the lake, and paddle boarding.  They also loved playing baseball, basketball, water gun fights, and jumping on the trampoline.  We ate yummy food, and the last night got rasberry shakes in Garden City.  The pictures tell it all gorgeous lake, with lots of fun family time toegether!

Kate's Ballet Recital 2013

Kate performed beautifully at her ballet recital this year.  She has grown into a beautiful ballet dancer.  She had a good experience this year with ballet.  She's really developed a love for it.  Her teacher Brandi has been amazing.  I wish I could have gotten a photo with her.  Kate has just idealized her.  For the recital this year Kate was a  blanket.  She did a very cute dance with a big blue blanket on stage.  Kate has loved ballet and has had the opportunity this summer to participate in a Ballet West Academy summer five week class.  I'll post some more photo's soon. 

Benjamin learns a money lesson

Interesting story, today Ben wanted to earn some money.  He made his bed and I told him I'd get him some money.  I got into our change jar  and fished out a quarter,but he got really upset.  He said he wanted a green one.  At first I was confused and told him that quarters only come in silver and they don't make green coins.  Then he said he wanted the green one with George Washington on it.  Then it dawned on me that he was referring to a dollar bill.  He wasn't interested in the change, just getting a dollar.  He must have seen his older siblings counting out their dollars.  Benjamin is a smart little guy.

Jence is a big boy now!

Jence just wants to be a big kid!  He refuses to sit in his high chair anymore.  He just screams when I try to get him to sit in it.  It's to bad because that was usually my spot for him when I wanted to keep him occupied for a second while I make dinner or something.  I use to put him in there and give him snacks and he'd love it.  Not anymore.  He pulls himself up onto our kitchen bar stools with his arms.  It's scary because I worry he will fall. I make him get down, and then he just pulls himself up again, we did this over and over until I've finally given up.  He eats up to the bar with the rest of the kids now.  He looks so smug and proud of himself when I let him eat up there.  Jence is jabbering like crazy now.  The other day he said the word shoe.  He calls Dan Mommy, but he also calls the babysitter Mommy so I think he's a little confused on what the name means.  he loves to eat still.  Today he wanted something out of the pantry.  I kept pulling different foods and and showing him, he would grunt and shake his head until I showed him the protein bars.  That was what he wanted he nodded, and ate it.  He is assertive and knows what he wants, but is sweet and jolly to be around too.  I am looking forward to this summer so much.  Jence is at a fun age where he can really enjoy being outside, and have fun with the older kids.     

Mom's and Muffin's

Another school year has come and almost gone.  Kirk has almost completed first grade, it's been a great year for him.  I feel like First Grade is such a huge milestone.  I really miss eating lunch with the kids, and they begin to depend a lot less on their mom.  Kirk has really thrived in math.  He loves his school teacher's and we will miss them so much!  Each year the first graders have a Mom's and Muffin's day, where the Mom's are invited to come and enjoy a morning with their kids.  Kirk's class sang us a song in french, and also recited a rap called "Little miss riding hood".  He got to wear a wolf hat that he made, and the girls wore little red hats like red ridding hood.  It was fun to watch Kirk at school and meet his friends.  He is a really sweet little boy, I love you Kirk so much!

 Here is Kirk with Jence.  I had to bring Jence along with me and he was really actually pretty good, he didn't tear threw the classroom like he usually does at our home.  Kirk got to try to hold him on his lap for a few minutes.

 What a great year Kirk, I'm excited to watch growup even more next year as a big second grader!

Ben's Four year old photo's

Tonight I finally got a chance to do a little photo shoot of Ben.  He was really cute and told me he only wanted to take three pictures.  Of course I got a lot more than that.  Benjamin is growing up so fast.  He loves playing with friends.  When he says his prayers at night he always includes his best friend and next door neighbor Brigham.  He loves the color blue, and also Captain America.  He has a Captain America cup and refuses to drink out of anything else.  I think I need to pick up a few more of those at Walmart.  His favorite foods are fruit loops, and chicken nuggets.  He is a picky eater, but I'm hoping it's a phase that he will outgrow.  His favorite imaginary game is to pretend to play "Narnia" he likes to pretend he is peter and he says over and over again "For Narnia" and raises his sword in the air.  We love you so much Ben your bright smile makes our home such a happy place. 

Memorial Day 2013

We enjoyed a really wonderful Memorial day today.  We took the kids to visit a few of the grave sites of their great-grandparents.  We visited both of Dan's Grandmother's graves, and also my Grandma and Grandpa's graves.  The two older kids really got into talking about the lives of their Great grandparents.  I showed the kids their family tree which has photo's of their parents, grandparents, and great grandparents.  It's interesting to see the kids get excited about their ancestors.  Kate and Kirk even had memories of my Grandma Black.  She died just a little over a year ago at age 99.  They can remember visiting her on Christmas and how she always had cookies, and treats for them.  There's an overwhelming spirit at the cemeteries.  I immediately felt like we were on sacred ground.  We are so connected to our ancestors, the lives that they lived effect ours for good.  Because of their sacrifices, courage, conviction, and hard work; we have the blessings that we enjoy to today.  It is really special to see so many pay tribute to those who have past on.  I feel like Memorial day is such an important Holiday.  I read in the paper that the the beginnings of this holiday actually date back to the civil war era.  So many people lost loved one's in the war.  There was more death of American soldier's who died in that one war than all of the other wars America has fought in combine.  That gives you an idea for the depth of grief our nation was going through at that time.  A thank you goes out to all of the brave men and women who serve so fearlessly in the armed forces.  I have two sister's and a sister in-law's who's husbands serve us in the Army, and Air Force.  I'm so grateful for your service that you provide to our country.  I saw a sign today that read "Freedom isn't Free".  So much blood has been spilt for our freedoms, and yet our nation still stands as a beacon of freedom, prosperity.  God Bless America!  

                                                  The future of America remembering the past

 After visiting the graves, we went and swam at Dan's parents house, and grilled chicken and hotdogs for dinner.  First swim of the year!  The kids loved every second, we couldn't get them to come out of the pool.  Jence isn't in any of the photo's because he was taking a nap at the time.  Sadly he missed out on the swimming.