Spring Break - Tracy Aviary & playing in the water

I know its now summer break, but yes, I am just getting to blogging about spring break. Its been super crazy around our house the last 2 months!! We didn't do anything too crazy this year. We went to Trafalga, I took the kids up to Tracy Aviary one day, and we played in the water. Here are some of the pictures.

That peacock came super close to them and they were able to pet its tail. It was the highlight of the day.

And of course they loved the flamingos

And this bird that didn't want anyone to notice it and hid its head. They thought it was hilarious.

Pretty cute kids, Id have to say!  :)

Of course dad couldn't just stand there and watch them slide. He had to lift up the slide so they would fly down it and into the water. They loved it.

I know we did more, but honestly cant remember, so for now that's all.

Kaylee's Baptism

On Saturday, May 5th at 9:00 AM Kaylee was baptized and Confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by her amazing dad. I feel so blessed to have such a sweet girl in our house and that the Lord has trusted us with raising her. We love her to pieces!! Her dad did a great job and gave her a really nice blessing. She had her Grandpa Smith and her Uncle Kole as witnesses. Her Grandma Snyder and Aunt Melanie were nice enough to play the piano and Aunt Krista led the music. Grandma Smith gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and Grandma Snyder gave a talk on Baptism which were both fantastic. The font was taking unusually long to fill up so we stalled as long as we could and it still needed a little time so her Grandpa Smith took a few minutes to talk to us which was awesome too. My dads brother, Uncle Carey is in our bishopric so he requested to conduct for the day. Her cousins made it from Idaho which she was so glad to see. And most her Aunts and Uncles and cousins and both of her great grandmas made it- Great Grandma Smith and Great Grandma Gibbs which was really special to her. It was a great day and very special to our family. After the baptism we had some food at the pavilion at the stake center, but the weather was pretty chilli so we didn't hang out for very long, but it was great to be with friends and family for the little length of time we could stand the cold weather.  Thank you to all who helped and supported us for her special day! 

We love you!!

Kaylee and Dad in their whites getting ready for the baptism.

Awe.. the love of a father and daughter.!! Love it!!

The whole family

With Grandma Snyder.

With her best friend Arlee

Cousin Cody and Kaylee

With Cody and Arlee - Somehow her cousins  Nick and Drew escaped the picture!  :(

Caden with his pal Corby chowing some doughnuts.  Them are some handsome boys! Watch out world....

Some of the kids trying so catch some sun so they didn't freeze

Some of us visiting

My mom got Kaylee some nice new scriptures with her name on them.  She has loved the middle name Rae, and started writing in on every thing - her school work and everything. So as a surprise I made it official and changed her name legally on her birth certificate as Kaylee Rae Snyder. I had it written on her scriptures to tell her and she was so excited!

Thanks for the scriptures grandma and grandpa, we love you!

Kaylee Rae Snyder, its official!!

Seriously, Thanks to all who came and supported her in this big step! We love you! I feel bad I didnt get more pictures of all who came. It was so cold we were just trying to hurry. :)   We are so blessed to have the best family in the world and great friends. I couldn't choose better friends for my kids and Are so proud of the good kids that they are (most the time  :)

Thank you all!!!

Kaylee got her ears pierced

All Kaylee wanted for her Birthday was to get her ears pierced. She got these ear rings years ago and had it set in her mind that she wanted to wear them on her Baptism so it evolved to Kaylee wanted to get them  pierced to have pretty ear rings to wear. 

All ready, not even scared.

Ear #1, not even a flinch. She did great.

Ear #2, a little flinch now she knew what was coming :) She did super good.

So excited to finally have then pierced.

Caden thought it was his turn next, but we are mean and wouldnt let him :)

Kaylee has done really good to keep them clean and take good care of them. She loves that now she can take them out and switch them around.

Kaylee tuned 8!!! Her first friend party and her day - April 24th

Kaylee wanted her hair in curlers for her birthday... Here she is eating her birthday breakfast of Fruit pancakes..aka...Crepes. Yummm!!!

Headed out the door to school looking all cute and old on her 8th Birthday. She is growing up and getting so Beautiful!!

This was her little Birthday party at the hunting club with my family when we were having family dinner.

Kaylee wanted a "pinto horse" cake, but she doesnt really love cake so we went with rice crispy treats and I was in a hurry because the bus was going to be dropping the kids off in 5 mins so its not the best, but her and all her friends loved it.

Aspen and Caden helped me decorate the house for her party.

All the girls from her class were able to make it. When they first got here we did a little craft- making some bookmarks or whatever they wanted. Some turned out super cute!

Then we played a fun relay race where there were teams and they took turns running to the balloons, popping them, getting the bubble gum inside it and blowing a bubble before they could tag the next person in line. It was hilarious!! Some of the balloons were super strong and wouldnt pop!

Poor Keira, her balloon was the worst. But she got it and did really good.

Kaylee blowing her bubble. It was fun to watch and I think the girls liked it.

Then we played the classic pin the tail on the donkey.

Kaylees BFF spinning her to pin the tail.

Singing Happy Birthday to her

All the friends. From left to right:  Mckayde Davis, Arllee Collard, Aspen Watterson, Kamry Boorman, Kaylee, Bailey Mckinney, Keira Stewart, Aspen her sister- her very BFF! :) and Brylee Allen. They are all super cute girls and Im glad Kaylee has such good and cute friends!

Later that night we had our little party with her and Grandma Snyder came out. I made her favorite and really only cake she likes- Banana Cream.

More from her friend party.. Aspen bonking her on the head with her present.

Lighting her candles with Grandma Snyder in the back.

She had a super fun birthday and hopefully had a good day. She received a lot of things to prepare her to get baptized. We Love her so much and are so proud of the sweet girl she is turning in to. She is growing right up on us and learning so much. She is still a great help to her younger siblings and loves to help me around the house. Especially cooking.She is very independent and when she decides she wants something she figures a way to get it done- She is also very creative. Quite often she will wake up and fix breakfast for everyone- eggs. waffles, all sorts of stuff. Her newest thing is making No bake chocolate fudge cookies by herself. She does really good cooking and is super responsible. We love her so much and look forward to seeing her grow and learn more and more.
We Love You Kay-Kay, Kaylis, Kaylee (her nick names)

Aprils Dates with the girls

For April dates with the girls they wanted to go ice skating. It was Dave's turn to take Kaylee and they had so much fun. He said She got the hang of it really good. She got home and told me she went 33 laps around the ice ring all by herself, plus a couple at the first holding her dads hand. but, whose counting?  :)

Trying not to smile while showing  off.

And off she goes, leaving Dad in the dust, or ice slush, or something...

Hangin in there with the big kids!

The next week was mine and Aspens turn. After Kaylee told her how fun ice skating was, that was what Aspen wanted to do. It was a little rough for her at first and we made a lot of laps holding hands, then she got brave and held on to the wall. :)

But then after about an hour she got even braver and did it by herself. She did really good as long as she wouldn't try to look at or watch anyone else.

What a big girl!

At the end one of these walker skater things became available so she wanted to give it a shot. They helped a ton and she did really good on them.

Thanks for the dates girls!! We sure love you!!!

Briggs caught himself a chicken

Briggs was so proud of himself for catching a chicken by himself!

His brother telling him good job

Trying to jump with the chicken, almost losing it!

And then wrestling with the chicken... yes, the chicken is in between them! Don't worry, it escaped and jumped off right after I took this picture. :)

Kaylees Baptism Announcement

Kaylees baptism announcement - She is too excited!!