preschool, soccer, and a kitty

My handsome boy is going to school!  Tanner loves his Teacher Nancy!

It's not very often that we get a rainbow in the morning before school starts.  It was only there for a few minutes, and we were lucky to capture it.

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My sister Aimee and her husband Brennen stayed over in SLC last weekend and we got to watch Kaylee!  The kids had so much fun and Kaylee was sooo good!  She'd get so excited with each new toy the kids brought her. When she walked into Tanner's room, she started walking in one direction towards a toy, then stop and look somewhere else, and then walk in that direction.....too many things to choose from!  It was funny.  I think her favorite was the kitchen.

Funny little Kaylee and her sweet attatchment to her toys.......bath toys are no exception.  She held onto those the entire time we were in the bath!

Bath buddies....kinda.  Two very different personalities.  Ellie: very noisy and a splash king!  Kaylee: dainty and content to sit and hold her toys.  After a few minutes Ellie said (in a very grown up way), "I not sit by Kay-yee."   oh dear. :)

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Tanner's first soccer game!

He has been anxiously awaiting this day.  He had his uniform, shin guards, and shoes set out the night before.  In the morning he was a little upset when I put his socks OVER his shin guards.....until the girls told him that's the way they were supposed to be.  (Am I already old enough to have my opinion not matter?!)

He had a huge perma-grin plastered across his face the entire game.  And he giggled up and down the field with pure happiness!

And apparently at this age, it's every man for himself.....there is no teamwork.....just boys wanting to kick the ball.  Brad and I laughed so hard!

Kaylee was with us and between the early morning soccer game and bright sunshine; she just couldn't last.  At first she used the baby doll to shade her face......then she just gave in:

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This morning I came outside to check on the kids and this is what I found:

Tanner grinning, and Ellie trying to hide...

then deciding it's not worth it to hide.....just be honest about the fact that they're playing in Daddy's car.....with the neighbors kitty!

oh, those two!!!!

Go Cougs!

We have been anticipating this day for a month! BYU vs. Washington, September 4, 2010, 5pm, opening day of the 2010 football season at LaVell Edwards Stadium! 


Let me back up a few years. WE LOVE BYU! Always have, always will. I grew up going to BYU games every Saturday with my parents, my brother, and our neighbors, the Davis', and two of their kids, usually Nate and Spencer. We had some pretty great times! I remember our car rides on the way to the ball game: writing notes and holding them up to the window for the car next to us, getting other BYU game-goers to honk their horns for us, typical kid stuff. Our parents seats were on the east side, and our seats (the "kids") were on the west side...no parental supervision for 3 hours.....we may or may not have gotten into trouble a time or two. Like the time our neighbor may or may not have accidentally dropped a full bottle of Coke over the top, just to see where it landed. I still remember (hypothetically of course) watching the oranged-shirt Event Staff running around and looking for "those obviously naughty, and ill-mannered kids". Ah, those were the good ol' days. But I digress. Back to the here and now.   

Here we are......in all our Cougar Blue glory!

My cousin Tristan lives in Provo and comes to all the games with her friends.  She sat and visited with us during the 3rd quarter.  Thanks for stopping by Tristan!  We love you!

Lindsay and Meagan before the game looking out over the top.

Brad's parents.....and loyal BYU fans too.  (C'mon, did you really think I'd marry anyone who didn't bleed cougar blue too?)

My awesome dad and gorgeous sister Aimee

Aimee, Kaylee, and Brennen

Becoming one with the nacho cheese.....

Fun halftime show:  Previous All-American quarterbacks from BYU were there to present the new Quarterback Scholarship Program along with LaVell Edwards himself.  We saw (but didn't get a picture of....what was I thinking?!!!!) Gifford Nielsen, Virgil Carter, Marc Wilson, Steve Sarkisian (currently Washington's head coach), Robbie Bosco, Jim McMahon, Steve Young, and Ty Detmer. It was very cool.  I guess the only thing that would've totally topped it off for me was to have The Ty Detmer Rap performed.  Now that was a cool song. Yeah, I know, I'm a nerd.

Brad with his game-face on! 

How have I never known about the "Cougar Tails?"  Oh my, delicious!  Basically a 2 foot long maple bar.  Heaven!  Thanks Aim for sharing!

Kaylee was inseparable with her new friends: pig and horse. :)

My little man (and major Daddy's boy) Tanner!  Before the game started, we walked over to the bookstore for a looksie and found this football for Tanner.  The best $9 we've ever spent!  He was in heaven the entire walk back to the stadium. He wouldn't put his football down for anything...not during the football game, and not even when we got back home and went to bed....

What a fun day!

And it sure didn't hurt that BYU won!

And so it goes

Back to school. Again. The girls were so excited and could hardly wait to leave the house. Meagan had a hard time getting to sleep the night before; I think it was 11:00 before she finally fell asleep! Meagan wanted to ride the bus with her friends the first day, but Lindsay wanted me to take her (thanks Linds).

The traditional "sit on the front step, first day of school" picture

Meagan, 4th grade

See how antsy she's getting with my picture taking....she's actually looking over at her friends at the bus stop.

....Lindsay, not as antsy, had time to pose :)

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While walking Lindsay to her first day of 3rd grade, I let Tanner and Ellie wear their new shoes too. Tanner LOVES his new shoes. He even stopped random people in the hall to show them his new shoes.....true story.

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Today, Day 2 of school for the girls, and Tanner is having a tough time with waiting 2 more weeks until his preschool starts. We made a paper chain this morning to hopefully help with the 20 times a day, "Is preschool today Mom?" I'm glad he's so excited.

The kids watched Minute to Win It last night.....this is Tanner's made up version. I found him and Ellie playing it this morning. He even does the countdown. Funny.

Happy Back to School to ya'll!

yummmmmm

I love Sunday afternoons. Church is over (not that I don't love church, I do; but just that my weekly responsibility is over and I can relax), I can take a nap if I want, the kids are somewhat occupied, and if I'm really lucky, my hubby makes dinner. That's what happened today. He really outdid himself today. Steak and shrimp! Yummmmm! AND he made dessert: Huckleberry Crisp. This recipe is one of my favorites for summer (or anytime of year for that matter) - it came from my SIL Steph. Trust me, you'll love it too!

Oatmeal Crisp

3/4 cup quick oats
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 can pie filling (any flavor)

Spread pie filling on the bottom of a small casserole dish (8x8 size (I actually have an 11x7 that I use and it works good)). Mix oats, sugar, flour and butter together and spread on top of pie filling. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. And of course, serve it HOT with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! Easy and yummy.

If you've never tried huckleberries before, they're delicious. Kind of a like a blueberry, but smaller and more ...tart. I guess. We made our own pie filling (you can use any fruit for this).
1 cup fruit (if you're doing something other than berries, like peaches, I'd probably mash some of them up and keep some of them sliced)
1 cup water
1/2 - 3/4 cup sugar
2 TBSP cornstarch
Put fruit, water, and sugar in a saucepan. Add a little bit of cold water to the cornstarch in a separate cup then add to the saucepan. Heat to bubbling and a thicker consistency, then remove from heat.

I know I just gave you a recipe for the pie filling, but I think we've tried the oatmeal crisp using canned fruit or even fresh fruit (like peaches) and it works good too. ......Peach Days is coming soon!

Fashion statements and Friends

Don't you always scooter in your princess heels?

Ellie does!

I totally had the cutest video of her too, but I can't figure out how to get it on here. Oh well, the pictures are hilarious as it is! Love her!!!

Our super cute and super fun neighbors came over to ride with the kids!

~Meagan, Emma, Lindsay, Hyrum, Ellie, Abbie, and Tanner~

Happy Thursday Evening to ya'll!!!