Poyfair - Blain Camping Trip

A few weeks a go on June 15 we took our girls on their first camping trip.

Jason and Brian got together and arranged everything. I was

 so excited. I have been wanting to take the kids camping for years.

In fact I even bought us a 12 man tent 2 years ago, and we finally

got to use it as a family. (I know there are only 6 of us, but I wanted plenty of space)

We went out to Mustang Park which is only about

20 minutes away, but for a first

camp out it was perfect for us.

We had so much fun. We had the traditional tin foil

dinners, and of course we had smores! Jason

and the kids sat around the fire and told not so scary ghost

stories. I, unfortunately had to work on making

a slide show for the cub scout day camp that

was going on the same week, but I had a good time all the same.

We let Emilie bring her friend Penny Taylor along. She is the cutest kid

and so fun to have around. We had a running joke the

entire time because we also brought our dog Penny with us, and we kept confusing

everyone with who we were talking too. (sort of) "Penny, stop eating the garbage!" and

 things like that kept getting yelled.

I loved going with the Blain  Family, and would do it again in a second. Brian is so

easy going, and fun, and he has the best stories.

 Bethany, his wife, has the most infectious laugh. She is just delightful

to hang out with. They have such fun kids too. Avery, Halley, Tyler, and Bella. They are always

into everything, and so funny. Halley will give you everything she owns in a heartbeat.

She has such a giving spirit. Tyler is so independent. He can do anything and

everything himself, but he still loves being apart of all that the girls are doing.

Avery is sweet and kind. She always has something nice to say.

She loves to help out with the little girls and to be the responsible one.

Bella is just simply adorable. She has the most angelic and cherubic face, but

has to be the messiest kid ever!  You can tell she is

always having fun, because she has a huge smile on her face,

and is dirty head to toe. I love that about her. Since I've been raising Ivy the Mud Queen I have a

 new appreciation for a happy messy kid.

We all had a great time, and I hope to do it again soon! Well, maybe when the weather cools off a bit,

 Bethany and Brian listening to one of Jason's stories.

 Halley taking a drink break

 Penny

 Miss Avery

 Tyler and Bella checking out the bug situation

 Jason teaching the girls how to load a fishing hook with worms

 Stick bug

 Adelaide kicking our dog.

 Carmella having an outdoor nap

One Smart Mama

You know, I was never a very good student as a kid. I just didn't work as hard as I could have. I understood most of what I was taught, I even still remember a lot of it, (not so much the math) but I never really thought of myself as being a super smartie. I'm not sure I really knew what it meant to study hard.  However, since going back to college I have a new zest for learning. I really enjoy my classes. I love learning about art and artists. I have found the government and US history classes so much more enlightening.
I have really poured my whole self (or at least as much as a mom of 4 can) into my studies. I know that sometimes Jason wishes I wouldn't work SO HARD. I know he and the kids suffer when Mom has finals and midterms with 2-3 projects due in a week, and a huge test breathing down her neck. More often than not they are left wondering if the house will ever be clean again, and if I have forgotten that ever important meal... dinner.
I am happy to say that all that hard work and time I have been putting in at school is paying off. This last year was my hardest yet. I went a little crazy taking the winter-mester class, I think my family wanted to kill me sometimes, but in the end all is well. I got straight A's both semesters and maintained a high GPA. Because of all this hard work, I received a letter in the mail from my school this week.
When I saw the large envelope addressed to me from the Dean of Liberal Arts I said to Jason, "hey look, they're writing to tell me how awesome I am." You can imagine my surprise when I opened the envelope a few seconds later and read the letter from the Dean informing me I had made the Dean's List. I did a little happy dance and showed Jason my certificate, then ran off to call my mommy and daddy.

This was a much needed recognition of my efforts. It gives me a huge feeling of satisfaction that all my hard work is not in vain. I know that I am fulfilling the admonition in my patriarchal blessing to complete my education. I know and recognize Heavenly Father's hand in my life when I feel all crazy and stressed out from school. There have been too many times when I have felt defeated, and wondered how I could possibly meet my deadlines, and care for my family and church obligations too. However, each time I stop and ask Him for help He pulls me through. I am always amazed by how everything falls into place, by how I become inspired for an art project, when for days I have been stumped for an idea. I am amazed by how loving and forgiving the kids are, and how when I so desperately need to study, Carmella will take a 3 hour nap, and Addie will entertain her self the entire time. Everything always works out, and I know It is Heavenly Father making that happen for me.
Yes, I am a very blessed lady, and one smart mama!

Addie's photo shoot

Back in May I took Addie and Ella out for a little photo shoot. I already posted Ella's photos, I am now, finally getting around to posting Addie's. I love these. Addie is so easy to photograph. I think it's her age. The big girls are always so posey posey, and Carmella I have to practically chase down or pin down. But Adelaide is just her sweet self. Her real personality always shines through.

Life keeps on moving

My but life has a way of just continuing on whether you are on board or not. I feel like I can barely keep up with all that has been happening with our family. It really seems like if I don't pay better attention I will miss something.

Back in September Adelaide started taking gymnastics classes with her friend Reann. They have been so cute together, and have really loved seeing each other every monday for "nastics". As the end of the year approached her teacher Miss Marty told us about their end of the year program. I debated about whether or not Adelaide should do it. She is rather shy in a large group, but I finally decided she should do it.
 Each week the girls practiced their routines, and Addie got excited about showing Daddy and her sisters what she had been learning. Her excitement failed when she walked in and saw all the kids from the other classes there, along with all their families. Frankly, she totally chickened out. She sat on the mat screaming and crying uncontrollably until Jason finally broke down and rescued her.  Together they sat off to the side and did the stretching and warmups with the kids.
Then came the time for the actual routines. Adelaide's group started with the balance beam. She sat and watched them from across the gym. I went over to her hoping I could get her participate, and willing to try just about anything. I offered her an ice cream cone if she did it. She crossed her arms and in her best sassy 4 year old voice said "no!" I offered her TWO scoops of ice cream. She cocked her head and without hesitation said "Three scoops. I want vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry." It's almost as if she planned the whole thing, or had perhaps been waiting for the perfect moment to negotiate a triple scoop ice cream cone out her mother. What else could I say? I had paid $25.00 for this little program, and by golly she was going to perform! even if that meant a five dollar ice cream cone. I agreed, so off she went to walk the balance beam, and to perform her other routines for all to see.

In the end she got a medal, a certificate, and an ice cream cone almost as big as her. I should mention that she ate the whole thing. It took her all day, and we had to put it in the freezer for a little while, but she ate it.

Her little tantrum

Miss Marty helping her jump off the spring board

Recieving her medal and certificate