Voyage Across The Country

We left Friday evening at 6pm. After a few hours the kids did finally fall asleep...which means less bathroom/snack stops. This is what the back of the van looked like. (It was a good thing we didn't get pulled over for anything.)

After a straight 24 hour drive, we made it to El Paso, Texas...over halfway to our destination. The kids were definitely ready for something to do other than sitting and fighting. The hotel break made the rest of the trip bearable.

The kids wanted to be creative and built a fort for Ammon to take a nap in. Hotels bring out the crazy in everyone.

We finally made it to AZ! After so many, "Are we in Arizona yet?" we could finally say that we were. Of course there was still 6 more hours of driving. But we made it to our destination by 3pm Sunday...I can't believe we made that trip in about a day and a half!

School Awards

I can't believe another school year is coming to an end. Wow, time sure flies when you are busy raising kids. They grow up so fast. I'm very proud of their hard work. Next year Thomas Crossroads Elementary will have 4 Wardwell's!

This is Rian with her 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Bassett. A wonderful teacher. Rian had gotten perfect attendance, 85% or better on AR (reading), high points on AR, and "The Class Thinker".

Rian with her buddy Riley...both call each other "Ri Ri". They are in class together and REACH. Sometimes they are inseperable and other times enemies...must be a real friendship.

During the awards, Ammon was just "Lion Around".

Jarom had gotten awards for 1st grade. He's excited to be a 2nd grader in the fall. He had gotten perfect attendance, and All Star Reader for the Book It program all year.

Jarom and his teacher, Mrs. Kenty. She too was a great teacher.

Ammon Smiles

Ammon is over 8 weeks-old. Smiles and cooing are becoming more common. Just thought we would share some of his cutest moments.

Here We Come!

Guess where we are going this summer?

Turns out, I have a craving to visit family. We are going to drive cross-country to Arizona with our "little" family and stay for a few weeks...okay, a month. Saddly Trent will have to return to GA...he will be greatly missed. We leave Friday night and will be back early July. I'm going to continue posts from AZ if anyone is interested. This will be a great opportunity for my kids to know their Gma, Gpa Palmer, GGpa Maynard, Aunts, Uncles, and many, many cousins. Then we will drive to Utah to visit more family. Yes I do come from a very large family...Wish us luck on the insane drive out.

Happy Mother's Day

Here are the gifts from the kids. Tarin made a flower-pen-pot with a bead bracelet. Rian made a placemat with Breakfast in a bag. Then the kids did a Mother's Day Restaurant. This morning was breakfast in bed. For lunch the kids took my orders...and now the "restaurant" is making me dinner. These kinds of days move way to fast. I was even given a nap after church. (That will only come once a year because daddy was able to come home straight after church.)

Raegan loved being a waitress.

Tarin loved it even more. Jarom and Rian didn't want their picture taken, but they enjoyed reading off my options and circling the right choice to take back to the kitchen.

Dresses

Easter came when baby Ammon came, so making dresses wasn't on my list. Well, Rian needed some dresses and Tarin and Raegan wanted one too, so by Mother's Day, they were done. (Notice the lovely used diapers in the background...it's halfway to the garbage.)

Don't you just love the forced picture look on their faces.

End of the Season

Soccer is over. Tarin had a fun season and loves to be the owner of a trophy. Here she is with her team and coach Mimi Smith.

You can tell it was a hot, sticky day for a game.

"Backyardigans"

I caught the kids in the backyard building a "campfire". They gathered rocks and sticks and pretended to be camping. They are so cute...when they get along.

One Of The Bunch

"Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame bun. To go please."
(7 Weeks)

Number 5 Has The Charm

The shirt says it all. What a cutie!

Tricks Are For Kids

What...what is going on!??! Well, Trent was demonstrating to the kids what they looked like when they eat spaghetti. We all had a good laugh around the dinner table.

Pre-K Graduation

Tarin Graduated from Pre-K.

Tarins class performs durning the graduation program. This is her teacher Mrs. Michelle Wong. Tarin is the furthest on the left.

Jarom's Big Day

Jarom turned 7 years-old. Thursday morning Jarom woke up to balloons in his room. He was excited for his day. Daddy came to his school to eat lunch and buy the class ice cream (school allows kids to buy ice cream everyday).

The traditional cookie cake that Jarom helped mom make.

Wonder what he wished?

Thank you Gma Wardwell. Jarom loves the Spongebob lego kit. The rest of the weekend awaits for family gifts and fun.

Nephews

Here are my nephews Braedan and Carter. For all of us who have kids, you know just what's going on. Bikes aren't any fun unless you can modify.

Another Palmer Graduates

My youngest brother Trevor had just graduated from BYU. (It brings back a lot of memories--BYU) I hope he is wise this summer while he transitions to his full-time, grown-up job in the fall...no more broken wrists snowboarding or waterskiing.

Camped Out...Out of Bed

A bit of jealously went around when Rian was invited to a sleepover. To help balance out the excitement, Jarom, Raegan and Tarin camped out on the floor. You can imagine how sweaty Tarin had gotten...in that green sleeping bag.

Ammon Speaks Out

"Flashing gang signs, yo."
(5weeks old)





"I can intimidate."

Lego Fascination

Jarom had gotten ready for school so quickly he was able to build his next project. He loves to build and create.

Lots and Lots of Help

Rian is definitely my biggest helper. She really loves to hold and feed Ammon. She's a lifesaver at times.

Raegan likes to help...along with all the others. I need to get a picture of all the kids "trying to help". It's almost a competition of who can help the most, or who can hug and kiss Ammon the most. So I find ways to ration out the baby needs. Raegan is on top of the world right now.

Big Sister

A few days ago I watched Luke and Lana Gardner. Well, Luke isn't too fond of other places without "mom" so needless to say, he cried the majority of the time. Finally, he snuggled up to his big sister and went to sleep. As you can see, she just sat there and let him. So cute.

Night Night

I was doing my nightly rounds before going to bed, and I couldn't resist a picture. I think he slept well that night...all snuggly and cozy. Do you think he likes dogs?

Welcome Kayhlen Melissa Lee

Trent's sister Jodi just had their first child. Congrats to them. She was born yesturday at 6lbs. 11 oz. Wish we could be there.

Grandpa in Town

Gpa had business in Puerto Rico and brought back some fun toys for the kids. Thank you Gpa.

In Deep Thought

He sleeps in some of the cutest postitions. I still need to get a picture of when he finds his thumb.

Happy Birthday to Mom..31 !

Here is the cake everyone indulged me with. (I'm trying to lose weight from the baby!!!)

Last night Trent had given me flowers.
This morning I had gotten flowers...and a pan"cake" breakfast.

The kids enjoyed the festivities. It's not fun unless they can take part.

We all had a chance to break the pinata.

Ultimately daddy was the deal breaker. "Candy for everyone." Tonight we will go to dinner to celebrate my getting older.

More Stitches

Well, Raegan decided to fly off the stairs and land at the bottom on her chin. The thud said it all. Mom and dad spent an evening at Urgent Care (good thing Gma Wardwell was here). It was only two stitches, and Raegan was sooo brave. She didn't cry at all, the doctor was amazed. Well, two days later...we noticed Raegan had been picking at her chin. Turns out, she had pulled out both stitches! I think it will be fine, but we weren't too happy with her. Across the board, Raegan is ahead with two trips to Urgent Care for stitches (the other time was for her finger caught in the door jam) and Jarom with only one for falling off the bleachers (another chin for stitches.) I'm sure more adventures lay ahead of us.

Grandma Wardwell Comes to Visit

Rian and Gma Wardwell have a fun coloring session.

Gma was an awesome help with new baby brother. (Bunches of Thank yous go out to Gma). Raegan was always ready to help and give kisses.

More coloring, but with a new toy...the laptop. The kids loved to make faces into Gma's computer.