Birthday Boy!

Quaid turned two on the 12th of July. It was difficult for me to not be as involved as usual, but Mike did a wonderful job taking care of everything. He did the shopping, and Mikiya woke him up early on the big day so she could help wrap the presents. She was so excited you would have thought it was her birthday. I love it!

Quaid is a HUGE Mickey Mouse fan lately, so Mike made Quaid a Mickey Mouse cake. He absolutely loved it! He really wanted to help make it, and didn't even try making a mess during the helping. I thought it all turned out wonderful. I'm going to have to get better by the next birthday or I will surely be replaced permanently.

Quaid got a little race ramp and cars to go with it. He LOVES it! He and Mikiya both have played cars a ton. Quaid's favorite is to use the blue track and the blue car.

Some of Quaid's favorites!

• Reading books



• puzzles



• playing with Mikiya



• cars



• balls



• ice cream



• playing in water

Swimming?

Our neighbors got a bigger pool and so they gave Mikiya and Quaid these little ones. They have been really excited, but I'm not sure they actually count as pools. At least the kids have had a blast. The best part was watching them jump from one to the other. Unfortunately, my battery died and I didn't get pictures of it. Maybe later.

Summer Fun

Over Memorial Day weekend, we made a trip to eastern Idaho to see grandparents. We spent the first half of the weekend in Sugar helping Grandma and Grandpa plant flowers and move some of the sprinklers that had become overgrown by the growing pine trees. Mikiya was great at adding the fertilizer water to the holes before the flowers were placed. Quaid simply enjoyed riding the lawn tractor or wagon and playing in the dirt. Mikiya's garden tools were conveniently being stored at Grandma's, so she used her own tools for the project. Mikiya also learned about bees and how they use tree blossoms to make honey. And of course, they had to swing and jump on the trampoline.

On Saturday evening we continued on to Island Park to spend the rest of the holiday with Grandma and Grandpa Walton and the Gardners at the cabin. The cousins enjoyed playing together. Mikiya and Kaelie started calling the upstairs kid room their "tree house". The only downside was that Rafe wasn't allowed to follow up the stairs. He was very persistent, even climbing over a large duffel bag that was intended to block the stairs.

On the way back, we visited some of the great grandparents. Quaid was happy to see he still fit in Grandma Belnap's doll chairs. He started out dragging it to the screen door. And then we decided to go outside, and both kids had a great time sitting right by the fountain dangling their hands in the cool water. They also had fun exploring the different paths and sections of Grandma's backyard.
Since getting out of school, we have had a trip to the zoo, a Primary activity at the temple, a movie with the Mountain Home cousins, a trip to the hospital to welcome Alonzo to the family, and a visit from Lloyd, Kristin and company; which meant finally meeting Madeline. She is one smiley little girl.

Graduation!

Mike graduated on May 16. We are so thankful that he's had this opportunity to go back to school. And now I'm even more thankful that he's finished. We had good seats for the ceremony which let us see Mike periodically. We are also very thankful to both our parents, Grandma and Grandpa Gallup, Rudy and Deanna, Wayne and Natalie, and Emily for coming to help us celebrate. The kids especially enjoyed getting to play with everyone at the park afterwards.



One of the speakers told a great story I would like to share. I don't remember all the details, but it was about a lady who had cancer and was going through chemo. When she got down to three hairs left, she said , "Oh! I think I'll braid my hair today." The next day it was only two hairs, "I think I'll part it down the middle today." And the Next day with only one hair, "I fix it in a pony tail today." Then the next day, when all of her hair was gone, she cheerfully spoke, "Hurray! I don't have to do my hair today!" You can pretty well take the message right out of that one. I was just touched and reminded that attitude effects a lot of things around you.

Mikiya got a kick out of putting on Dad's silly hat.

Quaid loved being packed around by Daddy!

To play Where's Waldo or rather Where's Mike and Quaid, follow this link to a Boise State slide show of the event.

Books!

Mikiya is very excited this week to have gotten her own library card and doesn't have to share with me anymore.

OK, so it's been crazy trying to get my classes finished up and I have neglected everything else I do. However, I did finish up and am quite excited about it. The Bookmaking class was my favorite and Mikiya had a wonderful time helping me decide what to put in my final project. It's a flip book and there is something fun under each flap. Our favorite are the kids inside the school bus.

This is just another book I made with the class. I haven't decided yet what I want to put in it, but I really like the pockets and just think it's fun.

Happy Easter!

While I was enjoying my first trip to General Conference with the youth from our ward, Mike and the kids had an adventuresome day. Their favorite part was chasing the geese around the park.

We enjoyed our Easter trying to teach the kids about the Resurrection and why it's important. But at this age, I don't think it meant very much. Quaid did however want to wear something different to church, Mike's tie. He's always wearing them around the house, but I guess his own wasn't Eastery enough. It actually worked ok.

The active Easter festivities included Mikiya and I coloring eggs, which she loved and could have done the whole carton if I would have let her. I'm a mean Mom I guess. The highlight was probably blowing bubbles and enjoying a day of sunshine and warmth.

The big number 5!

Mikiya's birthday was last monday. The poor girl was sick on her birthday and was worried about missing it. Luckily, she was feeling a bit better as the day went on so she still got to open her presents. The video phone call from Grandma and Grandpa Walton really made her day, along with Grandma Gallup stopping by on her way through and phone calls from other family members.

She did get to have a birthday party with the Beltran cousins on Friday. She was completely excited and helped make her cake. She debated forever on what kind she wanted, but finally saw a picture of a cake with a pony on it, so we did our best to duplicate it. She loved it. Now she is eagerly awaiting kindergarten and asks when school will start.