"Our Family" by Makell

I absolutely loved this picture when I saw it and decided I needed to blog about it! This morning Kourtney and Kaitlyn went to their reading groups and Makell felt a little left out. We usually all ride our bikes together but today I had several things I needed to get done so it was just Kourtney and Kaitlyn that went. Makell was sad that we weren't able to go with them. After the girls had left she gathered some paper,pencils, pens and sat down at the table and started to draw. When I came back up stairs she was sitting so still and being so quiet, I figured I wouldn't interrupt her and finished doing some of my things. Several minutes later I came back and asked her what she was drawing? She replied, " I draw a picture of "my" daddy, "my" mommy, "my" Kourtney, "my" Kaitlyn, and ME!!! This totally made my day! I think she was really missing her sisters and daddy and decided to draw a picture of them.

I think this is the first family picture she has ever drawn! For only being two I think she did a fabulous job!!! She was so proud of her picture!! I can't help but think about this saying when I look at her picture. "We might not have it all together, but together we have it ALL". Besides the multiple limbs, crazy hair(or no hair) that she drew, there are five circles and we all have smiles on our faces!!! I am so thankful for Makell and the joy, love, and happiness she brings into our lives!! I can't even imagine our lives without her! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH MAKELL!!!

Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day!! I love celebrating this special day and honoring all our fathers!!! I have to start with thanking my Heavenly Father!! Even though I can't physically see him, I get the wonderful opportunity to feel of his love and talk with him each day!! I am so blessed to have A Heavenly Father who I know loves and cares about me sooooo much!
I have been blessed to have an earthy father who has taught me so many things through out my life. He has always been so encouraging and supportive! I love him so much and my children are so blessed to have such a wonderful grandfather!!!
I am so grateful for a wonderful husband and a wonderful father for our children! I love the relationship he has with our children! I look forward everyday when the girls hear his car pull in the drive way after work and run to greet him!! It totally makes my day and HIS!!! I am so thankful for Adam and all he does for our family. He works so hard to provide and support our family in so many different ways. I am so grateful for the wonderful relationship I have with Adam! He is truly my best friend! I love him soooo much! I can't think of anything I would rather do than spend time with him!
I am also blessed to have such amazing father-in-laws!!! They are such wonderful examples to our family. When ever the girls get to talk with them on the phone they are so excited and it makes us miss them even more!! Even though we live so far away I want them to know how much we love and appreciate them!!

The girls were so excited to give Adam his Father's Day gifts along with the award for being , "The World's Greatest Dad". I thought this picture was so cute!! Thank You for being the "World's Greatest Dad" and the wonderful husband you are!!!

Father's Day kisses!!! He received a lot of these through out the day!!!

Camping!

Last week we decided since it was the end of the school year we would celebrate by going camping! As many of you know we are not campers at all!! I guess it is the factor that there are four girls and Adam. Myself and the girls enjoy having indoor plumbing (definitely toilets and T.P over logs and leaves. HaHa) and sleeping where there are no bugs, rodents, bears, or SNAKES!!! I guess you can say we are pansies!!! We decided we would camp "Heaton style". (In the back yard!) We actually tried our best to make it as realistic as possible! We put up our tent and loaded it with sleeping bags and blankets.
Adam had a smile on his face the whole time! I guess he felt he was able to do something "manly" finally with all us girls!! We are always talking him into doing girly things and he is such a good sport about it! The girls were so excited! I love this picture of all of them in the tent! I think Adam is having a good time, what do you think(I love his facial expression)?
We even roasted marshmallows and made s'mores! They were yummy! Although I have to admit , we still smelled like smoke but it wasn't the same as roasting them over an open flame!
Before we went to bed Adam/Dad told us some of his favorite camping stories when he was growing up! We played a couple of games by flash light and sang songs! I think I could start to like camping!?
I think the best part was spending time with each other and snuggling to keep warm!! We all got a little giggly and silly. We had a GREAT time! The girls are already in the process of planning another camping adventure!

Super Hero's!

It has been raining ALL day long. No going outside to play today! The kids were getting a little rowdy being couped up in the house. I gathered the girls together and we read a few books and played a game. After we were finished, I asked them to find something to do besides watch T.V. (I think some days they watch more television then they should, and when it is raining that is what they turn to first) I told them if they used their imagination they could figure out something to do or play.
I really don't like going out in the rain, so it was a perfect day for me to get caught up on those things that I have been putting off for so long(laundry). I was folding a basket of clothes upstairs in my room when I heard all this commotion coming from down stairs. I could hear them running, screaming, laughing, and talking to each other in deep voices. Wondering what was happening, I headed down stairs to see what was going on! I came down the stairs and turned the corner and found the girls dressed like this! I asked them what they were doing? Kaitlyn replied, "Mom! Can't you tell? We are SUPER HERO'S!" Of course! What was I thinking! After I looked a little closer I realized I had "two" Captain Underpants and one Super Girl in the house! Seeing this totally made me smile! They were having so much fun running around pretending to rescue people. They were sliding down the stairs on their tummies pretending to fly! It made me so happy to see them playing together and having so much fun. How some days I wish I could be a child again and live in a pretend world!!

Under Construction!

Before

I have been asked by several people to post pictures of our latest project, so here they are!!! Thanks to our EXTREMELY TALENTED neighbor/friend that did all of this for us! It is sooooo nice! Thanks Brian!! It has been such a wonderful change for us already! We are enjoying having a door in the kitchen that exits to the back yard! It has definitely made things so much more convenient. We also have a new deck off the door that we totally LOVE!!




After




What is it with men and demolition?
















We are looking forward to a wonderful summer and spending a lot of time outside!!! The new deck has become the official "stage" for Hannah Montana! Can anyone guess who is the pretend Hannah Montana? I am looking forward to the first concert of the year! I will keep everyone posted!(HaHaHa)

Our Two Little Graduates!

Another school year has come and gone. It seems like yesterday we were school shopping for clothes and supplies!! How time flies!! The girls have had a wonderful year filled with exciting events (field trips, parties, spelling bee's, track meets, and of course school work)!! I remember Kaitlyn's first day of Kindergarten so well!! Lots of TEARS and EXCITEMENT!! It was so exciting to watch her start a new chapter in her "little" life by going to school! I think I cried for a week straight!! She is such a delight to be around and she always makes me laugh!! Having her not home during the day was hard on both Makell and I!! She has progressed so much this year and can't wait to start 1st Grade!! Great Job Kaitlyn!!!! We are so proud of you!!

Kourtney enjoys school more than anyone I know!! She does so well in all areas!! I wish I was as smart as she is!!! (HaHaHa) She has had such a wonderful teacher this year! (I guess I can brag since I am the mom) Kourtney scored in the top 10% in the nation, in the Iowa Tests this year! Yay!! It will be interesting how long it will take before she is ready to end her summer break and want to head back to school. At the Christmas break she was ready to go back after just one week of being away from school! I am not really sure where she gets that from because Adam and I always wished our breaks were longer!! (HaHaHa) We have many things planned for the summer and have started some already (softball). We are so glad that she enjoys school!! She is such a sweet heart and I am really glad to have her home all day! I miss them sooooo much while they are away at school and am looking forward to the summer!!! Great Job Kourtney!!!! We are so proud of you!!!

Makell's First trip to the Dentist!!!

Well, Makell took her first trip to the dentist yesterday! I was a little nervous about how she would handle it but, she did GREAT!!!! She loved ever minute of it! The dentist and his staff make it so much FUN for the kids! I really think they would go everyday if they could. We all went together and made it a family event! Good news!!! All the kids are still in the NO CAVITY club!! Yay!!! (The kids absolutely LOVE the shark tank when you first walk in!)

Makells first experience in the dental chair. Does she look nervous? Not at all!!! They had several toys she could pick from and hold. She loved the over sized toothbrush!

They let her pick a favorite movie to watch as they checked and cleaned her teeth! Not surprised she picked Dora the Explorer!! They even let Kourtney and Kaitlyn come in after they were done with their own check ups to help work on Makell!! Kaitlyn got to hold the "sucker tube"(don't know the proper name) and suck all the spit out of Makells mouth. She thought that was the greatest thing ever!! Kourtney was able to hold the little mirror and check Makell's teeth. Makell loved it just as much as the other girls! I wont be surprised it they start playing dentist at home!

One thing I really like about the staff is you see the same hygienist every time you go. Makell received a letter in the mail last week from Mary, welcoming her and anxiously waiting her arrival! Mary made it so fun for Makell! The kids left with sacks full of fun dental hygiene items! Makell was able to go to the treasures chest and pick a prize! She is sporting her fancy new pink bracelet! Not to mention the balloons and snacks!! Thanks Dr. Jones and staff for a wonderful first experience!!!