Summer Swimming Lessons

Adelyn and Michael both took swimming lessons this year.  Joey came along and swam in the little pool, but was very cognisant of what was going on, and started trying to blow bubbles when the other kids were.

They both became comfortable with the water, and were able to float and swim a little on their own.  They both were comfortable enough jumping in deep water with lifejackets, which is a first for Adelyn.  She hasn't made it off the diving board yet, but I think this year is the year.

Michael was pretty comfortable off the diving board this year.  We went as a family one night and Mike taught him how to do cannonballs.  He, of course, has to yell "cannonball" before every jump.

Joey tried to sneak in the "big pool" a lot.  He would have loved to have been in swimming lessons instead of cast off to the little pool.

The kids advance in rank: Junior Ranger

We went to the Cedar Breaks National Monument during their Wildflower festival. The flowers have a short season, only a couple weeks, so it was fun to be able to go and take a tour. The intern helped us identify lots of different kids of flowers. It was fun to see the kids spot flowers they'd already learned about and later in the hike, identify them by name. Favorite flowers were: mountain bluebell and scarlet (indian) paintbrush. Favorite flowers to pick: dandelions. They are the only flower you are allowed to pick within the park. The others are protected by law. And I'm pretty sure the kids picked (and blew) every dandelion in the whole park.

Adelyn with her scavenger hunt sheet.

The kids in one of the meadows

Michael checking out his environment.

Joey picking leaves for me to identify.

The kids at home with their new badges.

The national park system has a fun Junior Ranger program for kids.  All the programs are unique to each park.  The kids had to complete 4 or 5 activities from the book to earn their badges.  They were very proud of their badges.

Michael was pretty scared to be here at the scenic spot.  I think it was a little high for him.

Proof that Baby #4 has been to Cedar Breaks... chalk that one off your list.

Silly messages around the house.

Translation: code 8963550

Spy class

"Adelyn, who is this spy class paper for?"

"I'm not telling, it's a secret, why did you open it anyway?  It was taped."

Translation: I do not eat Dog food.

-Joey

~obviously not written by Joey, but certainly in his defense.

Information Rules (for their club, and posted on the door)

1. no gum or candy

2. no smoking

3. wipe your shoes

4. no playing

5. no hats

6. no rats

7. no smoke

8. no swimming

Another Cemetery: Logan, UT

By the end of our trip, my camera battery was WAY dead, so we bought a disposable camera to get some quick pictures with more of our direct Crockett line buried in Logan.

The kids great-great-great grandpa, Alvin Crockett. A pioneer, and first mayor of Logan, UT. We loved reading up on the history we could find from the Crockett book. Also, Click Here for an excerpt from some public records at the Logan Library.

This headstone sits in front as a marker for the stones pictured below.

Alvin CrockettJoey by Mary Sophia Reed

The kids great-great-great-great grandpa David Crockett.  A pioneer, and first mayor of Payson, UT.  We found compilation of biographies about him and his wife if you want to Click Here.

This marker had four sides, each dedicated to a different member of the family.  The two sides you can see in this picture are David and Lydia.

Joey with a more close-up picture of the marker for Lydia Young Crockett.

We had a fun trip.  It was neat for us to be able to find so much family in Logan as we were passing through.

Are we finally going to be a "big" family?

No.

Even though we will be a family with FOUR kids, most conclude that you are not a "big" family until your kids are a little more grown up (like, not ALL in car seats I guess). We were really hoping to be a "big" family, but I guess we will continue to hear, "You have such a cute little family," until Adelyn is a teenager. Go figure.

However, we are still very excited to announce our pregnancy. I am 10 weeks pregnant and due February 7th. We are hoping everything goes well for both the baby and me over the next SEVERAL months. I'm already counting down the days (with the remaining prenatal vitamins in my bottle) until this first and tiring trimester is over :)

My Kids

I love my kids.

Michael talked me into giving him a buzz cut. I'm not too much a fan, but Mike "persuaded" me to cut it like that (still not sure whether he was serious), so I did. He needs a little sun, but he has a nice shaped head :)

I can't get over how much Adelyn likes to read. She learns so much, but we are trying to teach her when it is a good choice and a good time to read. She prefers to read ALL the time. Yesterday she read a non-fiction book about how to determine the type of tree by it's leaves/seeds/bark etc. That night I found this picture on her chalkboard. I thought it was pretty great, since she's barely branching out from stick figures in her drawing.

Joey took my favorite lipstick and decorated himself. He had also played with my foundation, but at least I only found that between his toes! Silly boy. I think I was blogging when this happened... in fact, where is he now? Got to go!

Bear Lake- a quick journal entry

I don't remember making a more beautiful drive. Although it was a little longer than I expected, I never would have dreamed Logan/Bear Lake to be so green and plush. It was picture perfect... where was my camera?

The drive was full of switchbacks, but we all seemed to do okay until Adelyn started reading on the way home, we pulled over for a quick change and were back on the road again.

The lake itself was a little chilly, but there was sand. A sand bar kept the water shallow for over 100 feet and the kids could run and play and dig in the sand to their hearts content. It was perfect. We even spent one of the warmer days boating. Mike went water skiing WITHOUT a wetsuit- impressive. Joey and Michael went "skiing" too on the intertube.

We loved being able to spend time with family. My sister and mom put together a great game of "Minute to Win It!" and we all enjoyed the sports tournament, water games, and chat time. Adelyn and Michael both came home with great memories with the new cousins they met (second cousins I guess they would have been). An overall success!

We all came home pretty tired, and ready for some sleep, but so glad we were able to go.

Our trip to...

IDAHO!!
Actually, the title should be, "Our trip to... Bear Lake" but my camera battery died and the only pictures we got were at the Montpelier, ID cemetary. Thus, Bear Lake will only be a journal entry this summer (unless someone can e-mail me some pictures... please?)

Our main purpose in traveling to Montpelier was to learn more about our ancestors. Mike's grandpa was born here, and his great-grandparents are buried here. We pulled some great information from the famous "Crockett Book" and read some entries on our way to the cemetary. The kids quizzed Mike about some facts, including where William Joseph served a mission etc. We found out that they owned a meat market and grocery store there in town, and even people we visited there at the cemetary remembered some Crockett's. It was a fun trip.

To find the gravesites, we drove to the very back of the cemetary. You can see the flagpole in the picture with Joey. A little further to the right of the picture is an old white storage shed.

From the records at city hall, it doesn't look like anyone is actually buried where this big "Crockett" marker sits, but is here to mark this area as "For Crockett's only." There are still 14 or more burial sites if any Crockett's are interested.

Our kids love cemetaries. So do we. I love looking at old dates, and gathering what little information can be found about people from what is written there. Even Joey was staring at the stones, pointing out letters he knew. The kids were super enthusiastic to find "Crockett" on some of the stones here. The above two photos are the kids reading the headstones of their great-great grandparents, William Joseph and Mona Estella Lee.