Halfway There...

Here are a few pictures of the bunk bed painting project. It's halfway done now...

And of course, Jack wanted his picture taken too. His bed is the next project.

No More Training Wheels

A week ago we bought this smaller bike for Kate at a yard sale. We took the training wheels off and tried to help her ride it, but her balance wasn't very good. So, Dave took the pedals off and Kate has spent this last week zooming around on the bike. Tonight we put the pedals back on and this is what happened...

Dave and Kate started out like this...and after ten minutes or so this happened...

And, of course you can't post a picture of one kid and not the other. So, here's Jack.He spent the evening zooming around on the bigger tricycle.

Anyway... you can buy a Skuut bike for $100 to teach your kid balance or you can just take off the pedals for free.

We're Still Here...

All right, I guess it's time that I post something. We've been keeping busy, but haven't taken many pictures in the last few weeks. I've had good intentions of taking pictures, but it hasn't happened. So, here's what we've been up to:

We bought a membership to one of the pools here (they are all private and expensive and not-so-nice-because-they-are-old), so I'm trying to get as much use out of it as we can before the baby comes. Kate started swimming lessons this week and has improved so much! Jack is no longer totally freaked out by the water. So, it's been a good thing. Hopefully the weather warms up a little (we skipped swimming lessons this morning because it was only 48 degrees out and raining).

I found a smaller bike for Kate at a yard sale on Saturday. We bought her a bike for Christmas a year and a half ago, but it's too big for her to ride without training wheels. Dave took the pedals and training wheels off of the smaller bike, so she can get used to balancing. Hopefully someday she'll ride it without training wheels (with pedals). Jack tried really hard to ride the bike, but it's a little too big for him and he had a few wrecks before finally believing us that it's too big for him.

Our neighbors gave us their bunk beds last week. So, Dave's been busy sanding them down so we can paint them and then put them back together. The kids were really excited about having bunk beds. They slept in them for a few nights before we started working on them.
We've been spending a lot more time outside these days. We had breakfast outside on Saturday after trying out the new bike. (if you look closely in the reflection you can see my lovely ever-growing figure).I'm just waiting for July to come, so this baby can come out. Kate helped me wash the baby clothes and other baby stuff, so it can be ready. It will probably just sit in my room for another month or so, but oh well. I like to be prepared.

Anyway...That's what we've been up to. Lots of words and few pictures, but oh well.

Father & Son's

Last weekend Dave took Jack to his first Father & Son's campout. Here are some highlights of the night.

Jack in their "tent" eating his treat. They slept in the van since we don't own a tent.

Playing football with his "brothers"

Kate and I had a girls night. We got some pizza and had a picnic. We compromised on a movie -- we watched Alvin and the Chipmunks since it had real people in it and animated animals. Then Kate got to sleep with me and she slept in really late the next morning. Good times had by all!

Last Day of Preschool & Soccer

Today was the last day of preschool and spring soccer for Kate. I'm sad that preschool is over, but no so sad that soccer is over.

Kate made a card for her teacher. I thought she did a pretty good job at writing the note inside, so I snapped a picture of it. She drew a picture of herself and Mrs. Johnson holding rakes in one hand brooms in the other while riding skateboards. Pretty creative!We got to go to Kate's school and hear the kids sing and have ice cream with them.Kate and her teacher, Mrs. Johnson

And now for soccer pictures...8 out of the 11 kids on the team (9 boys, 2 girls) -- Dave was the coach

Now what are we going to do with all our free time? No more preschool, soccer, dance, piano lessons, American Idol & Lost & the Office? I guess we'll just have to go swimming every day (hopefully it will warm up a bit) and wait for the baby to come.

Warning...

Just thought I'd warn you that I've just posted a ton of pictures from our latest trip to Utah and Dave's trip to Alaska. They are pretty detailed posts, but that's because hopefully I'll print my blog someday and that will be our family scrapbook. So, enjoy, but watch out for huge belly pictures!

Bandelier National Monument

On Saturday we took the kids to the Kite Festival where they got to make kites and got their lovely free yellow kite t-shirts. It was super windy, so they flew their kites for a little bit. Then we headed to Bandelier National Monument. It's really close, but we've never been there before. It was pretty fun though. So, those of you that come visit we'll probably take you there. Here are some pictures:

Eating our picnic lunch before going on a hike.

Sitting on a kiva (right after Kate's hat flew off her head and landed in a hole -- luckily it didn't go into the big kiva part)

The rock wall where lots of Indian houses are/were.

Hello!

Jack LOVED climbing the ladders up to look into the cave houses. Kate was a little afraid.

Inside a cave-house (can't remember what they called them, but if you come visit us we'll buy you a guidebook to learn all about them).

I was making dinner when we got home from Bandelier and took this picture of the kids when they weren't looking. I love it when they act like this!

Worship Dance Recital

Kate had her worship dance recital last Friday night. Her dance was pretty cute. The other dances were...interesting. Kate did a good job though and she enjoyed it!

Kate doing her ending pose for her dance during their dress rehearsal.

Supportive little brother

Kate and her teacher, Miss Sarah

Kate and her friend and dance buddy, Annika

Day on the Desert

Right after graduation we headed back down to CD. Kate got to have a sleepover with her cousins (I guess that's what Dave's cousin's kids are called, right?). The next day we got things ready and took off for the desert to spend the day.

Here's Jack and his "boys" and Kate. I sure wish some cousins lived closer to us! We love cousins!We had a BBQ picnic lunch. Then spent the rest of the day getting really dirty, flying kites, hiking, etc.

Jack and McKay getting dirty.

Jack trying to pick up his ladder golf balls like Grandpa -- with his foot.Maddie & Kate relaxing in the shade.

Some of the guys hiked up this mountain/hill/rock/whatever it's called.

Dave took a picture from the top.

Taking a little walk.

Kate, Madison, Jack and his boy, Hunter

Jack sitting by the famous (or infamous?) dinosaur print.After a day on the desert, we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa's to shower and get ready to drive home the next day.

Graduation Day for Dr. Judi

We spent the night before Dave's graduation in Salt Lake. Too bad Jack spent most of that night throwing up. Luckily, he felt a little better on graduation day and we didn't have any messes or anything.

We had a few hours to kill before graduation, so after we checked out of our hotel we headed downtown. Dave and the kids and Vaughn took Trax to Temple Square. The kids were pretty excited about riding the train, since we don't get to ride trains in NM.

Waiting for the train.

At Temple Square. Poor Jack, he was so tired! He told me he wanted to go home and get in his bed. He had had enough traveling.

We met Melinda and her boys and had lunch. Luckily Jack slept the whole time. Thanks to Melinda for letting us use her stroller. Oh, did I mention, how cute Melinda's 3 week old baby is? Then we headed to the U for graduation.

Before graduation (notice the wonderful ironing job -- it took me forever to iron Dave's gown and I really don't enjoy ironing, but it didn't look very nice all wrinkled and creased)

Dave's turn to be hooded.
Doesn't graduation look fun? Actually, the ceremony wasn't too bad. There weren't many speakers and they read the names of the bachelor degrees really fast. The kids did pretty well.
Posing with Dr. Judi -- Dave told the kids that his gown gave him super-powers. That made him pretty cool.

Anyway...Congrats to Dave! I'm proud of him and am amazed at all he's accomplished (it's way over my head).