September

 

Calvin's patriarchal blessing. This was a joy and a highlight to be at this special blessing for Calvin. 

Cute girls having a girls night with me while the boys went to the highschool football game. We watched the live action Cinderella while snuggling on my bed, got Rosa's and danced. It was a fun night.

This year I was determined to have good matching costumes for Halloween and we have all of them ready even a month before Halloween. We are going to be Winnie the Pooh characters. Below was a Saturday night hamburgers, we hadn't had hamburgers for a long time. We used to have them weekly but the kids got tired of them, but it's been many months since we've had them so everyone loved it.

Maebryn often likes to come with me wherever I go this was on a Tuesday when we had taken Calvin to track. She fell right asleep and slept for quite a bit. I think all day at school wears her out sometimes. Above is one of the dinners the kids made.

Above was a swim party we did with our primary class. Basically everyone was there, it was a lot of fun to have them all over. Below is the kitchen every Monday and Wednesday when I get home. The kids always clean it up well while I am at school and prep dinner and then they get to watch a show.

Above are the cards from Maebryn that I find daily on my bed and she also gives me cards throughout the day. It is a joy to have these sweet little ones. Below was a scratch Calvin got from a kid at school. It was in my classroom and I felt bad that I didn't catch it.

Maebryn is quite the little artist. She is often painting or coloring. I have received a picture from her every day for well over the last month or two. She really hasn't missed a single day and often has given me many in one day.

Below is the grave of Goldy, Benson's bird. It was sad on what I think was the second week of school or so, Goldy didn't look very good the night before school but in the morning really looked bad and she died just before the kids left to school. The boys wrote up a thing for her and buried her.

On Thursday during the first week of school the girls started gymnastics. I am excited for them to learn all that they will learn.  They are excited about it. Above was us going to the water park with some friends on the weekend of that first week of school or so.

First day of school pictures. I never did get one of everyone lined up together. We left to seminary before the littles were ready and then I couldn't get everyone together at school so this was the best I got. I still want to get one of them all lined up with their grades and school shirts on.

August

 

Playing games and eating yummy food on a birthday day.

Below are the girls helping me get the seeds planted, we're getting ready for our winter garden. Above was our bike ride on Alden's birthday. It was a perfect morning for a bike ride.

Above was Calvin just after we got his drivers permit. We went around the church parking lot, we will need to do a bunch of driving in safe places before we go on the busy road. Below is something Maebryn made at the Primary activity when they talked about Jonah and the Whale. 

Sunday afternoon Come Follow Me and Maebryn giving me a foot and leg massage. This girl is so full of love and is often giving cards, massages, trying to help.

Birthday and Primary activity that was amazing on the old testament and especially Solomon's temple. It was a wonderful day and a great day celebrating this amazing young man that I get to call my son.

A friend gave us this tree we just had to pick it up. It was inside a pool filter that our friend sawed open and then it was a project to figure out how to lift it and then to move it. We did get it to our house and I wondered if it would live as we destroyed a bunch of roots and it went through a lot. All of the original leaves fell out but new leaves just started sprouting so I think it made it! I'm hopeful to have a good garden this coming year.

This was the week before Andrew came we went to a zoo on the other side of town. It was a perfect little outing. We fed camels, deer, goats, llamas and a few others as well as got to see a few other animals.

This was the day Andrew left. We sure enjoyed having him here!

In morning scripture study we have started always having a hymn first which I have loved. I also love having it in this front room. This is my little celestial room, it is peaceful and away from all of the chores and things that need to be done and it has the piano. :) Above was one day I walked into Roslyn and Maebryn's room to see if perfectly clean with their beds made so very well. I wanted to snap a picture. The girls even went through toys and other things that they don't use to donate. It was wonderful!

One of the days that Andrew was here we went and visited Ron and Tara as well as went to a state park. Andrew gave just about everyone except the oldest two a piggy back ride. It was a beautiful hike and nice to be out in nature as with the heat we haven't been doing as much.

Above is Roslyn making something. Below was Andrew came to visit which was so fun. We had gotten into a low of the summer and having him come was perfect to make the end of the summer more exciting. He read lots of stories to the kids and just made them all feel special.

The kids have done a lot of baking lately which has been so fun on so many levels. I love eating their creations and I love seeing them learn these skills.

Maebryn is so good about picking flowers to bring in to put on the table. They often go in a little blue vase and the red flowers look so pretty in it.

Rolled ice cream above and watching a movie on a Sunday afternoon.

Our little princess below loves to dress up. Above is Roslyn reading to Maebryn. Roslyn has started to read to Maebryn more and more, it is pretty cute.

Family dinner and playing Squeaky Kingdom together. It really is a fun game.

Michael and I enjoyed our get away to pickup Alden from camp. When we got home it was fun to see Alden reading 500 hats book to Maebryn as it was a book I read to him many many times when he was little.