First day of school

 So today was the official first day of school for all my kids, except Katie.  Jadon had a sophmore orientation yesterday and Kierra went to school for a few hours to help the 7th graders with their orientation.  Today was the first day all 5 of them were gone all day.  Everyone was really excited and got up pretty early.  Jaxon, Jake and Kyson were all ready to go at least an hour before they needed to leave.  The weirdest thing about this school year is having one of my kids in highschool!!! Yikes!  His school is huge and I can't imagine how he isn't going to get lost.  There is no bus to highschool so we have to drive him to school.  That part isn't too bad.  The part that is going to take some getting use to, is picking him up at 2:25 every day.  He had to call me today to ask me if I was coming (that was because I thought he got out at 2:40).  Luckily, the rest of the kids get to ride the bus so I don't have to worry about remembering to go get them.  This year we have 3 kids in elementary, 1 in middle school and 1 in highscool so we will have lots of different schedules to keep straight. With all the kids being gone, I had high hopes of getting lots of stuff done.  I didn't do as well as I had hoped.  I guess that will take time as well.  All the kids said they had a good day and they all like their teachers so far.  I hope we have a great year! 

The summer of work

Katie always loved to help.  She loved to do whatever Jake and Kyson were doing

At the beginning of the summer, I decided that this was going to be the summer that my kids learned how to work.  Of coarse, they were not excited about my decision.  I made a calendar and had jobs listed for each day of the week except Saturday and Sunday.  Every week it was the same thing so they could know what to expect.  For example, on Tuesdays we weeded.  On Thursday and Friday they got to pick their job from a list of jobs that I posted on the fridge.  There was some complaining, but for the most part, they did really well!  Most days they got up and cleaned their room because that was a job that they had to do every day.  I really want my kids to know how to work so that when they are on their own someday, they won't go into total shock!

One day Jaxon was trying to earn the privilege of going to play laser tag.  I told him he could either clean out the window wells or clean the stove.  He picked the stove....and regretted it!

Jadon and Kierra both had jobs this summer so it was harder for them to get jobs done but they did it and rarely complained.

Jake and Kyson always worked together.  Weeding was their least favortie but at least they got it done!

Jake cleaning the fronts of the doors, Kyson cleaning the backs.

This was my favorite job that got done.  Kyson chose to match up all the socks that I had no matches for.  I keep them in the drawer under my dryer and just shove them in there when I find one with no match.  He spent a lot of time one day making matches.  He ended up with 121 pair of socks.  Just in time to start school!

Summer at 7 peaks

For Christmas last year, my parents gave my kids the pass of all passes.  It has been a great present!  We have spent many days this summer at 7 peaks.  We went on Memorial Day which was their opening day.  It was pretty cold that day but we still had fun.  We went almost once a week throughout the summer.  We never got sick of going to 7 peaks and always had a blast!  We went yesterday, for the last time this season.  I think my kids have made a lot of great memories at 7 peaks this summer and we will miss going.  We'll for sure be back next summer!!!

Jaxon and I going on the boomerang at 7-peaks in provo.  It was super scary and it was the only time I went on that slide!

Our family loved going on the racing slides in provo.  It was Katie's favorite slide.  She wanted to go over and over.

Getting ready to go race, again!

Jadon on the rope swing

My little swimmers

  At 7 peaks, they don't allow food in the park but they have a fenced off area where you can eat.  We called it the prison yard.

Katie fell asleep many times at 7 peaks.  Almost every time she went in the wave pool, she fell asleep.

Last day at 7 peaks

17 years!

 Last night Dale and I celebrated our 17th Anniversary.  I always make him pose for a picture on our anniversary so we can see how we've changed through the years.  I love the scene for this picture.  We have this chair, that we need to get rid of, sitting in front of our house.  Doesn't that look classy? 

 Dale was very sweet and told me to pick what we were going to do.  I have been wanting to try Smashburger for a long time so I picked there.  I really really liked it.  I feel bad because Dale said it was ok.  He had a little bit of order regret.  I guess we'll have to go back so he can get what he really wanted.  I also wanted to go to a movie.  He told me to pick the movie.  I searched the movies and couldn't find one that I thought we would both like.  Since he told me to pick, I went with it and we saw "Hope Springs".  It was definately not the movie I thought it was going to be but I still liked it.  It really made me think about some things.

I can't believe how fast 17 years has gone by.  We have had a really good life together.  Some years have been harder than others but we feel very fortunate that we were able to find each other.  We are blessed to have a good relationship and that we get along well together.  I have been very spoiled.  Dale has always treated me well and taken care of me.  He always make me feel beautiful!  I'm glad that I have found someone that I am excited to grow old with!

A weekend with Amy

My super good friend, Amy, was in town this weekend and we had a great time.  We hung out at Laura's house on Friday night, went out to lunch on Saturday and then hung out at Michelle's house on Saturday night.  We had a great time together!  A really really good friend is someone that you can not see for 2 years, and then when you finally do, it's like that time never passed.  We talked and laughed just like we always have.   Amy and I are so much alike and I cherish our friendship.