{ preschool graduation round 4 }

Because Ayden started preschool when he was 2, every spring since 2008 we have attended a Stepping Stones Preschool Graduation! I was a little stressed about it this year because Logan was a school. Once I got there though, and realized it was my last graduation for a while I got kinda sad. I have LOVED their preschool teacher Mrs Marsha. She is an incredible teacher. Both of my children are reading on a first grade level as they start Kindergarden! Not only does she teach well, but she truly loves the kids she teaches. We will miss her dearly.

2008:

{ Ayden and Mrs. Marsha}

2009:

2010:

2011:

{Sophie performing her preschool dance number}

{Sophie and Grayden}

{ the proud graduate }

We love you Mrs. Marsha! Thanks for everything!

Best buds

Myla has a best friend. Her name is Cami and her sister happens to be Sophie's best friend Ashlee. I wanted to post these pics because I don't have a lot of pictures of Soph and Ash when they were little and I wish I did!





- Posted from my iPhone

Mood dawgs

A new restaurant opened in Layton this past week.


Our kids have been begging to go there since they saw the first sign go up months ago!

So for lunch today we surprised them and took them out to lunch. And what better to do while waiting for your food then our favorite pastime . . . make funny faces!















Even Myla got in on the action!

{ May 11 }

There is nothing sweeter than seeing your kids play together. Myla absolutely adores her siblings! She calls for them and follows them around. I know she will always look up to them and follow their examples.

Today the 2 girls decided to play babies together. I really hope they grow up to be friends. I love that little girls want to be mommies from the very beginning. That nurturing gene is instilled in them so early.

{That is Myla's happy face . . . kinda scary eh?}

{FHE }

For FHE this week Logan wanted the kids to plant some plants so we could take care of them and watch them grow. First he took the kids to Lowes to get pots for the plants he bought at the nursery.

Then we painted to pots and got them ready for planting.

Last night we planted the plants and put them in our window box to watch them grow. I'm glad I have such a great husband who not only comes up with activities for the kids, but genuinely enjoys spending the time to teach them.

{ GNI }

While Laura was in Utah for Jenny's graduation, we got to sneak away for a Girls Night In at my parent's cabin. We waxed ourselves, painted our toe nails . . . there was all kinds of pampering going on.

There are no other girls in this world I'd rather be with than these 3 ladies. They are my best friends. The time we get to spend together is priceless. I love you guys.

{ the Graduate }

My baby sister graduated from college!!

I am so proud of her! What a great accomplishment. Even though I had all my kids by myself (Logan had finals) and I was a bit frazzled, I'm so glad I got to be there for her on her special day!

I love you Jen, and I'm so proud of you!

Easter 2011

Man I am so far behind. I'm sad that I missed Easter and I want to go back because I want to remember what a wonderful Easter we had.

The festivities started on Friday as we spent the ENTIRE day in our yard getting it ready for the Eggstravaganza we host with the Flittons each year. Our yard was hurtin bad but don't you worry, we got it lookin real nice before the big day!

{Getting ready for the big event with my favorite guy}

{Baby's 2nd egg hunt. She spent the first one strapped to my chest in the baby bjorn}

{Madi and Ayden are lined up and ready!}

{Seesters}

On your marks . . . get set . . . GO!

The hunt is over so quickly but it's the visiting after that is my favorite part.

{Before this shot I said "act like ya like each other"}

{Ayden's friend Delaney}

{Sophie's best friends Kaiya and Ashlee}

Next up we headed to Salt Lake for the Hammer family egg hunt! It is always a good one and the kids look forward to it each year.

The kids love finding their Easter Baskets and all the eggs that Brammy and Bapa have boiled, colored, and hidden. By the end of that day we were pooped!

Easter morning the kids were so excited to find eggs in our own house and unwrap their presents from Mom and Dad!

{This is probably one of my very most favorite pictures I have of my kids}

Unfortunately this is the only picture I got in Easter clothes and we are down a man! Ayden was getting his hair done while I grabbed a quick shot of the girls. We busted out the door for our 9:00 church and didn't end up getting another picture. Bummer.

After Church we headed down to my parent's new cabin east of Heber. All our family members on the Rife/Parsons side were there and we had a delicious dinner and lots of fun together.

{Kylie, McKinnley, Ayden and Soph}

{My cousins Ryan, Karrissa, Brent, Joe, Tasha, Alysha, and Jesse}

{The ladies}

I am so lucky to have such a wonderful extented family. I love being so close with my cousin, growing up just a block away from each other. I thankful for all the trips to Disneyland and Sunday dinners we spend together making memories and building friendships.

You'd like to think that was the end of Easter right? Well, not at the Hammer house! We were unable to color eggs before the big day and the kids weren't about to let that pass them by!

So on Monday night for FHE . . . we colored eggs!

Well it was an incredible holiday and I'm thankful I have such a wonderful life and so many wonderful people to celebrate it with. I was able to teach our primary class on Easter.

When I asked our class why we celebrate Easter I prefaced it by saying "Something happened a long, long, long, long, LONG time ago and that is why we celebrate Easter. Does anyone know what happened?" To which Sophie, my own child responded hesitantly "the Easter bunny was born??" We had a good laugh over that one, but I was greatful for the opportunity to teach those 4 and 5 year olds about the Atonement and Resurrection. What a gift.