I have finally posted some of our summer happenings. If you want to read it in order, go down and start with "the summer begins" and work your way up and it will make more sense.
We had a grand summer this year. We spent a lot of time playing with friends and family, working on cub scout stuff, practicing the piano, and just relaxing. I can think of only 2 things that really were REALLY not on my list of favorites. Number one was going to the dentist. Ethan had 3 cavities - I felt so bad for him the day he got his fillings. That same day the girls and I went for a cleaning. Jessi flipped out and had an all out tantrum. PLUS I found out I have 3 cavities and my root canal needs to be completely re-done. And by the way, I HATE going to the dentist anyway. Not my favorite day.
Number 2 on the list was our overnight camping trip. The kids really wanted to fish this year so we went to the lake. Drove around for 30 minutes trying to find a spot to camp - no good spots. So we went to our regular camping park and decided we'd go back to the lake in the morning. It was pretty cold and windy by the time we got there. I was really hungry. And one of the kids started whining, oh so loudly to go home - you guessed it, it was Orion. He carried on for awhile while Shawn and the other boys set up the tent and made a fire. Finally hot dogs were done. Some friends from the ward stopped in to visit us so that was fun. Had smores. After they left it was dark and time for bed. Then the crying really started. Orion, Meri, Jessi, and even Ethan started bawling about going home. Lasted about 30 minutes, felt like hours. Thankfully Zac was calm and so was Brayton. After much carrying on we finally got everyone bedded down. If Shawn hadn't spent so much effort to get the tent up I would've just packed it in and headed for home. Everyone konked out pretty quick except for Ethan and I. He's been going through a really afraid of the dark phase and I always let my imagination run away with me too so every little noise I'm wondering what wild animal has wandered over to our tent ready to pounce. Of course I'm telling him there is nothing to be afraid of when really I'm terrified myself! It took a very long time for the 2 of us to get to sleep and I was terribly uncomfortable sandwiched between Meri and Ethan. I really felt like the night was NEVER EVER going to end. I had forgotten my phone in the van so I had no idea what time it was. And I would have no phone to call 911 when the wild animal came! Ethan and I were up on and off all night. Around 3am Zac woke up so I fed him for awhile. I could not get comfortable with him at all so I had to rummage around in the tent trying to find a flashlight to find the keys so I could go sleep in the van with him for who knew how much longer the night was going to last. After stepping on a couple kids and waking Ethan up yet again, I found the flashlight and managed to find my shoes and get in the van. Zac stayed awake for about an hour staring at the moon and then we both finally got back to sleep for about 2 hours when morning FINALLY came. Oh blessed morning! We made our pancake breakfast and headed to the lake to fish. Didn't catch anything, but the kids loved it. Next year, I'm wondering if we really need to do the camp out. We've done in 4 years in a row now. Maybe this year will be our last!
I am hoping...
So here we are mid- August.
I always have mixed emotions at the end of summer time. This week the kids go back to school. I took Brayton to the middle school orientation on Friday -"sniffle, sniffle". My baby is going to middle school and he's practically as tall as me AND his shoes are now bigger than mine. He's excited for school to see his friends and he'll start learning how to play saxophone. He has a list of classes on his schedule and I'm wondering where my little boy has gone. And then there is Ethan, he'll be 5th grade this year, top in the elementary school. He's almost as tall as Brayton. And then Orion the 3rd grader. He can't possibly be in 3rd grade, can he? Will he be able to handle 3rd grade? My little strong willed, emotional, free spirit, son. And Meri, in 2nd - she was so lucky to get her 2 favorite friends in her class again- she is very excited to start school! And then Jessi, a kindergartner. I'm bracing myself for a melt down on Wednesday after what happened at the dentist last week it's inevitable. She's been excited all summer about starting school, but the last few days she's been kind of melancholy and saying she doesn't want to go. I know she'll do great, but just getting past those first few days.
I AM really excited to have time to clean my house and have some peace and quiet during the day, but I'm really going to miss those little nuts. I remember when they were all really small when Jessi was a baby. When we'd go places I felt like Pooh Bear pulling his little honey pots behind him all tied together. But they aren't little honey pots any more. It's so exciting to watch them grow and yet I want to hang onto them all at the same time.
Well, I better head to bed. I hope you all have had a wonderful summer too. Happy Fall.
I am feeling so old lately- My little sisters are having babies now! It was such a fun time being with them. And seeing Jandi's little Myles was so fun too! Tess is having a boy so now all 4 of us girls will have little guys born within about a year or so of each other. I'm so happy for Zac to have lots of cousins his age. They'll all be buddies! Krystal, we missed you! Dang it! Man I love my sisters!
Zachary made the move to his own room. The piano is now out in the garage and Zac has his own space to sleep. Yay!
When I was a kid we loved the Pippa Mouse stories and had a Pippa Rock out in our backyard. Now we have one too.
Has anyone seen the new Willy Wonka? Well, Zac can sit on his own now and he rolled over from front to back a few times today. Exciting stuff!
, the kindergartner, and everyone in between
Everyone had a great day today. Had a few morning jitters and Ethan had the back to school blues. And of course, as anticipated Jessi had her meltdown as I left the school, but when I picked her up she was all smiles. I really feel like we are going to have a great year. The kids said I said that last year too. Maybe I did. And it was a great year last year too!
. And here we did dancing, tea party, hair salon, and made puff paint t-shirts. What a grand time it was! The next weekend we drove up to San Ramon to trade the kids back. When we got there the boys were making cardboard forts, sewing bean bags, and getting water balloons ready for a battle. So the big battle was that night - my favorite part was when Amanda came out in her giant poofy coat to protect herself in the war. It was awesome. What a week it was! Thanks so much Amanda and Matthew for taking the boys and giving them such a great time. And thanks for sharing your girls with us.
, Jessi, Lauren, and Shawn pushed the guinea pigs in the wheel barrow, Krystal pushed Kurt in the stroller, and with Zac in arm - Ethan and I carried our United States banner(my arm was dead from carrying Zac by the time the parade was over and Ethan kept walking at crazy angles not keeping the banner facing forward so I was so glad when we reached the end of the parade!) But we were quite the party and everyone loved the guinea pigs at the end of the parade. We watched the fireworks from our driveway that night. I think next to Christmas, 4th of July is my favorite holiday. Meri turned 7 the day before and loved having her cousins there for it. She's my kid that makes me feel like maybe I'm a decent mom. I love being her mother. She's bright, beautiful, full of life, and happy almost all the time. Gosh, I love her.
