First Grade!!

Well, it's come and gone....Kips first day of first grade. I think he liked it, but he's a hard one to read or get information out of. All I know is that he got to sit by his best pal Parker at lunch, and he has another friend who sits at his table in class. Oh, and he told me that it was a really long day. But I think he liked it.

How We've Spent Our Summer Vacation

I know! It's been awhile right??? What can I say, life gets so busy for us around here...and we only have 2 kids! (which by the way IS NOT an announcement that everybody seams to be waiting for....more on that later [maybe].)
We've been very lucky to have a nice, good, SAFE summer. We've been really busy doing family things, and the "fun things to do list". We haven't had much time to do anything else! We also have been lucky for Mark to be "busy" at work....by this I mean have at least SOME work to do. With all the side-jobs he's had it seams like he's always working. But that's okay, because it seams like I never am! (yes, I only worked 3 hours last week!!! and it was great. Hopefully it will cover my Dental Insurance! I'm laughing really hard right now, because I really hope it will!)So now, a quick run through of how our summer has been SO FAR. Just because school starts, doesn't mean summers over!

I think one of the last times I blogged, Kip had just gotten done with swimming lessons, so that's where I'll pick up....at Siers swimming lessons! He had so much fun, and did sooo well. Last year they had to bring in another teacher to take care of just him since he wouldn't even get in the water. But this year he did awesome. He loves to swim!

Sier also had his last day of Preschool with Mrs. Amy at Magic Moments preschool. He really has loved every second of it, but it's time for me to move on with a new school. So next year he will be going to Mrs. Butterfield!!! He is so excited to be going 3 days a week, and so am I!

In June Jamie had her Luau. She'd been wanting to have one for YEARS. It was really fun...really windy...really cold. I felt so bad for her! But thanks Jamie & Steve for the excuse to dress up! Next time I'll get some water-melon shells to wear since Coconuts don't fit.

Jeri, Jamie, Jessi, Me, & Kim...we were all freezing!!!

Next on the picture list is.....Independence day! I love the 4th of July. Summer, Food, Fireworks, Family, Friends, Softball. Mark put another team together for the 4th of July Tournament that the town does every year. They start the night of the 3rd, and then start again on the morning of the 4th. They did pretty good, and had a good team. The kids and I watched the parade at Marks parents house, while Mark played him some ball. Of course they had fun, but this year they weren't all into the candy like they are every other year. The highlight for the 4th of July for the Kip & Sier this year was to see Transformers 2 on the IMAX screen. They talked about it for weeks ahead, and they weren't disappointed! We went with some cousins and friends and had a fun time! The fireworks down at the city were great too! We've figured out a great spot to lay down and watch them, and every year it's better and better. We also went to a BBQ at Jeri & Cory's house...all I have to say is our kids are getting BIG! Okay, and that the BBQ was fun! I LOVE THE MONTH OF JULY!!! Here are a few pics of the 4th

Kip & Sier at the Parade

The Kids at the BBQ

Watching Fireworks

Steven & Jamie ( I love this pic. of Jamie)

J.R. & Kim...thanks JR

Jeri, Me & Bree

In July we went camping with my family up to Granite Flats in American Fork Canyon. I haven't been to those campgrounds since I was YOUNG...It is so beautiful. I've been trying to get Mark to go there for years, but he never has wanted to, but I think he's changed his mind. My mom did a "bear hunt" with all the kids. She had little treasures all over the trail that they found. She had such random things from leathermans to measuring cups! At the end of the trail there was a HUGE bag of gummie bears (that's where the "bear hunt" came from). The kids loved their treasures, and they loved trying to trade Jaxon for his leatherman...somehow rulers and measuring cups aren't as cool. Mark took the tent up to sleep in, but forgot the poles!!! So we put the kids in the trailer with Grandma and Grandpa, and slept in the back of the truck. It was also suppose to be HOT that weekend, so we didn't take anything but blankets for Mark and Me, so Craig and Jera lent us an extra sleeping bag....good thing because it was cold as H*ll that night. The next day we went for a ride up the canyon, and played. Amanda, Tim & his son Taylor came up that afternoon, and played cards with us. Kip, Sier, and Taylor all had a blast feeding the chipmunks and trying to figure out which chipmunk was Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. Sier really thinks the "Chipmunks" are real. I can't wait to go up to those campgrounds again!

Alex, Nicole, Kyler, Kip, Jaxon, Sier eating dinner.....mmmmm

Dancing on the rock

Going on the bear hunt

This is the only little girl to like Mark. Not only does she like him, she LOVES him. And she loves to put chapstick on him!

Brooklynn posing in her cow helmet.

Helmet Heads!

Mark & Me. Sometimes we like each other.

Alex got so mad at me when I gave her the broken cup, and then took pictures of her! She is the sassiest girl I know....I LOVE HER.

Taylor, Kip, and Sier watching and waiting for "Theodore" to come eat more bread.

Steven & Whitney (who claim they're "not together") went to six flags with us! It was so much fun...but so exhausting. We were late getting to the SLC airport, so we had to park in the garage or we would have missed our flight...which was way $$$$$. Next time we'll need to wake up a lot earlier! BUT we had a lot of fun with them. We went on a Wednesday...so good. We walked on most of the rides, and some we rode twice in a row. I was sick almost all day- and by the dinner time I was ready to go back to the hotel, but Mark made me stay! I'm starting to get sick when I fly, and then to go on all of those roller coasters- it didn't help. I need to start taking motion sickness pills before I fly...man, I'm getting old. But I didn't through up, and I went on all the rides, so It was a success. Kip can't wait to go again! Oh ya, this is really funny....Sier stayed home with Jera and Craig; right before we were leaving to take Sier there Kip realized that Sier got to stay their for 2 nights, and started getting upset. This is the conversation that took place... Kip "it's not fair that Sier gets to stay at Makade and Jaxons house for two nights mom!" Me: "Well it's not fair that you get to go to Six Flags and Sier doesn't." Sier: "But guess what Kip!? I don't even care!" Oh my gosh it was hilarious to listen to. Oh ya!....it was so hot and humid! We have these water bottles that you can refill all throughout the park, and I'm not exaggerating when I say we filled them at least 20 times! We would get water every time, but for some reason our bodies just held onto all the water, I was so bloated by the middle of the day I had kankles, and you couldn't even see the bones on top of my foot. My ring was stuck on my finger, and I couldn't pee! None of us did, it was the weirdest thing ever.

Kip got soaked on a ride!

Mark holding our water bottles!

Steven, Rachel & Whit after the "Riddlers Revenge"

Kip & me at the end of a LONG day.

This summer I also tried to do a lot with the kids during the week. I made up a "fun things" to do list that I emailed and sent to a lot of different people. It didn't go all that great, but we sure had fun! I took the kids to see "Ice Age" it was great, I would definitely recommend...laughed through the whole show. We also went to Splash Parks, swimming, and up to the Copper Mine. I only took my camera to the copper mine though! (and I'm soo sorry for ditching Jera and her kids at the park!) That's what happens when you don't charge your cell phone! We also got to see them do some exposives...amazing...you couldn't even hear or feel anything! They only explode two times a day, so we were pretty lucky to see it.

Kip looking down in the mine...did you know that it's 2 miles wide?

Sier needed help

Kayden, Max, Kip, Kyle, Ethan, Sier, Konner

You should click to enlarge this to read it...amazing!!

Hey There

I know! I've been so behind on blogging, I don't even know where to start....or where to find the time to even think about it. So, over the next few days I really plan on being caught up with everything from Yuba to softball tournaments. And can I mention that our front steps keep FALLING APART??? Yes, they are crumbling to pieces even as I write this. Everyday I go out there I find another piece of concrete that's crumbled off. Now the only things holding the hand railings are the screws that attach it to the house. Now that just plane sucks. I'll go take some pictures of it so you can all see what I'm talking about. Even though a lot of you know because you come to my house and can't count on the handrail for any kind of support. And all my neighbors hear me scream at my kids because the stand on the railing and I just know it's going to fall over with them on it. That stupid thing is my stress for today, sorry you all had to hear about it. Every corner where the rails were bolted down has crumbled away! last year it was only one side of it, but now both sides are gone. AARRGG!
This is the newest avalanche victim. Nothing supporting it now!

The Lake!

Friday night we FINALLY were able to go boating. I have been DYING to get out on the lake. Already this year we've had to cancel two boating trips because of the monsoons that we've been having here....NOT FUN. Steve and Jamie are so AWESOME to take us out! I have to say that I am way out of shape, because I am sore from the 5 minutes of skiing/wakeboarding that I did! Kip and Sier have always LOVED being on the boat, and they are starting to know how to run the boat...so they think. They have made huge progress since last year because they actually wanted to swim off the back of the boat! They have NEVER wanted to do that before. All of the adults just sat and watched in disbelief. Kip rode the knee board, and can't wait to do it next weekend at Yuba...so excited for that.

Swim Lessons

Kip took swimming lessons last year, and let me tell you he didn't learn nearly as much as I thought he did. This is the link for my post last summer about them.... http://phisterphamily.blogspot.com/2008/07/swimming-lessons.html

Anyway....if the truth be known, last year he really didn't learn anything. The teacher NEVER watched anything the kids did, the only thing he got any better at was hanging onto the wall. While he was of-track last time I signed him up at South Jordan Community Center...The teachers there are sooo much better. He can FINALLY swim! Which is a HUGE thing, because my kids for some reason are afraid of the water. They really are...don't let any of my posts fool you. When you see pictures of my kids on a tube, or skiing; you have NO idea how many bribes were made, and tears were shed. They do fine on a boat or on a beach, but to actually be in the water terrifies them. Kip does okay in a swimming pool, as long as he is in arms reach of either Mark or me. Sier will just sit on the step in a pool and not get in any deeper. Last year Kip finally has found faith in his life jacket, and will swim around in that at a pool. Actually, they are getting better at being around water, it's just the first 3 years of their life they HATE it. Siers favorite place on earth is Seven Peaks, so he must like water a little bit. And Kip has some kind of Thrill Seeker side to him because he will go down any water slide, and ride any roller coaster. So FINALLY my kids are enjoying the water! Sier started swimming lessons just the other day, and I'll post about that when he's done. ( he LOVES them).

So, way to go Kip...You've done an awesome job and I can't wait until August when you start the lessons again! (we're taking a break for summer time fun.)

White Sox

KIP'S DONE WITH MACHINE-PITCH!!! He did so awesome, and it was a lot of fun to watch. After one of the games he asked me..."Mom, what was I for?" I had no idea what he was asking me! Then he started telling me that he hears his dad after he plays softball say he was "2 FOR 3" or "3 FOR 3"....then I got it! He did really well...some games he hit every time, and others he missed a few. There were 3 or 4 games in a row where he didn't miss the ball.

He had a great coach again! The same one that he's had since t-ball!! Thanks Cory for being such a good coach...and sorry for probably being the biggest pain-in-the-butt parents on the team. We can't wait for next year when Mark can help Cory coach them in REAL BASEBALL! I can't believe we're done with year 4 in Riverton baseball and Kip will have to try out next year!

Cincinnati Reds

T-Ball is OVER!!!! Oh, so sad... I love watching my kids learn and participate in different activities. Mark is hanging up his hat in coaching T-Ball...a 4 year streak will get ya pretty worn out. I have to say, he has it down to a science though! Our team was BY FAR the most focused and organized team in the league this year, that's what 4 years of experience will do for you! Next year, it's off to bigger and better things (coach pitch).
Mark had his BFF cousin JR as his assistant coach since his daughter, Lauren, wanted to play. We had 3 girls on our team this year, and they were stinkin' cute. We were also lucky to have Conner, who is my cousins son, on our team as well! This year we had a fun team of kids...most of them knew each other and they all had a ton of fun together. Sier is so excited for Coach Pitch next year and loves Kip to pitch to him in the back yard.
So until next Spring...I can't wait....(for their hats to STOP pushing their ears down!)

I'm freakin' bald!

A lot of you have seen Sier in the past week, so you know this story. But for those of you who haven't seen him...let me explain.
My kids have needed haircuts in a bad way for the last few weeks. I only take them to get their haircut about once a year, and I do it the rest of the time...I admit that I'm too cheap to pay for haircuts when I can do them myself.
Well, Kip and Sier both knew that any day we would be cutting their hair because they kept telling me "Mom, I don't want you to buzz my hair." The were so clear that they didn't want buzzes. The night came to cut their hair, and we were on the back porch with Sier sitting on the stool and he saw my put the #1 on the clippers and he said "You better not be doing it bald"....We fought about it the whole time I was cutting his hair. Of course when Kip came out and saw it he had to make a big deal about it.
I finished Siers hair, and Kip was climbing up on the stool when we heard Sier SCREAMING from his room like a LITTLE GIRL..."WHAT THE FREAK DID YOU DO TO MY FREAKIN' HAIR?" It was hilarious! He threw a tamtrom for over an hour. He was crying, screaming, and rolling around. It was the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. And guess what? After a couple of hours he was over it...well, as soon as I told him that he has a good, round head for a buzz and Kip doesn't because his is flat. But Kip doesn't know that...so keep it on the DL (down low). (Dad, that means don't tell Kip he has a flat head, because I just know he'll cry about it, and then you'll have to deal with it!)
The whole thing was so funny to watch, I'm sure all the neighbors outside were peeing their pants listening to Sier yell at me while I was cutting Kips hair. I think everybody should see some movie of some of the drama. ENJOY!

Little Sahara

Last weekend we wanted to go boating so bad. About a month ago I "saved the date" on my father-in-laws calender so that we would go....but the weather just hasn't been good enough, and I didn't want to drag everybody along to be freezing cold just so I could get me fat butt in the water. So we went to plan B. What is plan B? Plan B is Marks favorite thing to do in the Spring and Fall....the SAND DUNES! Okay, really...we haven't been for about two years. Life changes when you have kids and have to sell all of your toys. Kip & Sier are the lucky ones who have a four wheeler at this house.
We drove down Friday night and came home Sunday afternoon. The weather was perfect...even though I was freezing when I woke up on Saturday morning. It was really everything you'd expect the Sand Dunes to be....hot, sandy, dusty, and fun. The kids had a fun time at Camp, but they loved riding around in the Ranger. We White Trashed it up a little bit, and zip-tied the big Hawaiian vinyl table cloth to the top of it to provide a little shade..... we got a lot of people looking at us, but don't knock it tell ya try it people, it was a huge lifesaver!
We made the best fire pit ever. We drove everywhere in search of just the right rocks...really it was just another excuse to go cruz around and waste a few hours. We also played "Name who Sings it". The first person who names who sings the song gets a point. It's a game Mark started playing a few years ago with some guys at work while they'd be listening to the radio. But, we forgot our radio, so we made up a different version of it (which I thought was a ton of fun, and I hope to play it more often while we're camping). So we had an ipod that we passed around, and the person had to sing along with the song, and the other people had to guess who sung it. Let me tell you it's nice that none of us could really sing! I'll never forget Jamie singing the Aerosmith song, or Jesse singing "I started these gangster hits". I think Jesse ended up winning.
Needless to say we had a good time, and everybody was safe. The four-wheelers ran, and the 5th wheel is the only way to go...I could live the rest of my life without sleeping in another tent at the Sand Dunes. Some other things I learned this weekend are....little boys don't mind putting their faces in the sand.... picnic tablecloths make great shades....pipes on a four wheeler can still burn your leg even if it doesn't actually touch you...."virgin" margaritas taste great....I have a very patient husband....Steven and Jamie actually do fight....you can make "sand angels" that look just as good as "snow angels"....we'll always have to wait for Kurt....and I have the most patient husband in the world. Thanks Jesse, Kurt, Jamie, Steven, Mark, Kip, and Sier for such a great time!

Kindergarten Program

Kip had his Kindergarten Program last week....and it was so cute. They did a "fashion show", and sang some songs. For the fashion show the kids got to wear whatever they wanted. Kip wore his Baseball Shirt. . .(if I was to do it again, he would have worn his whole uniform.) All his friends looked so cute all dressed up. The songs were hilarious!!! I have to show you some of the videos...I watch them all the time, and it's starting to make him mad because he thinks I am laughing AT him, not WITH him. I LOVE KIP!