May I have a moment to brag...

If you don't want to hear me be a proud mama for a moment you may not want to read this post. I am giving fair warning...so if you don't like my bragging.....well it is your own fault!
At the end of each school year the kids take the Iowa test. This is given nation wide. Addy brought home this certificate from her 3rd grade test on Monday. It says that she scored in the top 10 percent in the whole nation in six different categories! I am so proud of her. I told her I was so proud of her and tried to help her understand what a neat achievement this was. Corey and I took her to dinner on Wednesday to Los hermonos (her choice). She thought it was pretty fun to go on our date with us and loved having one on one time. Even though I did want her to know it was a big deal, I am also grateful that she doesn't think to much of it at the same time. I love that she just thinks cool, not wow I am so cool, you know what I mean right?? I am so proud of her and the great student she is!

1st day of school

Oh the first day of school....I am such a cry baby!! I don't know what it is about school starting but I always get a little choked up. Not just about my little preschooler or the fact that I had a new kindergartner, I cried just as hard for my 4th grader (which totally freaks me out by the way) and my 2nd grader. I worry about the little things...will they have someone to eat lunch with, will the teacher be nice, will they have someone to play with at recess, and most of all I think it just freaks me out that they are at school for so many hours out of the day. I like the summer where I decide who they come into contact with. I know I am a little cookie but I don't know all the kids at school, their parents that come into class, the janitors or all the people that work at the school. I am a worry wart and I just want them to be safe and be happy. So needless to say I shed a few tears each time a new school year begins. Luckily they all LOVE school and they were all so excited to start! It makes it easier to leave them knowing they are super excited for their new teachers, new friends and most of all learning. I am excited for the new school year and I am happy about the cute teachers they all have. Let the fun begin!!

Funny Thoughts by Lexi

So we are headed home from lunch today when Lexi spots the temple. She asks me so which is Jesus house the temple or the church? I say both. She says I think the temple is his house and the church is his cabin.

Gotta love the things kids say!!

Discovery Museum

My sister, Keil, and I decided to fit one more fun thing in to the summer so we headed up to the Children's museum at the Gateway mall. Keli thought the kids would have fun riding trax in to Salt Lake...she was right. They thought that was pretty cool to go on a little train! Once we got there the party really started. The kids had a blast. There is so much to do and not a whole lot of "no you can't do that"s going on. Kids love that! Here they all are waiting to do a Popsicle art project. They painted with Popsicles. Then got to eat them.
Lexi loved this little horse. She got on it several times and thought it was really fun. ( I didn't personally see the fun in it but hey whatever makes her happy!) One of Addy's favorite things was the rock wall. This view is from the opposite side of the wall. She thought it was so cool that you could see to the other side of the wall. She got pretty good at climbing it.

There is a big water thing to play with all sorts of different ways to move the water and catch the water. All of the girls really liked this activity.

Alexiya is a little police officer! There is a little town with a grocery store, house, construction site, farm and gas station. She made sure everyone was following the rules!

Adelyn and Makenley climbing the wall together.

There is a whole news station to play with. I thought it was so cute! The sat down and could see themselves on T.V then there was a weather station where they we standing in front of a green screen so on the T.V. there would be things going on behind them. Pretty fun!

Maycie getting dressed up to do a play on the stage.

Maycie and Lilly building something. There were tons of different things you could build with.

I thought this thing was so fun. Addy loved it. You created a little scene and then took a picture of it, moved the scene, took a picture....get the picture? ( ha ha I am so funny!). When you were done they put it all together to make a movie. Then you could add sound to it.

Putting coins in and watching them roll in and hoping someone didn't grab yours before it was done...that happened a few times!

Yeah for fun filled summer days!!

Wednesday Fun

Wednesday has been a party day at my place for about 4 years now. About 4 years ago my mom and Keli decided it would be a fun idea to come over every Wednesday and play. In the colder months when the pool is not open we play Cities and Knights. I know the reason they started this in the beginning was that they were a little worried that I might lose my mind after having Maycie. My oldest, Adelyn, was 5 when I had my fourth Maycie. So it was a little crazy at my house and I loved the adult time that Wednesday created! We have had so much fun on our Wednesdays and I am so glad they are still willing to come out every week. In the summer Jesse joins us since she is not working..Yeah!! The kids have lots of fun and we get some good swimming and chatting done!! Kenley going down the slide.

Lexi being a diva.

Adelyn showing us her dive.

Brady being crazy on the slide.

Makenley, Adelyn, Keli, Rachel and Maycie ( not sure what exactly what she's doing but whatever...she's smiling!)

Family Pictures

We knew it was way, way past time to do an updated Darrington family picture when we looked and realized that Keli and Jared and Mike and Jill had both had 2 more kids added to their families!! My cousin Denae told us she would be willing to brave all these little kids (and the big ones) to do a big group shot. Here is one she did of just my family. Corey is one lucky guy...look at all those pretty little blond girls. He jokes around that he is "a thorn amongst roses". But we all know he's better than a thorn!

The whole group. I will give you a run down. Mike and Jill together in the back are the owners of all the little boys in blue shirts and the little girl in front in the white dress. Keli and Jared are in black. They are the owners of the boy in front in white and the dark haired little girl and the one Keli is holding. Randy and Jesse are in green and white shirts. They are the owners of the oldest boy in green and the little girl in white. My parents are in yellow they own us big kids. The rest of the little girls Corey and I own.....I know they are the cutest ones....don't tell anyone!

Gosh with 14 kids...9 under the age of 6.....a couple of obnoxious boys....mine included!....I think we got a few cute ones!! Thanks Denae!!!

If everyone will stop having babies already we could be done with these "updates" J/K!!

Birthday Girl

Yesterday was Maycie's birthday!! As tradition goes in our family the whole day is her special day to do all of her favorite things, so here are a few things that she picked.Swimming!
Going running with me and Adelyn.

How cute is she holding up her 4 little fingers!! FOUR I can not believe my baby is 4!!!

She got a new outfit for her American Girl doll, nail polish (she LOVES to paint her nails), and "nake-up" as she would say.

On the girls B-day they get to pick where we go to dinner. As hard as we try to steer them in the direction away from Chuck e Cheese and McDonald's some years it just doesn't workout! So we went t0 Chuck e Cheese....the girls had a blast! I guess once in a while we can brave the nasty pizza for the great smiles we get in return!

Happy Birthday Maycie!!