Daddy-O.

Ryan is like the best dad ever! Really, he is. I'll tell ya why...

He works really hard for our family.

Any spare time he has (which isn't much) he's out working hard to give our children a nice backyard to play in.

He reads to our kids.

Taught the boys how to ride two-wheelers.

Took all three kids to Nate's T-ball games all by himself while I was at work.

Is Mr. Mom for two nights a week, while I'm at work.

Is affectionate with our kids and love's to give them hugs and cuddle's.

and the biggest way to see that he's the best Dad ever is how excited the kids get when he comes home from work! They adore him!

I am so grateful that my children have such a loving, hard working, and fun Dad. And especially a Father who honors his Priesthood and makes the gospel a priority in our life! He truly is the best!


I've been feeling pretty lousy lately, so Father's Day kind of crept up on me. I had all these fun idea's but actually executing them was another story. Luckily I have an amazing friend who takes amazing pictures. When I asked her very last minute (like the Friday before Father's Day), to take some fun pics for Father's Day, she found a fabulous idea of making a slideshow. It turned out awesome! She is really the bestest, and I'm grateful she helped me out. For the life of me, Ryan and Devon, we cannot get video's posted on my blog, so here are some pics from the slideshow. We put it to a song called Daddy-o by Frances England. I think it turned out perfectly!












Ryan loved it! How could he not with these three absolutely adorable little children!

Happy Father's Day Ry! We sure love ya!

This is what happens when Daddy does McKenna's hair...





Pretty scary...although McKenna loved it and wore it it that way until we were leaving the house, and then Mommy put her foot down.





And...



A tea party with cheerio's! How fun!

Front Entryway.

Its been a long time since I've done a post on our new home. We are absolutely loving it, and really like being in Coalhurst. It feels like home. There is a lot of work to be done in the house and yard though. It will be a long process since we are saving for EVERYTHING! We need to finish the yard, the basement, need all new furniture throughout the house, and all those extra little things that make it special. The only thing that is done is the front entryway. It was the first and easiest because we didn't do that much to it, so its not very exciting, but I'm happy with it none-the-less. So here are the before and after pics...




Before







Nice and simple! I like it! We're not finished with the closet though. I have some fun plans for that! We really want to get our backyard done, but this rain has been making it very difficult. So if we ever get it done, that will be next for our little home!

Kindergarten Graduation.

If feels like it was just yesterday that I was blogging about Nate's first day. Remember, I left him crying...and now, we just went to his graduation. I can't believe how fast the school year has gone by. Nate has grown tons and has become smarter, and more confidant. He even know's how to read really, really good. We are so happy and impressed with the L.P.S.P program and with Nate's teacher's. He has learned so much, done some really fun things, and met some really special friends. I can't believe he will be going to grade 1 in just a few short months and will be gone from home ALL DAY! I think it will be harder for me.

The graduation started with the kids performing again the story reading they did at festival of "Where the Wild Things Are", then they dressed in their caps and gowns and did a grand march where each graduate was presented. They entertained us with a few songs, and then they were presented their diploma's. It was lots of fun, and we were so proud of Nate. Thank you to Grandpa and Grandma Olsen, Auntie Shannon, Lora, Ginger, and Devon for coming to support Nate! He loves each of you so much! After the graduation we celebrated at Mad Moe's with an ice cream treat!



Nate's whole class




Our little graduate




Nate receiving his diploma




Nate and his Teacher's




Nate and his best friend Tanner




Our family!

Finally...

Nate learned how to ride a two-wheeler! He has had absolutely no desire until Saturday. We would try and get him on a bike and he would give it one try and stop. He loved his scooter and would sometimes ride the strider, and that was good enough for him. Ryan and I have mentioned to him a couple of times that we needed to get him a new bike this summer, so Saturday out of the blue he said to Ryan "Daddy I want to go get my new two-wheeler today". So Ryan told him if we got him one he had to learn, and not give up. He agreed and they went out and picked out a bike. About 4 helps from Daddy and he had it! Now he ride's all over the place and loves it! Of course after Nate learned Ty just had to learn too. So Ry took the training wheels off of Nate's old bike (Ty's been riding the strider), a couple of helps, and Ty had it too. The boys are loving the new freedom, and want to bike ride all day long. Too bad for this awful rain. Please come out Mr. sun, so I'll have two happy little boys!

Lethbridge Hawaii.

Every year in Miss Pati's kindergarten class the kids do a fundraiser collecting bottles from family and friends to save up for a trip to Lethbridge Hawaii! It is the highlight of the whole Kindergarten year. What is Lethbridge Hawaii? Only the best school field trip ever! The week before they make up little passports with their picture on it and everything. Then they get plane and bus tickets. The class meets at the school at 1:00 in the afternoon and board the bus to the airport. The children get to tour the main terminal, have their passports stamped, enjoy a snack, and actually fly up in an airplane over the city. Then they take the bus to the Lethbridge Lodge where they go swimming, eat Hawaiian pizza and punch for dinner, watch a hula presentation and get to participate (which Nate wouldn't show me what he learned because its only for girls). They changed into their pajama's, then went for a sunset stroll where they got to souvenir shop, tour the hotel, and make a wish at the wishing bridge. They got ready for bed, then had bedtime stories, and everyone camped out in sleeping bags in the honeymoon suite! In the morning they are presented a Hawaiian t-shirt, they get dressed, and eat breakfast, then are picked up by their Mommies and Daddies with big smile's on their faces! Nate had so much fun! When we got home he showed us all his souvenirs and told us all about his trip to "Hawaii".



Nate with his plane ticket!




Nate with his souvenir's!

Mud.

I'm kind of a sarcastic person who likes to joke around a lot. Sometimes I forget that my kids might not understand that kind of humor yet. McKenna was reading me books when I had a craving for oreo cookie ice cream. I didn't want to get ice cream out for all the kids (selfish, I know) so when I brought my bowl into the living room, I held it up high so McKenna couldn't see what was in it. She kept wanting to know what it was so I kept telling her it was mud. She would say "oh, mud." I finally brought it down so she could see what was in it, and started eating it. It definitely does not look like mud. She said "I don't like mud, but I like ice cream!" I thought she had it figured out, but when I offered her a bite she turned her head away disgusted. I couldn't stop laughing, but then felt bad for tricking her. I didn't know she would believe me after she actually saw the ice cream. I told her I was joking and convinced her to take a bite. Then we had a nice time sharing a bowl of ice cream. I hope she is always this trusting of her wise, all-knowing Mother!