First Day of School Celebration!

Emily, Tyson, and Justin all had their first day of school yesterday. Emily was very excited to start back up, but the boys weren't quite as excited. I was worried as usual, but I must say it was much nicer sending my oldest to her second year of middle school instead of her first. Everyone came home with a smile on their face, so I was happy. Tyson, my one that likes school the least has a great teacher and all of his friends in his class, including 6 LDS kids, so he couldn't be happier! Justin's teacher seems really kind and she likes to make learning fun so it should be a good year for him too. Emily thinks all of her classes will be good and she has one friend that is in all of the same classes with her except one so that is nice. Here are a few pictures of them on their first day.




That evening we decided to start a new tradition, since they get to hear about rules all day the first day we decided to have a no rule, no manner dinner to celebrate the first day of school. We ate outside on a tarp and had spaghetti and watermelon with no utensils and root beer and straws so they could blow bubbles and do what ever they wanted. It ended in a big food fight, and I tried my hardest just to keep quiet and let them have fun (it wasn't easy!). We had pudding for dessert. Buried in the pudding were 4 skittles; they had to use only their mouth to get them out. Tyson won this competition.



The last thing we did before cleaning up is have a marshmallow, "chubby bunny", competition. Everyone had to see how many big marshmallows they could fit in their mouth and still say chubby bunny. Jeff won this with six marshmallows. The rest of us didn't last long!

This was a great way to end the first day of school. I am thankful to my friend for sharing the ideas on her blog, so we could start this tradition.

Abigail turns "2"

Abigail turned 2 on August 20. She was very excited for her birthday, and enjoyed the whole day. I have never had a 2 year old so excited about their birthday. She seemed to understand what was going on and enjoyed every minute of it! She got dress up clothes, shoes, and a crown. The entire day she kept telling all of us she was a princess. She also got a stuffed dog that you dress up and can take places in it's carrying case.

She also enjoyed the cake the kids talked me into making her. It was a castle cake that I decided when I was done was much too complicated for a two year old, but at least right now she remembers how much she liked it, and with pictures I can at least help her think she remembers it in the future!


It is hard to believe our baby is two already. She is at one of my favorite ages. A lot of people don't like the 2's, but I love them because it seems to be the age their personality really starts to develope.

Happy Birthday Tyson

Tyson turned 10 this week. It was his "golden birthday" (turning 10 on August 10). He opted out of a birthday party so he could get a bigger gift. We surprised him with a dirt bike. It isn't a gas operated one, but a battery powered one. We weren't sure how good it would be, but it has ended up being fantastic, and I don't have to worry quite as much about safety. It goes about 17 mph, is very quiet, and can't burn you.

Tyson loves chocolate and wanted an all chocolate cake, so as you can see from the picture he got his wish. We love having Tyson in our family. He is the one who always keeps us laughing. We love him! Happy Birthday Tyson!

Our Big Trip

This year for our big trip we decided to go to California. It was packed full of fun from beginning to end. We started at Jeff's sister Kim's house. We enjoyed visiting with them and the kids enjoyed getting reacquainted since it had been a long time since we had seen them. We also got to see Kyle and his family. While we were there in Stockton we went to one of their parks and zoo, swam in their pool, and went to a minor league baseball game. We also went to the Jelly Belly factory and Six Flags Marine. It was all a lot of fun. The highlight for Tyson was getting a foul ball at the game.




After Stockton we headed to Yosemite. We had rented a privately owned cabin and it ended up being fantastic. We were inside the park so we weren't spending too much of our time driving, and it was a beautiful setting. I love the mountains, and Yosemite is incredible. The water falls were beautiful, the hikes were fun, and the trees were amazing. The Onines were able to spend one of the days with us up there. We all had a wonderful time. Everyone loved the hike to Vernal falls. I missed out on this hike because I took the little ones home for a rest. My favorite part was seeing the grove of Giant Saquoia trees. Here are a few pictures from all of the fun.







We ended our trip at my sister's house. We went to the beach, to a Giants baseball game, and ended the trip with an evening at "Wicked" in San Francisco. Everyone had a wonderful time. The only thing that was hard to get used to was how cold it was there. I thought I had come prepared with sweatshirts for everyone, but we needed winter coats at the game! I think the kids had the most fun rock climbing at their gym and riding their dirt bikes. My mom and Aunt Marie also came out. It was fun to see them, and we were espeically grateful for my mom be willing to babysit while Jeff and I took Emily to Wicked. I had forgotten to bring the charger for my camera, and by the end of the trip the battery was low, so I didn't get very many pictures, but here are a few.





We had a blast in California. It is wonderful to see new places and things, but even better when you can see family too! Thank you to the Onines and Lawrences, and thank you to Mom and Marie for coming too. We left California exhausted from all the fun. I was thinking to myself, "I need a vacation to recover!"

Too Much Veggie Tales?!

We were driving home from church today and Tyson was telling me about how some of his friends were having a rock throwing fight. I start to tell him about how important it is to never throw rocks at people even if you think they won't get hurt, when Ryan interrupted us and asks, "Mom, what if it is a giant walking talking pickle, then can I use a sling shot and throw a rock at it?" I had to laugh. I told him if he ever came upon a giant walking talking pickle he could throw a rock at it.

I find it interesting that even though we have told him the story of David and Goliath numerous times, the thing that comes to his mind is the DVD of Dave and the Giant Pickle. It makes me wonder how many other things my television is embedding into my children's minds.

I'll Take a "Whippin"

The other day for dinner I had made a new soup recipe to use up some of our excess Zucchini from our garden. I had gotten the recipe from my sisters blog, it was called vegetable chowder. When we sat down to eat the tears started flowing followed by questions about how much they had to eat, and why do I always make such disgusting food that I know they won't like. Jeff reminded the kids that dinner was nothing to cry about, and I reminded them they wouldn't get Family Home Evening treat if they didn't eat. Tyson quickly volunteered not to have the FHE treat if he didn't have to eat it. I told them they had to eat it even if they didn't want treat. Everyone had finished eating their assigned amount except Tyson who was trying to gag it down, but was having difficulty doing it. As I was doing the dishes Tyson asked, "Can you whip me with a belt instead of me having to eat this?" I told him I wouldn't have the heart to do that, but if Jeff would than he could take a whippin instead. He quickly went and got a belt and told Jeff to whip him with it so he didn't have to eat dinner. Jeff told him he couldn't do that to him either; Ryan quickly volunteered to do the duty. He took the belt from Tyson and gave him a good pop on the behind. Tyson was shocked at how hard he hit him, as was I when I heard the snap. It got Tyson out of eating his last two bites, so he was OK with it. I wonder sometimes what kind of food issues my children will have when they get older! They already tell me when they become parents they will never make their kids eat yucky dinners.

Has It Really Been 12 Years?!

It is hard to believe that it has been 12 years since we had Emily. When I look back over the past 12 years, I wonder where the time has gone. It seems like just yesterday that we brought Emily home from the hospital. You always hear people say, "enjoy your kids while they are young because they grow up fast." I remember thinking about that when my first two children where little and I thought it doesn't really seem to go by that fast, but now I know more of what they mean. Emily has been such a blessing in our lives. I can't imagine this family without her. She is mature beyond her years, and sometimes seems to be more of an adult than me. If I were able to pick exactly what I would want my first child to be, I am possitive I would pick her. I am priviledged to be Emily's mom, and I look forward to the next chapter in her life.

I sometimes wish time could stand still. I enjoy having my children young. I always worry about the unknown, and unfortunately for Emily she is the one who has to do the unknown first in our family most of the time. I am looking forward to watching her grow as a Young Women. I am thankful for the church and for the organizations that it has to help guide our children through their teenage years!