Summer Fun

 

The kids and I went to the church history museum in June. They really liked all the fun exhibits and Jack liked the history. Afterward we went and ate at Johnny Rockets and walked around Temple Square.

 We watched the big parade during Round up week. Jack and Bella both got to be in the parade, Bella with Legacy Gymnastics and Jack for Football. It was sooo hot outside, you can see how flushed poor Tessa is. We were drinking a lot of water and it didn't seem to matter. Jack also ran in the Round up 5K that morning. 

 

We went hiking with friends to Cecret Lake the second week of July. It had been raining all morning and we didn't know if we would get soaked. We didn't, it was perfect weather for a hike.

 We saw a moose, the first time I have seen one in real life. 

 

We ate lunch up at the lake then came back down. It made me wonder why we don't go hiking more often! The kids had a great time and even Tessa did really well. She didn't want me to hold her at all.

 We sent Jack off, in the middle of the night no less, on a 16 day boy scout jamboree east coast adventure. He isn't back yet, but there is a Jamboree blog that recounts some of their adventures.

The girls took swimming lessons, I love Bella's form when she dives. The fact that she is a gymnast really comes out. She has amazing core strength.

Sophie is getting the hang of swimming pretty well. She is very proud of her bravery when she jumps off the diving board. 

That is all the photo evidence I have, we have gone to splash pads and friends houses and picnic lunches as well. I can't believe school starts in less than a month! I need to soak up every moment between now and then!

Jack's Birthday, Bella's Birthday, Tessa's Birthday

 

Jack turned 13 in April. He is growing up so fast! He's been gone to the National Boy Scout Jamboree and I bet he will look taller when he returns.

 Isabella turned 10 at the end of May. She got to have a friend party and wanted to go swimming. So we gathered up a group of girls and swam and had ice cream cake at the Legacy Center.

Tessa turned 2 at the beginning of June. She loves to play and be with her older siblings. She is very distressed when she can't do what they do. She is upset I don't let her roam outside on her own or go play with friends. She has a mind of her own and knows what she wants. She will be bereft when everyone heads off to school next month.

Basketball Season

Both Jack and Isabella began basketball season at the beginning of the month.

 Nate is coaching Jack's team this year, which he loves. We have some friends on the team also making it more fun. Both of their games are on Saturdays and overlap occasionally. The games are also in the afternoons, I like the early 8 am games, give me those any day. Bella is on a whole new team and didn't know anybody. There is such a big difference between the girls and the boys games. Jack's games are aggressive and there is a lot of ball stealing. When one of the girls loses control of the ball, they kind of politely let the other team take it. They are still learning and have a coach on the floor, it's just a funny contrast.

 Bella has been playing for three years now and really loves it. Sophie and Tessa tolerate the sport. They don't really watch, there is a lot of trying to get away and a lot of snacks. They do sit through a lot of games, so it's not surprising. 

The other night Sophie decided she wanted me to put curlers in her hair. I told her they weren't very comfortable to sleep on but she didn't care. She loved the curlers, but the next morning when I took them out she was mortified. She freaked out at all the curls, burst into tears and hopped in the shower. She thought she looked like I dog-not sure what dog she knows that has curly hair. Anyway, I don't think she will be wanting anything to do with curls again anytime soon. It was really funny and random.

On Sunday Jack wanted me to make him some cinnamon rolls. I have a awful cold going and declined but told him he could go ahead and make some himself. He did and they were decent for a first try. I look forward to him baking more often.

Also something that never happens, everyone sitting on the couch behaving and getting along.  Usually people are fighting over space and poking one another. The reason why they are all subdued and getting along-new episodes of "Good Luck Charlie", on Netflix. 

Since August we have.....

Been relieved of all fault.....

 Grew enough hair for pigtails....

Started gymnastics....

Had a birthday.....

 Went on a 9 year old trip to see...

Some Olympians.

Grew and shaved off quite the beard...

Tortured the children by taking them on a hay ride...

Halloweened...

 Won the championship!!!!

Practiced reverence...

Had a concert...

Built a snowman...

Made some cookies...

Lost some teeth, on Christmas Eve!!!

Had fun getting presents!

Here's to better blogging in 2013!

First Day of School

Jack is finished with grade school and on to Junior High.  I remember being in Junior High, so it feels strange for hi to be there already.  After a week, he loves it.  He's been good about managing his time so far, let's hope starting with good habits keeps them up. 

 

He still humors me about first day of school pictures.

 

The girls and I walked him to school.  The first day was for seventh graders only.  The student council had music blaring and balloons as the kids entered.  

  

Bella is going to a new school this year, we moved just outside of our old boundaries.  She is in fourth grade this year and was excited for a new experience!

She gets to ride the bus this year.  When we moved into our first house in Lehi seven years ago, it was just before Jack started kindergarten.  We had been in Midvale before and Jack loved seeing school buses and city buses and such, like any little five year old boy.  Well, when he found out that we lived too close to the school for a bus and we would be walking he was really disappointed.  Funny that now we live where we are too close to his school for a bus, but his little sisters will get to ride, life is unfair! ;)

Trip to Idaho Falls

In early August we went to Idaho Falls for Nate's 20th high school reunion.  This is the first time that we have gone and really walked around the river and done fun things there.  Admittedly, it is usually winter when we visit, so this was a nice change.

There is a sign for the Miskin Scraper company just north of Idaho Falls that we took the kids pics in front of.  They had been swimming prior to this and look a little tired.

This is on the river, we walked all around.  They were having a duck race and farmers market that day, so there was a lot to see and do.

 

Dropping the ducks into to river.

They blocked off part of the river so the ducks could be caught at the end.  This made the current slower and the ducks went pretty slow.  It was fun to see them all though.

Nate had a good reunion and it was a nice little getaway before school started.  The kids got to see places their dad lived when he was little and schools he went to.  We also saw a baseball game and went to some parks.  The kids loved seeing the grandparents for a bit as well.  Nice way to cap the summer/.

New Family Pics

 

 

Our friend Sanae came out in July and we were lucky enough to have some family pics taken by her.  She does an amazing job!  I have a lot of blogging I keep meaning to do but haven't done.  I think it may be better to sum it all up.  Isabella turned nine at the beginning of the summer and Tessa turned one three days later.  We then moved into our new house.  We got settled in then went to Oregon for a week to help my mom with a yard sale.  While we were gone Nate painted the garage floor.  We had two state baseball tournaments to attend in Salem in July.  I turned 35.  We had a few family BBQ's mixed in there and hope to have one more before it gets cold.  We went to Idaho Falls for Nate's 20th high school reunion.  Jack started football.  Then he started middle school.  Bella started fourth grade at a new school and loves it so far.  The little girls and I miss the big kids while they are gone.  That sums it all up so far.