Pre-School

The little lady started Pre-School again with Miss Debbie! She loves to go to school and loves Miss Debbie. She woke up extra early to put on her "school clothes" and was anxiously awaiting for her school to start. Right befor we left I took some pictures. This is my daughter posing something fierce for the camera. She's got moves! I love her bedroom eyes.....

Her homework for the first day of school was to make a safari hat with things she likes. When she and I were putting this together and I asked what is your favorite thing she answered "babies"! Unfortunately we don't have any baby stickers or mini babies to have stuck on her hat but she did find other loves like; flowers, jewels, beads,and princess stickers to put on it. She was VERY proud of this hat.



Daddy came with us to take her to school. I thougth Gil would be sad but not so much. He was happy to just hang out with me. Here she is in her class with some of the other kids.

How cute are some of those hats? How cute is Miss Debbie to come up with this?

This is going to be a great year!

I can't believe that next year is Kindergarten! Time is going to fast.

Birthday Girl!

She's beautiful (OK--she's really beautiful)

She has a fantastic laugh
She can roller blade like nobody's business

She is a tried and true romantic

She sometimes says bad words (but only sometimes)
She is a neighborhood therapist

She is a new brunette (no really, she is!)

She drives a little like a grandma
She's a birthday girl--today!!!

and...well...

she's amazing.

She just is.

Happy birthday friend!
(sorry I had to break in like this...forgive me?)

Once in a blue moon....

I can't believe we are already to 11 years! I can't put into words the way my heart feels about you. You are my everything. As you read this I hope you will hear Edie Brikells Once in a Blue Moon playing repeat in your head. Here is my very feeble attempt to list 11 things that you do that show me everyday you love me. Thank you!

1. I love that is doesn't matter what time I turn out the light, (after reading WAY beyond any decent hour a mother of 4 would admit) I just have to touch you and even in a dead sleep you will roll over and snuggle me.

2. You never mind (at least you don't say anything) when I get caught up in a really good book. You just take over the kids and give me whatever time I want to take.

3. I love that when we are in a room full of people and we are talking in different groups, I can look at you and with one expression know how you are and that we will exchange notes with each other later.

4. I love when you leave in the morning it is never without a kiss, even if I am still enjoying a lovely white party. I know that the first thing you are going to do when you get home from work is kiss me. It is so very Cleaverish of us.

5. I love that you get up on Saturday mornings and let me sleep in. I also love to wake up to the smell of waffles that only you can make.

6. I am so glad that when I am grumpy and maybe a little irrational/oversensitive you can find a way to make me laugh at myself and get me over the grumpiness.

7. Our family enjoys your sense of adventure. You are so great about finding little interesting things for us to do from petroglyphs to hikes to just our little Sunday drives. It is so much fun to just spend time together.

8. I love that we enjoy little town celebrations. We both enjoy our wanderings through the booths, and watching events, trying new food, listening to live music, and of course dragging our kids along with us. It is never rushed and always fun. You just enjoy every moment.

9. I love that you insist on doing the dishes after dinner, and that you turn your music on while you clean up. It somehow always ends up with our kids dancing in the family room, cutting up a rug. Our kids always prefer you ipod over mine.

10. I love that Ally told me last week on the phone that we have rarely had a conversation when you don't call in on the other line. I love that we talk 20 times a day:)

11. I love that the Gospel as complex as it is, is simple to you. That you have unwavering faith. That you have always been a spiritual leader for me. You are a wonderful teacher and have a great way of explaining things.

Happy Anniversary! I feel so incredibly blessed to have you as my husband. Thanks you for all the little things you do for me and our family. Thank you for loving me so completely.

Once in a while

Once in a blue moon

There comes somebody

There comes somebody like you

First Day of School

The boys were a little sad to be having to go back to school already. They moaned and belly ached all week until the night before they started...The night before school started, after daddy's blessing they started to get excited. The thought of friends and recess started to sound pretty fun. As for me I was ready for them to start school again. I enjoy my children an incredible amount, but it is so nice to have them BUSY again.

They were up at 6:45 ret to go! All through breakfast Tucker kept telling me had butterflies in his stomach.

~Notice Gil's shoes~ he had to wear his new school shoes too.

Abe is in 3rd grade and has Mr. R for a teacher. This is the first time any of my kids have had a male teacher. It will be fun to see what Abe thinks of him.

Looking a little nervous...

Tucker is in 4th grade and he go Mrs. B who he really wanted this year. You know what freaks me out though the most, I remember 4th grade REALLY well. I can't believe how old my kids are getting.

Also looking a little nervous.....

Now this lady, she was nothing but ecstatic! You could almost here her cheering down the halls as she dropped her kids off. I had to snap a picture of the Farmgirl in all her happiness, just she and Grant left at her house.

his favorite shoes

he wants to wear these at all times....doesn't matter what feet he wears them on

it doesn't matter what toe they go between....

2nd or 3rd toe, who cares?

sometimes his nose does when he falls because of the lack of caring!

p.s. thank you childrens place for the five dollar summer shoes!

Hogle Zoo/Summer Vacation

The summer is never complete if you don't take a trip to the Hogle Zoo. Can't you just see the excitement on my kids faces! They are just so cooperative when it comes to group pictures.

One of the best things about going home to visit is how everything we do we have company to join us. I LOVE it! I would move home (near to all of our family)in an instant if they didn't have that thing called WINTER. My sisters and kids joined us and so did Bob's sister and family. Look at all those attractive children, and they all look so thrilled to be there.

My favorite attraction at the zoo are the elephants. I just think they are so majestic. Here is Gwyn watching the elephant get fed.

This was the pregnant elephant who was very soon to be due. After two years I am sure she is looking forward to that delivery. Honestly, she looked great and I couldn't tell which one was actually pregnant. It was nice that they had signs so you could identify her.

My kids adore this elephant that sneezes and shoots water out of it's nose.

Miss Poppy Louise was a joy, she just happily rode around in her stroller.

Mia (aka cheeks) was happy to be held by her dad and go along for the ride.

Brooke and Minie on that cute little Merry- go- Round.

Kennan, Jude and Gwyn. Love myself a little time with "Kenna"!

Bob and Gil. Has anyone else noticed I don't have one shot with Gil really looking at me?

Meanwhile, Greta, Poppy, and I were happily watching all of the kids going round and round. Greta was holding and eating her corndog like a champ.

Brad had told us not to miss the bird show and he was right. It was fantastic. I kept thinking of Farmgirl freaking out as the birds flew right over our heads nearly touching us. Our kids were in awe and the Bald Eagle was beautiful to see in person.

Gil and Gage had a wonderful time running together holding hands looking at all the animals. It was very rainy our whole trip up north, but we got two days free of rain. The weather was perfect that day, and so was our trip to the zoo.

Miss Debbie's Pre-School Graduation....

Miss Debbie is the BEST!!! She has now taught three of my four children. I love her. She is my friend and she goes way above and beyond what she is paid for. Gwynnie adores her and can't wait to get started with her in September.

Here is some of her class at graduation.

Her little goody bag from all of her little friends. She was so excited to give her gifts to her friends.

Gwyn and her very good friend Janessa were in the same class this year....I think they will be in the same class next year. These two have a love/hate relationship, and I think it may be to early for girl drama, but alas it's not.

What a great year with Miss Debbie! Thanks!

Pretty Piroutte

Gwyn had her first ballet recital this May. She was amazing of course.

Yes my daughter loves to pose. She did this one all on her own.

Oh, and this one. Her make up looks a little intense though....

We were so happy Nannie came down to watch her with us. See this look on her face? This is the "how is my lipstick" check. This girl lives for make-up. She wants it on all the time. Most of the time she ends up looking like a hussy....what can you do? When she was very little I would put a little make-up on her. When she would start to cry I would say "uh-oh, you are going to smear your make-up." She would instantly stop her tears!

Nannie loves....

Once again I have made it on to my blog.

It was so fun to watch my girl on the stage. It was funny to see how much taller she was then most the girls. The best part was that she sang along with the song during her dance. I have it on video but I will spare you all the details. (your welcome sarah) I am so glad I have a pretty pink daughter! Love you ladybug! xoxoxox

Abe's Baptism...a little late

I am so proud of our Abraham for being baptized! (He was ever so worried about his feet popping out of the water while daddy was dunking him.)

One of the very few pictures of me actually on this blog. Ahhh...I hate having my picture taken, but I am happy to have documentation of Abe and I together on this special day.

Bob and Abe...sorry babe this was the best picture of you! (Andrea can confirm) I don't know what you were doing with your chin in all your pictures...but it wasn't good. (I still love you though. )

All the men in the circle who helped confirm him. We have such great family and neighbors. Oh, our hometeachers are the best too.

The after party was in our backyard and Bob bar-b-qued for all of us. It was really a lovely evening. The kids had a great time. I love to feed people. It brings me great joy! I love it even more when people feel like they can just hang out, that there is no rush.


My dad and his ever surprised look! I love this crazy man.



Abe opening a few gifts....his very own Scriptures and Scripture case. (aka the Bob Bag)


Hi! This is my amazingly talented, beautiful, kind, and sweet neice Kate! She is only 13 but you just wait, her dad is in for trouble with the boys who are already lined up at her door.

The Jacksons!!! This is totally Brooke and Dustbin. Dust is always happy to show you how much he adores snuggling his wife and other PDA moments you would sometime rather not see! Love these two.

My mom and Greta have a little chill time. This little girl is the sweetest, now if I could only get her to want to love on me some. Isn't my mom lovely. I always enjoy our time spent together.

This was a fantastic weekend. Thanks to all of you that came. Especially Chris and Eileen who just surprised us and drove four hours to be with us. Abe you are loved by many! Congrats!