First Day of First Grade

MaCayela had her first day of first grade yesterday. She has been very excited about school coming and being there all day. She has Mrs. Fullmer and decide already that she is the best.


She was given a entry test on Monday that the teacher was very impressed with her and where she is, she completed without any hesitation all the sounds and words on the first list. Mrs Fullmer then decided to let her try out the second list of words and she did them all with only some slight hesitation on a couple of them. MaCayela then completed all the numbers given to her up to the last one which she replied "One Hundred and a Two", it was 1002. Not bad sense we have really worked on the thousands if figured.

Nap time Dallin style...

The other day was a crazy one for us with lots of errands and things to do. The last one on our list was Target and by this time it was about 2:00. Which is 2hrs after Dallins nap time and with Dallin he really likes his naps and most of the time goes and takes them without me ever telling him it is time. But this day I was so pleased with him for being such a good sport and no major breakdowns until we hit the "Thomas the Train" isle at target, (and boy I tried to walk past that isle REALLY fast and he still saw it!!) "TRAINS MAMA", "TRAINS MAMA" that is all I heard (and the rest of the people in the store) for the next couple mins. while I was looking for something else. So being the sucker that I am I told him if he would just be good for 5 more mins we would look at the trains. He was good so we went to look, and lo and behold they were clearanceing out some of the Thomas stuff, so again being the sucker that I am told him for being so good today he could pick out one to take home. He picked out this like train wash thing and held it to him like it was his lost teddy bear. He would barely let the checkout lady scan it and then readjusted his hold on it. Being that it was now close to 3:00pm and he was exhausted I figured that he would have no problem taking a nap. Boy was I wrong... Not that he was naughty, but I let him hold his new toy for his nap and when I went to check on him this is what I found...

He was still being so good and quiet, but he was playing with his toy.

Happy BIG 4-0!!!

Yes, that is right, Corey is forty!!!

He didn't want anything big for his birthday, and since we don't know many people here it was kinda easy to oblige him on that one. (now if we were still in Calif. that would be a different story!) On Sunday when we were talking the only comment Corey said was I really don't want black balloons hanging everywhere. So we also obliged on that one. BUT he didn't say anything about anything else but black balloons!!! So we put banners up on the garage, wrote on all the windows of his truck, and put streamers all though the house. (I did all that after he went to bed Mon. night) We even got up early and made him breakfast in bed. All in all it was lots of fun for the family, and the kids loved all the fun decorations they got to help with.



We actually got all his windows, but the pics didn't turn out that great.

The back window said" Happy 40 Sweetie" ~ I think he was hoping there wouldn't be any #'s anywhere.

All the neighbors got to know that it was his birthday, that really made him happy.

To help him keep his youthfulness Corey got a whole bunch of Nerf dart guns to play with the kids with.

I just want Corey to know that the kids and I love him so much. He really is the best husband and dad in the world and we appreciate all that he is and all that he does for us.

Summertime!!!

This summer we really have been busy when it comes to going somewhere on the weekends. (or I was laid up and couldn't do anything even though we were home.) So we decided that since we were home for the weekend we should have some fun with the Water slide, a BBQ, and homemade ice cream. (In our family nothing says summer like a BBQ with homemade ice cream and some water fun.) We are still getting to know some of our neighbors so we invited the Jaffa Family down and then Corey's brother Darcy and his family came up. The kids had a blast going on the water slide until they were literally BLUE from the cold water and the adults enjoyed just sitting and talking.

I gotta tell a funny from a kids mouth though.... Corey visited Ella's Salon last week at the ranch and she painted his toes a deep purple color. Thinking that I had polish remover at home he didn't seem to worry about it. When it came time for him to remove the polish, I remembered that we had used the end of it and not gotten more yet. So Corey had to put on his flip flops with his purple toes.....
Elise: (in a very quiet voice as to not bring attention to the conversation or offend Corey if he overheard.) Annaleesa, Does your husband know that his toes are painted.
Me: Yes.
Elise: Why are your husbands toes painted?
Me: Ella painted them the other day, when you were little didn't you ever paint your dad's toe nails?
Elise: Oh no, we didn't ever paint my dad's toes. (Then she tells me very matter of factually) Boys are not suppose to have painted toes.
She was so cute with her ways, that it just made me laugh. ..... I am glad to say that we did get some polish remover and took the purple polish off of his toes.



From the top... MaC, Faith, Cole and Elise Jaffa

Talia and Jensen Hanks

Cole Jaffa making a splash. (I can't even count how many times he tried to get an adult to stand at the end of the slide to watch him know he would soak them, He was a crack up!)

My little Ella Bella just Freezing after playing in the cold water.

Weekend at the Ranch...

We go down to visit Corey's parents quite often lately and the kids are loving all the fun of it each time. They have gotten to see different seasons and chores that are on the ranch. They love going to check on the animals and seeing how much the chicks, pigs and calf's have grown since the last time we were there. They also enjoy going to see what grandpa Walt is doing out in the fields. (This time he was cutting the hay) This past weekend as we went to the ranch it was fun for the kids to get to know their cousins again. The cousins live in Boston and spend summers down at the ranch, but it has been two years since we have been at the ranch at the same time.



MaCayela driving the mule over to rescue Corey and I from having to walk back across the fields.

Corey and I moving sprinklers so the hay can get cut.

The kids think it is so funny that the tire on the tractor is so big... Ella says it makes them look so small.

Ella, Dallin, MaC up in the tractor with Grandpa Walt. All they wanted to do is ride with him while he was cutting the hay.

Ella giving her try at driving the mule, she definitely needs some lessons before going off the farm, we were ALL over the road.

Ella and MaC getting lessons from Corey on the art of Badminton

While there it was Grace's 7th birthday. (her and MaC are just months apart and had a great time playing together.)

Ella giving Grandma Shirley a makeover while she relaxes. (I would show you the after pics, but I promised grandma I wouldn't post them.)

It's a....

We are excited to announce that we are having a....

BOY...
(I am sure someday he will be so glad that I posted this lovely picture of him in all his glory)

The girls are so excited for it to be a boy, they think that maybe then Dallin will leave them alone when they play because he can play with the other boy they say. We actually took the kids with us to the ultra sound and the girls were thoroughly fascinated with the fact that you could see inside my tummy. They got really good a telling what was what and picking out the heart. The most exciting part for them and they asked the dr a couple of times for it was the sound of the heart beat, that they just loved.

The baby is doing well and expected to come sometime in Nov. We are actually due around the 25th. (Right between Ella's birthday on Nov 7th and MaC's on Dec 4th) But I have been induced about 10days to 2weeks early with all of the others and the meds that I am on this time will most likely have it that way again. (I am hoping before the 20th so his birthday won't ever be on Thanksgiving.)

To the BEST....

I have the best girls in the world!! These two have been fantastic lately. I have been down and out with a herniated disc in my back since June 30th. I have barely been able to get out of bed let alone walk. My two girls have been amazing though. MaCayela has taken to doing the laundry at our house, she can load the washer, start it, and then switch it to the dryer (she is even better at remembering to clean out the lint trap then I am). She is just like me in the since she does not like to fold and we have about 9 loads of laundry to fold sitting in the family room. She has also stepped up in getting breakfast and lunch out for the kids and then helping with Dallin and his baths and dressing him daily. Ella has taken on changing his diaper (as long as it doesn't stink she says) and keeping the kitchen and family room picked up. They have also helped with running up and down the stairs for all the little things that mom might want and help with all that I have tried to do.

These two girls really are amazing girls to have taken all this on and at such a young age. It has been about 10days of this and they have rarely complained about it at all. They really are troopers and fantastic little girls.

July 4th...

I have been down flat on my back for about a week and a half not doing much of anything, so 4th of july was not anything big for us this year. We did enjoy some time neighbors and the fireworks that they set off... and of course the sparklers.........

MaCayela showing off her mad sparkler skills

Elise Jaffa (in the red) and one of the other neighbors... can't quite tell who.

Fresno

The second week that we were in California was spent just catching up with friends and family. We had sleepovers at Auntie Karyns house, play dates with friends, shopping for earrings with auntie and grandma, and catching up on some pool time. (nobody in Ut has a pool that we know, and the fact that it has rained for the last 3weeks and is raining while we are in CA doesn't lend as well to pool time either.) Mom (me) got to have a fun night out with girlfriends to see a movie and dessert. (Thanks DeLynn for babysitting) We enjoyed BBQ's and Farmers Market with the family and friends and I even got to get my toes done. It really was a fun time that went by all to fast.

~Fun at Auntie Karyns~


Dallin playing in the hose

Ella, Katy and Mac playing pool games

Dallin and Trevor watching morning cartoons.

~Play dates with Friends~


Mason Sapp and Ella ~ The Bestest of Friends

Spencer Folsom and MaCayela ~ MaC's first boyfriend from Kindergarten

Hannah DeWitt and MaCayela ~ Truly Best Friends

~BBQ and swimming at Papa and Grandmas~


Hannah DeWitt, MaCayela, Mason Sapp and Ella

The Girls playing in the pool

Mason and Ella after a long day being asked to smile

Hannah and Mac tired and worn out taking time for some TV

A horrible picture of LaShay and Myself, but it was the only one I got between her visit to Utah in May and ours here.

The girls and Mason have a sleepover!!

~ My fun Pedicure Day~

~ Farmers Market ~


The real reason we go to farmers market is not the produce, but the shaved ice. Ella and Virginia Belair

Dallin enjoying his treat

Virginia and Don Belair, Dallin and Grandma

The California Ground Pounders

Don and MaCayela trying out their dance moves

More precious than RUBIES...

I got the great opportunity to go see my Young Women from our old ward (and stake) while they were at camp this year. I have truly loved girls camp over the years and all that it does to strengthen the YW and their testimonies. This year one of my cute Laurels was called as the Youth Director for our stake. She is a sweet girl with a magnificent testimony and understanding of our true Individual worth. Miss Kaylee has worked hard this year along with all the other seniors to bring a message of love from our Heavenly Father. The girls chose for the theme of camp this year... More Precious than Rubies. I was amazed at the way these seniors loved and showed the other girls how their Heavenly Father thought that each and every one of them is worth more than all that the world has to offer. These girls are an incredible group of girls that will go forth in this world and make a difference to all around. {Kaylee Christiansen and me}

The other fortunate part of being able to go up to camp was to see my dear friend Danielle Lewis. This sweet sister has loved and touched the lives of many girls and leaders over her nine years as camp director for our stake. She is a remarkable women that loves with no boundaries these girls that she works with. She teaches them to become great women and leaders. She will be missed as camp director but will always leave her influence on what she has done for camp and the girls and leaders that have attended with her. I know that I have learned much from her and will take it with me forever.

I would say that the girls were surprise to see that I was there, in that I hadn't told any of them I was coming to town. It was fun to hang out with them and see the Survivor Challenge. Where in my dad (as a bishop) got to take his turn in eating a cricket. (yeah right... him and bishop Rasmussen just seem to lose those out the side of their hands... haha) The other great part is I was there for testimony meeting to see how this girls grew and strengthened themselves and each other. I will say these young women are amazing in who they are and what they have to offer each of us.

Kaylee Christiansen, Jessica Smith, and Page Bartyn
Some of my old Laurels

I am still looking for pics of some of our other cute girls so I might have to edit this post as I find them.

BEACH DAY in AVILA

Wyatt, Karyn and Katy came out to spend a day at the beach with the rest of us. Since Pismo was cold and windy we decided to head up to Avila for the day. The kids absolutely loved it and couldn't get enough of it. Ella did say that she would like it better if there wasn't so much sand at the beach, then it wouldn't get in her eyes so much.


MaC kicking some booty at the arcade at the RV resort while we were waiting for Karyn and Wyatt to come in town.

Wyatt giving Ella some pointers at pool.

Ella, MaCayela, Katy & Trevor, They ran toward the water before we could even get their shirt and shorts off most of them.

Dallin and Mommy (& Mac), this is about as close to the water as he wanted to get, He would just scream if I set him down in the water.

Needless to say Ella's swimsuit was loaded with sand!

MaCayela and Mommy got their Sand Castle building groove on!

Dallin Happy as could be as long as he was just in the sand with his toys.

Dallin was fascinated with the kites that my dad had been flying so we thought we would try our hand at flying the little cars one...

As you can see, my dad is much better at the kite flying then I am, and Dallin loved just sitting with papa flying kites.

Grandma and Ella trying to warm up from the water.

MaC holding on a star fish that someone brought by on their way to taking it to another area that it could live.

Ella getting her turn at holding the star fish.

The beach is something I truly miss living in Utah. I'm glad that we had the chance to go while we were in CA. The kids enjoyed getting to spend time with family they had not seen in a while and had a blast having Katy ride home with us that day in that they all got to rock out and sing along to Hannah Montanna CD's.