Sunday afternoon with Dad

summer 2011 video

Rachel surprised us by making this video for us.  This 14 minute video is a summary of our 2011 summer!



Thanks Rachel!  It was a FUN summer!!!

Tommy turns 12!!

My little Tommy-boy turned 12!

so we threw him a swim party with some of his friends.

Tommy was concerned that his party might be "boring" because we weren't going anywhere "fun" and we didn't have anything really planned except to swim.  Boy was he wrong!  These boys ended up having so much fun playing their own games and then playing with Dad and Uncle Ben in the pool and out playing catch on the trampoline.  What started out as a three hour party, turned into boys calling their parents to stay longer and longer until we drove them home almost 7 hours later, only because we had to go somewhere.  Tommy really has some good boys for friends!

I misssed the first shot of him blowing out his candles so when I asked him to do it again, this is what I got!  haha!

Sunday we had a family party for Tommy and Harrison.  Their birthdays are only three days apart.

I guess big boys light their own candles!  :)

 

 I love Truman's face in this picture!

Happy Birthday Tommy-boy!

First Day of School

Years ago, I remember Mark and I talking about when this day would come!  Back then, we said, "When Jessica starts Kindergarten, Rachel will be starting High School!"  The thought of that even made me feel old back then.  Now it's here!  Rachel started High School at West Tech.  Tommy Started Middle School at LVDS and Jessica started kindergarten at Cumorah Academy.  Big years for those three!  Sam and Megan are in between those years going into fourth and first grades.

Rachel left at 5:30am for Seminary.  Notice that it was still dark outside...

She left so early that I didn't make her pancakes, she just got a bowl of cereal.  The other kids got their specialized pancakes.  Mark did a great job forming the shapes!  :)

Here are my girls going to Cumorah Academy...

and my boys going to Las Vegas Day School...

First stop was to drop off the boys...

Then the girls.  Before going into their classrooms, they met with their classes and listened to the principal welcome everyone.

Megan went into her classroom (excited without tears) and we went with Jessica into her Kindergarten room for a few minutes.

Jessica gave us hugs goodbye...

Then Mark and I walked out of the classroom leaving Mrs Coon in charge of our baby girl all day!  

Boy, it sure felt strange driving home with just me and Mark!  Felt a little lonely!  I tried to stay busy all day to keep my mind off the fact that this is my new life...my kids are growing up and I no longer have any children at home with me during the school day.  It's a bitter sweet thing though.  I can't tell you how much I got done that day at home!  :)

When I picked up the kids from school, everyone had great day at school...they loved their teachers and were in classes with good friends.   I think this is going to be a great school year!

New Years Eve

We were invited to Heather and Doug Fifes house to celebrate New Years Eve with the other Fifes.  It was really fun!  The kids loved being together!

 Here is the awesome host....

 and all the yummy food!

 We played a fun game (but I don't remember what it was called!)

Then Heather got out the Martinellis and the basket of party supplies...

 We did the countdown at Eastern time and watched it on the computer.

 HAPPY NEW YEARS 2011!!!

Thanks Fifes!  We had a great time!