Off to the dentist we go!

Maddie had her first dentist appointment last week. I really should have taken her in when she turned three, but with the move , a trip to the dentist was the last thing on my mind. She, did increadibly well. She loved sitting in the chair and having the dentist count her teeth.
On the way to the dentist, she kept asking with a little sly smile; Should I chomp his fingers? And I would answer every time. No, please don't chomp the dentist's fingers. I don't know where she got that idea.

Hannah and Johnny also had their dentist appointments two days later. Luckily none of them have had a cavity yet. I really do think it is luck too, because they floss by themselves, and more often than not, brush their own teeth. I hope it lasts!

Wheeler Farm Field Trip

Last week Johnny's first grade class went to Wheeler Farm. I decided to volunteer as a helper and brave the day with my two little girls and four 1st graders. Wow, it was a busy day! Wheeler farm is a beautiful place to be this time of year, and the weather was perfect. It was also so fun to chat with Johnny's teacher and meet some of his classmates. We all had a great time. Lucy spent most of the four hours on my back in the back carrier, needless to say, by the end of the day I was exhausted.

More fun together

Here are a few more random pictures of some sweet and simple times that have made me happy these past few weeks. John got some humongous wind-up emergency family radios from Woot for his calling (emergency specialist--again) They are almost embarrassingly big compared to what he is used to, but he and the kids had a blast testing them out by communicating from separate rooms in our house. They even came with a handy dandy built in flashlight that is also powered by the wind-up mechanism.

We went to the 3-D movie "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs." It was nothing like the book, which we all absolutely love, but it was still a very fun movie--especially in 3-D. Of course with the large 3-D food storms that happen in the movie, you are bound to get a bit of gross humor about eating way too much and getting sick. Needless to say, I didn't have much of an appetite afterward. It was such a fun family date.

Maddie, has a little friend next door named Easton, and they get along so well together. A few days ago she was outside playing with him when she decided that she needed her work goggles and a hat. No special reason, other than the fact that she wanted to be like Easton.

These "stepping domes" have been an awesome toy for our family, but they are rarely used for their intended purpose. They are great for making spaceman helmets, or to sit in one and spin on the tile floor. Lately the kids have discovered that if they sit in one and put one under each hand and foot, somebody can push them down the hallway at a breakneck speed. They can get going really fast, it is hilarious to watch.

Happy Birthday Mom!

We spent last weekend in Bancroft with my mom, who celebrated her 71st birthday last week. We stayed the night on Saturday and went to church with her on Sunday. It was fun to sit with her in church and look around at all of the people who have influenced my life in so many ways. I felt lucky to have been raised in such a caring community, with such a loving person to call my mom. I made the best, and only, carrot cake I have ever made in my life on Sunday. Then we sang Happy Birthday with some of my family who still live nearby. Hannah, gave her some beautiful bird art made out of puff balls and pipe cleaners, and Johnny made a baking soda and vinegar bomb for her. It was so funny to see him hand over a plastic bag full of white powder, with two stick figures on the front (Johnny and Grandma) and the words "Happy Birthday" printed in big, black, permanent marker letters on the front. He had her come out to the front porch and watch as he filled the bag with some vinegar, sealed it, and placed it far away so that she could watch it explode. He was so proud of his very exciting gift.
We sure love you mom, thanks for everything!

Our busy Saturday

We had a busy day on Saturday, it started out with a neighborhood garage sale. Where we sold a lot of our "Junk" and then we headed over to our community pool where we had a fun BBQ and pony rides. Hannah wanted a cat painted on her face.

And of course, Johnny wanted something completely equal and opposite--a dog.

They had the cutest little pony, the kids were even able to mount it themselves.

We started out the morning bright and early. Hannah manned the donut shop, which was a huge success. As soon as she earned enough money, she headed over to the neighbor's house and bought as much from their garage sale as she could afford. Now we might need to have another garage sale.

Johnny headed up our penny store, he loved playing with the money and helping people figure out how much to pay him. This was a hit with the little kids. I sold some of my MaryKay inventory and John loved the opportunity to de-junk and sell some of his movies and electronics.

Fun at Castle Park

We actually took this outing a couple weeks ago, but the pictures were cute so I had to share. We took a lunch and one of Hannahs friends and spent the afternoon at Castle park in Fruit Heights. They had so much fun, but it is hard to keep track of little ones in this park, so many little places to hide. Hannah, Gabi and Madeline played princesses and Johnny was the evil "knight" who spent his time trying to lock them in the dungeon. It was fortunate that every peice of bark was a key and fit the lock perfectly.

Sisters and cousins

Hands down, my favorite week this summer was when my sister Kathleen came to visit. I love having her around. We had a few adventures with her and her boys. We were able to go to the Oquirrh mountain temple open house (which I didn't bring my camera) to Tree house museum in Ogden, to see the Clydesdale horses at the fair, and swimming. Here are a few pictures of our time together: In front of the Clydesdale horse. By pure luck we discovered that these horses were on display at the fairgrounds. While we were at the tree house museum we ran into one of my old roommates and she told us about them. The kids were very hot and miserable at this time, but the horses were pretty amazing.
Vander using his super brain power to play chess with another willing and able little boy.


This is Maddie's dream come true--to be a princess.

Watching a finger puppet show.

If you have been watching Craig Fergusen lately (a guilty pleasure of ours) you will recognize this puppet. They have about five of them at the museum with their farm display.

What a handsome kid!

And my little Maddie, (please forgive the red-eye here)

Another handsome nephew.

And Johnny, my cute little clown.

We had a bystander take our picture for us here, it is a little blurry, but it is the only picture we have of all of us here.

Island Park with the Ackerman clan

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of our Ackerman Family reunion in July. We had such a fun time, and I feel so lucky to be able to call the Ackermans my family. John, Hannah and Johnny peering into Big Springs. It was very clear, beautiful water.
On our way to see Mesa Falls. Here is John, Maddie and Lucy with a few of my nephews and my sister Amy. Kathleen and Marilyn are in the distance.


Maddie sitting on the porch of the cabin that our family rented.


The ingenuity here makes me laugh.

Big Springs

Lucy enjoying her cone (with no ice cream) at the local ice cream shop.

My mom and niece, Naomi, working on a puzzle.

Maddie, and her cousin, Scott, working on a puzzle. Nothing brings people together like a good puzzle.

Or a good game of checkers.

We had so many fun experiences, John played a game of golf for the first time ever and we were able to see a melodrama together. We had lots of GREAT food and fun visits. We headed home a little early when Johnny and Hannah became sick and sadly missed out on floating down the river, something they were both very unhappy about. Maybe next time.

Johnny's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Silly putty in the hair and an extreme haircut, all before breakfast. Friday didn't start out to be Johnny's best day, and it didn't end up that way either. Soon after his haircut and bath, he tripped over the drawers that John was installing in our computer nook and skinned up his ankle. Then later that evening, after we thought all was well, we decided to have an evening swim and a picnic at the pool with Grandma Ackerman. Wouldn't you know it, Johnny tripped on the cement and skinned the left side of his newly shaved head pretty badly, His left hand and his left shin. He cried for a long time and earned a wagon ride home for that one. Luckily they had a first Aid kit at the pool, so we were able to put some bandaids on the gushers. As we were looking him over that night, John said that he looked like a traumatized cancer patient. We asked Johnny how he felt the next morning, and he said "I'm okay with it now." but everytime he remembered the bandaid on his shin he started limping again.

Happy #1 Lucy!

We are smack dab in the middle of our Spring/Summer birthday marathon.

Lucy turned the big #1 today and we have two more birthdays to

celebrate in the next two months. We are so happy to have this little girl in our lives.

She was such a sweet and mellow newborn,

and now she is turning into a sweet and spicy toddler.
To celebrate her birthday we went swimming.

John and I were a little hesitant to do this because we have a few little girls

that have absolutely no fear, and we were afraid we wouldn't have enough hands.

We had a few scares, but overall we all had a great time.
Lucy loved the pool, to her it was just a really big bathtub.



She's such a cute little thing,
We all love Lucy!

Happy Birthday Johnny

Six years old!

Johnny was very excited about his birthday this year. He has been wanting to go bowling ever since he happened upon a Reading Rainbow episode on bowling. In the episode they showed how bowling balls were made and the mechanics of what happens after the ball hits the pins. I told him that maybe we could go for his birthday. Well his birthday finally came, we made a bowling ball cake--yes "we" (all of us made it), it was a very messy nightmare and I am glad everybody survived.

We also finally decided to give Johnny a BOY BIKE. As adorable as he looked on Hannah's little pink and light blue bike, we thought that it wouldn't be long before he started getting picked on. It was time to graduate and we can see a boost in his confidence already.

After eating cake and opening presents we headed to the nearest bowling alley. John wasn't able to come with us because he was feeling awful that day with a severe case of bronchitis. He stayed home and napped with the little girls while the rest of us bowled.

They really enjoyed bowling, if you can call what we did bowling. We had a few very dedicated bowlers on the lanes on either side, I am sure they felt that we were desecrating the sport, I could almost hear the sighs of relief as we bowled our last round. I did discover that the lanes are VERY slippery and you should not try to set foot in one--lesson learned.


I bowled with a ball engraved with my name, I don't know if I should feel lucky or concerned that the first ball I picked up happened to have my name on it. Was this a coincidence, or is there an unusually high number of people with the name of Cheryl who bowl? I don't know, maybe this is my destiny.