Smorgasbord of Life

I don'l want to make a lot of different posts, so this is a long one about life the past few weeks. 

Cam and Jacks were playing super heroes and Camden put on Jacks' last year Halloween costume... and it kind of fit. Someday he'll really hate that we have this picture, but right now it's just funny how tiny he still is. 

Emery and Jacks favorite thing to do is to play in Snapchat on my phone and use the filters they have. They like when it makes their faces look weird. A simple app for hours of fun.

We went to Lagoon again this past weekend. (we have to use our passes as much as we can) It was packed and hot but still the kids loved it. Brad and Beck went on the rocket, Camden doesn't like this ride too much. 

He found a ball in the bushes. He thought it was pretty cool.

I hate selfies but I have to get as many pictures with the kids right now, someday they may not want to. We go back in a week so by the end of the season we may hate it, at least this year will be fun. 

The kids had STEM camp for 2 weeks. It was a science camp put on by the school. Their teacher nominated them to go and the older 3 were able to go. They had lots of fun and it was a good break up from summer. The boys went to CSI a lot, did a lightning experiment, learned about dirt, touched a snake, did art projects, went to the Harrits Center, went to KMVT and did robotic things. Emery did a lot more art projects, saw a show at the Harrit's Center, went to Great Harvest Bread, a fish hatchery and CSI. Camden even got into the paper, which he thought was really cool. 

Now I'm back to doing projects with them. Yesterday for FHE and our project we went on a hike. The project part was a nature scavenger hunt. The kids liked it a lot more than I thought they would. We are going to make another one to do in the south hills. 

At the end they had to show us what they found and why it fit into what they needed. They all found all of them. 

Today we made candy dots. I am trying to be more patient and have the kids help more coooking. They all ask to do it but I always think it's just faster for me to do it, but I guess they do need to learn. They helped with dinner yesterday and did really well with everything. Today they did most of these, which they loved mixing and making their own shapes for the dots. The dots worked well but are REALLY sour!

We have made a few small changes but good ones lately. We have always done FHE; sometimes it's hit and miss but it's something the kids know and like. We however have started to make a list on the calendar to the kids know what's coming up. So far it's been good and the kids love being apart of it in any way they can. One thing we haven't been as good at is reading scripture. No reasoning or excise than we just haven't. We recently started and the kids have really loved it. They get excited every time we read and love to read when it's their turn. Camden and Beckham understand a little more what we are reading but it's good for them all. Even though these are small changes and done within the last month or so, we have noticed a difference in the kids and the house and it's something that is defiantly welcome. 

Jacks Shared Night

Jackson's special night is this month and he wanted to see the new TMNT. All the kids wanted to see it so Jacks wanted everyone to come. We will take him out to dinner alone soon, but the kids loved being able to all go. It was about as amazing as you'd expect.

Hair

A few weeks ago I colored my hair and added red. I knew red fades fast but it didn't last long at all and since I hate going into the salon I decided a single color is better for me. I colored my hair all one dark color and had a little left. Camden has dark hair as it is and asked if he wanted it darker. Then Emery and Jacks wanted some. Emery's we hid, you can see a little bit of dark and Jacks we'll buzz down soon. They thought it was fun to color their hair like I do. 

Few Projects

We finished last week off with a few more projects. We painted canvases. The kids put tape on them, painted then removed the tape to see what the design did. I helped the younger ones with what they did. 

 The final pictures. 

The we had a water fight. The kids loved it, especially the balloons. These are the ones that you fill up all at once with the hose... best invention ever! 

The past week and continuing into next week the older three have been at a STEM science camp every day. They have had a really good time and has been a good break for me. 

Cam Dance

Another year of dance is done and Cam once again loved it. 

The one being held in the air is Camden. He loves dancing, so I think he'll do some sort of it next year also.

Solar S'mores

Today our project was making solar s'mores. It's been really hot, so it was a good day for it. We left them outside for about an hour. 

 They were a huge mess but good The mallows didn't really melt but the kids didn't care. 

5 Year Check

Jacks had his well child check today, which meant shots. I didn't tell him about them, I didn't want him to worry. I also threatened the kids with 6 pm  bed time if they told Jacks anything. Jackson thought it was so funny when the doctor asked if he pooped and peed normally and then laughed when the he said he needed to check his boy area. He did the shots great. I told him it's a little pinch and was holding his hands. The first one came and he was shocked, the second he wanted to cry but he didn't and the third one almost did him in. I think he was scared to cry in from of the nurse and the other kids. He has been treating the band-aids like babies all day. Now he is all set for school, which he can't wait for. 

Jackson's 5

Yesterday our baby turned 5! He had a fun birthday, which is good because he was really excited for it and expecting it to be amazing. 

Jacks is such a fun boy and is still keeping us on our toes. He has the best imagination and can play with anything as a toy. We watched the new Captain America the other day and after it he had to pretend to be Captain America. Cam even joined in and was Spiderman. 

 This upcoming school year he will be going into Kindergarten. I'm not sure I'm fully ready to have all of our kids in school, but ready or not. We will practice school things every once in a while and he is getting better and better. He even has the Nickles' tongue when he concentrates and is a lefty like both of his Grandpas. 

 The sweet cake Brad made for him. Jackson loved it. 

 He loved all the attention. 

 Yes... he did spit all over the cake. He blew the candles out weird. 

Then his favorite part, presents. He loved all of them and had played with his toys all day.  

I am so happy every day that we had Jackson. He is really the perfect final child. He still loved to lay and cuddle with us, which helps ease the 'pain' of him growing up. Jackson loves to play and like Brad was when he was a kid, has to have the game go his way or he'll just do it himself. Emery is his best friend, but will get into moods where one of the boys is all who he'll play with. Yesterday it was Camden and they played together all day. He is 100% boy. He loves dinos, tmnt, super heroes, Star Wars, trucks, and guns, but he will also play dress up  and babies with Emery (as long as she plays his way). Jackson is still so loud. He is loud or sleeping, not in between, which can make for annoying car rides. Jackson is very lovey and will give family hugs and kisses all the time. He says often that everyone loves 'Kwisses'. Jackson's favorite food is fires and chicken. His favorite toy is black panther. His favorite movie and "Minions."