School Daze

School started on Monday and even though my kids have only been out for two weeks, I was ready for them to go back. They were actually all ready early so we got there on time. As we were walking to the school I asked Kaylee and Ashton if I could give them a hug or if they were to old for that kind of stuff. Ashton said she wanted a hug but Kaylee, who was already walking about ten feet in front of us said something I couldn't hear which I took to mean NO WAY! I was okay with that though because I said loudly, "that's okay no one needs to know your mother loves you!" Got to love these prepubescent years (I'm sure it will only get better when she's a teenager). On the way to school Dalin kept taking his shoes off and when Kaylee told me it happened again I said that's because he's a punk. He then replied by making a spitting noise and saying, "I spit my punk out!" He sure knows how to use humor to get out of trouble. The rest of the kids thought this was hi-lar-i-ous and they have been trying to get him to repeat it all week. He's now added a warning of "watch out for my punk" after he spits it out. That kid cracks me up!

I forgot to take the first day of school picture at home, so this is right after we got out of the car at the school.

The girls go to a different school than Aiden (it's next door and it's grades 3-5), and they don't let the parents come into the classroom on the first day, so I only have Aiden at his desk. Isn't he too stinkin' cute!

Tourists for a day

Chris had the day off on Monday and he decided we should be touristy and head out to the strip. I've lived here my entire life, and this is the first time I have ever been to the Las Vegas sign.

We saw giant watering cans and a garden ferris wheel

and birds (they're behind the glass)

Bears

and giant M&M's

It was a lot of walking but I think we all had fun. When we came out of the Belagio garden we had just missed the water show (my favorite thing in Las Vegas). By the time we were ready to go home nobody wanted to walk back to the Belagio parking garage (Chris took the monorail back to get the car then came to pick us up) so we didn't get to see the dancing waters. Maybe we'll have to brave the Las Vegas heat and the overcrowded strip again soon, or not so soon.

Cousins!

On Tuesday we had our third annual back to school cousin shopping date, and as always we had so much fun!

We started with dinner at Red Robin, where Red himself joined in on the fun.

Then we cruised the mall for a while. I think the girls main goal on these trips is to find matching shirts, but they couldn't find one they could all agree on so they settled for matching necklaces instead.

I wish I had taken more pictures, but the best part is the conversations the girls have with each other on the drive to different stores. Pictures can't really capture girls being silly together so I guess it's okay. We love our cousins!

Da-Da-da-da

That's the beginning of the wedding march in case you couldn't tell. Last week my brother Jordon got married, that only leaves Austin in the single category which is kind of crazy. We are excited to have Kortni in our family. She is a great girl and after spending many hours decorating together we know she comes from a great family.

Jordon & Kortni with all of their nieces and nephews. Three of them are from Kortni's side, the rest are Hafen's. Notice Kimball trying to escape, it was kind of a theme for the evening.

Hafen nieces

Hafen nephews (I love Ericks face in this one)

I had to put this one in because there are no little kids trying to escape.

This is the best family picture we got before Aiden started doing bunny ears on the girls (what a stinker!)

Go Cougars!

We have the privilege today of having a slumber party where I get to hang out with 5 cool dudes (Our 2 sons Aiden and Dalin, and their cousins Scott, Kyle, and Jayden). So what do you do for fun with five boys under 6 years of age? Teach them the BYU fight song of course. I had to do this for those who are not fortunate to learn the song in their own homes.

Future Cougars

Schools out for summer! (or two weeks anyway)

School ended last Friday and with the end of the year comes programs, presentations and awards ceremonies. Ashton's class did a talent show where she was able to display her mad robot-dance skills. For some reason we didn't get any pictures of her, but it's just as well because she didn't want any pictures of it on the blog anyway (she was definitely the best robot).

Kaylee's G.A.T.E. class has been studying Greek mythology and they all picked a character to learn about. She picked Thalia the muse and she was really very clever, but you can't hear anything she is saying on the video. I may have to convince her to do an encore presentation. She also had an award ceremony that I completely forgot about, but she received the "three-peat" dog tag, which means she was on the honor roll three times in a row, and straight "A's" for the trimester.

We don't have any white sheets so Kaylee had a poka-dotted toga.

Aiden graduated from kindergarten and the clever music teacher put together "Boot Scootin out of Kindergarten" the musical. It's the same one they do every year, but it was still stinkin cute. Aiden wanted me to come to his class on the last day and he pulled the "You never came to my class the whole year" card on me so I relented. (Besides it was a half day of half day kindergarten so we were only there for 1 1/2 hours) I became a bit of a celebrity when I helped some of the kids make an autograph books and they all wanted me to sign my and Dalin's names in their books (sometimes fans can be so demanding).

Aiden was the duck on Old McDonald's farm

No shirt, no shoes no service...does that mean pants are optional?

We were able to travel to Salt Lake this past weekend to participate in some Romney celebrations. Chris's grandma had her 80th birthday celebration on the 31st. It was fancy shmancy, but unfortunately we were unable to attend the party. Chris and his coworker are the only two that cover the computers of the state in the Vegas valley and his coworker already had the day off so we couldn't get out of town soon enough to make it to the party. I was kind of bummed because I like having a reason to dress up, but we heard it was really nice anyway.

We got into Salt Lake around midnight, but shortly after we got off the freeway we realized we had a flat tire. A flat tire is an inconvenience, but it was a blessing that it didn't happen until after we exited the freeway and we were able to pull over in front of a park, so the kids were occupied (even if it was midnight). A nice couple on their first date pulled over to help us. I really hope things work out for them then we can be part of the wedding story. "I knew I loved you when you showed that family your selfless service..." Really I think they were trying to impress each other and we made for a good story, whether a wedding happens or not.

The next day there was an anniversary/reunion party. Chris's grandparents are celebrating 60 years together this year, wich is pretty amazing to think about. Chris and I only have to make it another 48 1/2 years to reach that milestone, (2057 here we come!) The party was at a nice park and there was good food and good company. There were games, and Grandpa Romney's favorite, races. I've heard the stories about how he always made his grandkids race, and I can tell he was loving watching the next generation in his posterity carrying on the tradition. There was a cute little stream at the park that my kids loved, and I love that they are at the ages where I don't have to worry too much about them. At one point I was at the picnic tables visiting and I turned around to see Dalin coming up the hill out of the stream. I continued my visiting and a few minutes later I hear "Mom-my, Mom-my." When I turned around, there was Dalin sans pants and underpants. I don't know which was funnier, his nudity or my reaction to his nudity. I jumped up and ran over to help him redress. I asked him why he took his pants off and he said "Aiden told me to take them off so they wouldn't get wet." It took a while but I finally convinced him to put his pants back on. (some how Aiden had more authority on the matter than I did) We then went to find Aiden and get an explanation. Aiden said he thought Dalin needed to go to the bathroom so he told him to hurry and take his pants off so they wouldn't get wet. (I'm not sure he connected the fact that he was actually playing in the same water he was telling Dalin to pee in.)

We spent the rest of the weekend visiting with my Aunt Mary Lou, (who is always a fantastic hostess) and Chris's family. We all had fun seeing Uncle Nick and Aunt Kim, who live in Provo. The kids and Chris especially loved getting rides on Uncle Nick's scooter and they are now trying to convince me that a scooter is essential to their happiness. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so I didn't get any pictures from the weekend, but I'm hoping to borrow some from other family members soon. It was a quick trip, but it was fun to see so much family and the kids traveled really well so it was a success and to quote Dalin when he gets to the end of a book "Amen."

Months in review

Apologies to all those in the blogging world for our lack of updates. We've had some technical difficulties here at Muckus.com (technically my husband was being difficult) but we are back to report our goings on.

Besides our June birthdays we were able to take a trip to San Diego where we went to Sea World (twice)...

And to a beautiful beach where we played with cousins...

The boys and Natalie went to a baseball game...

and the girls and Dalin went to Denny's, which is really more fun than it sounds when your cousins come along. (Sorry, no pictures, I'm getting worse about remembering the camera.)

The end of June and beginning of July brought track break, swimming and lots of sewing. My brother is getting married and I get a little too excited to have all of the girls match so I volunteered (yes volunteered) to make dresses.

There are six dresses here, but I made nine all together (don't be impressed, they were really easy). The wedding colors are brown and blue in case you couldn't tell.

So my friends you haven't missed much, but we are alive and trying to forget that it is 115* outside.