My big first grader

My son Gabriel started first grade yesterday. It is just crazy how fast life goes by. He is getting so big everyday going through life's fun events. Last year he had afternoon Kindergarten, so it is a little weird getting up and having him out the door by 8:00 in the morning. We were ahead of schedule so I decided we could walk. Well, the kids rode their bikes and I walked. Gabe was so excited to get to have lunch at school and of course get 3 recesses. When we got there he was so cute talking to all his friends from last year and finding out which friends were in his class this year. Then today came. The morning started out the same, breakfast together, get dressed, and out the door. Gabe hopped on his bike and took off. Well, by the time I turned the corner with Cali and Cole, Gabe was about a block and a half ahead of me with about 20 other kids crossing the cross walk. Without a care in the world. He didn't even realize that he had left his poor mom behind. So I just yelled ahead to remind him to lock his bike up and have a good day, and off he went. So I guess you go to first grade one day and your already big enough that you don't need your mother anymore. Me and the kids turned back around with Cali asking why we weren't walking with Gabe. I am so glad he is such an independent and friendly kid, I just hope he doesn't forget about his mother in the mean time.

First day!

Family bike ride to school

Gabe in front of school

Gabe in line. Bye Gabe.

Bye brother.

24th of July Tradition

There are a few things that I look forward to every year and the 24th of July is one of them. Every year we pack up for a long weekend at our cabin in Kamas. The cabin has been in our family since before I was born and now belongs to my mother and her siblings. I love the fact that on any given weekend in the summer you can go up there and see many different relatives. Now the 24th of July has always been a huge thing in Kamas but we have truly made our own fun traditions that make the weekend a blast. This year we headed up Thursday after Kwinton got off work, once we were there it was off to the "kids carnival" a part of Kamas Fiesta Days. Friday was a beautifully hot day so of course we all headed for the creek or "crick" as we all say. The men jumped right in and got to work building a damn so the kids would have a little pool to play in, which turned into a bigger project when Amber suggested we some how build a water slide. Well just leave it to our men to pull that off, and boy did they, soon enough the other cabins had heard about the awesome water park that we had. Complete with a water slide type area and a kiddie pool for the little ones. The day ended with some good BBQ and a sunburn on Kwintons back that will haunt him for years to come. Saturday started with a little rain, but that didn't stop us from having our Saturday morning parade. The kids all bring up bikes and for wheeler, get them all decorated up, and parade them down our little dirt road. Now this isn't the grandest parade you'll ever see but it's my kind of parade. Over in about 5 minutes and you even get a little candy thrown at you. After the parade the annual horseshoe tournament gets underway. This year it included 33 teams. That is 66 adults out there throwin shoes. As usual I was out without a win, which I will undoubtedly blame on my partner Ryan even though he wasn't that bad and neither was I, we just didn't have luck on our side, and it makes me feel better. The big winners this year were my mom and her partner Joe. The very close runners up were Angie ans her partner Mark. It was an exciting day with a big finish by mom and Joe having to beat Angie and Mark twice in a row for the win. The defending champion Kwinton will surely blame his early elimination on his sunburn. It was a great weekend just as we had planned Chris and Meg even showed up unexpectedly for one night, and my sister in-law Sadie came up for horseshoes. "I will remember not to invite her next year as she is the one who eliminated my team." I totally forgot to even pick up my camera on Saturday so here are the pictures that I have.

Standing in line at the carnival

Gabriel

Enoch

Hannah

Emma

Payton

Cali

Hannah, Enoch, Payton, and Cali

Smile Chris and Meg

They all wanted to jump in Sponge bob

Kyla

Cheese Jarom

mom getting the pits ready

Making a plan

Putting there plan into action

cool water slide

kids waiting patiently

a little break to try and catch a snake

Kwinton

Gabes first ride

Then he took Cali

too cold for Cali

Do you want to try? NO

Amber even gave it a try

Cole

Gabriel

What a day!

A little bocce ball anyone.

We are the Destroyers

A bunch of people from my family and Kwintons family got together this summer and formed a kickball team. The team was all pulled together by my sister in-law Stephanie. It has been such a fun way to get together with the family ever week and just play some good old fashion kickball. Its really no surprise that we are the worst team out there, we are not the most atheletic bunch of people but we do know how to have a good time. This week we were 4 men down for our games so we had to recruit some players. Our friend Kyle came to our rescue as did my Uncle Rod. So still 2 men down we went out there and played our best. Much to our own surprise we actually started scoring some runs and making some pretty nice plays. So we were down by three in the bottom of the last inning, and would you believe that we actually scored three runs and tied the game. I know what your thinking, "big deal, you tied." But to us it was like we had won the championship. We actually tied the top team. Not just any team, the top team. Needless to say we are the very bottom ranked team, we dont even have a win on our stats. Now the second game of the night was our same old story we lost by about 8 runs, "thats the orange team we know and love." We still have a few more games left so we will see if we can pull out a win, but either way it has all been a great experience for me, and hey anyway to get some excersice right!

Kwinton's first night home.

So Kwinton had Thursday night off for the Holiday. I was so excited for him, this would be his first night off in over a month. Well, let me just tell you how it went. I went to bed with a slight stomach ache which i had through-out the day. And then it happened, I woke up around 4:oo a.m. with the worst stomach pain ever. For the next 7 hours I was in and out of the bathroom, on the toilet (sorry if that's too much information), throwing up, in the bath, etc. Holy cow my stomach had waged a war on me and it was winning. I finally came out of my room around 1:00 in the afternoon, only to return to bed again around 3:30. So if this is a sign of what is going to happen every time Kwinton is in MY bed, I think I might just change my mind.

Cali gets a new bedroom

I have been promising Cali for some time now that I would give her, her very own girl room. So this week I got to work. I started on Wednesday with the painting. Kwinton and Angie were kind enough to lend me a hand. So come Thursday, we were ready for the fun stuff. Kwinton and I went to Lowes to pick up as few last things and then on to the decorating. Meg and Angie came over to help out, and Kwinton even stayed up ALL day for the fun. Meg had to leave a little early to pick up her kids, so Kwinton had to put up with me and Angie telling him what to do and where to hang everything, but he was a good sport and I think even secretly had a little fun himself. When the room was ready we had Cali wait outside the closed door. Angie was inside with the video camera and I was out with Cali. It was like a true Extreme Makeover! Cali was so happy and cute when she saw her new room. Here are some pictures of the fun!

Before shot.

Painting day

Angie helping hang the letters

Waiting outside her room. It's almost time to see it.

The look on her face is the best!