Back to School!

School started today!  I am not sure if it was harder sending a third grader or a kindergartner.  I can't believe how fast they have grown. They looked so cute in their new clothes with fresh haircuts.  

We made sweetrolls last night to eat for breakfast this morning (Way fun!  Could be the start of a new tradition).  They had a great time packing their backpacks and choosing just the right outfit for the first day.  Tyler had an especially hard time deciding which navy blue shirt to wear (every shirt he chose was a navy blue t-shirt with some kind of ball on it).  They were very anxious to wake up this morning and get off to school!

Emily only went to kindergarten for 1 hour, and she doesn't go back until next week.  I imagine that is when the tears will start!

What a Day!!!

We were getting ready to go have some fun today when Tyler frantically came running screaming that Gavin was in trouble.  I rushed to see what was wrong and found bright pink (almost red) fingernail polish all over the family room floor.  I started cleaning it up and realized that he was pretty quiet.  I found him on my bathroom counter spreading hand soap all over the mirror.  For sanity's sake, I had to leave the mess and GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!!!

Today made me remember a day about a month ago.  Travis was at his meetings and we were going camping the next day.  The kids were in the house playing as I was in and out trying to get the trailer packed.  I was probably busy for about 15 minutes.  When I came to check on things, this is what I found.... Gavin had taken a bottle of baby lotion and dumped it all over the floor, a bottle of Desitin was smeared up and down the walls (have you ever tried to clean up Desitin? What a mess!). He had taken all the popsicles and ice cream sandwiches from the freezer and they had melted all over the La-Z-Boy.  And my personal favorite, he filled the bathroom sink with 1/2 bottle of shampoo and toilet paper, clogged the drain, and turned the water on.  By the time I found it, the sink had overflowed, the bathroom floor was covered in water (and bubbles) and the drawers had both filled with water.  I didn't even know where to start with the mess.  I amazed myself that I was able to keep my cool.  I've said it before... someday I am sure that I will find this funny!

That Famous Preston Night Rodeo!

We had a blast during our annual trip to Preston, Idaho. We attended the rodeo 2 nights, went to the sidewalk sale and the parade where the kids filled three big grocery bags full of candy. Emily and I got to see the bus driver from Napoleon Dynamite and she thought that was really something special!  We had such a great time and made lots of memories!

Tyler spent lots of time playing with Legos.  I wonder why things are so much funner at Grandma's house?  His highlight of the trip was when he got to ride with Uncle John in the big water truck to water down the rodeo grounds.  He thought that was pretty neat, and I am sure that it was an experience that he will never forget!

Gavin is still talking about Waldo the steer.  This picture is kind of funny because when I took it I didn't realize that he was kneeling in manure! GROSS!!!  Somehow he survived.  I guess what I don't know won't hurt me!

I was surprised when Emily didn't hesitate to pet the horses.  She had a blast spending time with her cousins that she doesn't get to see often enough.  She cried for two days after we got home because she missed Bailey so much!

Bridger Lake

Our family went camping last week at Bridger Lake.  We had such a good time. It was great to get away from all the daily distractions and spend time together as a family.  We spent lots of time biking, fishing, throwing rocks into the lake and playing games together.  We had lots of yummy dutch oven cooking, and our favorite part, smores by the fire.  

I am fairly confident that Travis' favorite part of the trip was his daily afternoon nap with Gavin.

Tyler learned to bait his own hook this year.  He was really grossed out at first, but by the end of the trip, he was an old pro!

Emily loved riding her bike around the lake and tossing rocks onto the lily pads.  On the first day, she outfished Travis and the boys!  

One morning as we were fishing, Gavin was particularly stubborn.  He insisted on holding his own fishing pole.  Travis finally gave in and figured it would be easier to replace a broken pole than to fight him over it.  Travis would cast his line out and Gavin would reel it in as fast as he possibly could.  Gavin started saying "Daddy, fish!  Daddy, fish!"  Travis glanced over to see a fish flopping around on the bank.  He had actually hooked his own fish and reeled it in all by himself.  We were all so proud!

Funny Emily!!!

I wanted to add one more thing today before I forgot.  Emily and I were reviewing her letters and sounds today (we haven't been very good this summer).  We got to letter C and she couldn't remember what sound it made.  I told her I'd give her a clue, so I turned the flashcard over to reveal a cat.  She didn't hesitate before saying "Meow, Meow".  It was hilarious.  It still makes me laugh!!!

While the cat's away...

We had TONS of fun this week.  Travis went fishing with his dad and brothers, so the kids and I decided that we needed a week to play too.  We took a trip to the zoo, went swimming, watched movies, picnics, parks, pizza and ice cream, rode bikes, played with cousins and friends, late nights (mornings too), and we topped it all off with popcorn and snacks in my bed.  I guess I shouldn't make it so much fun when dad leaves.... when is your next fishing trip Travis?

Our trip to Hogle Zoo

We really enjoyed our trip to the zoo.  The kids had a blast!  I had a hard time getting any decent pictures of Gavin because he wouldn't turn his head away from the animals long enough for me to snap a photo.  Gavin loved the "dragonraffes" (giraffes), and snakes, but he was most fascinated by the big, fat, ugly, toxic toad.  What a typical boy!  Tyler loved the snakes, lizards and penguins, and Emily was especially excited that she was almost as tall as an orangutan.  No trip to the zoo is complete without seeing the gorillas eat their poop - now that's a nice thing for the children to witness.