First Day of School

Taelor started First grade today! She has been counting down the days for a while. She was so excited. She was also a little nervous about being gone all day, then she reminds herself that she gets 3 recesses and lunch and she gets over it pretty quick! We walked her to school and I dont think we could have gotten there fast enough for her. It was so cute to see her go right into her room, and find her desk with her name on it. I had to pry a hug and kiss out of her. When I got home the phone rang and it was Taelors teacher telling me that she was a little overwhelmed about the lunch choices for the day. I started laughing so hard. Tae is known to be a picky eater. She put Tae on the phone and I asked her what was wrong, she said she didnt want either of the options for lunch and didnt know what to do because we didnt pack her a lunch. I told her not to worry about it and I would bring her a lunch over and put it in her backpack. She was a happy camper after that and enjoyed the rest of her day. Her teacher was so sweet to her about it. Taelor is going to love her. She had a fantastic day and cant wait to go back. I love you Taelor!
Here is Taelor after school with Zach, a friend of hers from our ward. Our familys are friends and they get along great together.

Paint Job

We made our very first furniture purchase of our marriage! We bought a new couch and love seat and also a new bedroom set. The day after we bought the couch we thought, (I thought) "Wouldn't it be nice to repaint the family room and our bedroom before our new furniture arrives?" Repainting the upstairs is something we have wanted to do for a long time and now we had a great excuse. So we cranked it out in two days. We decided to three-tone the family room. I love the way it turned out. It looks like a new house. We didn't quite make it to the bed room yet. We are still deciding on what color to use. So those pictures will come later. So here is the before and after pictures of the family room. Now I need a new rug and new things to hang on the walls that match our new room a little better.

Love the Mountains

We went up to the cabin again. I just cant get enough of this place. My parents came up along with my brother Jesse and his wife Jody and Devin and his girlfriend Hayley. We stayed over night and had a great time. My kids love going for rides on the 4-wheelers and seeing the deer and moose. Here is Ty with Kinners going for a ride to look for animals. Dad got to ride Grandpas brand new 4-wheeler. Lucky guy! This is Grandpas new toy and it is just for him. My dad is the only other person who got to ride it.
Sitting around the campfire making biscuts on a stick. Our family tradition. Taelor is getting really good at making her own and doesn't like help anymore.
I caught this cute moment with the kids actually being nice to each other. Taelor was out on the deck and had a pop. Dennin and Makinley wanted some and without being asked Tae took turns giving the other two drinks from her can of pop. It was one of those "Awww" moments for a mom. Maybe I am doing something right after all! They were so cute. I just sat and watched them for a while. It was so sweet. Hopefully this isnt our last time up to the cabin for the year but with the new little one coming it could be. Thanks again Grandpa and Grandma!

Pool Party

My Aunt Jana has a pool in her back yard and lets us use it whenever we want. It is so nice to have family connections! All of my family got together and we packed a lunch and went to the pool. The kids are pretty fearless now in the water. The girls swim all over the place with their arm floaties on. Taelor even practiced some things she learned in swimming lessons. Its nice that they can swim around on their own and don't need my constant help, swimming isn't one of my favorite things to say the least. That way I got to enjoy soaking up some rays instead. All the boys got into a fierce basketball game. My dad was knocking down shots left and right! Its nice to see Dad put the other guys in their place every now and then and let them know he still has it! (Not that he ever lost it)

Summer Fun

This summer we decided to put Taelor is swimming lessons. She is a scardy cat in the water. She hates to get her face wet. She did such a great job. By the end of her lessons she was putting her face completely under the water and was floating on her back! She loved it and I think it helped with her fear of the water a little. Good job Tae!
My kids love to play or swim in the water so we did that this summer as much as possible. Here is just one of the times we played in the water at Grandmas house. My mom got out some cups for them to use to water the flowers with and it turned into a big water fight thanks to Dennin.
Taelors face says it all as she is hit from behind by Makinley! Kinners was laughing so hard. I think the kids got more water on the grass then they did each other. They would chase each other with full glasses and by the time they would throw there cups of water on each other they didn't have much left in them.

Grandpa came out to watch the fun and sneaky little Dennin thought it would be funny to throw a cup on Grandpa. My dad jumped out of the way just in time. The look on Dennins face and his little naughty laugh was so funny. I just wish I had caught it on camera. Grandpa avoided getting too wet and went back inside to avoid further damage!