I'm eating WHAT??!!

A few weeks ago we were eating something for dinner that was pretty hamburger-y.  Jared was kind of picking at his food and asked, "Mom, hamburger comes from cows, right?"  I tentatively said yes, not quite sure how he would react to that fact.  He seemed to be okay with that news, but he kept picking through his food as if he was looking for something.  Then he asked, "But where's its face?"

Oh, my.  Alan and I had a good laugh about that one later!

So Long, Farewell

Last week we said goodbye to Alan's brother Mason, who left to go to the MTC for his mission to Mexico. We had an awesome family dinner the night before when he was set apart, and then we went to Olive Garden right before.  It is quite an accomplishment to feed our whole family!

We will miss our Uncle Beef!

Bear Lake

Over Memorial Day weekend we went with the Stouts up to Bear Lake to spend time together as a family before Mason left on his mission.  Alan's mom found an amazing cabin that accommodated us all.  It was too cold to go swimming in the actual lake, but we had fun swimming in the indoor pool, playing beach volleyball, and playing games.  We also tried out Bear Lake's 28" pizzas and raspberry shakes.  Yum! 

The view from our cabin window

Alan's sisters Shawna and Laura brought a Chinese lantern for each person to let go off the side of the lake one night.  I decided to stay home with the sleeping kids since I had a bad sore throat anyway, so I didn't get to take any pictures of it, but it was amazing.  Truly just like the movie "Tangled."  Shawna and Laura gave us a couple to take home, so we will probably let them off around the 4th of July.  

On the way home from Bear Lake we stopped at the Logan temple, the Brigham City temple, and the Brigham City cemetery to visit Alan's grandpa's grave.  (It was Memorial Day--how appropriate.)  Then we ate lunch with Alan's family at a nice restaurant called Idle Isle since Maddox was closed on Mondays.  Bummer.

Jared's Preschool Graduation

At the end of May our family attended Jared's year-end preschool program.  We got to hear all the songs and poems he's been learning these past few months.

 Jared's two teachers were Mrs. Waddel and Miss Taura.  He loved them so much!  This program was especially poignant since Mrs. Waddel was retiring from teaching preschool.  We are so sad she won't be able to teach Maggie in a couple of years!

Jared holding his Alphabet Book.  We are so proud of him!

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May Fun

This post is to just show some of the fun but random things we did in May.  First up, Jared was in a six-week soccer league with other 3- and 4-year-olds in our neighborhood.  He didn't make any goals, but he did a good job chasing a kicking the ball.  We made big progress from soccer last fall: last fall he hated it and said he never wanted to do it again, but this spring he actually had fun and has even wanted to play soccer with Alan in our backyard a lot.  Jared is in front in the picture below and then on the ground in the second picture (oops!)

Maggie came to Jared's games, too, but I wouldn't say she enjoyed it.   Ha ha.

Second up, we went with some good friends of ours to see the Children's Exhibit at the Church History Museum.  These friends of ours, the Curtises (no relation), were in our first married-student ward, but then they lived in Pittsburgh for a while before moving back here.  Now they are in our stake and live just up the road, and the husband, Ross, works at the same company as Alan. I love hanging out with Anna; she and I were pregnant (one month apart!) at the same time and were visiting teaching companions when we were first married.  

Jared on Nephi's boat with Tereesah and Brieda

Jared is fishing on Nephi's boat

Maggie is "feeding the missionaries"

Jared is collecting eggs from under the stuffed chickens

We also have a park close to our house with ducks.  We have only been once so far this summer, but I'm sure we'll be back!

Wow, I'm still behind on my posts!  I still need to post about Jared's preschool graduation, our trip to Bear Lake, and saying goodbye to our family missionary, Elder Mason Stout!

Maggie's Birthday BBQ

Our kids are so lucky.  They have so many relatives who love them that we just have to have multiple parties for their birthdays!  So sad for them; I'm sure they hate it.  :)  On the Sunday after Maggie's birthday, we invited Alan's whole family over for BBQ.  It was a little hot and not super shady in our backyard, but we still made it work.  Everyone loved playing on the playground, eating delicious food, and looking at the eclipse that happened that evening!

Alan and Shawna grilling glazed pineapple-Yum!

Some of the family.  The only shade in our backyard at dinner time was in our side yard, so that's why we are all crammed   here!

Maggie's cousin Gabe and Aunts Angela and Laura

Gabe wanted the cake, too!  

More of Maggie's B-day

Maggie had a lovely birthday.  Alan took the day off work, and during the day we went with Alan's mom to the Aquarium (we love our season passes!)  Here is Maggie on the frog:

We were hoping to go to Trafalga and play on some of the rides after Maggie's nap, but she slept too late so we didn't get to go.  Oh, well.  We had my parents over for a rigatoni dinner (Maggie's favorite food) and then opened presents.

Maggie got a doll stroller (we she likes to sit in herself!--I'm worried she's going to break it), some books, and some new clothes from my parents.  Just like a true girly girl, she LOVED the new clothes.

Here is Maggie's rainbow chip cake.  I didn't want to have tons of leftover cake, so that's why I only made one layer.  It looks a little funny.  :)

Tired girl