The Noodle Forest

Gage visited the Phoenix Children's Museum on a field trip with his class a few months ago. He has been BEGGING us ever since to go as a family. Finally we gave in. We figured it would be a fun "Family Fun Night". The kids had tons of fun!! Gage LOVED racing the cars. Amberly had fun participating in the dance contest. Carrigan's favorite was shopping in the little grocery store they had set up. Emmalin was entertained the whole time with "people watching". The highlight --playing in the Noodle Forest. We had a blast!!

Meet Snippy!!

We aquired a new pet today. Meet Snippy, the Horny Toad. Thank you Backus family (they brought this little guy all the way from Colorado)-- we are so excited. It has been a while since Spike, Horny, and Thorny passed away. My kids have felt a void in their lives not having a horny toad around. The other lizards, scorpion, frogs, insects, and others fun things that have come to live in our home over the last year or so just couldn't fill the void. Gage is in heaven!!! Kimball and the girls like him too!!

Emmalin's New Toy

Emmalin is 7 1/2 months now!! Time is going way too fast!! Kimball bought her this cute little turtle pool an she LOVES it!!! We wanted something that she could play in and be safe away from the other kids as they run around wild and crazy in the water. Outside we fill it with water and she splashes and splashes-- all smiles the whole time. Inside we fill it with balls and it's equally as fun for her!! Life is good for his sweet baby of ours. We love her so much!

Tae Bo

My kids wanted to play "exercise class" today-- and they wanted ME to be the instructor. Emmalin was a bit fussy and wanted to be held which made it impossible for me to be the instuctor. Not wanting to disappoint them I came up with plan B. I pulled out the old Tae Bo videos (which I think are actually Amandas), blew the dust off of them, and sat down for the show. They had the BEST time and it definitely made me smile. They swear their muscles grew and can't wait to do it again tomorrow!! Why is it that something that is such a CHORE for me can be so much FUN for them!! It just isn't right!!

Rainbow Cookies

My Mom often made these cookies with us when we were kids. I think just about all of have carried on the tradition with our own kids. My kids like to squish the dough. I just put dough and food coloring in ziplock bags and they go to town!

The Dunking of Uncle Ben... Memorial Day Weekend (Monday)

Monday was another wild party with the Wilkins Family. A little water park was set up in the yard for the kids and was quickly taken over by the adults. It started out innocently enough. The kids were having a great time when Uncle Ben decided to soak all of the adults and then run and hide in his bedroom. The men in the family worked together and dragged Ben from his room to the kiddie pool. It was one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time. A few of the kids were traumatized by this-- poor kids! It took 6 men to get Ben out of the house and into the pool. And boy were they all breathing hard in the end!! Ben put up a good fight but ultimately lost in the end. They spent the rest of the day in wet clothes but it was well worth it!

Dragging Ben through the hallway

Standing guard at Ben's bedroom window so that he couldn't escape!

Pushing (and pulling)Ben through the front door

The dunking

A soaking wet Uncle Ben-- you're a good sport!!

Memorial Day Weekend (Saturday)

We spent Saturday morning at the Primary Water Party. It was tons of fun! Thanks to the Primary Presidency for all of their hard work and effort. We had a really good time.

Saturday afternoon we headed off to a Clark Family Party. The kids played in the water, we ate pizza and treats, and then the men went off to the movies. The kids then played inside every game you can think of-- hide and seek, freeze dance, red light green light, musical chairs, and on and on. They had the best time together. The women were able to sit, relax, and visit. I am blessed with wonderful in-laws!! I married into the best family!!

Gage was awesome on the slip n' slide

Having fun in the water with Clark cousins

"You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice-cream"

Family Fun Night

If you have been reading our blog you know that we have family fun nights on Fridays. It's a fun time for our family to relax and hang out together. This past Friday was also the last day of school. Another school year come and gone. Gage and Amberly both had a great time in school and are looking forward to their summer break.

In preparation for our fun night Carrigan and I made a summertime mobile to hang above the kitchen table. She loves to color. My favorite picture that she did was the red sun. She said it was bleeding because it was so HOT!

We also made ice-cream cone cupcakes. They turned out pretty cute. The cone is filled with candy. Then you put an upside down, regular-sized cupcake on top of the cone. On top of that you put an upside down, mini cupcake. Frost all around and sprinkle with sprinkles. They were a big hit!!

Our activity was to build a castle. A few days earlier we had gone to Costco and had a bunch of boxes-- Gage thought it would be fun to build something with the boxes. So building we did. The castle turned out great. Kimball taped it all together. The kids made flags for the top. The girls brought out their doll furniture. Gage made a rope ladder so that GI Joe and his bionicles could scale and invade the castle. They played for a LOOOONG time with this thing. It was another successful night!! WHEW!

Carrigan and the summertime mobile she helped color (can you see her bleeding sun)

The family with our cupcake ice-cream cones

Amberly discovering that there is candy in the cone. She went to take a bite and heard rattling coming from inside!!

Kimball taping the castle together

The castle flags that the kids made.

My trip to Magic Mountain

Ok, I decided to go with part of my team at work to a day trip to 6 Flags Magic Moutain in California. We left Friday morning at 2 am and drove to the park and spent the day. After it closed we drove back to AZ and got home late that night. It was a pretty fun 22 hours.

The crew from left to right: Darren Rosselli, John Langan, Blake Hawkins, and me.

I also took some video of on of the Tatsu. This was the ride that ended up to be the favorite one for all of us.

This is video from the Superman. 100 miles per hour in seven seconds up 41 stories and back down again.

Amberly's Kindergarten Graduation

Well, she did it!! We are so proud of her. Her first year of school done and behind her. Look out 1st grade--HERE SHE COMES!

The Graduate

Amberly sitting in a sea of kindergartners. They sang their little hearts out.

Amberly adored her teacher, Mrs. Dennis


This cute little Dr. Seuss quote was on the program--
"You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
in any direction you choose.
You're on your own,
and you know what you know
and you will be the child
who'll decide where you'll go."

Father and Sons Camp Out / Mother's Day Weekend

Wow-- what a busy, but fun weekend we had!! As a result our house looks like a bomb went off inside. I really should be cleaning on this Monday morning instead of posting this. Priorities right?!?

It all started Friday afternoon-- Kimball and Gage went to the Father and Sons Camp out with Jordan and his boys. They were sad that they had missed our own ward camp out but it was on Easter Weekend and we had already made family plans. So thanks Palo Verde Ward for letting them crash. Anyways they were off roasting marshmallows, hiking, catching frogs and lizards, and whatever else they do on those camp outs. The girls and I stayed home and had our own fun. We made pizza, put together jewelry from a little kit that Grandma gave Amberly for her birthday, and painted fingernails and toenails.

Saturday evening we celebrated Mother's Day and May birthdays with the Clark family. We BBQ'd and watched the grandchildren as they put on an impromptu talent show. They sang a funny little song that Ashley and Britney taught them. They then took turns showing off whatever came to mind. Amberly did karate, Anna sang Hanna Montana songs, Jayden did a headstand, and so on. Then they danced, and they danced, and they danced. They were so cute! Darn, we forgot the camera:(

Sunday we celebrated Mother's Day with the Wilkins side of the family. All of the men in the family planned and prepared the meal. Kimball made lasagna, Patrick made broccoli salad, Mike made fruit salad, Scott made smoothies, Nathan brought the bread, Ben supplied the drinks. It was all so yummy. We should let them take over more often in the kitchen!! Darn, we forgot the camera again:(

After dinner we headed over to great-grandma's house to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. My grandma is nearly 97 years old and an amazing woman!! We all love and admire her so much!! Many of us call her our hero!

Gage and cousins catching frogs and lizards (a favorite thing to do)

Many lizards were caught and brought home

Many frogs were caught and brought home. We have 9 little frogs living with us now. I woke up Sunday morning and found a frog hopping around by the front door. It had somehow escaped!! This is what I get for marrying a Clark!!

Proof of Kimball in the kitchen making 3 big pans of lasagna

The yummy finished product!! Good job Kimball!!

Happy Birthday to Our Fun Dad!!!

We had a fun evening celebrating Kimball's birthday! The kids had a hard time waiting for him to get home from work! They were so excited to show him the house all decorated and for him to open his gifts! He missed a meeting tonight to be home with us. He felt a little guilty about that but we were glad to have him home!!
School, work, and his church calling keep him pretty busy.

We ate a yummy pot roast dinner and finished up with banana cream pie!! I ate way too much!!

Kimball is getting up there in age -- the kitchen filled up with smoke when he blew out his candles! We had to open the door to get fresh air (if you can call 102 degrees fresh air)!! We got a good laugh out of that one:)

Happy birthday Kimball!! You are the most fun husband and Dad!!

The kids eagerly awaiting the arrival of their Dad. This picture doesn't do justice to the decorating of the house. Carrigan had streamers and balloons strewn (is that a word?) everywhere!! It was very festive!

Amberly made a special book for Kimball

The banana cream pie that nearly burned the house down!!

Go Crew!!!

Well the soccer season has come to an end and we are going to miss it. Gage has LOVED playing and learning more about the game. He really improved as the season went along. It has been fun to watch him! We are so proud of him!!

Coach Thompson had a swim/BBQ awards ceremony for the players and their families. It was a fun time for all! The food was fantastic!! I kept going back for more ribs. Sooo yummy!!! Thanks Thompsons!!

Gage and his team picture

Carrigan was freezing after getting in the water. The water was COLD-- but the kids didn't care!

The players during the awards ceremony. They really are a good group of kids!

Amberly could be found on top of the fort if she wasn't in the pool! She defended the fort with her squirt gun. She especially loved getting her Dad!

Gage receiving his medal and certificate from his Coach

Amberly is 6!!!

We celebrated Amberly's 6th birthday today! She decided a little while back that she wanted to have a "Hawaii" birthday!! She has been learning about the 50 states in kindergarten and really liked all the fun and beautiful things in Hawaii(who doesn't!!).

The great thing is that the stake put on a luau tonight!! How fun is that!! It couldn't have been planned more perfectly!!

Here are a few pictures of her fun day--

Amberly with her birthday gifts-- she loves them all!

Her Hawaiian beach birthday cake

The family at the stake luau

Gage with the poi balls. He was pretty good at it.

Traditional birthday spanks!! She begged for this on the way home from the luau!! She's a funny girl. I think she just likes all of the attention!

Mmmmm

This afternoon we were enjoying the orange julius and rice krispie treats that Dad made for us. It was a treat for all of the hard work we put into getting the yard and the house in shape. Poor Emmalin sat and watched each bite that we took. We started to feel pretty guilty and decided that she needed a treat too. So we let her have her first cracker!! She devoured it while making little "mmmmmm" sounds!!!

Emmalin is 6 months old now. Crazy, I know!!

More please!!!

Magic Potion

For Primary singing time on Sunday we mixed up "magic potions" to reveal which songs we would be singing. I think it turned out fun for the kids. Anyway, my kids all week have been chanting, "magic potion, magic potion, magic potion". I think we have done this experient at least once a day this week! 4 of the potions turned colors and the other exploded!!

4 of the glasses are water only. 1 glass is 1/2 water, 1/2 vinegar. On the spoons next to water only glasses, put 1 drop of food coloring and cover that with baking soda. The spoon next to vinegar is baking soda only.

Carrigan with the exploding potion

After all potions have been mixed! And then the chanting begins again-- "magic potion, magic potion, magic potion". I'm running out of vinegar!