Summer Stuff

Ok, so I first have to post this picture of Katie and Shannon from the Breaking Dawn party! I know they will really appreciate this. =) I just thought it was too cute. They are so much fun.

A few weeks ago I went with my best buddies Carolyn and Heather to the mall with all the kids. Yea, it was crazy but fun! Of course the kids favorite part was the little rides in the food court. They could have stayed there all day. Kenzie loves to "drive" on these things ~ she also loves video games that have a steering wheel. She also loves to pretend drive my car. She knows how to put the keys in the ignition and turn on the hazard lights. Yea, scary.
Jake's first day of preschool! He was excited to have his picture taken. My little guy is growing up too fast. I almost cried when I left him at school. He is having fun ~ we have some things to work on like listening to the teacher, but we will get there! We are excited to see him learn more.
I was outside with the kids watering plants the other night and came across this praying mantis. I have never seen one before, so it was fun to watch him climb the plant and Jake thought he was pretty "funny". I tried many times to get a picture where he wasn't blurry, but this is the best I could do. We have seen a few more since I took this.
The same night, I was playing around with my camera and found this sepia setting. I took a ton of pics of the kids and I actually think they had fun watching me do it. After every picture they wanted to see it on the camera. I love Kenzie's mouthful of new teeth, Jake's cute smile that we don't get to see much of in pictures, Jake's belly laugh in the wagon and Kenzie sitting in the wagon just looking cute.
Mike and Jake slept in the tent in the backyard last weekend. Jake was so excited he wouldn't come out of the tent after Mike set it up, and he slept all night! Mike said he didn't get much sleep, but he enjoyed spending some daddy son time with Jake. I am so happy I have such a great husband who loves to do fun things with the kids. He is such a great daddy.

Family Reunion

At the end of July we went to Heber for a Madsen family reunion with just Mike's parents and the kids. It was so fun! Mike's parents rented a cabin for the week and we did lots of fun activites, ate and slept! It was a great getaway and always fun to get to know everyone a little better. The weather was perfect and the kids had so much fun playing together. Their cousins Wesley and Jeremy came out from Indiana, so they had a great time playing with them and they seemed to get along great from the moment they saw each other. This pic is one of the whole family, except for Uncle Nathan who is serving a mission in Mississippi!Papa and JoNana with the grandkids. Don't my kids look so thrilled ~ I wonder if they will ever like pictures!

Jake with cousins Wesley, Ty and Jeremy I love this picture! What handsome little men.
Kenzie playing dress up for Auntie Elana ~ I love this picture too!Daddy and Jake on the Alpine Slide

Kenzie and her Papa. We went on a hike up to Stewart Falls, and the kids actually did great! Kenzie wanted to walk a lot, so she got dirty but loved it! It is a beautiful hike, and the waterfall at the end is so fun.

Miss Independent

Mike and I at the falls. (I am trying to remember it is ok to post pictures of myself that I really don't like!)

My sister-in-laws and I ~ it was so fun to hang out with them and just talk and have some girly times.

The boys when we got home to the cousins house. They love Aunt Deanna and Uncle Ryan's hammock!

Thanks Papa and JoNana for a fun time, and thanks a TON to Auntie Elana for all the great pictures. I didn't take any because I knew Elana's would be the best ones and I would want those anyway. She is an awesome photographer and so great with all the kids. We can't wait till next time!

My Girl

I love my little girly girl. Everyday she does cute things that remind me what a girl she is. I had to post this one, and I wish I had a picture but the moment passed to quickly. I decided to try out the little 25 cent watercolors I got for the kids at WalMart during their big back to school sale. So I got them each out their paints and a page from a coloring book. Jake went right to work on his(thinking you are supposed to color with the water in the cup) and Kenzie went right to dipping her fingers in the paint and then licking her fingers. Oh, but then, a light clicked on in her head. She scooted back her chair a little, put both feet up on the table, and proceeded to paint her toenails with the paint brush. And what color did she choose? Yep, RED. Too cute, I love it!
On a totally different subject, BREAKING DAWN COMES OUT AT MIDNIGHT! Like all of you don't already know this! I can't believe it is already here. I am so excited for a girls night tonight and to get reading tomorrow! I read the first chapter and already love it.