Alanna Cooks...

Alanna took cooking classes from the Lombardi girls a few days this week. She absolutely loved them, and her confidence in the kitchen has really increased. Before, she wouldn't even fry an egg on her own because she was afraid she'd mess it up. But this week she made Creamy Chicken Taquitos, sweet and savory crepes, chili, and a Bonaffee Pie! I tried to step back and let her do her thing as much as possible, which was really hard because things didn't turn out perfectly. Hopefully Alanna learned that it's important to read the directions in the recipe and not just the ingredient list, or you might end up with chunky pie filling! And there is an important difference between 1 TBSP and 1 tsp! When you put 1 TBSP in your chili, it's way too hot for most people to eat! But mistakes are part of learning, and the important thing is that she had fun and is willing to try new things in the kitchen! I will say that she did the Chicken Taquitos 100% on her own, and they were perfect!

Uncle Paul's 37th Birthday!

We celebrated Uncle Paul with Fat Boys on his birthday this year. My kids often ask about him and talk about how excited they are to meet him someday. I'm so glad that our memories keep him alive and that my kids are so interested in him! My fear is always that as the years go by, my memories of some things about him will start to dim. But I can still clearly hear his voice, feel his big bear hugs, see the mischevious twinkle in his eyes, and feel the annoying horse bites he loved to dish out. I keep thinking that I need to start recording all of my stories and memories of Paul, but my feelings are still so, raw and I have tears and mascara running down my face as I type this post. I miss him and all of the lost opportunities that came with his death. Someday it will be so fun to look back and see all of the times he was with us and helping us out from the other side. I continue to pray daily that Paul knows how much we love him and miss him!

Father's Day 2017...

James got his Father's Day present a day early because he just can't wait to open presents! And because I knew we would want to try out his new paddleboard on Saturday! Those of us who tried it out in the reservoir loved it and were excited to try it in San Diego!

On Sunday, we had Poppy and Caleb over for dinner and trifle. Caleb stayed and watched "Cool Runnings" with us, and the kids loved hanging with him!

Eating with Mom's Friends...

Angela invited us over to her house for lunch and to swim. My kids were apprehensive beforehand and told me it's just awkward to hang out with "my" friends that they don't know. I forced them in the door, and Ang's son, Eli, and Melanie's son, Ashton quickly began playing video games together. But this was the most quiet lunch ever...I don't know if any of them spoke at all! Once in the swimming pool, they began playing games and getting to know each other better. I hope they learned a lesson in making new friends!

Hard to Say Goodbye!

This is the sweet family we have been friends with since Jackson and Emerie were in Kindergarten and they moved into our neighborhood. All of our kids match up in age and get along so well. Jackson and Emerie have long discussions about Star Wars and Harry Potter. Paul and Masey are both the punks of our families and love to play pranks and have contagious laughter! Alanna and Kamdyn get along well since they are both super sensitive and love to run around and scream at the top of their lungs and do tumbling tricks. Blaze and Braxton have been friends their entire lives and love to compare milestones with each other.  Since Blaze and Braxton were 18 month old until about 6 months ago, we have done babysitting exchanges every month. It was such a great arrangement to leave our kids for a playdate with responsible adults and have a guaranteed date night once a month!

But the Johnson's are ruining everything by moving to Texas in a few weeks! They need to for Corey's job, but that doesn't make it any easier. We are really, really going to miss them and watching our kids continue to grow up together. Even though we have known that they were going to move for several months now, I still don't think it's sunk in. It's going to be so hard to say our goodbyes soon :(

Cousin days...

We decided to get together with our Perkins cousins once a week during the summer for fun outings. This week was the first, and we went to Liberty Park. The kids spent 4 hours playing in the splash park, the playground, and then finally at the duck pond. Alanna loved playing with Charlie, and she wanted to carry him around, but he preferred me. Andrea and I showed up in pretty much the same shirt and wearing big sun hats, so we wondered if maybe he thought that I was his mamma! I'm so glad we live close enough to cousins to see them often, and it's so fun to watch them grow up together and share the same interests. The younger ones are still huge Power Ranger fans, just like Luke and Caleb!

Perkins family b-bque at Andy Adams Park...

Paul got to spend several days at his grandparent's house after school was out. He had fun being spoiled, as usual, and played lots of Halo with Luke. We met up for dinner at Andy Adams park because they have tennis courts, and Luke and Caleb have been in to that lately. We also played a bit of tennis ball...baseball with a racket. Alanna, of course, was glued to either Charlie or Presley the whole time! James was the only one who chose to actually b-bque, and it took him quite a while to even get a fire started for the coals. Poppy had to run back home to get some lighter fluid to finally get James's chicken going. I guess he though it was worth it though! James has also had fun getting Caleb back for all of the treats he's given our kids over the years. On Caleb's way out, he put the cookie plate in Presley's lap and let her take a few giant cookies! Like I always say...he is a sucker for the girls!

Stake Primary Activity...

Back in February, I was called to be the 1st Counselor in the Stake Primary presidency. I am working with the 11 year old scouts...mostly just going to Round Table meetings, so I was excited to help plan an activity for the Activity Day girls! We wanted to go all out for them to make a memorable event about the temple! The theme was "There's No Place Like Home", and we decorated Wizard of Oz style throughout the building. Everyone thought it was so cute, and it was so fun to watch the girls see the cultural hall for the first time and skip down the hall and stare at the huge lollipops! I got to make the lollipops this time...very temperamental, but very worth the effect! Kayla and her mom and James and I tackled the balloon arch, which turned out looking awesome above the cutout wooden temple!

Julie made these amazing tissue flower poppies that lined both sides of the 50 ft. yellow brick road!

The stations the girls rotated to helped them with goals in their Faith in God book like modesty, courage and faith, Word of Wisdom, Knowledge, and filling their lamps with oil.

James was so helpful and drew all of these bricks on the road for me! He also made stands for the lollipops to stand up in!

The girls walked in and got a booklet for all of the stations, and a cool gel pen. They were so excited!

Our little 4 year old neighbor, Zadie, is obsessed with the Wizard of Oz. She even went through a phase where she wore her Dorothy dress everyday until it had holes in it! Lucky for us, she let me borrow some of her special vintage dolls and signs to use for the activity. We heard lots of great feedback about how the girls loved the activity, so I'd call it a success! And I'm so glad that Alanna was old enough to attend this year, that made it even more meaningful for me to help plan!