First day of school! First day of school!

I know that my calendar says it's September, but I can't believe it.

Where did my summer go?

My little sweethearts started back to school last Wednesday.

We started the morning off by waking them up early

and heading to IHOP for breakfast.

It was a fun surprise for them.

Here's my little crew with jammies, bed-heads and pancakes.

We had a good time. I was wondering if adding this to the morning

would just add more stress, but it really worked out well.

I think we might make a tradition of it.

After breakfast we hurried home and got ready for the big day.

Here's Lillie Mae with her 'guitar girl' shirt on.

She started at Learning Dynamics and is very happy there.

Here's pretty Chloe in rhinestones and zebra print.

It's always funny to me what my kids choose for the

first day outfit. It's not usually what I would choose, but I'm

happy to let them pick it out. I'm just glad they're not wearing skulls

and peace signs. (Seriously, what are people thinking!!?)

And my handsome boy Noah, who keeps getting older even

though I have asked very nicely that he KNOCK IT OFF.

Of course, he's dressed for BYU.

Here they are in Highland Elementary waiting for the bell.

I really was happy for them. They all have good teachers this

year and were really excited about going. And I'm

excited to have some alone time with my Milo.

I love these kids and am so grateful for the

time I get to spend with them.

Smores

We went up American Fork Canyon a few days ago for

hot dogs and smores.

Milo was determined to toast his own marshmallows.

He was a bit of a hazard with that stick.

A very sticky Noah.



Chloe is not a fan of smores.
She'll eat a couple of marshmallows, but only if
they're toasted perfectly.

Sweet Lillie Mae.

The kids had a great time. It's so nice to live so close to the canyon.

When we got home the kids talked Brian into setting the tent up

in the backyard. I slept in my bed and the kids and Brian slept out.

That's my kind of camping.

My baby

My baby turned 2 today.

I can't believe how fast the past two years have gone.

He's my sweetheart and I'm completely in love with him.

My older kids keep telling me that he's not a baby anymore,

but I tell them that even when he's 28, he'll still be my baby.

Happy Birthday Milo!

4th of July

It's our family's tradition to celebrate the 4th of July at my

sister's house in Huntsville, Utah.

We always have a wonderful time there and

look forward to it every year.

This year my sister-in-law came from Texas with her three kids,

and my parents came up too.

Here are all the cousins at the parade.

We pretty much do the same things every year.

And that's the way I like it.

Lots of playing and eating and being together.

Here's Pops, Brian, Noah and Jared firing the potato cannon.

Here's Milo's first smore.
He demolished it.

I think Chloe was pretty excited for the fireworks show...

Lillie and cousin Ady watching the fireworks...

Huntsville town parade. We took a break this year and decided
to watch the parade instead of being in it.
The kids loved catching all the candy.
Here are Noah and cousin Jared...
Lillie enjoying the parade...


We pile the kids on and ride this old 4-wheeler non-stop.

My sister's house backs to Pineview Resevoir.

It's so beautiful.

All the girl cousins...

Brian and Milo on the pocket rocket.

Noah's in the background on the 4-wheeler.

We seriously just play the whole time.

Well, at least when we're not eating.

Such a good time.

Of course, it's all fun and games until your dog gets lost.
We took Princess up with us to enjoy the mountain air. She was

tied to a fence post, but when the first big boom from the firework

show went off, she broke out of her collar and took off.
Poor thing was scared to death. The next couple of days were

filled with lots of tears and prayers and hours of searching.

We talked to neighbors and posted 'Lost Dog' signs.

But when Monday evening came, we had to leave without her.

I really didn't think we'd see her again...

Today my sister called the pound for the third time.

Princess was there.

My dad drove back up to Huntsville to pick her up

and took her home. My parents surprised us with her.

Oh happy day!

She sure is a pain in the neck, but she's part of the family.

We're glad she's home.

Thanks again Muppy and Pops!
And thanks to my sister Erinn for having us.

We had such a great time!

She is a great hostess and now has piles of dirty sheets and towels to prove it!

Hawaii

We started our summer off with a bang this year

and headed off to Maui as soon as the kids were out of school.

Here are Grandma and Milo digging in the sand.

Milo had such a good time. He loved all that sand and water.

He was SO busy.

Brian was in scuba heaven. He went out 6 times.

I've learned that I'm going to have to get certified

if I ever want to spend time with him on trips like these.

I didn't get to see much of this boy.
Unless he was starving or injured he didn't need me.

We stayed at a nice resort that had a great kids pool.


The girls loved the idea of buying an oyster in search of a pearl.
I kept telling them that not all oysters have pearls in
them and that they couldn't get upset when they didn't get a pearl.
Chloe got a big, beautiful black pearl

and Lillie got a big, beautiful white pearl.
Go figure.

Lots and lots of beautiful beach.

Lillie loved all the pretty smelling flowers. She was constantly
picking them and had fistfuls of flowers everywhere we went.
Plumeria were her favorite.


Scuba dive, windsurf, beach, repeat.

I feel like I should have something really profound to say

after such an amazing trip, but I don't.

We're just so grateful we were able to go.

We all had a wonderful time.

But next time...it's just me and Brian.

What?!

For those of you who missed it...

Noah's annual mohawk to celebrate the last day of school.

It only lasts a couple of days. Thank goodness.

End of School

The last couple of weeks of school are always crazy ones.
The kids have been in a school-wide Dance Festival, a music recital,
a piano recital, pre-school graduation, Kindergarten graduation,

field days, soccer parties...
It's been busy.

Here's our graduated Kindergartner.

She's grown up so much this year!

Lillie's graduation from Fairytale Farm Preschool.

Highland Elementary's Dance Festival was a huge hit.

Noah's class performed to Dancin' in the Street.

He couldn't wait to get it over with.

Chloe's class performed a great little Elvis number.

She was partnered with a cute little boy named Beckett.

Make sure to watch the video at the bottom of this post. So cute!

I can't believe how fast this year has gone.

My kids are growing up way too quickly!

I'm ready to have them home with me.

Bring on the Summer!

Our Dog

Meet our dog. Her name is pain-in-the-butt.

Um, I mean Princess.

Brian surprised me with her last October.

There has been a long list of casualties since she joined our family.

Our back door...

A few missing trees...

15+ sprinkler heads...

Both of our hoses...

Just to name a few on a very long list.

She barks at everything, jumps on people, licks your

face, digs the yard and chews everything.

I know what you're thinking.

Why do you still have this dog?!

Here's why:

Lillie adores her.

Noah and Chloe are at school and Milo's asleep.

And Lillie's out back with her good friend

having a wonderful time.

And that's why pain-in-the-butt, um, I mean Princess

isn't going anywhere. :)

Pinewood Derby 2010

Why be fast when you can be Smart?

Noah decided to build a Smart Car for the

Pinewood Derby this year.

It turned out great!

Everyone loved it and it ended up being a lot

faster than we thought.

Noah has a great bunch of friends in our neighborhood.

They are all very nice boys.
Noah's car won a first and two second places and
made a lot of people smile.
Especially Noah.
Way to go, bud!

Lillie is 4!

Our sweet Lillie Mae turned four this month.

Her day started out like all our birthdays, with a cupcake

and Happy Birthday to You in bed...

Then she hurried downstairs to find her presents.

We've been wanting to get a Power Wheels for

a while now. I found this one in a D.I. pile in

the back of my friend's truck.

A new battery, a good scrub and some vinyl

flower stickers and it's ready.

Lillie was thrilled!

Lillie wanted a Fairy party this year.
Here are all the sweet little girls we had over.


After finding fairies in the yard, the girls came in and
made little homes for their fairies with moss, flowers,
berries, leaves and sparkly rocks.
They loved it.


Happy Birthday Lillie Mae!