Summer Darrington get together!

This weekend we went to Pocatello to have our summer Darrington get together. We made it there Friday evening. Peter happily dove into play with his cousins and pulling out super hero costumes. We had a dinner and let the kids enjoy playing the evening away in the back yard. Since the house was overflowing we opted to stay in a tent outside. The first night Alice blessedly slept through the night, however it poured rain for a few hours. Casey woke up just after three to a flooded cot and tried to shelter me a bit, then joined the kids in the middle on the air mattress. I lasted on my cot a while longer, but once my sleeping bag was soaked through I wiggled my way onto the air mattress to join the crew. We woke early to two very wet cots and blankets but relatively dry cluster of us in the middle. Saturday we let the kids play the morning away around the yard. The adults had a washers tournament. Casey and I were on the losing end, but had fun nonetheless. After lunch we took the kids to a bounce house place for an hour. The kids had so much fun getting their wiggles out and bouncing non-stop. We had the kids watch a movie for some down time afterwards. Later we pulled out a water bounce house for the kids. They didn't last long in the water, but played their hearts out around the yard. We ended the evening with Smores. Luckily we had a drier night even though their was a bit of rain and lightning around, plus Alice was up a few timestimes. The kids blessedly slept till 7:40 though (yay, way longer than the household counterparts ; ). We had an easy going Sunday morning with kids playing here and there. We all went to church at Nicole and Jordan's ward. After church we had a dinner and more cousin time for awhile. It's always a fun, crazy few days together. I wouldn't want it any other way and I love how much fun these cousins have together. Bonds strengthened and memories made for a lifetime.

 

  

 

 

 

We gave Casey his father's day before wet left Friday. The kids gave him a card, and socks that say world's best dad that had candy in them. He also got pistachios, a fishing hat, and a weather predictor bulb. He is truly the best Dad to these three! I couldn't have asked for a better man to be by my side through this parenthood journey. It's absolutely true great men make great dad's and I'm surrounded by many in my life (Dad, Dad D, Casey, brothers, and brother in laws - love you all!)

Our lazy days of summer

The weekend I was in Utah the kids spent some time with Grandma and Grandpa Darrington. They built sand creations, magnetic block creations, played outside, enjoyed some movies, and played away their days. Casey took the kids to the Western days parade that Saturday. After the parade they got to go do the Home Depot craft and made cars.

The next Monday the kids started They have practice on Mondays and meets on Wednesdays for four weeks. Their first meet was on the sixth. Peter is still in the young category so he is doing hurdles, 50 m dash, and the long jump. Kendal chose to do the long jump, hurdles, shot put, and 400 so far this summer. They both did well and tried their best in their events.
The second meet both Kendal and Peter did better in their long jumps, and Kendal improved in her shot put.

First meet - June 6th

Second meet - June 13th

Casey has had basketball open gyms this month. The basketball girls have a few tournaments this summer. The second weekend in June Casey went with the girls for a tournament in Pocatello. They lost a few games and won two over the course of a couple days. For having a team made up of a few different grades, who haven't really played together, and playing some bigger schools they did fine.
That same weekend I took the kids to Logan. We haven't been in a few months do it was nice to go visit. The kids were in heaven making projects with Grandpa Loosle. They each made a "treasure" chest and Kendal got a bonus fridge for her American Doll. Grandpa spoiled them with tool boxes and things to go in them. They  putt them together Thursday and Kendal painted hers Friday. We ate at Adams park Friday for lunch. We got to see David, Anica, Elliot, and Isaac, and they got to join us each evening for dinner and play. The boys are growing up too fast. Saturday was our busy day. I took the kids down to ride for wheelers at the shop with Grandpa. Kendal loved it, Peter wanted to go very fast, and Alice was hesitant bit ended up doing a few rounds around the lot. Afterwards we hit up Gossners and took lunch out to visit Nana. The kids love visiting and playing at Nana's house. Later in the afternoon Grandma and I took the kids to Tony's to play with Billie's kids on his water blow up slide. They had so much fun together. Kendal ran around with Emma. Peter played away with Ben. Alice had fun with little Maggie playing in the water and eating snacks.

 This summer the kids have daily to dos. They have reading and a chore each day. Then they alternate between work books and educational tech time the other days. Peter has a summer goal of learning to tell time. Kendal wants to improve her cursive and continue piano practicing. Both kids earned their first reading reward from Barnes and Noble and got to go pick out books! They've also each earned a "date" out with mom and dad. We took them out individually for lunch and quality time Kendal went with me, and Peter with Casey.
 We pulled out our kiddie pool to play I this past week. It was really cold so Alice was shivering and done pretty quickly. Kendal and Peter played with our neighbor Echo in it. Also bonus pictures of our lazy summer days.