"A Perfect Day"

At least that is what the kids called it. I took Friday June 13th off of work and we had a much needed play day.

It was great not to have to wake up to an alarm. With all the kids finally on summer break, I took the day to enjoy being a mom. We had chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast and then I packed up the kids and we went to the downtown canal. Eric and I went to the canal last Friday; hadn't been there for a long time, so I wanted to take the kids. We found a place to park and enjoyed a leisurely, photo shoot stroll on the canal.

Like I said, photos where ever I found,
or the kids found, a spot.
The tree created a perfect opportunity.

Hill. Must roll down it.

We haven't fed the ducks in years.
And I used to take Xela & Ro almost every day.

The kids dug for pennies
that had been thrown in the fountain.
Then tried to get them to flow down the falls.

The canal has murals on the sides of the underpasses. The talent shared is amazing, and provides for fun photos.

"AAHH! The catch fish is eating my kids!"

Xela's first kiss - Mr. Goldie

Xela brought her roller blades so sometimes we did a little bit of a jog to keep up with her. We went over one of the bridges, which meant we had to come down. Xela crashed into the grass to stop herself from accidentally rolling into the water. The railing gave me another photo idea.

Hand stands!
(with the help of a railing, of course)

We got to the 10th street turn around and found some baby ducks, so we used the last of the bread to feed them and the momma.

Then Xela came up with another photo op.

Yes, the oldest is wearing the kiddie pig tails.
We probably should have done another picture
youngest to oldest so you could see Neta better.
Idea for next time.

By the time we got back to the hill, Nate was tired. Can you tell?

Next stop, after lunch at the house, was...

SWIMMING!
(check out the straight out pigtails!)

Our pool is not going to be functional this year and so I wanted to take the kids swimming. It was only mid 70's outside and there was a bit of a breeze, not ideal for swimming. Because of the recent days of rain, the water was also a little chilly. The big girls didn't seem to mind; the little kids did. 

There was a water slide, which everyone but Neta could slide down. The boys did a few times, Neta got in for a little bit too and then said they were too cold. There was a playground on the outside of the aquatic park, so we took a vote. Big girls stayed in the pool area and the little kids took a break and went to the park. 

"Push me, Mommy!"

They went back and forth on this for probably 15-20 minutes.

Then it was back to the pool. Maybe after a little exercise, the pool would feel better. They thought the pool water had warmed up enough to get in and play.

Sliding down a frog's tongue.

Playing in the splash zone.

Time to dry off!

By four o'clock it was time to dry off and head towards home. I grilled some brawts and cooked some noodles for dinner. Then we put up the tent and started a fire for s'mores. Daddy had been working on billing and property stuff all day, so was finally able to join us for our evening treat.

The great horned marshmallow.

Daddy adding oxygen to the fire.
Pretty cool picture with
the sparks/ashes flying around.

Everyone had three s'mores
(a typical at the Scott Zoo) and then it was time
to watch Lilo & Stitch in the tent.

I think the kids got into the tent around 10. Eric and I didn't get to sleep until after one o'clock, thanks to fireworks that were lit in the middle of the night, right above the tent.

We all slept in on Saturday and this is what one Scott monkey looked like when she came into the kitchen that morning:

Good Morning Xela!

Yep, it was the perfect day!

Neta's 7th birthday - more than 7 presents

After the bike ride, we had popsicles and warmed up mac-n-cheese for lunch. Xela rode her bike to Dunahees to make a skirt for the youth conference trek and we went to do a little work on the properties.

By 3:30 I was home with the younger four. We worked together to take down the tent, pick up the kitchen of sleeping bags, bake and decorate a cake and get a fire started for a 5 o'clock-ish cookout start for Neta's birthday.

Neta wanted to have a party with her friends and so we invited the Robinsons, Dunahees, Aults, Patience Gaydos and Mindy Rawlins over for a cookout and cake.

Aaron Robinon, Logan Ault, Makayla and Matt Dunahee
enjoying food and conversation outside
on a beautiful birthday evening.

Mindy, Patience, Amber Ault & her mom
munching and mingling

We had 17 kids running around, getting wet (yea I probably shouldn't have put water in the baby pool) and playing with each other after "real" food and then I brought out the cake.

Neta decorated her cake with Lego Friends stuff

I love Myya Dunahee's face.
Myya looks at Neta as a big sister.

Love Ro's face here.
So patiently waiting for a piece of cake. :)

I thought this was a cool picture.
All the candles are blowing, but not out, with the breeze.

Eric pushed Neta's piece of cake into her face.
She wore a purple chin the rest of the night.

I ran out of plates and forks/spoons, so kids got to eat cake off napkins and with my dinnerware. Not a problem. I didn't do ice cream, because, well, ice cream is hard to eat off napkins. I saved the ice cream for dessert when we have dinner with missionaries on Sunday.

Shortly after cake was presents; what Neta had honestly been waiting for all day long.

A beautiful, long, summer dress from
"our favorite Cartwright" (also known as Amber's mom)
Neta wore it on Sunday and loves it!

Present from Grandparents Hibbert.
They knew exactly what the kids will like.
Nake and Myron Dunahee seem excited too.
Neta got a Tangled Lego set, some Polly pockets
and a few more dresses.

My kids didn't get baths until the nine o'clock hour and then all but Neta went up to bed around 10ish. Nate's body was starting to hurt (he apparently fell down on the ride) and I told him, even thought he wanted to stay up with Neta, that his body was trying to tell him that it was done and wanted to rest. As soon as he hit the pillow, he was out.

Eric and I let Neta stay up and put her Tangled tower together while visiting with Patience and Mindy. At 10:45, I told Neta it was time to go to bed. She could get up as early as she wanted to finish, and no one would touch it until then, but it was REALLY past her bedtime. I asked Neta if she had enjoyed her birthday and she said she had.

Patience and Mindy left, Eric and I finished up a few little things before Sunday and we went to bed shortly after midnight. We'll all be a bit tired come tomorrow morning and church. :)

Neta's 7th birthday - Almost 7 miles on June 7

Saturday, June 7 was Neta's birthday and it was a busy day. She, of course, had been counting down the days for two weeks. We had a full day planned, with even more things that we didn't get to do that I had wanted too, but such in life.

Her birthday festivities started out with setting up the tent in the backyard on Friday night and sleeping in there. Neta wanted to wake up, on her birthday, in the tent. It almost didn't happen because Eric and I went out on a date, but we got home while it was still light when we got back so we put it up. That made Neta happy. (Sleeping in the tent, without an air mattress - because the stupid rabbit chewed a massive hole in it - led to a not very sleep filled night.)

Sleeping outside has the advantage of early morning light, so we were all up right around seven. Eric made smoothies while I helped find t-shirts of matching color for everyone. (This is even more of a challenge because all our clothes have been in bags since Memorial Day with the deep clean.) I finally found yellow colored shirts for each of us, we had smoothies outside, got out our bikes, put them in the van and headed off to the Mayor's 6th Annual bike ride.

I have been looking forward to this ride since last year's registration and us not going because of the rain. Neta was excited that she was going to be able to ride her bike, not realizing what 10 miles really meant. The Mayor's bike ride was about 10 miles and she is on a small bike; I was being optimistic thinking she could do it all, granted, at a slower pace than her older siblings.

So we got to the YMCA Indy Bike Hub downtown, the start of the ride, just after nine o'clock. The ride didn't officially start until 10, so we had some time to kill.

Scott yellow crew waiting for the official start.

Neta playing on the bikes at the YMCA
Indy Bike Hub before the Mayor's Bike Ride

The kids had fun "riding" the bikes of the bike share program. I got my tires pumped up and a free fix on the rubbing of my tire, brake pad and gear shifters. I got the tired pumped and then Eric reminded me of the rubbing back tire, so Bicycle Garage Indy, a co-sponsor of the event, had a tent and they performed the aforementioned minor repairs. That made me happy!

The ride started off Market Street and went up Delaware. There were officers blocking traffic from the side and back of the ride. I told Eric I would hang with Neta because, although we started out together, I knew she would tire faster adn the big kids would not want to "walk" their bikes at her speed. We may have gotten a mile and the big kids and Eric went on a head. Neta was going pretty well, considering her bike size, and we weren't the very end of the ride for about another mile and a half.

There was a stopping point at around the five mile mark and I wanted her to get at least to that point. Then she could rest a little and maybe keep going. I kept a positive attitude and Neta did pretty good as well. I would tell her what a good job she was doing. "Do you think you have a turbo boost in you?" She would say no sometimes and then go ahead and pump her legs and get a head of me for a minute or two.

I knew she was going to need some caloric motivation so I had put two water bottles and some Tootsie rolls in my backpack. I got a pink Tootsie roll, unwrapped it and asked Neta if she thought she could ride close enough to me that I could pop it in her mouth. "NO!" she said while smiling with that - Are you crazy, Mom? - tone of voice. She ended up getting it when I told her the wrong turn and she tripped up a little and therefore was off her bike and could get it.

I must have told her we were almost there (to the 5 mile mark) because she said that I kept saying that. After maybe 3 miles it was just us, an IFD biker and two police cars behind us, I knew I needed to find an alternate plan for the last five miles. I asked the IFD officer if maybe Neta could ride the last 5 miles in an officer's car. he didn't know, so he asked an IMPD bike rider, who also didn't know, so he asked a patrol car officer, who said that would be fine. Once the IFD officer got word, he let me know and I asked Neta if she wanted to ride in a police car and she was all excited about it.

When we finally got to the Monon, she hopped off her bike, I gave her a water bottle and she was ready to get in the car. I put total trust into the officers, because I didn't even walk her to the car, she just went with the water bottle, the two riding officers asked if I was ready to go, I said yes, and we were off.

When I found Eric, he asked where Neta was and I said that she was in an officer's car and would meet us back at the Hub. Eric stayed with the boys and I went up with Xela and Aurora. It was nice to ride and a decent speed for the last five miles. We were heading south on East Street when I saw a gray officer's car and there was Neta's head looking out from the back seat. I called Eric, who was behind us with Graigry and Nate, to tell him where I saw Neta, but I couldn't remember the cross street on East, so he and the boys could wave to her.

Xela, Ro and I got back to the Hub by 11 o'clock, got off our bikes and then walked back East on Market Street to wait for the boys so we could cheer them on. It took about 5-10 minutes but soon we saw them, and Neta was with them pedaling. Obviously Eric had picked her up for the last mile and she was pedaling just fine and dandy (rest in a cool police car helps to reinvigorate the muscles).

We got back to the hub and saw Mayor Ballard greeting a few people as the final ones came back. The boys wanted to meet the mayor, so Eric made sure they did.

Scott Cyclists with Mayor Ballard

Graigry even shook his hand, and was pretty excited about it.

We got some water, potty break and then walked the bikes to the van. Xela and Aurora wanted to ride home, so I rode with them. I miss being on my bike and spending time with the kids, so this was nearly the perfect morning activity to start off a birthday.

Xela's first Church Dance

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are youth dances once a month during the school year. You must be 14 - 18 to attend. I don't know who was more excited to go to the youth dance, me or Xela. :)

I agreed to be one of the two the chaperones / drivers for the April 19th Stake dance and we filled up our van with youth. Having been to the dances before as a youth leader, I knew they were a good time (and good exercise if they have enough line dances) and I was pretty sure Xela would have a good time as well.

Xela, with Alycia, Nana and Brooklyn
at the tri-stake youth dance at the Stop 11 building.

She even got asked to dance on the first slow song, which all us girls thought was awesome! I think she dance one other slow song later that night.

Xela's 2nd slow dance!!

We got home and talked to Dad about the dance and she was all smiles. Mommy had a good time too!

Easter Egg Hunt

We do our Egg Hunt the Saturday before Easter so as to not, totally, distract from the true meaning of Easter. It is something the kids look forward to every year and thankfully, it has continued to be the tradition thanks to the annual Easter package that Grandparents Hibbert send.

April 19th was deemed egg hunt day. That morning, however, there was A LOT of work to be done at the properties that Eric is managing. We cleaned out the backyards of several properties and mowed and other spring yard cleaning things. The kids kept harassing me about, "Are we going to do the egg hunt?" "Dad says we can't have an egg hunt." "When will we be done so we can have the egg hunt?" I said if they worked hard (mind you they are getting paid for this work), we would get done sooner and have time for the egg hunt. That was a distraction and a re-focus help every so often.

We finally finished the yard work around 3:30 (Eric and I were done working outside in the sun too). Once we got home, I told the younger three that they had to be bathed before the hunt. They started baths while I divided candy into eggs and didn't mind not having play time in the tub (this is more so for Neta who always likes to play in the tub - usually because she's in the one that is bigger than the kiddie pool we have).

It was decided last year that your 12th year is your last year to participate as a hunter in the game of candy-filled hide and seek. Once in your 13th year, you get to play the part of the bunny and hide the eggs. So, Xela and Aurora were bunnies this year, which they thoroughly enjoyed, especially the part of hiding Graigry's eggs, which they made quite challenging.

I divided up the candy equally between the three remaining hunters so there were the same number of eggs for each child to find. Graigry now being the oldest seeker also became the victim of having his eggs hid in harder places, which both Aurora and Xela wanted to be a part of. Therefore, they split Graigry's spoils in half and then one took Neta's eggs and the other took Nate's eggs to hide in the backyard. The seekers were told to hang out upstairs until such time as the bunnies had hidden the eggs.

Finally, TIME TO HUNT!

"Whatz up Rabbits? Where'r the eggs?"

The eggs were all over the backyard. Xela and Aurora had made themselves cheat sheets in attempts to remember where they'd hidden each item. As with last year, this year there was an egg that one the game of hide and seek, remaining hidden after the hunt was over. The following are pictures Xela took of the search to devour adventure.

Hiding eggs inside and buried.
How fair is that?

"I FOUND ONE!"

That face says, "Why can't I find my eggs?"

"It's got to be in here!"

"I KNEW IT! Ridiculous Easter Rabbits!"

In the vacant bird's nest in the garage.
Didn't I say the bunnies went hard on Graigry.

"How many do I have left to find??"

Looking high...

...looking low.

Hiding in the shadows.
I wonder if that's the never to be found again egg.

"It's got to be in here somewhere!"

Thanks, as always, to Grandparents Hibbert who send the egg hunt goodies. This is a tradition that the kids look forward too every year.