Random act of thoughtfulness!

I know this is small but this random act of thoughtfulness by my sweet girl made me really happy and I didn't want to forget it. I like to read alot and my girls always ask me why I put my book face down. I told them it was just to mark my place. A few days ago, I had popped some popcorn for Makenna and was going to read my book and snuggle with her while the girls watched their movie. The popcorn was made and the movie was starting but she got a piece of paper out and started coloring. Knowing me, I knew that the popcorn wasn't going to last very long so I kept telling her that she needed to come and snuggle and eat some popcorn before it was all gone. She wouldn't tell me what she was doing but finally she came over and gave me this.......

It's a beautifully made bookmark (that says...I Love Mom) to mark the pages of my books!!! It was the sweetest thing ever!! She saw that I had a need and did something about it. And everytime I use it, I smile:)

1st day of 1st grade!!!

Today was Makenna's first day of 1st grade!! She was beyond excited to start school. And Mom was excited as well and to get back on a schedule! We have a big change this year though. We have to start an hour earlier than last year. The bell rings at 7:50 (the same time as Middle School) which means we have to leave our house by 7:20 to get a parking spot. For some reason they aren't opening the gate until the bell rings so that means there will be tons of kids waiting outside. It's so weird but we will just go with it. Makenna was pretty groggy this morning when I tried to get her up at 6:30 but I think it will get easier as she goes to bed earlier. She got ready and I made her favorite breakfast (scrambled eggs) which she didn't eat that much of and then I finished making her lunch!! Eek!! I have a kid old enough where I have to make her lunch!! It's so weird:)
Of course I had to take the 1st day pic:)

Once Makenna found her friend Olivia, she was all good and ran into the school playground. I lost sight of her a couple of times because she kept running ahead...little stinker!! There were a ton of people there!

Then, as we were standing in line, she started to get all panicky and worried. I kept giving her loves and it looked like she wanted to just burst into tears!! I guess she has some of me in her...:)

She totally broke my heart!!

 Mommy was crying by this point but thankfully had sunglasses on so she couldn't see:) It was hard watching her walk into school without me. There were so many kids and people that I was so worried that she was going to get lost. Her teacher didn't want any parents going in so I assume she made it!! I'm sure she will be all smiles when she gets home and I can't wait to hear all about her day!

Makenna's new teacher

We got to go meet Makenna's teacher on Friday and learn where she needed to go. I think this teacher is going to be a bit more strict than her Kinder one but hopefully she will have a good balance. Unfortunately, she won't allow cupcakes for birthdays either so that kinda stinks but I already figured out what I am going to do. Since she is full day, I thought I could take her lunch from McDonalds or somewhere and then give her and her friends some cupcakes or something for dessert:) Makenna looked a little apprehensive and nervous but I know that she will do awesome once she gets to know her teacher and what she is supposed to do. I can't believe I have a kid that goes to school full day!! How exciting!! Hoping for a great year!

One more swim before school starts!!

We were able to get one last swim in before school starts on Monday!! Mr. Aiden is getting more used to it and loved playing on the stairs!

Or playing with his little girlfriend:)

Or smooching on his little girlfriend:) So adorable!!

He even has his eyes closed....little stud!!

Miss Kenna has really done well with her swimming. This is her at the DEEP end treading water!! She does really well.

I tried to get a shot of my Jordyn but she wouldn't look at me...little stinker:)

Little dude drying off....too cute!!

Amy and I even took turns watching the babies while the other one swam laps. We did 20 laps back AND forth. It was great exercise!!

Summertime fun....almost coming to a close!!

The summer seriously just flew by!! And we have had a ton of fun. Most of our summer consisted of going over to our good friend's house down the street and swimming with them. I've actually gotten nice and tan this year!! We are going to swim a couple more times this week and Amy is going to show me how to make her delicious cinnamon rolls!! Yummo!! Add a couple of play dates in there with some other good friends and possibly a movie night and we have a pretty packed this last week of Summer before school starts!!

Here a few pics of my cute girls playing in the pool!! They absolutely love it!! Aiden went with me for about half of the time. Sometimes he would stay home with his Dad so he didn't get too much sun;)

Makenna and her bud Sydney!

Cutie girl loves to play on the stairs or float around with Mommy!!

Makenna jumping into the pool!! She is totally fearless. She jumps into the pool all the time! She loves it!!

We have also gone to storytime at the library and playdates with Mia and Abbey which allowed for Mom and Dad to have a date as well while my Mom watched Aiden. I have also taught Zumba classes all summer since our normal teacher has been out of town with her ill Mother. I was very nervous about it at first and would keep forgetting the moves even though I've been doing it since January but the longer I did it, the more comfortable I got with it. I have gotten tons of compliments and my confidence in myself has grown a lot!! My Mom has even started coming and she loves it. The kids liked going as well because they got to play with the babysitters and the kids that were there. I also played volleyball with the R.S. sisters this season and it was really fun!! I haven't played for quite awhile but I didn't do pretty bad! :) It's been a great summer and it hasn't been too hot until this week and the heat that we have had has been bearable because we have been able to swim!! I'm excited for school to start but also sad. I can't wait to get back to some structure and schedule but sad that Trav has to go back to work and my sleep in days will be going bye bye!! But I love the fall and look forward to the cooler weather and football and the holidays!! Fun times!!

Hilarious!!!

Jordyn saw this picture and said, "I can see her bum bum!!" Hilarious!!

CHICK munk!!

At least that is what Jordyn called the little guy that is in the middle of the picture. He and his buddy scampered all around our campsite. They were adorable:)

Pine Valley Camping Trip!

We were short on funds this year but still wanted to get out of town for a couple of days. So where do you go when you want to have fun on a budget? Camping of course:)

This is just 13 miles in!!

 And the girls were watching a movie so it was a very pleasant ride up there:)

 We've been going to Pine Valley for years but this is the first year that all the camp sites that we would normally be able to go to were completely closed. This was a true bummer because they were nice and private and shady. The new sites are very close together and right up by the road and not as much shade. Trav and I had gone up there on a previous trip to St. George for a funeral and I wrote down the ones that looked decent before we made reservations. I'm glad I did because I think we got the best site in the place!! I still didn't like the place where we HAD to put our tents but I contined to feel better about it whenever I looked at other sites.
This is my stud muffin in his camo pants!! I couldn't look at him without smiling! Aiden seriously was a great camper. The only problem was worrying about him going out into the road. He never really did but he liked walking around the cars and we never knew if he might actually go out there so we were always walking after him. He loved camping. He just explored and walked and explored and played and explored some more.

 Beautiful scenery on our hike!!

 A deer!!!!! Can you see her??? Her ears are perked up right in the middle of the picture!

Girls chilling out in the evening watching a movie! Now that is true camping, I tell ya;)

 Makenna and Jordyn loved the besnoclears.:)

 Stud muffin again in his camo pants and boots:)

 Girls exploring around our campsite!

 Trav said Aiden looked like a little British boy with his hat on:)

 Pretty Kenna! She LOVED camping!! She did not want to come home!! She was a great camper. She would even go squat behind the rocks to do her business!! That's my girl:)

 Miss Jordyn!! She loved camping as well. She just didn't want to walk on the hike. She kept asking to get into Aiden's backpack carrier. Daddy finally put her up on his shoulders!

 Kenna exploring!

 Trav and the girls!

 Me and Aiden!

 Pretty lake!!

Crazy dude running around the cars! We had a great time and although I'm happy to be home with my bed and shower, I'm not happy about being back in the heat! :)

Shed Part 3

This day started with finishing the framing of the walls and getting the roof put on. This was a hard part. There was a lot of thinking going on to get the measurements right:)

 Break time!!

 He totally wanted to work on it too. It was so cute!! I'm totally getting him some toy tools.

I just thought this was a cute face. I think the girls were getting tired of it and the heat. They started to stay inside and kept cool but little dude wanted to be out there with all of us.

 Ok....back to the shed. This pic looks like it was almost in the dark but it's just really dark clouds that started rolling in:) We got a roof on just in time for it to rain!

Three of the walls also got siding put on it.

To be continued.....