They like the structure...

What's a first day of school without some silly faces on the front porch?

AND, they are actually EXCITED to go to school and have some structure!  Who's kids are they anyway?!  They must get that from B!  I have I mentioned I LOVE uniforms!  Creates a no fighting, hassle free get up and get dressed kind of mornings!

 Anna has a new uniform this year. She only has to wear it on Monday's but I think she looks pretty dang sassy either way!

Today...

Anna is sick and because of that I am doing laundry. YUCK!  Brandon is in Las Vegas, working, working, betting on numbers 8, 9 22 and 30 (shhhh.....) and working.  Mara is downstairs drooling over her new Justin Bieber stand up and William is watching Star Wars Return of the Jedi for the one millionth time secretly wishing that Jedi's were real and that he could be one of them.  I can hear the tunes of My Little Pony, Star Wars and Justin Bieber all echoing in my home at the same time while I sit here and type for a brief moment of therapy.  Is writing therapy for anyone else?  We cannot go to church today because of Anna being sick.  I am sad about that, but maybe we needed this down time.  I just hope this is a 24 hour deal...  My house is a distaster but I have no desire to get up and clean.  I can do it later.

Yesterday I took the kids to the DI. We all really do love that place. It's full of so many hidden treasures. I found a vintage book. A beautiful hard back, 1953 edtition of the Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. I have never read this book. I have been interested in it though ever since I found out that J.K. Rowling's love for reading and writing came from her mother reading this book to her. Not only that, it's the book where she starting daydreaming about a character by the name of Harry Potter. We are going to start reading it tonight as a family. I love that I will be discovering something new right along with my kids.

I have a long big week ahead of me.  Full of lots of different things.  My parents are coming into town for a while and staying with us.  I have 2 doctor appts, a photography session at the hotel, lots and lots and lots of work at work and the first UofU football game on thursday and a ton more that I am certain will come my way! In the meantime, since I can't be at church today I went looking for inspiration and as I always do, I found this.... Love it and I wanted to share.  Happy sunday everyone.

Our new favorte...

I love in the summer when my kids live in their swim suits and their hair goes 5 shades lighter because it is always being kissed by the sun. We went kayaking a couple of weekends ago and now it is our new favorite activity as a family.WE LOVE IT! 

I have missed being home this summer.  I saw a mom who had posted a comment on FB about wanting summer to be over so she doesn't have to deal with her kids anymore.  It wasn't that matter of fact, but it may as well have been.  Oh, what I wouldn't give to be dealing with my kids right now.  BUT, all in good time.  It will happen sooner rather than later and I am excited about that.  Life is always an adventure.  As mentioned before in an earlier post, things are going to change, but it may take a little bit longer and that's ok.  If there is anything that I have learned over the past 10 years it's patience.

 William is going through the "don't take a picture of me" phase.

We ended that weekend with a sleepover with the girl cousins.  I truly love where we live.  It makes for awesome pictures and even better memories.

Owl, Bee's, a ball and boom...

It seems like summer has flown by.  Maybe because I haven't really been home for most of it.  But, when I am home, we make the best of our time and go out on daily adventures.

For the 24th of July, we went to a Bee's Game with Gramma and Grampa E., our cousins and aunt and uncle. 

 There was a guy with an owl outside of the stadium.  The kids were fascinated by the yellow eyes and the fact he could turn his head all the way around.

Here we are thourghly enjoying the front row right behind 3rd base or AKA, "watch out for foul balls." 

 Uncle D caught one and then about 20 minutes later, Mara did too!

Needless to say, William was devistated when Mara caught the ball.  He patiently waited ALL night with his glove in hand to catch one.  He even stopped the baseball players passing by to ask if he could have one.  Sorry, Will man, next time!

How else do you end pioneer day?!  With fireworks... 

Two wheels...

My little Anna is growing up.  It's making me sad and happy at the same time.  I love watching her learn.  I just wish it would slow down a bit.

 As she pulled away from B, there was a tear in my eye and I'm pretty sure in B's.  She is the last one that we will teach this too.

Oh and she rode her bike for about 5 hours straight that day.

Way to go Anna!



Change and thanks...

Why does change have to be so scary even when you know it's the right thing to do?  It's never as bad as I think it may be and I find myself spending WAY to much time worrying about a whole lot of nothing.  More change is coming my way and it's a good thing.  I am so happy to have had certain experiences in the last couple of months. They have pushed me to stand up for what I believe in, be a better person and really step out of my comfort zone and look at what I have and what I can become.  It's funny how life works.  Just when you think you're comfortable, things change and that change can give you a completely different perspective on EVERYTHING. 

This change is not coming easy, but I have an overwhelming amount of support and I am very excited for the future.  So, I need to take a moment and thank certain people.

*  To my husband, all I can say is thank you from the bottom of my heart for loving me.  I know sometimes it can be hard and I can be extremely difficult, but there is no one else that I would rather be on this crazy ride with!  Your support in all that I do means everything!  Thank you and I love you.

*  To my kids, you are my little crazy bugs that I cannot live without!  I miss you more than you will EVER know.  Thank you for letting me take this crazy ride and for being soooo good through it all.  I hope that you will always know that you make my heart so happy and that I am hugging you from afar.

*  Thank you to my mom for understanding me and loving me. Your support is everything to me and it feels good to know that I have made you proud.

*  Thank you to my sister, Lauren. Thank you for reminding me what I miss and what is important. I really do love cooking and baking for others, painting a room 10 over and being with my babies. Seeing you write it, gave me courage. Thank you.

*  To my nanny Natalie, you have given me no reason to worry and this is the best gift anyone can give me.  Thank you for loving my kids and being there for me.  You are a huge blessing in our family.

*  CF and EP THANK YOU for listening to me last week and always being there. EP, thanks for taking a walk around the lake with me the other night! Your perspective on life is beautiful and your friendship means the world to me. Thank you for being you! 

*  And to EP's daughter AP,  you have been such an amazing example to me from afar!  Thank you for standing up for what you believe in and just being you.  You have wisdom being your years.  That wisdom has given me the courage to be me.  Sound silly, I know, BUT you have done this for me and I thank you.

*  I am thankful for girls nights out with some of the most wonderful ladies EVER! You know who you are! I also missed a bunch of others the other night! When is the next ladies night or cabin trip?!

*  Thank you to my sales team at work.  You all make me laugh and you challenge me.  You make every day away from my kids easier.  You are all amazing.

*  Thank you to my sis in law, WP.  Thank you for being an amazing sister.  How lucky am I that I not only got a wonderful husband, but a sister as well.  Love you girl!

Thank you to everyone out there that has made a difference in my life.  This list could keep going and going.  I feel incredibley blessed and loved and for that I am so grateful!  I only hope that I can return the favor to all of you some day! 

Heres to the future and some really great changes!

Sad face...

Is this the saddest face you have ever seen?!

 NOPE, this is!!

Long story short, Mara and William woke up one morning at 6am wide awake are ready to take on the day!  So, I decided to take them on a bike ride.  Anna slept in that day and this is her reaction when we got back.  Completely left out and sooooo sad.  This breaks my heart/ makes me laugh all at the same time.  Needless to say, I took her out for a mommy/ Anna date that morning.