First Day of Preschool

Ok, it's happened!!
My baby and I made it through her first day of preschool with tears shed by both of us.

As part of the Up to 3 program Kambri just started the transitional preschool that she will go to now until she turns 3 and will then start the district preschool.

We've been preparing ourselves for this preschool and have anticipated that it was going to be a bit of a struggle. Kambri is very clingy to me and has not been able to adjust with separation from me with anyone other than family up until this point.
It has made it near impossible to take her to nursery at church and leave her and has just really concerned us quite a bit with her all the way around.
This is definitely going to be a huge stretch for her and I'm anxious to see the improvement and growth in her.

We've really been talking it up with her about how much fun school will be and how in the fall she'll get to ride the bus! She has seemed excited for school and is also very excited for the bus that she will get to ride for the district preschool; although I'm not sure how I feel about that.
She's still so little, and yes, I'm having troubles letting go of my baby.

Before:


This is Kambri playing at the sensory table just moments before Hollie and I left. She started crying immediately as I was walking out the door and they closed the door behind me and I could hear her crying all the way out of the building. So of course, by the time I reached the car I completely lost it and started bawling. It was so hard because I know that she needs this to progress, but I felt like such an awful mom for leaving her and again because 'she's still so young'. There is most definitely something about your baby growing up on you that tears at your heart.

So of course I was a basketcase the whole time she was gone and couldn't stop worrying about how she was doing and how traumatic this whole event was going to be on her. And poor Hollie was absolutely lost without Kambri at home. Those 2 have become the best of friends.

To my surprise when I got there to pick her up, they said she only cried for about 10 minutes. Her teacher said that she wimpered a bit here and there and was withdrawn from the other kids, but she did SOOOO much better than any of us had anticipated. I was so proud of her!

After:

She seemed so grown-up coming out of her school and as we were reaching the doors to go outside I realized I needed to ask her coordinator a question and so we turned back around and she said, "play?!" with a big ole smile. Definitely progress!!!

Kambri and Mom survived the day!!!

Bowling with the Rasmussen Bunch

We had quite the eventful day here! We went from swimming lessons, to lunch at the school with Katie, her kids and her sister Chelsea, and then on to the bowling alley. It took a lot longer than I expected for a single game with 5 kids, I guess I forgot to factor in the point that they are kids. But I loved visiting with Katie Jo.

Taylor was having a bit of a moment while we were there, but we all made it through. I thought Taylor and Hollie would have enjoyed it more than what they did, but it could've been the distractions of having friends to play with. At any rate, I always love getting together with Katie and I'm so glad she's back from Wyoming!

Kambri and Breckyn just hung out together. Look at the way he's already adoring her.
(Katie and I have planned their marriage since the time we were both pregnant. Haha!)
They loved running around and playing together.

Swimming Lessons- Part 1

I am ashamed to say that this was Hollie's 1st year in swimming lessons and only Taylor's 3rd or 4th year. So, it was a much needed thing this summer.

Major accomplishments for Hollie were getting comfortable with going completely under water. She has never been one to go all the way under, so I'm proud of her for that. Plus, she conquered her fear or the diving board and kept going on it over and over again trying to become less fearful. She's doing great.

Taylor did really well for having jumped him 2 levels. He is definitely very comfortable with the water and even in the deep end.

We didn't put Kambri in this session for lessons, but have signed all 3 of the kids up for another session to start in another week. We are moving Hollie up a level although there were a few things she didn't pass on, but we're going to keep Tay in the level he's at because the next level they'll be swimming laps. So, he's doing pretty good where he's at. I look forward to seeing them all improve and also in seeing how Kambri does with her lessons.

Family Swim Night

We went swimming as a family at the Brigham City pool as part of Kambri's 'Up to 3' Summer Community Events. We only went for about an hour, but we all had a good time. Shaun didn't stay in long though, he opted to get out and be the photographer for us. :)

My friend Tia and her family happened to be there as well so the older girls had a good time going down the big slide together!

Kambri was attached to Taylor's hip. She wasn't letting him leave her sight for anything.

Kambri and Hollie getting ready for a big dip off the kiddie slide.

Fun was had by all...

All in a Saturday mornings fun

Lindsay and I are trying to take up this whole 'turning junk into treasures' trend. So, a few weeks ago we got up and went out on our yard sales trek.

The main highlights of the event for myself were these:

My family room is being done in the outdoorsy moose/bears type thing and this basket was the right price at $1. So far it's holding remotes in it, but we'll see what it becomes.

I'm going to change my kitchen over from apples to stars & hearts. This box opens up and has shelves. I'm not sure what I'll put inside but I thought this was cute and it was also $1. Check back for the finished project. (I'm committing myself to finishing it sometime this year. Haha!)

I definitely need to keep checking out yard sales repeatedly because I'm sure I miss out on a lot of good stuff just because I go so infrequently. I'd love to hear about your steals from yard sales.

Then the girls decided they needed slushies when we got back.
They seemed rather pleased don't ya think?

And of course, the afternoon was completed with our gourmet Mac & Cheese that we love, oh so much.

Lagoon Fun

We were able to go to Lagoon as a family last week and Taylor brought his best friend Keaton. When I was a kid growing up, I don't remember us missing a year of going to Lagoon. It was always one of the main highlights of summer.

Although it was quite an eventful morning trying to make it there, after the kids' first session of swimming lessons and my Dad's truck blew up, ...we still managed to make it there.

Luckily we were able to score some free tickets from my brother-in-law Mark that he wasn't using, and a few extra from my Dad, as we went on Nucor Lagoon Day.

This was our first year taking Kambri and she really seemed to enjoy it. Her 1st ride was the Flying Aces. I was really concerned about how she'd handle it, but Taylor said she did pretty good.

She did alright on the planes with Taylor, but was a little upset over the little boats. :) (I think it was mainly because Hollie started out getting in by her and was then told she was too big and had to get out.)

The girls had a lot of fun on this ride! It was fun to see their excitement. However, Hollie's favorite rides are the BIG rides. There isn't a ride that she won't get on that I know of.

Taylor and Keaton ran around pretty much by themselves and called and checked in every so often with Shaun or I. They are some crazy boys when they get together, but I believe they tried minding their manners. (Aside from when a 'girl' caught their eye. I'm maintaining the fact that it was Keaton who was interested and feeling more assured in the fact that Taylor isn't into girls yet.) I didn't get any pictures of the boys on any rides, but I did manage to get them to stop long enough for a quick picture.


Hollie and Shaun ran around from ride-to-ride. There were a few rides Hollie would've liked to have gotten on, but Shaun says his stomach can't handle some of the rides like 'back in the day'! I remember 'back in the day' when I loved running around from ride-to-ride and when my stomach didn't feel like it was going to bottom out on the rides.

I was able to visit with Elaine and Tracy. I always look forward to Nucor Day so we can catch up with the latest Bingham Family Member! Good times...

Me, my dad and Kambri left around 5:30 and the poor little girl was absolutely exhausted. She never falls asleep in the car, but she most certainly did this day.

When I asked Kambri what her favorite ride was, she said the cars were her favorite.

The swings were definitely a huge hit, they went on this one several times in a row.

It was well worth enduring the heat for the day, everyone had a great time!

My Sweet Niece Haddie

I absolutely adore my niece Haddie! She is so much fun and does the cutest dang things. She absolutely loves stuffed animals and this is one of the many that she totes around my house when she is here.

I love that she gets so excited when she sees me and yells, "Auntie"! I sure do love this little girl right next to as much as I love my own kiddos.
All of us girls love getting together and playing whenever we can and we always serve our infamous gourmet lunch, Mac & Cheese.

Kambri and Haddie are the best of friends!

Haddie took off with Hollie's bag of Skittles that she got with one of her presents. She thought she was pretty sneaky.

THIS, is her stuffed animal of choice at my house. However it is Hollie's and she has some strict rules that Haddie must follow to be able to run around with it. (Really she just can't take it outside.)

I'm so grateful that Lindsay and I live so close so that we can have the close relationships that we do with our families!!

Happy Belated B-Day Hollie

Wow! Hollie turned 7 on June 16th! I still remember the day she was born like it was yesterday. It's amazing how quickly time flies by. I am so grateful for Hollie and the joy she is in our lives. She is a very unique and entertaining child. She has such a sweet caring heart and is the most generous 7 year old I know! Hollie thank you for everything you bring into our family and for the relationship that you and I share!! I love you more than you'll ever know!

Hollie absolutely loves anything to do with Hannah Montana, so of course we had to have a Hannah B-day! Those who were able to attend the Hannah Event were: Carlee & Kassi, Nicole, Kambri, and her cousins Haddie & Lacie. It turned out to be the perfect size party.

We had microphone cupcakes, played Pin the Heart on Hannah, decorated sun visors, had a Hannah Montana concert (aka something kind of like Musical Chairs), etc. We had a GREAT time!

In the midst of a house full of 7 little girls it just so happened to be the day that the guys could come to install my new windows. They found it hilarious to run around tormenting them by calling one of them 'Handy Manny' and the other, 'Man Without a Shirt'. Poor guys!!!


Hollie got a lot of fun presents which included her lusted after Nintendo DS and games for it, clothes, craft/art stuff, new Hannah bedding and wall decal, and lots of other fun things!

We had her friend party and then a family party later that evening at the park. It was definitely a fun-filled day!