Everyday Adventures

Tessa had her Kindergarten program the Friday I was at Women's Conference. I went home so I could see it, and then headed back to the conference. 

The program was so cute! They sang songs, recited poems, and had a cute video of all the kids and teachers. I loved to hear them sing about their 7 Habits. And the last song they sang was so sweet, about what kids need in life.

They also announced that Mrs. Farr will be moving to a different school next year. She has been a fantastic teacher for both Tessa and Rockwell. She is very good at making each child feel loved and important, and helping them to have a positive view of school their first year there. I wish Damon could have had her too!

Grandma Ham came to watch the program with Paul, Damon, and me. Tess loved having her there!

I went to the park with a couple friends, and Damon was so excited that he's big enough to do these double bars now. He wanted a picture so he could show Tessa and Rockwell that he can do it now too.

Rockwell made a basketball box game for his class's flea market. It was really fun to play!

At Damon's soccer practice last week, there was a horse-drawn carriage driving around the park. The man said he was getting his horse ready for a city party that was happening the next day at the park. He said the kids could have a ride, and they were so excited about that!

Grandpa Ham came to watch Damon's 2nd soccer game. He played great again. The other team was pretty good, but Damon got right in the action and scored four goals (and one for the other team. Whoops! :). Right before the whistle blew for the end of the game, Damon ran right in front of a kid who was about to score for the other team and kicked the ball out of bounds. It was a great defensive play!

I love to sit out on our rocking chairs and read until it's too dark to see the pages.

Damon's had a lot of fun with the water balloons he got for his birthday. The kids have played out in the water for a few days straight since the weather has been so nice.

I had to take some pictures of Tess in her cute sun hat we found at Dollar Tree.

Women's Conference

I went to BYU's Women's Conference with Grandma Clark, Carrie, and Emilie this year. 

Paul took a couple days off work to stay home with the kids while I was there. We were all excited for this change of pace.

Grandma Clark got us a couple hotel rooms close to campus, and we stayed Wednesday and Thursday nights. It was fun to spend that uninterrupted time with my mother and sisters-in-law. We walked over to campus both mornings. The first day, we really wanted to connect with nature on our way over there. 

Or we were trying to find a shortcut that ended up being a climb through the back of another hotel and randomly emerging through a row of bushes close to the sidewalk. Haha! We found the right trail the next day. :)

We went to the opening and closing sessions together both days, but split up for the classes during the day. We each chose whatever classes interested us most. My favorite class was Nobody Can Do What a Righteous Woman Can Do. I loved learning more about many of the women Christ interacted with in the New Testament, and feeling how much He loves women!

I loved being back on BYU campus. It is so beautiful there, and I have so many fun memories from going to college there. In between each of the classes I would spend as much time as I could sitting outside reading and enjoying the beauty. It was such a relaxing and rejuvenating few days!

Damon Turns 4!!

Oh Damon, how we love you! 

I can't believe he's 4 years old! But at the same time, I can. Damon has always seemed older than he is. Even as a tiny baby, somehow he seemed wise beyond his years (Or months! Or days!). We love to think back on when he was in the NICU with oxygen, and how he knew he was ready to breathe on his own and used his tiny newborn hands to take the oxygen off himself. 

Damon is hilarious. He quotes movies all day long. Some of his favorites are:

"Lucky!" from Napoleon Dynamite

"Oh poop." from Despicable Me

"Nachooooo!" from Nacho Libre

And my personal favorite:

"I could bury you alive.

I could pound your face!" from Dennis the Menace

He always refers to himself in the third person.

"Damon doesn't like yucky food."

"Damon wants to go outside."

"Damon is really good at soccer."

He starts most sentences with, "And also..."

He puts his pointer finger up when he talks all the time.

Damon loves to dance. He can't seem to help himself when music comes on. It's adorable. His favorite songs are Thunder and Uptown Funk. He loves to be outside, and he loves to play with Tessa and Rockwell. He keeps up with them just fine, and they love to play with him too.

Damon still just makes people happy. He really is so funny and his laugh and smile make you want to smile too. Mel said one time after listening to Damon enthusiastically talk about the mud water that he collects in the backyard, "Now that's joy! People are looking for happiness in this world, and all they need is someone like Damon."

I'm so glad I get to be Damon's mom! He really does bring happiness to our family.

His birthday was on Mother's Day this year. Paul and the kids gave me gifts first thing in the morning, and then we had a really nice day celebrating Damon. He was so cute all day. He went around singing, "Happy birthday to myself! Happy birthday to myself!"

The kids had a fun afternoon playing with all the new presents he got.

We went to my parents' house that evening to celebrate Damon's birthday and EJ's graduation from SLCC. When we got there Kyle said, "Hi Damon." And Damon replied, "Uh, it's birthday boy!" Haha :)

Damon loved getting even more presents there!

And he loved playing with his cousins.

Happy birthday Damon Doyle! We love love love you!

Tessa's Dance Recital

Tessa had her dance recital on Saturday. She was so excited to perform! Once we had her costume, I took her over to Pioneer Park to take a few pictures. I love how they turned out!

She asked if she could do her yoga pose. :)

On this one I told her to think about Brian. :)

The parents got to stay and watch their class the week of the recital. I love watching Tess have so much fun dancing.

Dancing with Hallee really is her happy place!

She did great at her recital. She loves to dance on the stage and have so much family come to watch her.