Princess Make-Over Party!

For Mikayla's 5th birthday, we had a princess make-over party. Mikayla invited a few friends and we did their hair and make-up. Then, we went to a salon and had their nails painted. We came back home and they got to meet Princess Rapunzel (Leeann). She gave them cute princess lessons. It was a fun party for Mikayla. I can't believe she's 5.

Mikayla Turned 5!!

We have had a really fun, but dreadfully ordinary summer. Mikayla turned 5 on Monday and I can't believe it. She starts school in about 4 weeks. It will be so much fun for her. She is excited to ride the bus. She is dancing in the Bountiful Parade tonight with her dance company. She auditioned and made the competition dance team, which is exciting. She is loving playing in the sprinklers this summer.

Gweny is getting tall(er). She is also getting sassy. She insists on dressing herself and when we go to Mikayla's dance classes, she brings a pair of Mikayla's old ballet slippers and stands in the doorway and dances along with them. She can't start taking dance until she turns 3, so she still has 6 months of watching and doorway-dancing. She is a good girl and is learning so much.

Mikayla got a kitten from Jay and Leeann for her birthday. We named him Jasper. He's cute.

Josh is teaching summer school for a few more weeks, then will study for his test with only a few days before the regular school year starts. He is working hard. He also got a new job as the girl's basketball coach. That will be lots of fun.

Not much other news. Lame blogger lately. We took the girls to the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point. It was lots of fun. Here are some pictures!

Mikayla's Dance Recital

Mikayla had her big dance recital a few weeks ago. She did great. I have videos that I will post soon. Here are some pictures of her cute Dalmation costume!

Happy Father's Day, Josh!!

We love our Daddy!!! You are the best! We love you so much!

Bad Llama!

So, to be perfectly honest, absolutely nothing blog-worthy has happened to us in the last few months. We've just been busy with the lame, mundane same-ness of everyday living. You know..laundry, cleaning the kitchen floor (again), sick kids, more laundry... Josh is so busy studying for his test. He takes it next week. Leeann and I are planning on driving to Colorado to see my parents in a few weeks. Seriously, life has been BORING around here. So, until something interesting happens...I'm out!

Mikayla's latest words of wisdom "Mom, I'm a little grumpy today, so don't do anything to make me angry."

We're Back!!!

It's been a long time since I've blogged. I had PRK Laser Eye Surgery a few weeks ago and couldn't see very well for a few weeks, but things are better and I'm loving this no-glasses-or-contacts thing. We don't have a ton of news. Nothing new going on here, so here are some pictures of the girls.

Say "'Aye, Aye, Sir!"

I have to explain this video before you watch it. Josh told me to go stand in front of this building and to smile for the camera. I thought he was taking a picture. He was actually taking a video and had arranged this little stunt with the drill instructors before-hand. In hind-sight, I should have known suspected something due to the ugly and unrecognizable building that Josh randomly asked me to stand in front of. Oh well...

The Few. The Proud. The Marines

Here are the rest of the pictures from our trip. The second day there, we went to Miramar Air Station. They let us go into some of the helicoptors and look into the cockpits of the fighter jets. It was pretty cool.

We also got to meet Molly the Marine Mascot. She's a Corporal in the Marines. She was cute.

We also went to Camp Pendleton, where we saw an amazing demonstration of their amphibious tanks. They can be used like a boat for up to 7 hours and then drive 300 miles on land and be used like a normal tank. It was so cool.

We also saw the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor ceremony, which was one of the most touching things I have ever seen. There were about 300 recruits that had reached the end of boot camp. The last thing the recruits do is participate in the Crucible, which is 56 mile, three day hike with 80 pound backpacks, three meals for the whole time and three hourse of sleep per night. They have to take part in obstacle courses and carry their rifles the whole time. We watched them march down the mountain, set their packs down and then they were each approached by their drill instructor and called a Marine for the first time as they were presented with their Marine Pin. Every single Marine and most of the drill instructors cry through it. It was really amazing to see.

The next day, we watched the boot camp graduation.

I have certainly gained more respect for the Marines and all of the armed forces than I have ever had before. It really takes a selfless and amazing person to go through boot camp and then fight for the freedom of our country.

OoRah!

Josh and I are having a blast here in California! We came on a school trip for Josh's school to the Marine Recruiting Center in San Diego. The point is to teach educators about the Marines so that they can help direct the students who aren't sure what they are going to do with their lives. So, we arrived here yesterday and this morning, the loaded us up on a bus and when the bus stopped, a guy got on the bus and SCREAMED at us! He was a drill instructor and we got to experience what the first two minutes are like for a new Marine Recruit. We had to run off the bus, fall into formation, learn how to stand at attention, and fall in line, while being yelled and screamed at by scary drill instructors. It was so amazing. Then, they led us into this room where they said that that was the real first two minutes of Marine Boot Camp.

This is a picture of our drill instructor.

Then...

They brought us to this field where we learned some very basic marial arts, just some basic punches and we practiced in pairs with these big pad things and this drill instructor got right in my face and kept yelling, "PUNCH THROUGH HER! HARDER!!!! HARDER!!!!"

Then...

We went over they told us to put on some Marine pants, a shirt, vest, helmet and handed us a rubber rifle. We watched as four Marines worked through this obstacle course. Then, we had the option to try it and it turned out to be a lot of fun. I even made one of the drill instructors laugh when I accidently ran past a dummy without stabbing him with my rifle and the drill instructor yelled "GO BACK!! GO BACK!! YOU MISSED ONE!" and I was too tired, so I said, "Aww, just let that one live!!" Here are a few pictures. I'm sure I'll have more tomorrow.