May

 Boy was May COLD!!! You would have never known that it was supposed to be summer. Mother Nature sure knew how to tease us. You would wear shorts one day and then be in a coat the next. May was also full of lots of activities: birthdays, end of soccer, beginning of coach pitch, end of school, graduation, softball tournaments, volleyball tournaments, and lots of memories being made. 

Right before Mother's Day for young women's we had a mother/daughter night. We painted each others nails. I don't think Addi has had her nails painted in years. It was a night full of laughs. 

The stomach bug went through all the kids in some form. Addi it only lasted 24 hrs, Parker was only for about 12 hrs, the little girls about 3 days. Emmy didn't leave the family room for almost 24 hours. NOT FUN!

It was National Nacho day! Had to celebrate! 

It's become a tradition that last few years to go down to Payson and go to the green house and get baskets for my birthday. These were our picks this year. 

On the 6th & 7th AJ had a tournament in Syracuse for volleyball. She grabbed the wrong shirt thinking it was her jersey. We didn't find that out until we were almost there (which was 80 minutes away) Thankfully another parent was coming up later that night and brought it up for Saturday's game. Her teammates were troopers with taking turns being the Labarro so she could have a jersey. Definitely lesson learned! The didn't place this time, but they still played super well. There were some super good teams in the gold bracket, which makes us improve. Since it was a two day tournament and the kids were sick, Dad stayed home with them and I was able to spend time with just Addi. It was a lot of fun. We stayed the night up there and got to swim with some of her teammates. 

The team went to get ice cream after the games, and Addi crashed on the way home. 

We got home from the tournament in time to head down to Grandma Shelly's surprise birthday party. She had NO IDEA!!!! She thought Breann was coming down to get her hair cut. She was so scared and surprised. She is loved by many and it was so amazing to see so many come together for her. Kylie is an amazing friend to throw something like this together for her. 

My birthday fell on Mother's Day again this year. The kids and dad made a treasure hunt for me to find my presents. They are sending me on a girls trip with Whitney to Sanibel Island on June 10th. It was so cute to see them so excited for me to find the clues and also to figure out that I'm going on a trip. Parker's poem made me cry. It was a great Mother's Day/ birthday. We went up to Nana and Grandpa's with Grandma Shelly and had a delicious dinner of Turkey and mashed potatoes. 

Parker had his last soccer game. He is becoming quite the player and can play most positions, where before he would only like to play goalie. Next on the docket for him is Tennis. 

On the 13th we had the Caldewell's (mom's cousin Devin and family) come stay with us for one night. It was so fun to have a house full of kids. We had a ice cream Sundae party after dinner. The next morning we all had to get up and going because Addi had a tournament in Cedar City we needed to get to. We hope they can come out again soon. 

In cedar city, it was opening weekend for swig down there. FREE drinks and cookies for everyone!! Score!! I love swigs flavored waters! 

Hitsquads first tournament of the year. We had some jitters to work through. We didn't place, but there were lots learned. It was fantastic weather too! Everyone got a burn. 

We of course have to swim while we are there! 

My tan line! 

When we got home on Sunday it was great weather. We soaked it up. We also went to Texas Roadhouse with the kids. The girls got to ride the saddle. 

Emmy had her very first coach pitch game. She was super nervous to play. She was really mad at me that I signed her up for coach pitch instead of T-ball. She worked out some of her nerves and now is not scared at all to get up to bat or go after a hit ball. 

On the 18th she had a poetry party at school. She and her classmates each memorized a poem. She did fantastic with reciting it clear and slow. 

Addi got a Herbst appliance to help move her lower jaw forward to fix her bite. It stays in 24/7. It is supposed to work quicker than elastics would. She says it doesn't bother her too bad. This what they use now instead of headgear. Grandma shelly had to wear headgear and had to wear it to school. YUCK!

On May 19th was Lyndin's last day of preschool and also her graduation. She thought Kindergarten would start the next day for her since she graduated. She is super bummed that she won't be started Kindergarten until August. I may have teared up a bit when I was taking her pictures. We have closed that door of kids being in preschool. All my kids will be in school now. I'm excited for her, yet I'm grieving how fast time seems to be flying by. She did a fantastic job at singing her songs at her graduation and was all smiles all night long. 

Before graduation there was a scrimmage for volleyball practice for AJ with the parents. It was so fun to watch. The parents actually played pretty well! I kept the score. We then left a little early to head to graduation. 

She and Lexie have the cutest friendship! 

Ms. Hannah did an amazing job with teaching Lyn. She knows her letters, how to write her name, and how to hold a pencil correctly. Lyndin says she wants to be a singing teacher when she grows up. 

On the 20th, Parker had Pioneer Day at school in the afternoon. He learned the Virginia Reel and we were able to go watch him preform. He even got to dance with his mom and grandma's. Jade Simons and him have been friends since Kindergarten, so to see them as dance partners was super cute! 

Parker got to have a really fun nerf war with friends over at Austin's house. He is already asking when he can do that again! 

On the 25th was my Grandma Gardner's birthday. It was a day spent reminiscing about her. I do miss her and the support she would always give us. She was the best cheerleader for us as kids and always told us we were the best at whatever we did. My mom is doing the same for my kids and I know Grandma is being our cheerleader from the other side! I can feel her close by often. 

Em has been dying to either ride her bike to and from school or walk home from school all year long. The weather was finally good enough that I told them they could walk half way home and then I'd pick them up. It fulfilled Em's dream. 

Parker received his doctorate at school. He had to turn in his homework every week, do the reflections contest, score a certain percentage on his tests, do community service, and participate in the track meet. He met all these requirements and received a gold medal for it. He was very proud and which he should be he worked very hard for that! 

The last day of school was on the 27th. We had to leave by 9:30 to head to a softball tournament. Addi wanted to go to just a minute of school to get some more signatures in her yearbook. Emmy and Parker didn't want to miss their last day and they were able to stay with Grandma Shelly for the weekend. I always get emotional with the last day of school. I did as a kid too. Goodbyes are hard for me. Grandma told me that Emmy and Parker had some tears in their eyes when they got into the car as well. They all have grown and learned so much this past school year. Many memories made! 

Lyndin had a great time more or less being the only child while we were in Monroe for the tournament. Sawyer came down to watch and Lyndin loved all the snuggles. 

The girls battled so hard and played really well that we came all the way through the losers bracket to place 2nd place. We beat the team that beat us to send us into the losers bracket. There were some amazing hits and plays on the field. It is so neat to see their confidence bloom. It was a windy windy bugger though. It blew the entire time we were there! 

Since we were close to Richfield, dad took us to his favorite ice cream place while he is down there for his 4wheeling week long dudes ride. Yummy! 

The campground we stayed at had 5 day old baby cows. They let us help feed them. To help lead them around the guy showed Addi how, and that is by sticking your fingers in their mouth and then moving them along because the suction to your fingers. Addi was grossed out, but not enough to say that she didn't want to do that. 

That Sunday while come home from getting the other two kids in provo, we saw a full rainbow. I made Ty pull off the freeway right at the Spanish Fork exit so that I could take a picture. 

Avery came out over memorial weekend (the same weekend as the tournament). Emmy and Parker loved spending time with her. Now that she is walking all over the place she is can go, go, go. She had so much fun at the park. 

On Memorial Day we took the youngest girls to Provo Beach while Nan, Justin, Addi and Parker went to the movie. Mom scored 3rd on the leader board for the day on the piano game. My claim to fame! 

On May 31st and June 1st was Emmy's end of year dance recital. She has worked so hard this year. She now can do a back walk over on her own! She sure knows how to shake it and loves to preform. We are so grateful for all the support she receives. 

whew... just writing this makes me exhausted  and we were. I think I could sleep for 2 or 3 days straight. We know how to stay on the go that's for sure! 

June is set to be just as full of a schedule as May!