Our secret tree

My kids found a 'secret tree' two summers ago and ask if they can go there frequently.  It's not really a secret, as it runs along the canal and the busy road just outside our neighborhood but for my kids, there is something magical about this tree.  A few nights ago, Jace and Baylie wanted to ride their bikes to the tree and they begged me and Chris to go along.  Chris had been to this tree before but for me, it was my first time.  Baylie asked me not to post on my blog about this tree because everyone would then know about it -funny girl!

Here is Jace jumping a little dirt 'hill' (a small bump really) on the way to our secret tree

There she is, in the distance!

With all it's leaves and branches, you can't see the magic hidden inside!

Jace throwing something into the canal - under the tree

Climbing

Stopping for a pose - this little boy is a total poser!

Chris and Jace

Baylie and Jace enjoying a seat in the tree

 
Peek-a-boo, I see you!

This is a little rope thing that helps the kids climb up into the tree -

Baylie

Jace jumping into Chris' arms from the tree

Baylie's turn

After about 20 minutes of climbing up and down, jumping out and throwing things into the canal, it was time to head back home
Here are Chris and Baylie hopping on their bikes - a little side story of the bikes, my bike had a hole in one tire so Chris let me ride his bike and he rode one of the kids' bikes - yep, best guy ever! This isn't a great picture of him on the bike, but he really did look funny on a small bike!

It was fun to finally see the secret tree and watch the kids enjoy it so much!  With all the branches hanging so low, one wouldn't know the mysteries that lie inside this tree as they just drive by on the road, so I guess it is our little secret - It's a great climbing tree and it's always fun to throw things into the water, know wonder my kids love going there so much!

Subway.........eat fresh!

Kenna started her first job on May 25, the last day of school.  I had told her I would come in to take a few pictures for the blog and she threatened me that she would quit if I did.  I went in with an entourage of her Aunt Anjela, Carli (Anjela's sister), Lexie Stevenson (Anjela's cousin's daughter), Lindsay and Emily. I knew I had a better chance with people with me! I was right - Here she is and she's even smiling!

 

We ordered some cookies - raspberry cheesecake (DIVINE) so we actually had a point of going in.  Here she is getting a bag to put our cookies in

I will also add that Lindsay is working at Subway too - she is working at a different location than Kenna because they don't like siblings to work together.  She started on Memorial Day, May 28 - they both seem to like working at Subway. They trained at the same location but always different shifts, now there is one close to the house and that is the one where Kenna works. If they work a 4 hour shift, they get a free sandwich if they work a shorter shift they can have 2 cookies or a bag of chips and soda - For the first few days after Kenna started, she wouldn't take her free sandwich and we all thought she was nuts but she said  "working around all that food all day makes me sick!"  We told her to bring it home and someone would eat it, she never did but since she started closing and working 6-7 hour shifts, she eats them.  We are glad they are working and having responsibilities outside the house as well as learning to deal with their personal finances.  They've been good to put almost all their money in the bank for college, they keep enough cash to pay tithing and have a few spending dollars. The little kids always ask if we can get subway and go see whoever happens to be working.  I wish I would have taken a picture of the two of them the other day together after they got home, they do look cute in their uniforms!

Baylie loses another tooth

This isn't the first time Baylie has lost a tooth it is however, her first top tooth.  She was messing around with Gavin and Jace a few weekends ago when Anjela was visiting and she was running while holding a water bottle.  She ran into the glass door while the bottle was in her mouth and wah-lah, her loose tooth came right out.  It wasn't quite ready and it bled a ton! Aunt Anjela grabbed the camera and followed her getting these pictures.  At first she wasn't too scared and when we noticed all the blood, she got a little nervous and wimpery - she wouldn't let Anjela take any pictures at first.

Here she is as soon as she made it into the bathroom

Putting pressure on to stop the bleeding

Showing off her tooth

This is the cutest part of the whole thing.  Later that evening after she had gone to bed,  I went into the kitchen to get a drink and found this on the counter. In case you can't read her writing, it says, "touth ferary (fairy) plese (please) take this toth (tooth)" She messed up on  please (spelled it wrong anyway), scratched it out and wrote a 'P' with an arrow to where it was supposed to go and ended the note on the bag with an arrow pointing to the tooth.  I think this is so cute!

 
She is a beauty and we love her!!

I've still got it!

Anjela brought Gavin over to play with Jace last weekend since Kyton and Ali are with grandma and grandpa Root. The kids had so much fun together.  We were out watching the kids play on the trampoline, doing tricks and messing around when I decided to join them. 

This photo says it all, yep, I've still got it!

First game of the season

We are now underway in Jace's T-ball season.  He has games every Tuesday, Thursday and a few Saturdays during the month of June.  I snapped this cute picture at his first game of the season.  His buddy Tyler is behind him- these boys have such a great time together and they crack me up!

Here's to a great t-ball season!  I'm sure I will take more pictures and do another post later in season but I thought this was too cute not to share!

Spring recital

The girls had their Spring piano recital last Friday evening. Here they are in front of the piano gallery where their teacher holds the recitals. (look how funny the sign is, when I snapped the picture you can see Hey!!)  These girls have worked super hard on their songs and even though they don't like recitals, at all, they did great!  Ali was already gone with grandma and grandpa Root so she was happily off the hook for this recital.

Here is Emily introducing herself and the piece she will play....

Playing her piece was, Tarantella Brilliante

Kenna

Playing, 'Reflections of the heart' by Martha Mier

Lindsay

She played, Bumble Boogie by Louis Busch

Chris wasn't able to make it to the piano recital as it was at 4:30 in the afternoon. I recorded each of them with my phone so I could text him and he could watch it.  Emily and Kenna's went through without issue. When I went to text Lindsay's piece, my phone told me it was too long and that I could only send a clip from the video I took!  We laughed about it because her piece was LONG, it was just under 7 minutes!! 

Here, Jeni has called Lindsay up afterward to give her a special gift.  This was Lindsay's last recital and she wanted to acknowledge Lindsay for her efforts over the years and tell her how much she would miss teaching her and encouraged her to continue on, even at college.  She gave Lindsay her favorite book of Jon Schmidt's piano arrangements.

Here are the 3 girls with Jeni -

The girls did a great job at the recital and every time I go, I am more and more impressed with how each of them has progressed throughout the year. Yes, I hear them practicing at home but it's just a bit different to hear them 'perform' in front of others.  Lindsay has gotten more comfortable in her abilities and has volunteered several times to play in sacrament meeting. This was another 'last' where she is concerned, the last time I will go to a piano recital and she won't be playing. On a happy note, Baylie will take Lindsay's spot in piano lessons with Jeni this fall!