May 2015

May was FULL of FUN...so get ready for a long post!

Lilly and Tyler performed in their dance recital at Hillcrest Junior High. Their teacher, Miss Victoria Varney, is so positive and darling with her students.

Word!!!!

Tyler danced in two Boys Hip-Hop numbers.

He was especially excited for the fingerless gloves and baggy ( = comfy) pants!

We STRUGGLED with Lilly's costume. It did not fit her at all (the straps were too long and the front would slide down...creating a modesty issue!!)...so unfortunately, most of the pictures I took of her were not appropriate for the blog. ;) 

HOWEVER, she danced her little heart out with her fellow Kinder Ballet friends. She loves to dance and it makes me just beam with joy to watch her on stage!

Sam and Charlie were good sports to go out to dinner with Dad and I, while we waited for the recital to begin. We went to Rumbi Island Grill and as soon as we walked in to the restaurant Sam announced in his loudest voice, "I do NOT like Hawaiian food! Remember????"

May was also full of BASEBALL for this handsome guy!

Tyler tried playing baseball for the first time. He was on a team with some really nice kids and a coach who was extremely patient with the team (especially since most of them had never played before)!!! 

We spent A LOT of time at the baseball fields. Grandma Deb came to many of the games and enjoyed her time with the other kids while we cheered for Tyler!

Grandma's Kindle also came in handy during the games...it kept Charlie and Sam entertained (and happy!)

One of my favorite Kindergarten traditions at our school is the annual Hoe Down in May! The kids spend weeks learning songs, speaking parts, and dances.

Lilly looked FANTASTIC in her cowgirl outfit!!! 

She thoroughly enjoyed doing the country line dancing routine that they learned. "Boot Scootin' Boogy" was in our heads for weeks!

Lilly had quite the crowd there to cheer for her....Grandma Deb, Grandma Nancy, Katie Gardner, Dad, Charlie, and I were all there to hoot and holler for our girl!

Cookies and milk were served for refreshments...don't mind if I do!

Mrs. Wright asks me all the time..."Is Lilly ALWAYS this good?" Yes, she is!!! She is always happy, polite, friendly, enthusiastic, and generous. 

Speaking of behavior....the kids had to fill out a "Wanted" poster about a time they got in trouble. Lilly's said: "For taking a coloring book from my mom's desk!" The funny thing is...I don't even remember that happening?? I think Lilly had to make something up because she really doesn't get in trouble very often (except for having a messy room all the time!). 

This is the cute group of kindergarten girls that get together for a play group on Friday afternoons. Samara Nielsen, Shelby Christiansen, Gracie Milne, Lilly, and Allie Gilmore. They are such a sweet group of girls and get along so well!

One sunny Saturday we decided to use our Connect Passes and go to the Tracy Aviary!

"Help us, kids! We've been eaten by a giant pelican!"

We call Charlie "Goose" probably more than we call him Charlie. So, naturally, we had to get a picture of him with the geese!

Here's Sam and Dad being extra handsome by the flamingo area.

Our entire family had special feelings for the peacocks that we saw all over the Aviary. This peacock in particular did his full "display" and showed off for us. The "Bird Show" was about to start when we saw this guy and the song "Shake Your Tail Feather" was playing for the pre-show. We thought it was very fitting for the peacock to dance to it. 

Every time the kids go to the dentist they get to pick out a prize. Without fail, Sam always picks out a sticky mustache. He sticks it on before we even leave the office and leaves it on until it's time for bed.

These boys make me smile!

Tyler got one too!  

One random day after school Sam started up his own Comic Book called "The Adventures of Super Sam! (and The Return of Evil Doctor Rad)." 

The thought, time, and effort that went into this was intense! I loved reading all of the funny and clever quotes in their "bubbles." 

The kids have been loving the awesome weather and sunshine. One of my favorite things to see when I look out the kitchen window is this:

Lilly and Charlie playing on the swing set. They love to lay down on the their tummies and swing (instead of sitting). It is adorable to hear them squeal in delight!!!

Our friends, the Milnes, invited us to go to the Hogle Zoo with them one afternoon (while the big kids were still at school). Gracie and Lilly have been buddies for a long time and Braylee and Charlie are in preschool together this year! 

I asked Lilly to pose by the giraffe....she was more than happy to!

We got to ride on the carousel, but Charlie wasn't sure about it. He was hanging on for dear life while we went for a ride on the peacock. (He did not want to ride on one of the animals...the peacock was a much safer bet!) 

At least I got a selfie with him while he clung to the side. 

We had a lot of fun seeing all of the animals. Even though I didn't get a picture of it, we had a super neat experience while we were in the ape house watching the baby orangutan and his older sister. The Milne's baby, Kenzie, was up near the glass and the orangutan sister was studying her. It was fascinating to watch!

Charlie and I definitely get a lot of quality time together while the kids are at school. My BFF Bobby gave me this idea to make him an alphabet game with his cars. I thought it was going to be a big hit, but once he figured out it was a "learning activity" he was not interested anymore. He only liked it for about one time through the alphabet.

He gets away with all sorts of special privileges...like having powdered donuts for lunch!

Charlie got pretty sick this month with some mystery virus. He was miserable for about a week and just wanted to cuddle with me or his giant stuffed dog. Poor guy. 

Dad and I took Lilly and Tyler to a Diabetes Education event at SLCC. We had never been to it before so we didn't know quite what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised with how much fun we had! 

The kids got to spend time in groups doing activities, yoga, face painting, dancing, games, etc. while the parents went to classes. The kids' faces turned out amazing!

We got to meet Kris Freeman, an Olympic skier who has Type 1 Diabetes.

He was such a genuinely nice guy and was great with all the kids. It was fascinating to hear about how he had to basically "write the book" on how to be an Olympic Athlete with Diabetes. He wasn't diagnosed until AFTER he made the Olympic Team!

Lilly and Charlie earned a trip to Build-A-Bear! Charlie got to build his very first animal there...a brown puppy dog that he named "Spo." (Random name, huh?) We had such a fun time there!

One night we were at Grandma Deb and Papa's house for dinner. Aunt Rochelle came too and brought along some of the baby birds she is raising. We took them out in the backyard and got to hold them. This little guy seemed to really like me!

Dad took the kids to the school Carnival. The weather didn't really cooperate, but the kids didn't seem to care! Lilly is as happy as a clam as long as she gets her face painted! 

The kids found this random stray cat in our backyard one day. They begged me to let them feed it...so I caved. I got out some tuna fish and let them feed the cat. Then, they fell in love with the cat....and NAMED IT! The cat, aka "Potato," seemed perfectly happy in our yard playing with the kids but eventually we had to figure out a way to get it to the animal shelter. 

We borrowed a cage from our neighbor and took Potato on a ride to the closest shelter. Unfortunately, it had closed about 5 minutes before we arrived. So we tried the Humane Society...but, little did we know, they don't take stray animals! (HUH?) We called animal control and they said they would send an officer to our house to get the poor cat. We went back home and the kids were like this:

...for the next hour or so. Eventually a regular police officer showed up at our house (I guess the animal control guys were busy??) for the cat. He put on some gloves and just carried the cat out to his patrol car! Random! Hopefully the officer took the cat to the shelter eventually?? Goodbye Potato! It was fun while it lasted. (P.S. The kids were actually pretty good about sending Potato on his way...no tears were shed.) 

This sweet girl was having troubles eating her corn on the cob at Grandma's house....huh? I wonder why? Oh, yeah, she has no teeth!!!

Charlie "graduated" from his first year of preschool. We loved Miss Lori and it was a little sad to think there would be no other Cropper children to take to her preschool anymore.

At the end of May I got to go down to Mesa, Arizona with Grandma Deb. We met up with Aunt Pam and cousin Candace for a "Girls' Weekend!" 

We went to get manicures and pedicures! So relaxing!!! We felt so fancy afterwards!

Candace and I went to Starbucks after our morning workout together. Their smoothies are surprisingly delicious!

We also had fun going shopping, going to a movie, swimming, eating a ton of yummy food, talking and laughing until we couldn't stay awake any longer, etc.!!! 

It is always a treat to get caught up with Candace. She is an amazing wife, mother, and fitness expert! She was my personal trainer for a few days and really inspired me to work hard!

While I was "in the area" I got to see Bobby!

 We went out to breakfast together and I enjoyed some Butterfinger Pancakes!!! Say what???? They were delicious! I wish I could get together with Bobby like that on a regular basis....boo hoo. She is truly my soul sister.

While I was in Arizona for the weekend, Dad was home with the kids and doing a great job taking care of everyone! Lilly got invited over to the Gardners house on Sunday so that Lexie could curl her hair for church! Cute! 

Dad also had the kids do their chores while I was gone so I wouldn't have to come home to a disaster! :)

Sadly, I missed out on Sam's graduation...but Dad took plenty of pictures! Mr. Nelson, the principal, even video recorded the event for me (he felt bad because of a scheduling conflict that was not communicated to the parents....which caused me to miss the graduation!). 

Sam was honored for many important achievements (perfect attendance! Bulldog Award! just to name a few)...but the biggest deal was when he was awarded not one, but TWO, "100-miler Awards!" Sam ran over 600 laps during the school year, which added up to over 200 miles! Usually it takes the kids a full year to get just one "100-miler" award...but Sam earned two!

Grandma Nancy, Grandpa Leigh, and Dad were all there to cheer him on! 

These two fabulous ladies are Sam's 6th grade teachers: Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Hohnholt.

They are both EXTRA AMAZING teachers and I'm so grateful that they were so kind, loving, thoughtful, and encouraging to Sam during the year! 

After the graduation ceremony, Sam's entire sixth grade class went to the Murray Rec Center for a swimming party. Dad went too and was very popular in the pool! He got a big group of kids together (including Sam) to play games. They had so much fun!

Later that night, Mrs. Hohnholt hosted a "Star Party" for the sixth graders. She had a stars and planet expert come with his fancy telescope that the kids could look through! Sam had been looking forward to the Star Party MORE than any other event associated with his graduation! 

Dad said that Sam was on cloud nine the entire night and loved looking through the telescope!

May was definitely eventful! We are ready for summer to start now!