I've been wanting pictures like this...

...and they turned out exactly like I'd hoped!

The bridge is 5 hours away by my sister's house and I've been dreaming about it for a year now.  These pictures are going up on my walls in my room.  I love them!  Thanks Melissa!

So....

I've got some major catching up to do.  I'm sure it's mostly just family who checks this so they'll love seeing all of the pictures even if they are old.  April was really the last time I posted with any regularity so we are headed back to those summer months.  Stay tuned for lots of catch up posts.

First Day of School

My kids have been in school for two weeks now. Thought I'd better get some pictures posted.  I've now got the three big kids in school leaving just Spencer home with me during the days.  Wow... it's fabulous! That first day was a killer though.  

This girl is headed into 5th grade with three different teachers, Miss Mazzola, Mrs. Pekara and Mrs. Nassar.  The work is piled high onto these kids.  She's a trooper though and so far loves her teachers.

Ah Parker...seriously why do I send this kid off everyday?  I ought to home school this guy just for the company.  He is very much a self motivated learner who things the library can solve all mysteries.  He hates spelling...who can blame him.  He's a third grader in Mrs. Milot's class this year.

Elijah started Kindergarten this year and is in Mrs. Watson's class.  I have been really nervous about him starting school and whether or not he would like it (he didn't like preschool at all).  No worries now.  This boy loves going to school!

This little boy was a little nervous about his first day.  I walked them all to school, dropped the bigs off at the back of the school and took the littles to Elijah's classroom.  I helped him find his desk, showed him where to put his stuff, and then tried to talk myself into walking out of the room.  I found myself stalling.  Big time.  All of the sudden as I was giving him a hug I realized I was going to start bawling.  I couldn't stop myself.  Here is the kid that has given me my parenting stripes.  The one who makes me dig deep to be a good mom.  The kid who at a year old I prayed so hard to be able to feel love for.  My post-partum depression really did a number on our bond.  Heavenly Father literally poured love for this kid into my heart that night and the morning of his first day at school that love was filling my eyes and overflowing.  I shoved my sunglasses on and ran out of that room with the tears streaming down my face.  I almost made it home without running into someone I know.  But a good friend was dropping her kids off, saw me bawling and offered a hug.  That's what good friends are for.  So he loves school and I'm so glad.

Fun Summer Haircuts

When we left for vacation my boys were all over due for haircuts.  Three weeks later they came home with some wildly long hair.  Melissa decided that they weren't getting just any haircut.  So with two weeks left of summer the boys got the haircut of their dreams.  And although their daddy was less then enthusiastic when he first saw them that night, it kind of grows on you.   

The next day I took the boys with me to five different stores.  Everywhere we went we ran into people who commented on their hair.  Parker asked me why everyone liked their hair so much.  I think they got notice mostly because there were three mohawks hanging out together.  They will get it all cut off before school starts, but it's pretty cute for now. 

Family Reunion 2011

My sister Rebecca was in charge of our family reunion this summer.  We spent the first day at Lagoon in Utah.  I have so many fond memories of Lagoon growing up.  It was our vacation destination as a family many times.  This was the first time my kids had ever been there and we had such a great time!  This was about the only ride Spencer rode on the entire day at Lagoon.  He was definitely not a huge fan of the rides, but was a good sport the whole day.  He liked the water park best.

Elijah on the airplane ride.

The next day we headed to Temple Square where we toured the Church History Museum.  They had a great display on Latin America.  Rebecca was excited to show the kids one of the traditional dances.  Alexia, Kurstyn Aunt Becca, Emily, and Parker in their traditional outfits.

This picture cracks me up. Becca, Elijah, Alexia and Parker are acting out the Good Samaritan scene behind them.

Parker's Harry Potter Birthday Party

Parker with his friends: Carter Steere, Tanner Golightly, Kyleigh Posvar, Kinley Hess, and Ethan Becker.  Parker begged for a Harry Potter themed birthday party this year.  He's on book 5 of the series right now. We made his friends their own Hogwarts invitations and they each had to pass through platform 9 3/4 to get inside our house.

Once inside we sorted everyone into Houses with the app from my iPhone.  The only one sorted into Slytherin House was Elijah.  How ironic. :)  Afterward we painted the wands that chose the child and had a potions class. 

Seriously I was at a loss for his cake this year.  So there is the golden snitch Harry caught with his mouth his first year as Seeker and a put together Harry Potter lego set.  Lame, I know, but it tasted good.

Making his wish...

My poor asthmatic kid.  It took three blows to extinguish his eight candles.

His friends then toasted him with their "butterbeer" and then started devouring their cake and ice cream.  While Melissa, Rebecca (she flew in the night before) and I dished up our cake we heard Parker propose a toast.  Everyone raised their goblets and then he said, "To the best friends a kid could ever have...cheers!"

Oh no he didn't!

Oh...   yes...   he...  did....  This boy loves my makeup bag.

I feel like this one could be a mug shot.  Actually, he did a good job on the one eye.  Look at those eyelashes.

"Please momma... I'm so sawry!"

In other news...my daughter and sister are WEIRD!

Summer Sport Camps

Alexia did a week long volleyball camp this summer and Parker went to a basketball camp.  They both really loved them.  No pictures of Lexi playing, but there were awards and a slam dunk exhibition the last day of Parker's camp.  The guy in the picture with Parker is Zabian Dowdell and he plays for the Phoenix Suns.

 

 

Jack and Parker on their last day of camp.

Last Day of School 2011

No more pencils! No more books!  No more teachers' dirty looks!  (And yes, I'm aware you can see her ribs through her shirt.  I really do feed my kids.)

The kids get to wear whatever they want on the last day of school.  That's another cause for celebration.

They quickly moved from celebrating to showing off their muscles.

I'm so excited for summer vacation too!  Time to sleep in, catch up on chores, and then do some fun things with the kiddos.  The picture below is from last years last day of school.  Man it goes by too fast.

We Like Visitors!

Darren's brother Nolan had a work conference in Scottsdale for a few days.  They called us Thursday night and said they were headed over to see us.  We ordered up some pizza, then busted out the stuff to make s'mores again.

My kids love their cousins.  They soaked up the love from Liv and Clara.

Thanks for stopping by guys!  It was so fun to have you for an evening!

Isn't he yummy?

I could totally eat him for breakfast!  Those cheeks are delish!

Memorial Day Backyard Picnic

I really wanted to head up to the mountains for the day on Memorial Day, but Darren was having a hard time with the time/gas issue for one day.  So we stuck around here, watched a movie or two and then headed outside for a picnic and some smores.

Getting the fire started.  That's my job.  Darren hates the smell and smoke of a fire.  I love it!

And were off!  The smores were so yummy.  I traded the fire pit for pictures a little while back and had been itching to use it.  I'm sure when it cools down we'll get lots of use out of it.  After the smores were all eaten, Melissa headed to a movie with friends and the kids serenaded us with "Love Story" and "Eye of the Tiger."  BEST ENTERTAINMENT EVER!