Field Trip to Fry's

Payton got to go on his first field trip with his Preschool class and he had a great time! They started out by tasting fruit and talking about why it is good for you. Fry's was very good about feeding them and keeping them moving. Then they moved onto the deli and tried some turkey and cheese.

They also got to check out the bakery and the seafood department where they got to touch a live lobster. They got to scan items and got a balloon and ice cream.

It was a fun morning and Payton was funny doing some Kung Fu Panda moves for all of them to help keep them entertained. he just cracks me up!!!

Family Pictures

Anyone who knows the Mortensen family knows we LOVE popcorn. It has been a taste passed down for a while know and it is border-line embarrassing the amount of popcorn we consume during a movie. So, one of my best friends took that love and captured it on camera. Lori Calhoun of "http://www.calhounink.com/" did a great job and here are the pictures to prove it.

Salvation Amry

Troy gets to mingle with a lot of great people through his work and he was able to get the family involved with this year's community project. The salvation Army site was choosen to be the project this year that the Valley Partnership would help. Kids from the community got to come and help design the playground that would be built. We brought the boys -- who have been dying to see Dad's jobsite -- and here are some shots of them in creation mode. it is really fun to get to see good people coming together to help others and I am so glad that we get to teach these kind of lessons to the boys while they are young. I hope they will remember these things as they grow. It was a fun night and a good experience.

Ward Campout

This last weekend we had a lot of fun camping with our ward family. The boys love to play in the fire and be outside with a reason to get dirty, eat marshmallows and cook food on the fire. Plus throwing the football around and play horseshoes is fun too. I think the hightlight of the night was when Troy discovered Payton to excited to sleep and when Troy told him to go to sleep he replied,"It's so beautiful in here!" Our boys love camping but they also love going to bed and sleeping in a tent. Jackson got to build a tree fort and had fun putting sticks and pine needles on the fire. Spencer got sting by a bee but had fun still playing with friends and eating junk food. Payton pulled the whole jug of water down on his head about 30 minutes after we got there so he has a few scabs from that -- but still had fun in the marshmallow wars and even managed to eat a few. We even got to see a real taranchala and I snapped a picture. They were sad to see us taking down the tent to go home. We got a little rain but not enough to spoil the fun. Camping and kids equals lots of work but loads of fun and laughs. We can't wait for next year!!!

Jackson Turns 7

Jackson just had his 7th birthday! he is quite the thinker these days. He loves to learn about sharks and anything really. He is really excited about Lego Indiana Jones and Legos and Backagans right now which is fun to see. He is getting too tall for all of his pants that he got at Christmas and I tease him that he needs to stop growing for a while. He says the funniest things and is comfortable jumping into any conversation that happens around him. I think he is a very entertaining kid and I love him so much. He tries hard to to what is right and works hard to make good decisions.

Happy Birthday buddy -- We love you!!!

First day of School!!

This year was a very exciting one for our family. Jackson started first grade. Spencer goes to preschool and even my little Payton is in his first year of preschool! All of my kids are growing up so fast. So far so good -- everyone loves their teachers and school is great!

Payton is 3!!!

I cannot believe my baby is already three but I am defiantely glad to say goodbye to diapers!!! Payton has such an amazing spirit of determination and I think it was brought out by his diffuclt first year of life. He was such a little trouper with his casting and bars for his club foot and the other day when he found his bar and shoes and wanted to put them on. Obviously he was too big but I am glad it is not the painful memory for him that it is for me. He has his dad's wonderful imagination and his mom's love of music. I also notice a love for art work which may mean he could get some of his grandma's talent to paint -- which we would love! It has been an amazing 3 years with him and this is just the beginning. He made our family complete with a small, medium, and large boy in the family. Happy Birthday Bwabwa! We love you!!