Great Day!

Today was a crazy busy but WONDERFUL day! I didn't get very much accomplished but sure did a lot! We experienced a lot of "FIRST'S" today. Bought Mason his first official pair of swim shorts, Callie said "goggles", and Noah floated on his back for like 15 seconds today!!!!!

We went swimming 4 times! Yep! That's right 4 times today! (Ok, I'm counting Mason's swim team this morning as one of the 4 but I had to stand by the pool with a stopwatch for 30 mins. so IT COUNTS!) Mason has his first swim meet tomorrow and I'm super nervous for him! Not that he really cares. All he talks about from swim team is his "girl friend". He can't ever remember her name but he points her out to me EVERY day at swim team practice. She is a cute girl but the ONLY 5-6 yr. old that wears a bikini. (Not judging, I just just find it funny and I don't think that is a coincidence!) I asked Mason why he called her his girfriend and he replied "Because she's a girl".
In the car he had the following conversation with my mom (Grandma Faler):
Grandma - "Ok Mason. We are gong to your friends house." Mason- "Yes. I have lots of friends..." (he lists about 5 friends) then says, "And I have a girlfriend too." Grandma- "Oh. You do. What's her name?" Mason- "I don't remember." Grandma- "What's do you like about her?" Mason- "Her swimsuit." Grandma- "What else do you like about her?" Mason- "Her swimsuit."

And I'm happy to report that all 3 of my children went to bed tonight with out a peep!!!! They were out fast! If swimming 4 times in one day is what does the trick then I just might repeat this schedule over and over again! :)

Girls Camp!

Thankss to my wonderful husband and family that helped watch my children, I was able to go to Girls' Camp this year! This was my first year ever going the whole week (after 4 years in YW's it's about time!) Such an amazing experience too! The theme for Girls' Camp this year was S.W.A.T. Service With out A Trace! D & C 24:7 We focused on teaching them to serve and the blessings that come from giving service. I was with the 4th yr girls so we didn't experience main camp until the last night. Such amazing teenagers! I will admit that it took me back to the years of attending my own YW's camp as a youth. I even felt like I was one of the girls at times. We got to go repelling, hiked to a cave, shooting, played capture the flag for literally HOURS, canoeing, ...

Bro. Jensen teaching us how to make survival bracelets.

Of course I stayed up way too late playing games and socializing.

For the first time in my life I pulled a trailer! I know they were silly little port-a-potties but still it's a trailer! I've never done this before and it scared me but I guess I can cross that off my bucket list! Haha

Mason's Preschool

Mason! Mason! Mason! I'm not sure where to start. I love this little man! He has such a fun loving, friendly and out going personality. I never have to worry about him making friends. He came home from the first day of preschool and told me about all his new friends (except one girl who said she didn't want to be his friend! haha!)

I really debated on whether or not to put Mason in a preschool program. I remember my own mother setting aside time and doing workbooks with me before Kindergarten to help prep me for school. So, in my own mind if my mother who raised 6 children can do that I should be able to also. WRONG! My mother never had Mason as a child! As wonderful as he is, he is definitely independent and stubborn. I can't tell you how many educatinal games, puzzles, toys, movies, and books I have bought. Mason loves all of those things but the SECOND I would start to point out the "lesson" or "letter" he would shut down and walk away. It's almost like he was telling me "Oh, boy you tricked me, I don't want to learn anything right now, I just want to play!" It was very hard for me but I also didn't want to force Mason. So I put him in Ms.Christi's Preschool.

Even after just a couple weeks I noticed an immediate change in Mason. He would recognize more and more letters randomly in the grocery store or in books at home. He would tell me "That's the letter A. It says ahhhh..." I couldn't believe it! Before preschool Mason probably only knew about 10-12 letters, a few letter sounds, no numbers, and could only count to 10. Now he knows ALL his letters AND sounds, recognizes numbers 1-20, and can count to 30 (all by himself).

  Everyday he came home with the cutest little craft matching the "letter of the day". I wish I took more pictures, they were very creative!

Mason's Preschool Graduation!

Mason and his buddies Aidan, and Collin.

Mason and Ms. Christi!

Breanna (our WONERFUL "nanny"! She watches the kids while I work.) She is so sweet, she came to watch Mason graduate and got him the cute little headband!

April and May=Baseball!

 

Mason joined a coach pitch baseball league this year! We have never even put him in T-Ball before so this was an interesting experience for the whole family! We really learned a lot about what it means to be involved in sports AND we learned a lot about Mason. The past few months have consisted of weekly practices and Saturday games (HOT Saturday games EVERY Saturday at 1 or 2pm). I'm not super competitive so I didn't really have huge expectations for Mason. My main goal was to for him to get some exercise, make friends and for him to have FUN (while of course learning discipline and RULES of the game)!!! I have always said that Mason is my little energizer bunny. He has a short attention span so naturally he struggled a little with standing in the outfield and focusing on the ball.

He has improved since the beginning of the season. For example, during one of the first practices, when he was the runner on 1st base, the next batter hit the ball so naturally he started heading for 2nd base, passed it and kept running out field after the BALL!!!! Haha! Funny kid!

Mason and his All Star friend Weston Watkins!

The Watkin Family definitely made the HOT, HOT games more bearable!

Happy Mother's Day!

Had another wonderful Mother's Day! Got to sleep in a little, went to church, spent the day with Family and ate lots of sugar!!!!! My kids were pretty sweet to me all day too. Ron even kept Callie the whole 3 hours at church (Very generous considering Callie is AWFUL at church!).

Breanna (my wonderful sitter) helped the boys fill out a questionnaire about me this week. They surprised me Sunday morning with these papers. Too cute!

Noah was asked:
My mom likes to ____ feed Callie ____
My mom weighs _____ 10 lbs. ____
My mom like to help me ___ cleaning the dishes___
(This last one is my favorite) My mom is the best at ___ the gym ___ haha! Too funny, when I get home from the gym Noah always asks me if he can feel how sweaty I am.

Mason was asked:
My mom likes to ___ make stuff ___
My mom's birthday is on ___ maybe... in October?___
My mom was born in ___ a hospital in a tummy ____
My mom's favorite food is ___ salad ___
My mom is the best at ___ coloring ___

Noah Swimming!

Last week I started taking Noah to the pool regularly to teach him to swim. Initially I was very hesitant about doing this. Noah is very different from Mason (not necessarily a bad thing just different!) He needs to do things in his own time and his own way. If it's not his idea, it's usually not a good idea. Translation: He is NOT very adventurous. Our first couple of lessons were a little rough, he pretty much screamed the whole time (which really was only a 5-7 mins "lesson"). The funniest part of our first few "sessions" is how AFTER it was over he would go on and on about his accomplishments for that lesson and how fun it was!!! This kid cracks me up.

Now week are going on week 2 of lessons and already he can monkeywalk all around the edges of the pool. He is really good and grabbing the side of the pool if his hands are knocked away, and (drumroll please) he can float on his back ALMOST entirely without my help (I usually only hold the back of his head with 2 fingers and let go occasionally.) I am pleasantly surprised at how well things are going and I am very proud of him. Noah is also proud of himself, he tells strangers at the store or random kids that he can float like an airplane all by himself. I love it!

Callie's Dance moves!

OK! This girl CRACKS me up! Doesn't matter what music is playing or even what she is doing, she starts JAMMIN out!!! I love it!!!!
Ron says we need to correct some of her dance moves. They are a little questionable! I think she is absoluetly adorable!!!!

I love this video. She is trying to play the Wii game Just Dance 3!!!

First thing in the morning, while drinking her spinach smoothie she doesn't stop dancing!

Not sure where she got this move...? :)