Dam Fun :)

Saturday was HOT, so we headed to Hyrum Dam for our first boating excursion of the season, and Sadie's first boat ride ever. Carson doesn't remember boating, so it felt like his first time. The Gladiator tube didn't disappoint and we had fun in the sun and nice cool water!
We started out pulling Sadie very slowly and she kept giving us the o.k. to speed up. Of course we couldn't go fast enough for Austin and Hayden...especially when mom keeps telling dad to slow down!

Carson finally did get a ride on the tube, but it took some convincing...then of course he loved it. Half the kids were asleep before we finished. The kids' arms were very tired from holding on.

Jumping in the cold water takes your breath away for a few minutes but then feels heavenly.

Here's to the best dam time we've had all week :) I'm sure we'll be heading back soon! Afterwards, hamburgers tasted awesome and the yardwork didn't seem so bad.

Carson The 4 Year Old

Happy 4th Birthday to Carson, who loves.....

multiple chocolate birthday cakes....
Cookie Monster.....

the color blue (notice what color everyone is wearing)....

and LEGOS!!!

Happy Birthday Carcar!

Quotes By Carson

Today Sadie and Carson were playing with bouncy balls, when Carson misplaced his. He looked at me and with the saddest voice ever said, "I don't have any balls."

If I can stop laughing long enough maybe I'll go rent a Chuck Norris video and buy some steaks. Apparently we've got to toughen this kid up!

How To Keep An 11 Year Old Busy

First you sign them up for swimming lessons twice a week. A good 40 minute workout does wonders for kids energy levels. It also helps to have them be the only one in the class, so the coach works them extra hard.

Have them make a video to present at their class hero night. Be impressed when they choose their older brother as their hero. Love looking at pictures of them together over the years, and try not to cry when you feel blessed with sons who truly love each other.

Have them dress up occasionally, and then escort their little sister in the princess pageant. Be grateful they are willing to sit for three hours on hard chairs to watch little girls dance, sing, play the piano and parade around in fancy dresses without complaining once.

Have them practicing for their own piano recital so they can play their piece from memory.

Cheer and clap when they win awards for attendance, math, language arts, presidential award, and the All American. Tell them it's alright to miss the science award by 1% since there isn't enough room on their walls for all the awards they've already received. Think it's cool when their classmates vote them "Most Likely To Succeed" and pray they are right!

Encourage them in their training for a mile race, making them run with you on Saturdays for extra practice. Don't yell too loud when they forget their jacket and are freezing on race day. Stand in the rain and yell encouragements no matter what time a freezing boy can run a mile in.

Make a costume for the re-enactment of the civil war and tease them they are a traitor as they march by with the confederate flag.

Be happy that he's growing his hair out since you don't have time to schedule a haircut anyway!

Congrats on your great year Hayden! Love you more!

Snyder May Top 20

Great events that happened in May to our family, in no particular order....

20. Carson finished his Tuesday play time he's done all school year with his good friend, Brent Stevens.

19. Todd started glider lessons...again. Hopefully this time he will finish.

18. We got a 65" tv. Good BIG things come to those who wait.

17. Nikki and Sara started their first softball season, one as assistant coach, one as player. One is scared of the ball and always will be.

16. All Snyder boys attended and had fun at the ward father/son campout.

15. Nikki attended the first planning meeting for her 20 year high school reunion. Go Bobcats!

14. We all celebrated the last day of school. The kids have had great teachers...Thank you Miss Larkin (Sadie AM), Miss Purser (Sadie PM), Mrs. Mikesell (Sadie ESL), Mrs. Dutson (Sara), Mr. Torrey (Hayden) and Mr. Robins (Austin/ Science).

13. Nikki organized a neighborhood yard sale and bake sale/fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. We raised $176 to donate towards the Relay For Life team! Go neighbors!

12. Todd, Hayden, Sara and Sadie made the first trip of the year (and Sadie's first ever) to Ferron. She loved seeing Grandma and Grandpa Snyder, the 4 wheelers, Grandma's box of jewelry and Grandpa sharing his beef jerky for the ride home.

11. Carson became a standing pee-er. Ask any mother of a little boy, this is a big day....which most aren't too excited about.

10. Todd and the kids planted the garden. We are anxiously awaiting raddishes, peas, potatoes, carrots, brocolli, lettuce, pumpkins and corn-on-the-cob.

9. We all celebrated Grandpa Reeder's 75 birthday! They took the entire family to dinner at Sizzler, since they were homeless :)

8. Austin got his first 4.0 report card!

7. Austin turned 13 and celebrated with a few buddies eating pizza and watching old Batman movies.

6. Austin, Hayden and Sara played in their yearly piano recital. We enjoy listening to them practice each day.

5. Sara and Sadie participated in the Nibley princess pagaent and were escorted by Austin and Hayden.

4. Hayden ran in a rainy, cold, wet Wellsville mile. He finished in 7 min 30 seconds--not his best time but nobody was doing their best in the yucky weather.

3. Nikki's parents moved out of the home she grew up in. Packing it up after 43 years takes a lot of boxes! They've moved in with us, to my children's delight! They iron, cook, clean, pull weeds, pick up kids, do laundry, buy our favorite soda....we are all enjoying them!

2. Soccer season ended for the girls. Sara had teams recruiting her fall season already.

1. Hayden earned his All American Award after memorizing the Gettysburg Address, the names of all US presidents, the states and capitals, the Preamble, the Pledge of Allegiance, taking a 100 question history quiz, writing a biography of a famous American and more!

Once Upon A Time...

Once upon a time, not so long ago, there lived two beautiful princesses in the land of Nibley. They filled their days with learning and fun. When the time for schooling had ended for the season, they bid their teachers and dear friends a fond farewell. They also won the praises of their soccer coaches...one for enduring her first season....
...and one for besting many of her opponents.

The princesses decided to expand their reign and entered the city pagaent. There was dancing...

...and music...and a grand time was had by all who sat in the hard chairs for over three hours watching the beautiful daughters of the land perform. They were escorted by their handsome brothers.

In the end, all received the title of princess. They were showered with flowers and given a beautiful crown to let everyone know of their nobility and greatness.

And if you were wondering if they loved their crowns...you should have seen them wearing them at breakfast the next morning (unfortunately the royal photographer forgot to take a picture.) And they continue to live happily ever after.

Sadie's Pink China Dress

I'll always remember the moments when I'd just delivered a baby and the nurse handed them to me for the first time. Looking at their little red faces and just taking them in for the very first moments of their lives. These seconds are engrained into my memory forever. Just as amazing as those moments were, seeing Sadie for the first time will always be a favorite memory of mine. In a small room, sweltering heat, filled with smiling and crying people I sat wondering if I'd recognize our girl when they brought her in. Maybe she'd look different, afterall we didn't know how old the pictures we'd seen of her really were. But then there she was, so tiny and dressed in the cutest pink dress I'd ever seen, running towards us. I will never, never forget that.
In the eight months she's been with us I've wanted to take some pictures of her in that pink dress. Finally, worried it might be getting too small we took some pictures at Grandma and Grandpa Reeder's home.

She definitely fills the dress out a little better. The hair-do is probably more my taste than hers. And as I look at these pictures, I cannot believe the things this child has learned in 8 months. The dress may still fit, but she has changed in ways I can't believe.

These are pictures I won't need, because the memory will always be better, but I'll enjoy looking at them all the same.