and so it begins....

the kids started school. i guess i should say ALL the kids started school. i guess not technically school- one started preschool- but nonetheless, they are all gone for part, if not all, the day.

k was ready for 8th grade.

 this year there was a lot less apprehension than before. g was soooo excited for his teacher. and b could hardly wait to start kindergarten. he didn't even give me a second look.

 on the way into school

excited to see friends!

 b was excited to get a hug from their school mascot

 i dropped be off and waited for him to line up. i kept trying to give him a hug and give him advice and he kept saying, 'i got it mom, i got it.' he wasn't scared at all. i have to admit, there were tears shed-but none from him. it's hard seeing them start school. i always feel like it's an end of their innocence and carefree ways.

this cutie started preschool. she was so ready and so excited to go.

she is really growing up.

 we had lunch before hand. it was a great date

 ready for her first day.

 i was so sad to have her start preschool, but she was so excited. i kept giving her hugs and telling her goodbye-she didn't even give me a second look. she was so happy to be there.

when i picked her up, she just kept saying, 'mom, that was so good. so very very good.' i don't think she knew that something like preschool even existed. she was so happy. it's hard for me to be sad to have her gone, because she is so happy to be there.

i think mom is having the hardest time adjusting. 

i did get to go to trader joes without kids. ahhh.

but i think i'd rather have them with me.

so tired from her second day of school. 

she even fell asleep eating her snack on the way home. so sleepy.

and LOOK who got braces!

i always hate the beginning of school. it's an end of carefree days. no schedules. no homework. and end of freedom and late bedtimes. i love having my kids home. i love spending time with them and seeing their cute personalities grow. 

always an adjustment.

heres hoping for a great new year!!

fun!

we went to a back to school party with friends. i think there were 27 kids there. 

we played kick the can, laser tag, sardines and watched an outdoor movie. so much fun!

 we also had a ward campout. we didn't stay the night, but just went up for the evening for dinner.

it was fun to be with the ward and get to know people a bit better.

park

love nice cool mornings at the park.

 love these kids!

scout field trip

this boy was quite pleased.

their scout group went to the natural history museum-a place he had been wanting to go all summer long. looks like they had a great time!

a day at the lake

we had one last hoorah for the summer and headed to the lake for the afternoon

it wasn't lush and tree covered like the lakes in pa, but it was a lake, there was sand and the kids were happy. 

 this poor kid. no matter how much sunscreen i put on him, this New mexico sun is relentless.

i think next year i need to get desitin.

every day living

yes my friends, this is a scorpion. we have found 3 inside our house and numerous others ones outside, usually dead- but my other half excitedly caught a live one in our kitchen the other night. did not help with a good night sleep.

 this girl loves sneaking the phone and watching movies.

she also loves wearing this pink princess dress that her grandma gave to her older sister years ago

 kids can't get enough swimming

 nothing like bubbles early in the morning to start the day off right.

 i let the kids dive for coins while they are swimming. they love it.

 we have been building forts.  

endless possibilities

 we also discovered baked smokes. yum! 

bake at 400 for 4 minutes. delightful. melty. gooey. delicious. we especially love the reeses pb cups!

reunion and bear lake

while in utah, we did a day trip to idaho and then another day trip to bear lake.

both were fun. long days, but fun days.

this was my sister and i, our contribution to the raffle

 grandpa was taking a nap on the grass. i mentioned to the grandkids that he wanted all of them to run over and jump on him- it didn't take much, they dog piled on him. glad grandpa is a great sport.

 all the siblings

 by grandma's remaining siblings.

it was hard being at the reunion and not having my grandma there. 

she loved idaho so much, and the reunion. got a little teary eyed missing her while we were there.

 Bear Lake

my family went up to bear lake for the day.

it was a fun day! we swam, caught and played with frogs, kayaked, canoed, jumped on the trampoline, had amazing games of volleyball (grays vs. not grays, i won't mention what group i was in ;), we ate and laughed.

the kids had  a ball.

so much fun being back up there with cousins and strengthening those family relationships!

my brother and his family recently moved to Illinois. we missed them so much. 

it was so great being with everyone again.

g said, 'best part of bear lake. constant snacks'

 this has been a common occurrence this summer.

we had such a great time with family again.

we love being so much closer to utah and being able to drive to see family and not having it take 30 hours.

here's to many more trips