The Local Zoo

Our zoo had a temporary dinosaur exhibit, with dinosaurs that moved and roared.

Ava is not so sure of the moving dinosaurs.

This one was the kids' favorite.  It seemed like a nice dinosaur and it roared softly and cocked its head to the side.

The kids were not a fan of this one. It showed these smaller dinosaurs attacking a larger dino.  Kailyn said it was going to give her nightmares.

Kailyn digging for bones.

Caden

Jordan helping Chase do a crayon rub of a dinosaur. Doesn't Chase look so excited?

Ava doing her new thing. She loves to do an exaggerated "oh."

Ava getting friendly with the cheetah.

The more the merrier.

Ava showing you the rhino.

Jordan, hatching from an egg.

Chase, Caden, and Ava going for a pretend elephant ride.

Misc May Pics

Planting our garden. Caden and Chase planted tomatoes and carrots. Jordan planted sweet peppers, zucchini, and cucumbers. Kailyn planted butternut squash, spaghetti squash and basil. They have been wedding their own boxes and Caden was so excited this week when he found 3 tomatoes starting to grow. The wind has already killed a couple of our plants (ugh!). Hopefully, we'll get a good crop.

Ava loves our neighbor's slide. The only way to get up is by a scary ladder (at least that's how I feel about it when Ava is climbing up it) but she loves it and will do it over and over. She also loves their swing.

The 3 big kids have been taking swimming lessons. Caden is making big improvements. He stays a float on his own and he is getting better at his circle arm movements. He is pictured here in the middle with the blue goggles. He has loved swimming lessons and just loves the water.

Caden's Pre-K Graduation

Preschoolers are about the cutest things on earth. Caden is definitely cute. He gets so excited about things he can hardly contain himself. He recently had his preschool graduation. He was so excited.

Coming in wearing his safari hat.

Love his smile (he is in the middle with the blue shirt and yellow tie, which by the way he was SOOO excited to wear to school)

He is ready for Kindergarten (please ignore the thing growing out of his head, should have checked the background)

On the left is his teacher Miss Kim and and on the right is the teacher assistant Miss Becky.

Shelly Got a (short) Break

First, we took wood from the handy-dandy overhead wood-holder that Ken made awhile ago.

Then we made this nifty bike organizer (Shelly is going to be so happy).

What was Shelly up to? Shopping till she dropped. She is not a fan of shopping, but is willing to go if she can go kidless (FYI: 2/3 of the stuff she got was for the kids).

Daddy Gets to Dance!

Our ward had an adult dance. There was a live band, decorations, and food.

Arriving at the church.

OK Ken, I don't think we need any more pictures of me.

Ken and me. Ken and to go into work so we had to leave early. I'm glad we went even if it was only for a little bit.

The school district does a daddy daughter dance. At first it didn't look like they were going to be able to go but thank goodness plans changed and they were able to go. I guess it is a really big deal around here. Some girls get brand new dresses for the event and some even arrived in a limo. We were a little more low key.

Being so dressed up, Ken decided he wanted to take the girls to one of the nicer restaurants for dinner.  When they arrived in the parking lot (which is part of a shopping complex with other restaurants), Jordan, seeing one of the neighboring restaurants, said, "Dairy Queen?!?!  Yay!!"  At this point, Ken decided fast food would be a lot cheaper and make the girls much happier.  So, they went out for fast food (sorry, Ken).

Yes, our kids love ketchup it is quite embarrassing.

Jordan had suggested Burger King 'since the other places might be too messy.' Yes this is Kailyn with Ketchup on her face (and later on her dress).

Jordan even got ketchup on the table even though she was trying so hard to eat and not make a mess.

The highlight of the night is always the balloon drop. I guess all of the girls stood under the balloons for 15 minutes and refused to leave to dance, just waiting for the balloons to actually drop.

There were tons of treats to be had.

Jordan was in sugar heaven.