We need your opinion!

This is Kyle. With all the kids starting school a new topic of discussion has come up in our home. When we planned our first two kids, they were supposed to be two years apart in school. Well, where we live, the cutoff date is way later than expected so that they'd only be one year apart in school. Kyra would start kindergarten the year after Breckyn. I don't think it's a good idea for two sisters to be so close in school. Wouldn't they compete for friends/boys/etc????????? On the other hand, some people say two girls so close in age would be best friends. What do you all think? I need your opinion! Please respond within the next year so we can make the best decision. I don't want to start Kyra then change our mind and make her repeat the same grade or something like that. I've seen siblings one year apart in school who wouldn't even acknowledge each other in the hall. I definitely don't want that to happen. I was two years apart from my brother and it was perfect.

A note from Ryder

Hey everybody. I'm Ryder. I used to cry for my mama every night anywhere between 2-4 times depending on how I was sleeping that night. Come a little closer.

That's better. So, I figured the only thing left for me to do in order to be the most perfect little boy in the whole world was to sleep all night. My mom complained about it a lot, and since she is usually pretty good to me I decided to go ahead and give her what she wanted.

You should see how happy she is now! She was sure it was just a fluke! Afterall, I'd never done it before. But then I did it again and again and again. Four nights in a row now. I really am perfect now. See?

Here I am doing my new trick. It's okay, come a little closer. I won't wake up.

Afterall, I am perfect.

Up to lately

We have had a busy streak lately that has left us a bit adventureless. At least, in our traditional sense of the word. We have had a lot of fun. Kyle's brother came for a few days with his family. The girls LOVE their cousins and can't wait to play again with them.

We went to Sea World, a first for our family and that was awesome. We'll for sure go back, but not on a Saturday in the summertime.

Monday we went to Newport Beach. The waves were SUPER gentle, so no boogie boarding this time. The girls loved it though.

Later today we are going to paint rocks! Ooh, the fun never ends around here ;)

Another Tag

Rules: No cleaning. Take pictures as is. Great, that is all I have time for anyway!


My closet: I think I need some new clothes. Our closet is gigantic and I'm not even taking advantage of it.




Check out Kyle's side. Here is my chance to tease him about this. He has WAY more clothes than me and he hasn't even unpacked from moving yet!




The Kitchen Sink: Okay so, I totally cleaned it. I don't have OCD. My sink gets dirty. Hate me.




The Fridge: So, yogurt was on sale. We like yogurt.





The Laundry Room: Pretty boring. I have big plans for this room though. Well, I have big plans for all the rooms in my house. I can't wait to start painting and decorating.





Self Portrait: Breckyn took this picture of me a few days ago. I think I'm about to attack her for stealing the camera.




My Bed: This is the only room actually painted how I want, so we need to start hanging some things up.




My Favorite Room: Every room is a project waiting to be started - so none of them are really my favorite yet. However, I love the potential of this room. Bright and spacious. Notice our awesome official Beijing 2008 Olympic doll. ;)





The Bathroom:




My Favorite Shoes: I'm not a fancy person. I prefer to be barefoot. If I have to wear shoes, pretty much I just wear these.




My Dream Vacation: I have so many. Next though, I'd like to go to the moon, er, I mean Bolivia.





What My Children Are Doing Right Now: Playing & waking upfrom a nap.

Thanks for the tag Johanna, now I tag my blogging slacker BFF JOLENE!

We've never said this...

We saw TWO wild bears last night. Yeah, we did. For FHE we went to a place where we've been told there are a lot of bear. We didn't really expect to see any. We spotted two. They were far apart from eachother. One was relaxing and the other one was on the move. Toward us. We didn't stay too long. It was cool though. (We didn't take this picture.)

Adventure of the Day {4}

Oops. I haven't been updating our Adventures lately. The girls are loving this adventurous summer we've been having. They mention it in every prayer they say! I hope they always remember the silly fun we have. Here are some highlights from the last couple weeks (when I remembered to take a picture.)

Make Banana Pops


Coupon clipping


Watercolor Handprint Canvases

After my own heart

I don't want to overschedule my children. It is so easy to get caught up in that, wanting them to do everything. But mostly I just want them be be kids. Relax. Imagine. Play.


However, swimming lessons are mandatory. All children need to know how to swim. It is a matter of safety. Musical training is critical. It is like exercise for their little brains. Some kind of team sport would really teach them how to work with others, and dance class is great for coordination. So where do I draw the line?


I asked Breckyn today what she would choose between: Music, soccer, dance and tennis? What did she choose? TENNIS! Yes! And I didn't influence her AT ALL. We searched to find an appropriate racquet. Pink, of course. Now, do they even have pee wee tennis in this po-dunk town?

We did it again & Adventures

Well we couldn't stay away long. This time we hit up San Clemente Beach. We picked up some bodyboards on the way and it was a good thing. It was great for us because of the big waves, less kid friendly though. I remembered the camera this time. Here is Kyle catching a little wave.

Breckyn doing a nice upward dog pose. She watches me do yoga in the morning.

Breckyn loved to play in the water with Daddy. Who by the way is looking quite nice, no?

Ryder chillaxed the whole day.

Kyra felt safe in her chair and seemed quite happy there.

ADVENTURES LAST WEEK:

Monday: Make Oreo Dirt Cups

Tuesday: Fun with craft foam

Wednesday: Swimming in the pool (okay, this was everyday)

Thursday: Fun with waterballoons and water guns

Friday: Shopping! (My favorite)

Love Birds - Tag from Johanna

1) Where did you and your husband meet? We grew up in the same town, opposite sides. We knew of eachothers families from the time of our childhood but didn't officially "meet" until a stake dance when we were 17.


2) First thing said? Kyle: Hey, you want to dance? Dana Lee: Sure


3) First date? We doubled with Darrin Case and Tamara Patterson. It was at Darrin's house and they made us macaroni and cheese. Afterwards we played games and really had a fun time.


4) First Kiss? In my driveway behind his old black truck. (We had to hide from my parents bedroom window.)


5) When "I Love You's" were first said: Kyle said it first. I said it a little while later.




6) Long or short courtship/engagement? hmm... SUPER long. Here is the short version of a long history. We always knew we were made for eachother, we just had to wait for the really right time to do this thang. 1st relationship: high school (I ended it), 2nd relationship: post Kyle's mission (Kyle fizzled out) 3rd relationship: pre DL mission (I left), 4th relationship: post DL mission (Kyle fizzled out), 5th relationship: started back up in November, engaged in April, married in June.




7) Where did you get engaged? On the banks of the Provo River. Kyle was fishing while I was painting my toenails. He "caught" a fish. He wanted to see if I was tough enough to gut it. I was and inside I found a ring! Don't worry it was carefully wrapped and had no fish guts on it. I was surpised to say the least.




8) Where did you get married? Manti Temple, June 7, 2002 It was a perfect day.





9) Where did you go on your honeymoon? Telluride, Colorado - Absolutely gorgous and completely empty at that time of year. Hiking, gondola rides, um, hanging out. It was delightful.


10)Where did you make your first home? Tiny, one bedroom, basement apartment of a house my parents owned and I managed in Provo, where Kyle finished up his last year of undergrad and I worked at Head Start.


Now I tag my old Iowa buddies, Katrina and Christina!

My old dollhouse

My Grandpa Brown. Isn't he so cute?



He made this dollhouse for me when I was probably 6 years old. I loved it and played with it everyday.



I broke it in some places. It used to have stairs off the porch and little doors with real tiny hinges.



It had little windows that all fell off. This wallpaper is the same that was in my room when I was a little girl.



The attic door is still there. Isn't it so cute?



I can't even imagine how long it took my Grandpa to make this. For me. I still feel special because he did that.



I've now passed it on to my girls'. I cringe a little when they play with it because it is so delicate and fragile, but I'd rather them play with it and beat it up a little more than have it sit in the closet gathering dust. I think my Grandpa would be pleased.