The Neal News

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

More fun pictures....

We are sad that Dan's family had to go. We enjoyed every minute with them. Abbey and I bonded- and we were lucky enough to keep Payton for a couple of weeks. He is one sweet boy! He is great a bear hugs, and has taught us many fun animal facts. Hayden is enjoying having a little brother around. Isabelle went home with the Sampson's- her first time away from home! We love cousins!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

More Sampsons....

This week we are enjoying time at the cabin with Dan and his family. The kids are all having such a great time together and Dan's kids are pretty brave. Payton got on the surf board with Michael and both Payton and Abbey were wild and crazy on the tube. Sam loved the water and floated around in her life jacket with a big smile on her face. The kids are all getting really good on the wakeboard. Hayden has been practicing his front flip by using the wake skate instead of the wakeboard where his feet are in boots- that way he can flip and not worry about the hard landing. It is very fun to watch. Brittan has really gone out of her comfort zone this summer and is really improving on the wakeboard. More pictures to follow in the next few days!

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Boating fun

We have been traveling back and forth between home and the cabin a lot! We spent time with the Kincaids, the Roberts and the Carter twins. Here are a few of our most recent highlights!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Vacationing with the Sampsons!

We are at the cabin right now with Curtis' family! We are having a great time boating, eating great food, hanging out on the deck and currently watching The Office! The kids are all having a fun time and all went to bed early tonight. All this sun in wearing them out.

Dance Recital

Olivia and Isabelle had a dance recital this weekend. They both are little tap dancers. Brittan opted out because the recital conflicted with girls camp.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Brittan has news!

Its true...word has leaked out....Brittan got a dog! She is an 8 week old Siberian Husky named Lacie! We are having fun with her and learning quickly what it means to be dog owners.

Graduation

Celebrating 8th Grade Graduation!

Funny things kids say:

Isabelle: after a discussion about grades she said "Ya, i'm not really into A's...its just not my thing!"
Olivia: "I love being a girl...you can share your secrets and laugh about them!"
Brittan: the neighbor girl confessed her love for Hayden to my girls and made them promise not to tell a soul. Brittan's response "Don't worry, my mom doesn't have a soul!"
Isabelle and Ximena are constantly cooking and after awhile it makes me crazy! Today I got the kitchen all scrubbed up and then ran an errand. When I got home I could hear clanking noises in the kitchen so before I reached the kitchen I yelled "you two better not be making cookies" to which Isabelle replied "No mom we're not, Xime's just making a cake!"
Isabelle: after being bribed..."Hey dad, is there any way I can pay you back for that popsicle I just ate so I don't have to wakeboard?"
Brittan: With a loud squeal in the car "Oh no!" Dad: What?????? "I forgot my bangles"! Dad: "What the heck are bangles"? Brittan: "Bracelets Dad..".
Isabelle: "Dad, do you know how to use a cash register?" Dad: "No". Bella with a very sassy tone: "Then why are you checking me out?"
Olivia: Bella, what is the opposite of hot? Isabelle's response: Cute?
Isabelle: "Olivia...it says no smoking in here! Put out your cigarette!"
Olivia: " Hey dad look...its a priest. Wait...i actually think its a nun....hum...I can't really tell!"
Hayden is preparing to get his wisdom teeth pulled this week and said "Mom, you really need to pick up those seduction pills for me". Of course I busted up laughing. Sedation, seduction- its all how you look at it!
I have been encouraging the kids to speak Spanish as often as they can. The other day we were in a shoe store buying shoes for Brittan (now a size 8!). There were two hispanic girls running around the store and I bribed Isabelle with the shoes that she had her eye on to go introduce herself to the little girls in Spanish. She was shy but very awkwardly said "Hola, mi llamo Bella". This experience gave her the courage a few days later to do the same thing at Hayden's wrestling match. A couple of kids were playing under the bleachers so she took it upon herself to go introduce herself to them in Spanish. "Hola, mi llamo Bella!". Again, and again and again with no response. She kept reporting that they weren't responding. Finally she approached them a final time and said "Hola, mi llamo Bella". The little boy looked her square in the eye and said "I'm African!"
Hayden: "Mom, I really need some new church clothes! I think this time around I want a black suit with a black shirt!" Mom: oh ya that will look really good when you pass the sacrament". No no no...that is serious Stake dance material!"
Olivia: "Mom, I've set a goal for myself!" Mom: "Oh ya, what's that?" Olivia: "I'm going to try really really hard to cry on the last day of school!"
Olivia: "um...Mom....you smell just like Grandma! Ya know, all lotion-y!"
Olivia: Hey dad- is there such a thing called "video-shop? Ya know, like photo-shop?"
Isabelle while playing Yahtzee: "Brittan...go with your 4's! I'm really feeling it!!! And...I was wrong!"
Dad: "Brittan!!! Stop wearing mascara!" Brittan: "Dad..get used to it! It's really working for me!"
Neal family Christmas wish list: Hayden- an iphone (ya right) Brittan- World peace Olivia- ipod Isabelle- A bubble gum machine
Olivia: "Mom, I've never noticed that my hair color is so beautiful!"
Hayden: in a sarcastic tone- "Mom I forgot to bring my coat to the cabin, but don't worry- I did bring my singlet!"
Isabelle yelling from her bed in the morning: "Mom, the tooth fairy forgot to come again!" Mom: "Oh shoot! I was worried about that when I turned the house alarm on last night that she wouldn't be able to get in without tripping the alarm! Go back to sleep and I will turn off the alarm. Let's give her another chance!"
Isabelle with her bloody-murder scream came running into my bathroom as I was trying to take a nice relaxing bath- "Olivia punched me (on accident) in the face and now I am bleeding!" I took one look in her mouth and saw a tooth dangling- through the tears and screaming I told her to look in the mirror. As soon as she saw the tooth she said "Oh... thanks Livy- I wanted to loose that tooth!"
Hayden: "I will NEVER make my kids take piano lessons!" Mom: "OK, that's cool". Hayden: "I'm not going to make them do chores either!" Mom: "Ok, that's cool". Hayden: "I'm not going to make them wake up early on the weekend's either". Mom: "Ok, cool- are you going to let them sleep until noon?" Hayden: "Yep!" Mom: "I can't wait to meet your kids, they sound terrific!"
All of my girls decided that they are tired of their long locks and one by one have all ended up with a bob. I was cutting Olivia's hair tonight and said: "So what's up with all of my girls wanting short hair?" Her reply: " Come-on mom...didn't you know that short is the new long!"
Isabelle was crying in her bed last night. She was so tired and couldn't fall asleep. I asked her what was wrong and she replied "i can't get my yawn out!"
Isabelle: "What do you mean I have to play in a soccer game on Saturday? I hate soccer- I only like practice-at the games people watch you and stuff!"
Olivia: after telling a super big lie she said "I keep praying for an answer to my problem and Heavenly Father won't even let me finish my prayer! I just keep getting the feeling that I need to come talk to you!"