Back to school for Ashlynn

Ashlynn started school last week. She was so excited to see her friends that she met last year. Her friends are spread out over several different cities that commute to the dance preschool. So, we didn't get to meet up with them during the summer. Ashlynn goes to preschool 3 days a week for 3 hours. She has dance and tumbling included in the curriculum, they are getting ready for their Halloween performance. Ashlynn is not excited that she is going to be a scary mummy for the dance. If you know Ashlynn she is all about pretty and princess things. Since the kids are both gone in the morning I started walking in the morning with some friends. It is just a weird feeling not to have to push a stroller. This maybe selfish to say, but I am enjoying a few hours of just me time. We all need it, right?

Ashlynn on her first day of school with her poster all about her.

Ashlynn and Carter headed off to school. No, I did not plan them to match each other.


Ashlynn on her first day of dance. She was practicing her ballet poses.

Ashlynn and her Dad dancing together. So cute!

Silly Ashlynn...she loves to make people laugh.

Kite Festival

Above are pictures of Antelope Island's Hot Air Balloon and Kite Festival. The weather was a little unpredictable to launch the Hot Air Balloons so, we had fun flying the kids kites. There were some really neat kites being flown around. Carter and Ashlynn got the hang of flying kites pretty quick. Carter got his kite really high almost to the end of his string. He had fun! Ashlynn on the other hand was always on the look out for the dressed up buffalo walking around the park. She was deathly afraid of it. She was in panic mode when it got near her. I could feel her poor heart just pounding in her chest as she was crawling up me. She is very scared of anything dressed up in a costume with a mask. I am a little nervous how she is going to react at Disneyland in a few weeks. She has already told us that she doesn't want people dressed up in costumes to talk to her. We shall see! On the plus side we won't have to wait in lines to see the characters.

Back to School for Carter

I can't believe that Carter is in 1st grade. I still remember when he was in preschool just 2 years ago. He really likes his teacher because she is not a grandma (according to Carter). Also, he loves to eat lunch at school (what kid doesn't). The first week of school they had popcorn day, fruit salad day and if you know Carter this is his worst nightmare because he does not like fruit and can not even be by someone that is eating it or even smells like it. Then on Friday they had a "P" party. All the kids in the class brought food items that started with the letter "P".
It is definitely a change to have Carter gone all day long. I look at the clock at lunchtime and think Carter should be home by now. The house is so quiet. Ashlynn is having fun with helping me around the house and she just gets lost in her toys with no one to bother her. She starts school next week and she is very excited!

What fun is...

With Lagoon closing its weekday hours, due to school starting we spent this past week mostly at Lagoon. We went with some friends during the day and also had a boys night out with the Mom's. We had so much fun! Carter is now meeting most of height requirements for the big rides. So on our mom's night out, we took the older kids and headed out for a evening of big ride fun. Carter finally after several bribes (ie: dip n' dots, snow cones you name it I used it) rode the colossus roller coaster. He was very nervous about going upside down twice with the two loops, but he did it. Then, he got his Dip n' dots ice cream and wanted to ride it again. He now says that it is his favorite ride. Once again, we definitely got our use out of our passes this year. Now with fall coming we have Lagoon's Frightmare's to look forward to. I love the Halloween season and all that comes with it. Look at me, I am now skipping right to the next season. There is still some summer left. I hope all of you are having a terrific summer!

Fun in the Sun..

With summer vacation coming to a end this week, the kids have been swimming and enjoying the last few days of their vacation. I am sad that the summer went by so fast. We had such a late start with it raining most of June. We got this pool last year and didn't use it very much because it was little too deep for Ashlynn. This year the pool has been perfect. The kids have enjoyed using it and it gave them time to practice their swimming skills.

Swimming Lessons

Carter and Ashlynn had their swimming lessons for the last two weeks and I must say they both have improved tremendously with their swimming skills. Ashlynn is now moving up to the level 3 in the preschool level and Carter is going into the regular level 3 class. Ashlynn with her certificate and treat for finishing level 2.

The videos below are of Carter showing off his swimming skills. (Sorry, Ashlynn's class was to far away to get any videos) For those of you that don't remember Carter had a fear of water so bad that he could not take baths as a toddler, we would shower him and made sure water did not go in his eyes. He also had to take level 1 three times because he would not put his head under water. Look at him now! He absolutely loves to be in the water and he was the best swimmer in his class this year. Carter also jumped off the diving board and swam to the edge of the pool. I love that he has found something that makes him relax a little because he is such a nervous little kid. We are proud of both of the kids for learning how to swim. They are both so excited about swimming that they are starting their next levels next week.

Bear Lake Adventure

We spent the day at Bear Lake and had quite the show to watch. We were eating lunch at the marina and we heard that a truck was submerged under water from trying to launch a boat into the water. The truck and the boat trailer were completely under water. After a few tow trucks and scuba divers they were able to get them both out of the water. It was definitely entertaining to watch. According to one of the workers, this is a common procedure each weekend. Maybe, there should be a better process to get a boat in the water???

The most ironic part of the story is that we know the person that put the truck in the water. We ran into each other as we were watching the whole process. He apparently left his friend's truck in neutral as they were trying to unhook the boat from the trailer and you know what happened next...and yes I said he put "his" friend's truck and trailer in the lake. Yikes!

There is a video of the truck being pulled out of the water at the end of this post. I love the cheering heard in the background.

This is the truck being pulled out of the water. Then they had to stop because it was on its side and the boat trailer was coming out first. It had completely turned around in the water.
Here is the other tow truck to turn the truck upright to get it out of the water. The scuba diver that hooked the tow on said the truck was still running under the water.

Then, after all that excitement we went swimming in the lake. Carter & Ashlynn were having so much run riding the waves. The best part is that you can walk really far out into the water and Ashlynn could still touch the bottom.



The view of the lake. It was so relaxing sitting on the beach and looking out at the water. We will definitely visit this place again before summer is over!