Holy Huge!

We just got back from my mother-in-laws garden. We are trying to keep it up while she is out of town. I have neglected to check the squash and this is the result! They are so big! When Rylee saw them, she couldn't wait to take a picture. Gracie wanted to go show grandma and was disappointed when I reminded her that she's not home:( They love you Grandma Lynn!

Getting ready for the 4th

Here is how my kids "helped" clean the boat for the 4th this year. As you can see, a lot more playing than cleaning was accomplished! But what can you expect when you hand your children a hose and suit them up for water play!

4th of July 2011

We were so excited this year to invite a few family friends to enjoy houseboating with us for a few nights for the 4th. We invited our good friends the Hills and the Donatis. Our kids got along great, and some of the adults made new friends they hadn't met before. It was so much fun. We ate way too much food, almost everyone got sun-burned, but we had a great time! After a few traumatic events on the intertube with the kids, everyone was brave enough to give it another shot and we were eventually successful at showing the kids what fun the water can be.


Here is Bree just lounging in the morning with her, oh so nutritious breakfast, muffins and danishes!

Cole and Tyden are the best of friends and often like to cause a little bit of trouble with thier roudiness! (Don't worry Mom and Dad Leishman, those guns didn't have water in them. They just wanted to pose this way for the picture!)

Here they are being sweet.

Cole was almost ready to go down the slide this time after a lot of coaxing from his more adventurous friends, but once he sat down and saw how far down it was he decided it was too much. He began to cry, I'm not sure if out of fright or embarrassment because he couldn't do it, but he was quickly comforted and moved on to the next task, getting in the water!

Such cute kids! (Cole, Bree, and Gracie)

Rylee was brave enough to go down the slide, as long as daddy went with her. She did great, but decided it wasn't for her after all. Maybe later in the season we can get her to try to go down by herself! Or maybe next year.

This years new toy is the paddle boat. I think my kids were more excited about this than anything else!

Miss Gracie, snacking away (which what we all did most of the day).

Bree's "funny face." So glad to catch it on camera! She loves to make people laugh, and once she gets a laugh, she doesn't stop!

I got glow-in-dark tattoos for all the kids, and this is the one I sported in honor of my new baby niece, Auburn Liberty, born on the 4th of July. How perfect! But really, we would expect nothing less from my sister-in-law Taryn. She's usually pretty good at getting just what she wants! (excuse my gross looking leg. way to up close!)

All the kids on top of the houseboat getting ready for the fire-works. I got them all glow-sticks that they are showing the camera.

Tee Ball

I don't know who was more excited for tee ball this year. Me or Cole! I couln't wait to see him play sports so when sign ups came around and he was old enough, we were one of the first to sign up! It was so fun to watch him learn a new sport. My parents came to town for Rylee's baptism and were able to watch him play. So fun! He was VERY good at throwing the ball, and we're working on hitting and catching at home. He's getting very good and I'm excited to see him play again next year. Next . . . Soccer!

His first game

You can see him right in the middle, number 2, waiting to catch the ball if it comes his way. That's my boy!

Hitting . . .

Running . . .

He was awesome!

Rylee's Baptism

Can you believe it! I still remember being pregnant with her! But here she is, all grown up. And I am amazed at this little girl. Her understanding and love for the gospel is truly inspiring. As her parents, we've done our best to teach her, but she loves to learn. She has so much love for everyone. Her prayers are the longest in our family because she prays for all the children and families that don't have all that they need and then proceeds to list the things that she hopes that they can have. What a big heart! She is such a good example to her siblings and I hope that they follow it.
It was so great having so much family around to share in such a special day for Rylee. She was a little nervous once it was time to go in the water, but I reassured her that it will be warm and that seemed to calm her nerves.

Here she is with her daddy.

Rylee and mommy. So proud!

Aunt Tiffy made a quick drive down from Idaho to be here. She surprised Rylee at the baptism and Rylee was soooo excited to see her!

Rylee with her grandma and grandpa Leishman.

Grandma and Grandpa McKee, who also traveled all the way from Montana to be here. My mom gave a talk at the baptism on the Holy Ghost and gave Rylee her first set of fancy scriptures with her name engraved on them. These are traditions in my family. My grandmother was the one who spoke on the Holy Ghost at my baptism and gave me scriptures as well. Very sweet!

The whole family, including two of her great grandmas, Grandma Betty and Grandma Balch.

Family photo. Bree was slightly less than cooperative (as usual).

What cute kids!!!

My mom made this AMAZING cake that matching Rylee's white dress. BEAUTIFUL!

Here you can see them together! ( I accidentally cut my mom off, oops! Sorry mom!)

I can't believe I forgot to include a picture of Gracie with Grandma Lynn! Aren't they great! She loves dancing with Grandma!

Gracie's Dance Recital 2011

Gracie was so excited to start dance this year. Since she was so young, she didn't get to start until half way through the year. Her grandma (owner and teacher of the studio) snuck her in! She was so excited for her recital and looked super cute in her costume. It was quite a trial trying to get what little hair she has into something fancy! She did great, but needs a little more time to get her balance, so she'll be repeating Kinderdance One next year. Then she won't be so much younger than all her classmates and gets to dance with her good friend Gemma! Here she is with her proud mama!

This is her tap and ballet teacher, Miss Roxanne.

She got a pretty bouquet of flowers from her daddy and me. Look at that grin!

I think her favorite part of the costume (besides its sparklyness, is the teddy bear it came with that wears the matching costume. So cute!

Mover and a Shaker

I had to post this little video of Gracie. She can't help but shake it and move it wherever she is. All she needs is a little music, and she's out of control! I love watching her! It's one of the many things about her that makes me smile!

Hello Blogging World!

I'm back and I'm excited to re-dedicate myself to journal-ing my families adventures. Since it's been such a long time, I will not be doing a recap, but start from here. We recently got back from a family vacation to San Diego. We spend two days at Sea World, and made a quick trip to see the temple and the beach on our way home. The next few posts will show more about that. Until later!

The Ocean

Since moving to California, my kids have repeatedly begged us to take them to the ocean. None of them have ever seen it so we made sure to make a short trip to the beach before we left San Diego. I'm not sure what they liked best about this trip! Going to Sea World for two days, or the beach for 30 minutes! They had so much fun chasing the waves, and then getting chased back. The rule "don't get your clothes wet since we have to travel 10 hours home" was quickly forgotten in all the excitement. (The bags they are holding is thier collection of sea shells). Bree was terrified of the ocean waves, so she spent our beach trip in daddy's arms, burying her face in his neck so she couldn't see it. It was the first time she had ZERO interest in walking by herself!