Summer is happenin'!

Well I blinked and a whole month went by. Here's a little update to our happenings here. I haven't had my camera with me as much as I should have as we have been doing a lot of fun stuff, so I don't have pictures of everything.

The first week we were out of school we went to Grandma Colton's house and helped her clean a little to earn some spending money for our summer activities. Then we went swimming at the So Jordan Rec center while Joey took a nap at Grandma's house. They had a lot of fun there and had a hard time leaving.

We also took one last trip to the Zoo before our membership expired. We packed a lunch and stayed for hours and saw every last thing and caught all the shows. The day we went was very nice, it was still mid 70s and was great, all the animals were pretty active. We didn't have the camera with us that day, so sorry no pictures.

I can't recount everything we've done but between working in Grandma's garden and swimming in the backyard and at bigger pools, sleep overs with cousins, trips to the library and grocery store, picnics in the park and Farmington pond, and playing with the neighborhood crew of kids we have managed to keep ourselves quite busy.

Music Camp:

Sarah and Leah had Musikgarten summer camp the 3rd week in June. They went 4 days from 9 to 11:30. They had all kinds of crafts, painting, singing, water play, etc. They had a great time. On Thursday, we had Family music night where they could show off everything they did.

Here's some fun Bath time photos of Sarah Leah and Joey

...and here's Jo Jo after discovering Mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies... can we say yummy?!

4th of July fun:

The 4th was a busy day we started out with the Kaysville parade in the morning then we went back home and set up the wading pools to play in the water. Nick and Natalee's family came and we had a BBQ and played, followed by fireworks at Davis High. By the end of the day, the kids were pretty worn out.

Joey gets a haircut!

It was really odd to cut his hair so short, I almost went into a panic after the first swipe of the buzzer. I had to remind myself that he's a boy and it's OKAY to have short hair...not a freak out moment like it would be if I did it to one of my girl's hair.

BEFORE

AFTER

DURRING: Those little rubber bands ended up everywhere but they kept him occupied :)

...and one last entry before I switch to my gardening blog and get it updated....

by special request from Emma, she wanted me to post pic of her creation of blocks :)

I'm sure I'll be on again in a couple weeks with a giant update again. Emma and Bekah have Summer camp next week and the week after that we are off to Yellowstone for the Nilson family vacation.

School is out!

Yay! the biggest news this week is that school is out... Emma and Bekah could hardly wait to get out of school, in fact they were so excited to be home that the first thing they did was "play School"... I know , it's weird.

Here's the kids out playing in the water last week when it was so hot... We didn't have our air on so I almost felt like climbing in with them... it was quite hot.

Sarah Finished up Kindergarten with a smile. We still need to work lots this summer to keep her up to task, but I think she will do great in 1st grade next year. She had a little kindergarten program that I attended. It was really cute.

Joey has also learned new feats... the girls know how to grab the camera and take pictures of him when I'm not around. Emma thought it would be great to teach him how to climb the stairs. Hmmm Gee thanks, Emma.... just what I needed him to know.

Let the torture begin... yes, the girls took this picture too....

Unlike last Summer, when I was bloomin' pregnant, I am really looking forward to having some fun with the kids this summer. We have scheduled out our days to include some homework time and housework time. I have dinner helpers everyday and they all have "zones" they are in charge of to keep clean each week.

I'm even paying Emma $.50 a day to make all the lunches for us all and pack them in the cooler at breakfast time. She's in charge of making a shopping list of things needed for lunches and cleaning up after herself... that way, where ever we are (at home or away) lunch will be ready and I won't have the huge temptation to just stop for fast food and drain the wallet. Today we relaxed at the park for a bit and had lunch.

Time for an update

Once again it is time for another update! Yay, I know you're excited...

We have been busy with this and that. The biggest change lately has been the mobility of "Mr. Joe" as I have begun to call since he seems to think he is so grown up and can go anywhere in the house he wants to and get into anything he wants.


We've had to start blocking things off, putting things up...oh the joys.

2nd Grade Program

Bekah had her 2nd grade patriotic program last week as well, it was really cute. They all practiced so hard and did so well. Bekah was dressed as a nurse for the program.

Sarah turns 6!!

Sarah had her birthday this week, she was so cute. All she wanted was a butterfly cake. She got a giant butterfly balloon also. Mostly all she needed and got for her birthday this year was clothes. But she was still excited. We took her out to lunch and let her pick any toy she wanted (within reason of course) of course she picked out another doll (I think that makes about 300 she owns now haha!) she got some craft stamps and toy computer as well.


Memorial day weekend highlights that don't have pictures :(

Saturday we went on a small hike with some friends. I think the kids all had fun. We borrowed a child backpack from them and put Leah in it on Zack's back and I carried Joey in the Moby wrap. It was fun and I promised the older kids I would take them again sometime and go a little farther, since they wanted to keep going when we turned around. We came back to the house afterward and hung out and had dinner together and let the kids play out in the water.

Then Monday we went to a BBQ at the Colton's. It was also Grandpa Colton's birthday. The kids played and the adults sat out on the lawn and enjoyed the evening.

We are back to counting down again... the kids with anticipation and me with intrepidation 2 more weeks until school gets out... yipes! I hope summer goes well this year. I'm actually not dreading it as much as I did last year, of course I'm going NOT to be pregnant this summer either... whew!

Poor Joey!

Yup, this is Joey. The poor kid....he has way too many older sisters. They surprised me with him like this Sunday morning.

I may have to delete all evidence that this photo exists later to spare him humiliation.

Easter egg hunt

Saturday, we had a late Easter with the Nilson Family. Zack's sister was visiting from New Mexico to have their son, Levi, blessed. So we had a big get-together for the blessing, followed by an Easter Egg hunt around the house. As usual Grandma went nuts with the Eggs and treats, but the kids sure loved it!

Here's Grandma and Grandpa with all of their grand kids:

Joey stayed inside for the hunt.

Adventures in gardening

Welcome to the first entry in what I hope becomes a series of entries. Zack and I have become "inspired" lately or "motivated". I'm not sure what the right word is but basically we have decided to turn our bruised thumbs back to green and try our hand at a garden.

First, here is a history of Nilson gardening.....

The first 6 years of our marriage was spent in apartments and no outdoor area for a garden.
8 years ago we buy our first house and my kind father comes and helps us to plant some tomatoes and some pansies around the house. Dun dun dun duuuunn! they all fell victim to neglect and weeds....
4 years ago I try to plant some flowers in front of our current home, 2 months later they were all burned to death in the searing sun I planted them in.
2 years ago I get ambitious and tear out everything in our front garden and replant... then we have another child and the garden falls into disrepair yet again...
Our only success that year was a couple of giant sunflowers, planted... not by me but by my children.

So as you can see there is some desire here...little or no knowledge, not a lot of follow through... and a LOT of weeds.

In comes inspiration... first a friend of mine suggested the reading of a book called "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" A very eye opening read on the realities of commercial farms verses organic community agriculture and home gardens.
So I was on board to do something.... but oh! the work involved in having a garden! no way was I subjecting myself to that torture.
Next, Zack and I listen to a great talk at church (thanks Bro Johnson) about the church efforts to teach gardening to 3rd world countries. The importance of being self reliant hits home and Zack mentions how we should do a garden.... yeah I know we need to, but the WORK! no way!
Zack, being a bit more ambitious than I... (or maybe he was just having a slow day at work and browsing online) found out about a new method of gardening that promises... little work, not many weeds and abundant harvests... yeah sounds like a dream right?

Check it out... it's so simple...



We both have read the book and are on board to try this new method (the same method the church is using to teach in 3rd world countries)... we are giving it a test run this year. We are putting only one 4ft X 4ft box in. Zack has had to reign me in a little, for as soon as I read about the idea I wanted to redo the whole landscaping of the house to fit with the box idea!

So here begins the Nilson Gardening Chronicles...an experiment in gardening and gaining that green thumb... or green "foot" with Square Foot Gardens.