Birthday Party!

I can't believe Meagan is 9 years old! She is growing up so quickly! I know all mothers say that, but it is so true! She had a friend party this year, and they had so much fun. They made "mummies" out of each other and played a game where you had to put on a pair of shorts, t-shirt, gloves, and a hat then race across the grass to another team member, take it all off, and start over. They laughed so hard! We decided to make it a pizza party and then decorate cupcakes after. What a cute bunch of friends! I think they all had a great time.

James, Gage, Charlee, and Meag

McKell and Kassidy

Camille and Aspen

Linds and Brewer

So funny! Brewer put the gloves on first......and it took him forever to get everything else on!

Meagan opened up her "family" gifts later that evening. She was extremely excited to get the Taylor Swift CD!

Realizing that Mom and Dad gave her an MP3!

Ellie giving a helping hand

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We love you Meagan! You are such a good helper to our family. You are such a sweet spirit in our home and you have such a strong testimony of the gospel! Always remember how much you are loved! You have an exciting, super year ahead of you...make the most of it!!!!

Curly Sue

I don't know if Ellie's hair will continue to be like this, but I'm hoping! Meagan's hair was curly like this and it stayed that way until she was about 7. I couldn't resist taking a few pics of Ellie before church and capturing her cute curls!

Almost 17 months

My Little Dancer

Lindsay was extremely excited (total understatement) to start dance/tumbling lessons! I have to admit, I couldn't wait either! It is a dance/tumbling class; 30 minutes for each. We had fun shopping for her leotard together. After we bought it she couldn't wait to get home and model her new outfit for Daddy and Meagan. For the next few days she came home from school and begged to put it on....thank goodness dance started that week! The first day of lessons, I had my neighbor come over and stay with the other kids, so I could watch (and enjoy) Linds' first class. She was all smiles the entire hour! It was fun for me to spend an hour with just her too. I could tell that she was nervous when they'd tell her to do something and she didn't know how to do it, but she picked it up quickly. Her teachers were so cute with the girls, and very enthusiastic and positive with them. The studio where they practice is so much fun...I literally wanted to get out there with them and play around too! (Yikes, what a sight that would've been!) ........Lindsay's words as she finished her first class, "That was AWESOME!"

Preschool

The day has finally arrived! Tanner has been looking forward to this day since the girls started school 2 weeks ago. Last night before bed, he kept telling the family that he gets to go to preschool in the morning. When he woke up, he had a big smile on his face and giggled, "I go to preschool today!" We got the girls out the door to get on the bus, and then it was all Tanner! Brushed his teeth, put on his shoes and socks, got the backpack, and then out the door for picture taking! He was so funny....as we were getting in the car, a biker rode past our house and Tanner waved and said, "Hi! I go to preschool!" Very friendly...and very excited!

My big boy!
Uh, yes...totally loves his backpack.

Finding his name sticker and peg for his backpack.

The first one there and being shy for the camera. Kinda funny because he wasn't shy at all when we walked in.

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When I picked him up, they had been outside in the backyard so he came running around the side of the house and yelled, "Mommy!" He was so excited. It was a little hard getting him to tell me what they'd done, but I knew he'd had a great time with the smile he had all the way home! I did ask him lots of questions, and just got "Yes" answers......Did you have fun? "Yes". Did you meet new friends? "Yes". Did you read a story? "Yes." Did you sing songs? "Yes." Did you have a snack? "Yes. Grapes, and donuts, and pancakes".....all the while he is counting these on his fingers. Pretty sure they didn't have pancakes?! He wasn't too into doing his homework (we had to write his name, Mom's name, Dad's name, address, and phone number). I think he thought I was ruining his paper.

What a fun year this will be for him!

Family Fun

After family home evening we took the kids outside for the "activity" and let them goof around on the driveway....so fun and silly! Ellie especially loved it.

A few improvements...

Ever since we bought our home, almost 6 years ago, we've wanted to fix our driveway. It was never finished all the way to the road, and the cement that had been poured, wasn't done correctly. The top portion was flaking away, and just plain horrible. We decided to make a few more improvements along with the driveway: fix the front steps and add a patio in the back. I've taken a few before and afters.....and then just some fun pictures of the process. We are very very pleased with how it looks now, and can't wait to use it! Patio furniture and a swing are now on my wish list!!!

DRIVEWAY BEFORE

AFTER

I forgot to take this picture until it was already a little dark. Sorry, its not the best, but it really does look awesome! We still have the orange cones out for a few more days...Saturday will be the first day we can drive on it. Tanner is waiting, impatiently, for me to come back across the road...he was NOT very happy that I left him there.

FRONT STEPS BEFORE

Notice there is no top step, just exposed wood...not so pretty.

AFTER

Looking good....Tanner too!

BACK STEPS BEFORE

The back steps also didn't have a top step, just an awkward step up into the house.

AFTER

I'm so so sooo excited to use this. Dinners, lunches, and breakfasts will be so much fun out here!

A FEW FUN PICS ALONG THE WAY

Tanner spent every minute outside on the days the cement trucks came! The trucks came at 6:30am, but he still wanted to go watch. What a boy!

It took 2 cement trucks to pour our driveway...I know, ALOT!

This picture was taken at about 6:45am...on a school day. I guess cement trucks are worth it. I admit, even I thought it was pretty cool.

The back steps had to be demolished with a jack hammer....very very LOUD!

LOVE this picture of Tanner. Brad was wearing safety goggles while he was using the jackhammer, so Tanner had to be just like him.....safety first! lol

Brad let me hold the jackhammer, just to show me how heavy it was. That thing is HEAVY! I didn't really "hold" it, I could only keep it propped up.

I probably should have put these last few pictures a little earlier in the blog, so you could see a little more of the progression of things, but too late now. This was after the driveway had been dug out.

A friend came to help us level the driveway.

Wow, what a difference the patio makes. I'm super excited to use it!

School's in Session!

Even as a little kid, I've always loved the first day of school. Finally getting to wear the new outfit that I'd picked out weeks ago, the smell of new shoes, new backpacks, seeing old friends and a little shy about meeting new ones, wondering if the teacher will be nice, if she'll like me....sorry, went a little nostalgic on ya, but anyway, I do love the first day of school. This end of things, being the mom, is a bit different. I have mixed emotions. I'm glad that the family is back to a regular routine, glad that the kids are no longer able to argue all day with one another or tell me how tough they've got it by doing chores "all summer long", but also sad that they're gone all day and my house is quieter (I would say "quiet" but Tanner is still at home....enough said). It was fun to see the difference in my girls as they got ready....Meagan, super super excited to go, Lindsay, still excited but more subdued. Tanner got excited too once they got their backpacks together. He had to put his on, and even loaded his backpack up with his water bottle. We took the girls to school (even though they can ride the bus, its fun for me to bring them on the first day) and I had to remind Tanner several times that he wasn't going to school today and that we were not stopping to play at the playground. If I hadn't, there would have been a total meltdown in the halls of the elementary school. He was okay with it but still asked when he was going to school. My girls are growing up and getting much more mature....even Lindsay only gave me a half-hearted hug as I left her class this morning...she's always been my homebody. They came home today with big smiles on their faces and LOTS of stories about who they sat next too, what they did at recess, and what they thought about this new school year. Love you girls!!!!

All dressed (except Tanner, still in his "mario bros" jammies) and ready for the 1st day! Tanner had to put on his new shoes too.

Lindsay...funny story about the shoes. We bought her a cute new pair of Mary Jane-type-shoes that she could wear with any outfit, but would look so adorable with her skirt and the really fun pair of striped tights she has too. The night before school, we were discussing outfits (like all good mothers and daughters do :)) and she decided that it might be too hot to wear her tights....probably right I thought. But then this morning, she came up wearing those socks and shoes. Oh. You've got to understand that Linds is my tender-hearted little girl, and if you say something, she'll either get her feelings hurt, or she'll do what you want her to do, just for the sake of making you happy. I decided not to say anything and just let her be. After all, she still looked adorable.

Meagan...the tomboy posture says it all. Love those baby blues!

Just getting home after a fun day.

Tanner and I had been sitting on the grass, watching and waiting for the bus to come! He missed them.

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It wasn't just the first day of school for the kids...teachers too! This year, my hubby is going back to school with a Masters of Education tucked under his belt! Way to go Brad, we're so proud of you! It's been a tough 2 years, but you (and "we" too) made it! I failed to get a picture of Brad this morning before he left for school, but I found a "goodie" instead. I pulled this picture out of our scrapbook....it's his very first day of teaching.....8 years ago! Ha Ha. He was the Business teacher at the middle school then, but has since moved over to the high school to teach P.E. and Weightlifting classes. He loves his job and the kids too. He is an amazing teacher and I know the students really love and look up to him too. Love you hon!

Sorry about my reflection in the background...it's a picture of a picture. I love this picture, it's so funny. He was really embarrassed when I took it the first time (and none too happy about me putting it in the blog). You can tell he's thinking, "Geesh, are you kidding me, I'm not in 1st grade, just take the picture already, before someone sees me!" He looks so young too, I'm sure I haven't aged a bit in 8 years...right?! Take notice of those glasses...as if you couldn't see them from the next room, they're HUGE! Ah, the good ol' days!