Forts

I used to build a lot of forts when I was a kid. So I introduced the girls to the art of "fort-building" this summer.

Preschool!

Erin started her second year of preschool. I trade teaching and hosting with the other Moms. This is our fourth year to do this (2 years with Elaina and now 2 years with Erin) and we've really enjoyed it. Each year is a little bit different, and of course the kids change each year. This year we have 9 kids, ages 3&4. We purchased the same curriculum that I used two years ago with Elaina. It ends up being cheaper than coming up with our own lesson plans - and much less work! Erin loves going to preschool and comes home with fun crafts and activities each day. I also enjoy the 2 hour block twice a week where I can have some bonding time with just Isaac, and where I can go grocery shopping or run other errands with only one child!

Erin, on her first day of preschool

Mermaids!

Elaina and Erin were playing Mermaids one day and asked me to tie sheets around their legs to make their mermaid tales. I figured they'd get sick of having no legs pretty quick - surprisingly they actually played like this for a while!

Elaina's Birthday

Elaina turned 6 this summer!

On her actual birthday I made this really easy ice cream cake that my Mom made for our birthdays growing up. It is the easiest and yummiest cake (especially if you love ice cream like we do in our house!)

Elaina had a Candyland Birthday Party this year. It was so easy and so much fun to put together! Elaina helped contribute lots of ideas to the party planning, which made it extra fun to do together. We had "stations" throughout the house to represent different areas of the Candyland game. They decorated gingerbread men at "the "Gingerbread Tree." They played musical lollipops at "Lollipop Woods." We played a relay game with peppermints at "Peppermint Pass." Elaina made a pinata to look like a gumdrop, which we broke open at "Gumdrop Pass." And at "King Kandy's palace", the kids made candy necklaces.

We decorated the front of the house with colored stepping stones leading up to the house. The girls had a lot of fun helping out with this.

Elaina decorated a poster board, saying "Welcome to my Candyland Party"

I made this fun wreath with gumdrops. I'm proud of it because this is about the extent of my crafty abilities!

The table was decorated in all sorts of colored plates, napkins, cups & utensils, and small vases of candy as the centerpiece

Birthday girl!

The cake was the funnest part to make!

Unfortunately, having a summer birthday means that friends are often out of town for the party, so Elaina had some close friends that were not in town for the party, but we had a good turn out and are grateful to those school and church friends that were able to come.

Erin's Birthday

Erin turned 4 this past July. I can't believe it!

I love her face trying to get this box open!

Elaina was excited to give Erin her gift

Erin wanted a Princess Birthday Party this year, which I was more than happy about because I could reuse some of the same ideas from Elaina's Princess Party last year!

She had all her guests dress up as a princess or a prince

We played Kiss the Frog. All the kids put on bright pink lipstick and whoever kissed closest to the frog's mouth won. Erin thought it was hilarious that some of the boys even put on lipstick (even 3 months later she's still talking about how funny it was!). We also made tiaras, and played "musical magic carpets."

They ate tea party food:

And ate a Rapunzel birthday cake:

And then went outside to break the pinata:

Erin enjoyed her special day and all the kids looked so great in their costumes

Park City Fun #2

We went up to the Park City Mountain Resort and spent the day going on rides. It was a lot of fun!

Daniel just returned from his mission in February so we were excited to see him.

Uncle Daniel & Erin going up the ski lift to the top of the mountain, where we would ride the Alpine Slide down

Riding the Alpine Slide. The girls weren't even afraid!

Mike and I tried the zip line, which was a lot of fun! Kyle and Terri kept the girls and went on the kid rides.

Erin was happy to climb on everything!

Kyle, Terri & the girls

Little golfers. Don't they have great form?!?

Both of the girls climbed the rock wall. I'm not sure why we don't have a picture of Elaina!

Park City Fun #1

Mike joined us a few days later as well as the rest of Mike's family from California. We went to Park City with Mike's parents and brother, Daniel and spent the week in the mountains. We had a great week with the Trousdale family.

Checking out Opa's guitar

Grandma planned a birthday party for the girls with an ocean-themed birthday cake, and they got some fun pool toys for their presents! Perfect for some pool time at the hotel!

Isaac meets Grandma CT (Mike's Grandma)

Elaina and Grandma CT

Mike and a couple of his brothers went on a tour of a distillery in Park City

Erin and Elaina enjoyed the swimming pool

Isaac and Grandma. Isaac was excited about his first time in the swimming pool! Ok, maybe it was me who was the most excited because he could wear his adorable little swim outfit!

Elaina and Uncle Steve

Isaac meets Uncle Tim