Sorry guys...everytime I get on and try to upload pics or post or whatever the computer has had problems.

We have been pretty busy the last few months.

We made a trip to Canada in April and went all the way up to Calgary this time and got to see Michael's brother John and Shauna and meet little James. We also got to go to the Calgary Zoo. It was the first time in Calgary for the kids and me. We enjoyed seeing the family up there and it was weird to not have Judy and her family up there, but we get to see them here a lot now. We also were able to have Michael's sister do family pictures and pictures of just Nicholas and that was craziness too that we are grateful for! I have already posted some of the pictures she took. She is very talented and patient.

We came home from Canada and went to a birthday party for my friend Rachel. She was able to have it at her sister's house and she and her husband own horses. So guess who was WAY excited?! Allison LOVES animals and really really LOVES horses! She was able to get a few rides in and loved it. I have some pictures taken with Rachel's camera of that. We even got Mathew on he horse (at the VERY end) unfortunately the camera was elsewhere. He is still VERY nervous and not sure he'd want to do it again, but we were proud of him!


Michael has gotten is garden in and planted TONS of different flowers this year. He keeps wanting to buy more and more. He has slowed down on the buying, but not the wanting. We have tons of fun things planted again this year and he even got some rhubarb off his plant. He is VERY excited about that. We have also gotten zucchini and summer squash off (they were delicious!). The peas didn't quite make it this year and we are sure how well the corn is doing. It was a bit of a weird spring. We also won't be able to eat the cherries this year. (VERY disappointed!) There is much more out there that we are watching. Oh and Allison is eagerly awaiting the cucumbers and we are holding off on getting the potatoes out, but the plants are lookin' good. Michael also planted a plum tree this year (it will be years before we see fruit there, but we're excited). The grapes and raspberry plants are also still growing from last year.

We also had Mathew's birthday in May. When asked what food he would want he requested green pancakes. We also were able to do a friend party for him a week or so after his birthday. We waited for school to be out...(thank goodness!) We were happy with the turnout and especially enjoyed having the friend he played with at school the most this year (almost his best friend thru-out the year), Lauren. We also had neighbors, cousins and a couple of boys from the ward. I tried to keep it fairly small, it's just better that way. I wasn't sure the weather was going to co-operate, but luckily we only had a few sprinkles here and there and were able to do everything outside. I chose to do a game theme this year and it worked out nicely. Games are Mathew's life, passion and almost only desire...besides CANDY, treats and all around sugar. So for his party we played lots of games and had cupcakes with checker pieces on them. Mathew also finally got a bigger bike. He likes to refer to the old one as mini. He and his dad got to put the bike together, together...well mostly Michael got to put it together for him, but he started helping and enjoyed that. The new one also has back pegs for someone to stand on while another is riding the biking. He loves it and his sister Allison has too and can't wait for her bigger bike (soon enough).

We also finished up school the end of May. Allison finished 3rd grade and Mathew finished 1st. We also had to say a sad goodbye to their principal who will be at a different school next year. They did a big switch around of principals here for next year. So we will have a brand new one...not overly excited about that. We will see how it goes. Mathew's teacher also had her baby girl a couple of weeks afterschool got out and Mathew was eager to hear about it and see pictures. She had promised all the kids she would send pictures thru email for them to see. Mathew had asked if we could call her and find out if she had had her baby yet before we knew. It was very cute.

Michael has been busy with the 11 year old scouts as well and got to go on a scout campout the weekend of Memorial Day. He and Mathew are looking forward to the Father's and Son's campout in August and camping with a friend of Michael's in August too.

We had a pre-father's day celebration to let Michael know how much we love him and appreciate what he does for our family. We got him a watering can (so he'll quit using my water pitcher) and a plastic cover for a 4 or 5 tier greenhouse (so he'll quit keeping the plants on our kitchen table) and a book about building your own greenhouse. He is glad for it all. :)

We also celebrated our city's days with a carnival, parade and fireworks...we just watched the fireworks from our house this year. Allison was a little bored by a ride she LOVED last year and scared to death of 2 other rides we got her to go on with her dad. But overall she loved it. Mathew did the little kids rides and was slightly bored, but he is too much like me and doesn't like the big crazy rides. I have no real problem with that, though his dad wishes he was more adventurous...I guess I agree sometimes. We tried a new spot to watch the parade this year...it was towards the beginning and less crowded...at least there wasn't anyone standing in front of us.

Well that doesn't cover everything and I plan to post more, but for now here is some of what we have been doing. I need to get ready because tonight we are going to the viewing for my Mom's Aunt Sybil who passed away this last week here in Utah. Hopefully my pictures will upload soon and hopefully I will get back to posting more of our happenings soon!

There have been hikes, bbq's, and 7 Peak's waterpark days with Judy's family and some waterpark days by ourselves. We are looking forward to lots more of those days.