Where Did You Get That Blond Hair?

Ryan went on a "date" with Jeff and I last night.  He chose to go to the Mall to a jumping jungle place.  While we were at the mall I took advantage of the opportunity to have Jeff get a new wedding ring.  His fell of a while ago and I hadn't ever gotten him to a jewelry store to get his finger measured again.  While we were there the lady asked Ryan, "Where did you get that blond hair? Is it from your Mom or your Dad?"  He looked at her and said, "I didn't get it from either of them I got it from someone who lives in Heaven."  She asked who that was and he told her he got it from Jesus.  She thought the answer was so cute that she had him tell one of the other workers where he got his blond hair.  After he told the other lady he looked at me and said, "Don't they know that's where everyone gets their hair from?" 

Justin Turns Eight

Justin turned eight this week.  Since we had his party a few weeks ago it felt like he was already eight, but it wasn't official until Thursday.  We celebrated his birthday with breakfast in bed and opening presents.  For dinner that night we went to Texas Roadhouse.  I had just been visiting teaching earlier and one of the people I visit teach told me fried pickles were her favorite food and the only place you can get them here in Lubbock is at Texas Roadhouse, so we tried some fried pickles.  We weren't a fan of them, but they weren't quite as bad as I thought they would be.  Justin's main gift was a Nintendo DSi.  He has enjoyed playing with it since his old one broke a few months ago.  Justin is a joy to have in our family.  He enjoys playing with everyone.  He is the link between the older and the younger in our family.  He loves to play with his older siblings, but he also enjoys helping Ryan and Abigail play and being in charge of them.  We are so happy he has chosen to be baptized in a few weeks.

Opening presents

Justin blowing out the candles on his pumpkin roll, we were all sick of traditional birthday cakes at our house.

First Day of School and Second Annual No Manners Dinner

The three older kids started back to school today.  Emily and Tyson are both the oldest of their schools.  They were not really looking forward to starting school, but they all came home very happy with the first day.  They all think they got great teachers.  I think this is the most positive first day of school we have ever had at our house.  Here are some pictures of the kids on their first day.

Emily is starting the 8th grade.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tyson is starting 5th grade his teacher is Mrs. Pitcock he also has Mrs. Cooley and Mr. Garza

Justin is in the 2nd grade.  His teacher is Ms. Windom

The thing I am liking so far is the fact I have not had to fill out any papers yet.  I know they will all be coming tomorrow in their folders, but it has been nice for a day not to have to deal with them.  I am not sure if they haven't gotten the procedure books from the district yet or what is going on because a lot of times we have to sign those on back to school night.

After school we had our 2nd annual no manners dinner.  It ended (or should I say started) in a huge food fight.  We had chicken and rice with jell-o and squash.  The object to this dinner is they can do what ever they want with the food, and they don't have to eat anything they don't want to eat.  Needless to say, I was the only one who ate squash, but it does make a good thing to throw since it is kind of slimy.  Here are a few pictures of everyone.

Jeff getting ready for the meal with his "nerd" glasses on.

I think Ryan enjoyed the food fight the most.

Abigail spent the whole time on the trampoline so she wouldn't get dirty.

After the dinner part we ended with a pie eating contest.  We had mini cherry pies. 

Jeff was the winner

I think Justin was the messiest

Or maybe it was Ryan!

Gracie enjoyed eating up the mess (the clean up was much easier this year than last year!)

Abigail enjoyed being cleaned off even if she didn't ever get dirty!

 

Abigail Turns 3

Abigail had her birthday on Friday.  She was so excited to finally be three!  She got the breakfast she wanted, but she didn't get it in her bed because we had guests staying at our house who didn't get in until late the night before, and I didn't think they would want us singing happy birthday by their doors.  I think it was a better way for a three year old to eat breakfast anyways.

She loved opening her presents.  She got some dress up clothes, an ice cream shop, a My Little Pony play house, and a gum ball machine.  She also got another dress up dress from Grandpa and Grandma Cluff.

She wanted a purple cake with butterflies on it (you can't really see the butterflies in this picture.)

Tyson gave her the gumball machine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We will have her "kid" party this week with a few friends.  She wants to get the water slide out.  I guess it will be good to have out one last time this summer. 

I Love My.....

I came home from taking Emily to choir practice and I found Abigail singing this song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxcs21VWfbU

Tyson turns 11

Tyson turned 11 on August 10.  It is hard to believe he is that old.  He will be the "ruler" of the elementary school this year.  We love having Tyson in our family.  He keeps us humble with his very honest comments, and he also keeps us laughing with a lot of what he says.  He had a great birthday.  He started the day with his favorites for breakfast in bed (omelet and strawberries and bananas drizzled with chocolate).

He opened his presents and was excited to get everything he asked for (wii soccer game and Phillies hat).  We surprised him with a few extra things (more books to add to his collection of Calvin and Hobbs, and the Star Wars trilogy).

That night Tyson had his "friend" birthday party.  He had a sleep over party (I originally put slumber party and Tyson made me change it.  He says "slumber party" is an old term and only used for girls) with ten boys.  This is the first time we have had a slumber party this large.  He started with a pie eating contest.  Tyson won this hands down!  I am not sure if it is because he had experience earlier in the summer or what.

 Tyson had everyone make a tin foil dinner and they cooked them in the fire pit.  They played lots of games outside, and then came in to watch a movie and calm down.  It didn't go as planned, but they enjoyed the popcorn and candy.  I have never seen boys devour candy so fast.  The mess in the morning was quite shocking.  I am very thankful for a vacuum.  Some of the boys wanted to sleep and others did not so they made a rule that when you were ready to go to sleep you went up stairs, and if you wanted to stay awake you stayed in the basement.  Fortunately by morning everyone was upstairs.  They ended the party with pancakes for breakfast.

Justin's Backyard Carnival

For Justin's birthday this year he decided to do a carnival in the backyard.  His birthday isn't until August 26, but that is always a hard time to have a party since school has just started and so has soccer, so we decided to celebrate early.  We bought a snow cone, cotton candy, and popcorn machine.  I gave everyone tickets when they came in and they got to play games and eat food.  When it was all over they got to redeem their token's for prizes.  The kids had a lot of fun.  It was a lot of work because I had to find people to man the 15 booths, but I think it was worth it in the end.  Here are a few pictures of the event.

I made everyone get their picture taken so we can send them a copy with their thank you card.

They had a lot of fun at the face painting booth

We did cupcakes at the end.  I was surprised any of them could eat them after all of the other junk they had eaten!