The Thatchers: Summer Has Begun!

Here's what we've been up to:

Zac: We went to Colorado where Zac passed his Redhat test with flying colors! 300 out of 300 woot woot! :) (It's a certification test for his work) Other than that he's just getting ready for Youth Conference next week. He gets to play Captain Moroni which I think is pretty awesome. Also, he landed the job of head cook because of his mad culinary skills :)

Ilene: Still running.....marathon is in two weeks!! Yay. I finished a book called Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nelson which was very inspiring. Its made me appreciate more the time I have with my family and the fact that I have a healthy body that I am able to do so much with.

Anne: Finished preschool! Big girl! She is sad that it's over but is excited to be going to kindergarten in a few months. Her teacher Mrs. Jo said that she just loves Anne and her sweet personality. She and Rachel just started swim classes today. Anne was a little hesitant but by the end she was having a ball. She and Sarah are becoming better buds. Anne likes to hold Sarah's hand and walk her around the house and Sarah is just elated to be with her big sis. She is also my huge big helper. I've instituted a chore chart where they get stickers for helping with chores and after so many stickers they get a penny for their jar, then we'll buy something cool after a while. Anne loves to help clean everything as you'll see below.

Rachel: Finished joyschool which she is also sad about. But she and Anne are having so much fun with summer activities. They basically live in the backyard where they love to play with chalk, squirt guns, fetch with Shizzie, and now the sand box. She is constantly singing and talking (sometimes at the same time...holding conversations with Anne in a singing voice :). She too loves playing with Sarah and tries to lead her around the house or carry her which Sarah loves and hates.

Sarah: Her new phrase is "Here go" for here you go. Her manners are astounding. She will say please when she wants something and thank you when she gets it without us having to remind her usually. She still likes to get into things but is starting to listen more when we tell her no or ask her to come to us. She loves to give everyone hugs and says "awwww" while doing it (melts my heart every time). When one of her sisters is crying she likes to go up to them and give them a hug and pat their back. I think that is one of her gifts. She is more interested in reading and will run to us with a book saying "peese peese!!" As soon as we have it she turns around and scootes backwards and plops down in our laps. I absolutely love this age. I sometimes wish my kids could just come out as one year olds :)

Our toothless Anne has now lost all her front teeth, making eating a tad bit more difficult.

Sarah's guilty face. She loves taking the mint and lemon extract out of my cooking cupboard.

Fun at our buddies' house, the Evans.

My Mom gave me some dresses that she used to be hers. Thanks Mom!

Flag football with the boys.

Summertime! Zac is thoroughly enjoying his new toy (the grill). We grill something (not just meat) every week. Mmmm.

Watching the new City Center temple in the process of being built.

FHE night. We're acting out the story of King Benjamin (they're listening in their tents).

Super yummy out-to-eat at Maccoroni Grill for Mother's Day.

Warming up on a cold Spring day with some hot chocolate and the heater vent.

Mother's Day Flowers and tomato starters. :)

The girls' new hiking backpacks. Anne could not wait to try it out. She told me when I gave it to her all filled up that she was going for a run and would be back in a bit.

I had to get a picture of one of Anne's favorite parts of going to school. Unfortunately she won't be riding another bus till middle school (her elementary school is a non-busing, you drive or walk to school). Thank you Pam Pam 7 for a wonderful year!

Friday is the only day we watch a movie during the week and we live it up. Popcorn, blankets, chocolate milk. Good times.

My painter helpers. We repainted the front entryway.

I just love these three little ones.

While Daddy took his test, us girls went hiking in the mountains of Colorado. It started raining soon after we started so we found some refuge under a big boulder. We all had a blast, I have some good hikers.

We wanted to keep a record of the creatures we saw on the hike, so here they are: 3 black birds, 2 rabbits, 1 lady bug, 3 beetles, and about 100 grasshoppers that would fly up when we stepped on the path and we could see their orange wing-things.

We had so much fun with our cousins! Thank you Gabe and Jennifer for letting us invade your house!

My last 18 mile run around Barr lake in CO. The girls came to cheer me on and enjoy the scenery.

Pretty cool, a bald eagle's nest.

Sarah all of a sudden decided she now wants to eat her food with a fork. She just picked it right up and figured it out. Little smarty pants.

Water fun.

Best part of the trip (besides Zac passing his test), playing duck duck goose.

At Sarah's 15 mo. doctor's apt. Her new stats are weight-6% and heighth-34% (our little shorty) and everything healthy :) I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for my healthy children.

Part of Zac's Father's Day present. While he was in bed sick last Saturday I redid the interior of the jeep. Cleaned it ALL out, shined it up, new seat covers and floor mats. We sure love our "Daddy" :)