We heart Daddy

For Father's Day this year, I decided to update our photo frame father's day gift from two years ago.

Mark keeps it at his desk at the office, and although it's absolutely adorable, I figured it could use some fresh pictures.

Yes, yes.  My children ARE absolutely adorable.

And then we did funny faces

And then I tried to get a picture of all three, but Nathan either refused to look at the camera or be in the picture at all.  This was the best I could get.  Sometimes I like to pretend I only have two kids.  #jkjkjk #wereallydolove#3 #atleastmostdays

Say cheese!

Max does the best weird poses of anyone I know.

Here's what my kids have to say about Mark:

Emma

What is something Dad always says to you?

-When we go someplace he asks me, "Where do you want to go?"

What makes Dad happy?

-When I play with him

What makes Dad sad?

-When he's at work, and he doesn't get to play with me

How does your dad make you laugh?

-When he says silly things.  He always does that.

What is his favorite thing to do?

-Reading books with me

What does your dad do when you’re not around?

-Visit Grandma and Grandpa

What is your dad really good at?

-Plants Vs. Zombies 2

What is your dad not very good at?

-Hero Run

What is your dad’s favorite food?

-Eggs and potatoes

What makes you proud of your dad?

-When he fries food

What do you and your dad do together?

-Go special places like out to ice cream

How are you and your dad the same?

-We both like to share the Gospel

How are you and your dad different?

-He's tall, and I'm short

How do you know your dad loves you?

-He likes to give me hugs and kisses

What does your mom like most about your dad?

-He helps her.

Where is your dad’s favorite place to go?

-An ice cream store with me.

Max

What is something Dad always says to you?

-I love you, bud.

What makes Dad happy?

-When I say I love him.

What makes Dad sad?

-When I don't be nice to him.

How does your dad make you laugh?

-He tickles me.

What is his favorite thing to do?

-Go out with me for dinner

What does your dad do when you’re not around?

-He says, "Max, it's time for you to do a chore!"

What is your dad really good at?

-Hero Run and Hill Climb Racer

What is your dad not very good at?

-Climbing trees.

What is your dad’s favorite food?

-Enchiladas

What makes you proud of your dad?

-When me and Dad win at a game.

What do you and your dad do together?

-Play tennis

How are you and your dad the same?

-We both are boys

How are you and your dad different?

-I'm small, and he's big.

How do you know your dad loves you?

-When I'm sad, he says, "I love you."

What does your mom like most about your dad?

-He cheers her up when she's not happy.

Where is your dad’s favorite place to go?

-Panda Express

Silly Littles

Emma and Max were arguing one afternoon when Max yelled out in frustration, "Emma, you're nothing but an itsy bitsy balloon!"  The funniest thing was that this upset Emma so much, she started crying, insisting that she wasn't a balloon.

While walking in from the garage after picking up Emma, I pushed the button to close the large garage door.  Nathan was still in the garage (not far behind me), and he must have thought he was closer to the garage door than he really was, because he suddenly panicked, ran into the house, wiped his forehead and exclaimed, "Phew!  That was close!"

Me: "Nathan!  Don't you dare hit Max with that bat!"
Max: "It's ok, Mom.  Jesus will protect me."

While working on a puzzle, Max suddenly had a coughing fit.  Afterwards, he said, "Wouldn't it be cool if my coughs could help us with the puzzle?  Like they could blow all the pieces into the right spots."

While talking about Nathan, Max stated, "At first I didn't like him, but now I do."

Max: "Mom, I wish we could live at Taco Bell and Panda Express and Chilis."

Last Year of the 20s!

I had a whole month of celebrating for my birthday this year.  I had the incredible opportunity to help organize Youth Conference this year, so I started out my birthday month hanging out with some of my favorite people.  The youth in this stake are AMAZING!

Brenna and Anna are my very favorites.  But don't tell anyone I said that.  I don't think we're supposed to have favorites. #idoanyway

My favorite co-conspirator!

My favorite YW Presidency ever.

Slumber party with these cute girls!

And then we got to go rafting on the lake.  SO MUCH FUN!

The next weekend I had an early birthday party with some of my very favorite girls.  We hit up Mass Street and did some window shopping, ate world-famous (or at least Lawrence-famous) french fries at a hip restaurant, went out to ice cream, and ended the night with henna tattoos and a slumber party at my house.  It was epic.

Mark took the day off work for my birthday.  We went to Gage Park in Topeka with the kids for the morning.  They have a small train that rides around the park that the kids LOVE, so we we all rode the train and treated ourselves to sno-cones afterwards.  That evening, Mark and I went to the temple and then ice cream.  The perfect way to end a perfect birthday!

At the end of the June, Mark and I used the On the Border giftcard my parents sent me (thanks Mom and Dad)!  So yummy!

Apple Mania

I pretty much had the best Mother's Day ever this year.  Wanna know why?  I GOT AN IPHONE!!!  A happy dance, lots of cheering/shrieking, and even hugging the box the iPhone came in commenced soon after I opened it.  Now I wonder how I ever lived without it.  I use it when I'm cooking to look up recipes.  I use it for driving directions.  I use it to track my workouts.  I use it to listen to music, books-on-tape, and the Ensign.  I heart Apple.

Oh, and I take pictures.  Lots of pictures.

I ran five miles.  I'm hardcore like that.  #hotmess

"Mama, I pretty!"  #boyscanbeprettytoo

I run this trail every morning.  Kansas is beautiful.

We make silly faces at the zoo.

It's girls' night.  Don't ask.

This little sweetheart fell asleep while reading.  Love her.

Happy birthday, Mark! Xoxo

Emma wrote this note to herself from Nathan.

Came home from my morning run to find these two sleepyheads snuggled up together. #meltmyheart.

Here's what the kids have to say about me this year:

Emma

What is something Mom always says to you?

-I love you

What makes Mom happy?

-When I do chores without be asked

What makes Mom sad?

-When she has to ask me lots of times to do something

How does your mom make you laugh?

-She does silly things

What is her favorite thing to do?

-To play with me

What does your mom do when you’re not around?

-Look for me or visit me

What is your mom really good at?

-Back flips and front flips

What is your mom not very good at?

-Video games

What is your mom’s favorite food?

-Bacon

What makes you proud of your mom?

-When she does something she thinks she won't be able to do

What do you and your mom do together?

-Art projects

How are you and your mom the same?

-We have the same hair

How are you and your mom different?

-She's a grown up and I'm a kid

How do you know your mom loves you?

-Because she gives me lots of hugs and kisses

What does your dad like most about your mom?

-That she works hard on things

Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?

-Church

Max

What is something mom always says to you?

-I love you

What makes mom happy?

-When I make funny faces

What makes mom sad?

-When I don't listen, and you get angry, and you get me angry

How does your mom make you laugh?

-When you make silly faces

What is her favorite thing to do?

-Go out with me and walk backwards (we have never done this).

What does your mom do when you’re not around?

-She finds me

What is your mom really good at?

-Making food

What is your mom not very good at?

-Walking backwards because sometimes you bump into something

What is your mom’s favorite food?

-enchiladas

What makes you proud of your mom?

-For doing something new

What do you and your mom do together?

-Sometimes we go out to Chilis

How are you and your mom the same?

-When we walk backwards and don't bump into anything

How are you and your mom different?

-I'm a boy, and you're a girl

How do you know your mom loves you?

-You give me a hug and a kiss

What does your dad like most about your mom?

-She's a girl

Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?

-Chilis

Kindergarten Cutie

Our sweet girl's year of kindergarten passed by way too quickly.  She made lots of great memories.

She ran her first one-miler with Daddy in the Quail Run Color Run.

This is the cake she helped make for the school carnival.  The theme was Earth Day.

Who doesn't love cotton candy?

Playing in the bounce house at the school carnival.

There were lots of games/activities to spend tickets on.  We each gave our kids some tickets to spend how they wished.  Both boys wanted to get their nails painted (#boyscanbeprettytoo), but Emma?  Nope.  She said, "Why would I spend my tickets on getting my nails painted when I can do that at home?"  Looks like she's inherited Daddy's sense of clever frugality!

Nathan was so proud of his Car tattoo.

Emma with one of her best friends, Chase H.

Emma's end-of-the-year kindergarten celebration was adorable. The kids had a luau with leis and "grass" skirts.  They sang the parents a song they had learned, and then we got to watch a slideshow of pictures put together by the teacher.  It was so much fun and a great chance to say goodbye to friends.  

One of our good family friends from church moved to Ohio right after the school year ended.  Their middle child, Chase, was in Emma's kindergarten class, and they enjoyed being in class together, and the moms enjoyed carpooling to school.  Their youngest, Cora, is Max's age.  They're great buddies.  We are sure are going to miss them!

Max and Cora giving bear hugs

Emma's school cubby

Emma's friend, Meera.  Emma was ONE INCH taller than her.  I had to take a picture because for the first time (and probably only time) in her life, Emma was NOT the smallest!  

The students gave this end-of-the-year gift to Mrs. Ropp.  It's a class picture with all their signatures around it.  Super cute!

Emma's very best friend, Claire.

Emma and Mrs. Ropp.  Best teach ever.

Max loved Emma's "grass" skirt.

Emma's favorite place in the classroom was the Reading Center.

Emma and Chase G.  

Emma and Chase H.

Emma is already super excited for first grade.  She'll be attending a new school - Deerfield - and is excited to meet new friends and have a brand new teacher and classroom.  I'm so glad this little girl loves to learn!