First Day of School 2009

Sunday Night we had a school clothes fashion show, decided on the first outfit, packed our school supplies, found our luch sacks, and went to bed early. We are definately not used to getting up before 8:00 in the morning and any type of ridged schedule. The summer has been full of FUN for us. Now it's time to get back the grindstone.

Austin's First day of school- Ashton Ranch Elementary 2009

RILEY's First day of school at Ashton Ranch Elementary 2009--2nd Grade

Everyone in our family was really excited about the new experience of Riding the school bus.

When 7:30 came around we could hear the first day of school excitement outside our windows as several kids and some parents made the trek to the bus stop together. We met some nice neighbors and realized that there were a lot of kids from the neighborhood going to our same school

Riley is all ready for ALOT of Homework

My First Piggie Tails

Lydia's hair seems to getting a little bit longer each day so today I tried to put in pig tails . I'm definately not a pro at doing girl hair yet, but it was super fun to imagine our future mornings on the bathroom counter.

Everywhere we went today for errands she was a hit. They probably thought I pretty desperate.

Austin:A Boy After My Own Heart

The other day the boys were accompanying me while I did some errands to alot of girl/mom stores. While we were at JCP Austin picked up a housewares catalog to keep himself busy while i waited my turn. His comment made me giggle.

He loves looking through magazines. He enjoys people magazine alot, and regularly reads family Fun, and can flip the pages of a LEGO magazine over and over until we have to restaple the binding or tape the pages together again.

After he had a few minuets to examine all the fun kitchen appliances and pots and pans he said with honest frustration

"mom there's just so many great things in this magazine that I want. It is really hard to choose."

I know just how he was feeling because that is what I say to myself when ever I look through a housewares magazine. He and I are kindred spirits in that way. I think I dream about new appliances and kitchen gizzmos more than a new outfit or shoes.

Happy Easter Sunday

It was apretty normal/busy Sunday for us, but I did manage to take this quick photo as we raced out the door for church.

Hey Riley, Smile

.....I am

Come to find out he had big wad of Starbust candies in his mouth so he really was smiling. We retook the photo with the candy in my hand. This one turned out cute also.
Lydia's bow continued to not stay on her head.

Parenting Lesson Learned

This is Kevin's Toothbrush..Mums the word

When Lydia started to crawl I thought it was great that she could get around to entertain herself. Her favorite activites were opening cupboards and unloading cupboards. Literally going from one cupboard to the next to the next one and so on until I had a terrible mess to clean up. I'ts so cute I would think. She's being musical with the pots and pans and exploring in the tupperware being creative.

Well, when my mom came to visit this last week and saw how much "fun" Lydia was having in the kitchen she gave a bit of advice...Jeannette give her ONE cupboard to unload not the whole kitchen. You're just making more work for yourself. I have to agree. Since I have been baricading her in the familyroom while I work and she plays with her toys I have found I can accomplish a whole lot more.

It's still pretty cute how she loves to unload cupboards and drawers she leaves a trail where ever she goes. unloads to bedroom drawers full of clothes and bathroom drawers filled with towels and makeup.

Tough Decision...

Well it really shouldn't be a tough decision but it was for me. It decided to change the look of my blog. So many of my friends have cute backgrounds and fun additions that make it interesting to read. so I went exploring on the TCBOTB and after 45 minuets of "trying on" backgrounds I decided on this one. What do you think?

I have to say I like it but it wasn't my first choice. The first two I tried on that I really liked all of a sudden looked really familiar...well that it because they were the same cute background from fsome good friends' blog. We must have similar tastes. So rather than being the same I chose something different. And after all, just like a bad haircut, give it a few weeks and it will grow on you, or go get it trimmed again. :)

We're So Proud

STUDENTS OF THE QUARTER

Although Austin and Riley were chosen as students of the quarter in January I haven't taken the time to say how proud I am of both of them. This was the first time they had received an award at school and were a little unsure about how to accept the the praise from our kind principles. There's a first time for everything. Although they were a little nervous I could still see them glowing with excitement behind their awkward smiles.

Since the beginning of the school year I have been amazed how much they have grown up during this past 1st grade year. It seems like everyday as we drive away from school I am encountered with a new "what is ....." question or "how does....work" or they ever popular WHY questions. Often times I have to think a minute inorder to give the best and most simple descriptions or definitions and answers to their curious questions. All these great questions show me how much they are learning at school and how much MORE they want to learn.

It's been almost 8 months of learning to read. I am amazed at how one day they are struggling to understand the sounds that letters make and the concept of how to sound out words and a little bit at a time, and also memorizing site words day after day; and then one day it just CLICKS. They can read!! And they LOVE to READ. Even Austin can read words on the closed captioning as they scoot quickly past.

I know they are proud of themselves and their accomplishments.

I LOVE THEM SOO much

Principle Dr Waltman and Asst Tim Ramsey

Laughter of Children

It is truly amazing how each and everytime Lydia laughs we all start to giggle along with her. Her giggle is definately contagious. It has only been a month or so since we could count on her giggling at all the funny things we do. It is surprising the things that really do make her smile and laugh.

• In this video clip she finds Riley's slow motion jogging in place a real hoot.
• Peek a boo over the back of the sofa is another big giggle factory.
• Tipping backwards off moms lap-- we call it "Down-down-Down"
• good old wisker kisses in the crack of the neck is another good one.
• sitting on top of dads shoulders
• eating her little baby piggy toes
• Tickling her sides-even saying the words "I'm Gonna tickle-tickle"will sqeek out a smile in anticipation.

FYI: Being tossed up in the air, even just a little bit DOES NOT produce a giggle but rather a face full of terror and the grip of death with her little hands.

Spring Break in Zions National Park

At the end of Spring break we took a little drive to visit Grandpa Brent in St. George for a few days. We had an amazing time hiking Zions. We could not have asked for better weather that day and every one's attitude about doing something new was positive. I really enjoyed sharing the picturesque red rock of Southern Utah with my children.

Weeping Rock and the Emerald Pools hike were our choices this time. Austin and Riley enjoyed hiking quite a bit and Lydia was a trooper in the backpack. So next time we will have to be more adventurous and try some different hiking trails.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

"Rub a Dub Dub 3 Kiddos in the Tub"

The other night the boys were super stoked about taking a bath. Now that they are taking showers I guess the novelty of a soaky bath sounded pretty good. Lydia was a good sport and sqeezed herself into. Why not save time and have the boys wash the baby.



I loved this picture because it reminded me a picture my mom took of my siblings and I all taking a bath together. We were all pretty close in age. I rembember being about 3 years old, Christine was 4 and Shayne was 5. Wow good times.

NOte : this photo must have been taken at the end of summer. Notice the difference in skin tone among my siblings.

Dish Washer Friend

Lydia feels really confident lately. Nothing is out of her reach. She can crawl quickly to anything that interests her, get to her knees , reach for something to pull up with, then shes on her toes. The Dishwasher is one of her favorite attractions. I'm sure the clanking dishes of the dishes is her cue to rush over and "help" me out. She can now unload nearly as fast as I can load the dishes in. I am afraid that one time she is going to pull out the breakable plates and bowls and throw them on the floor like she does the plastic ones faster than I can stop her. She's a determined little one. I love it when she gives me a big grin when she knows shes's been caught in the act.

Spring Training 2009

Once again we made our yearly pilgrimage to the baseball field. Hot Dogs and Hamburgers at the tailgate and a fun trolly ride over to the field are fun traditions that we look forward to . This year it was the Angels vs. the San Fanscisco Giants. We left early so we are not sure who won, but since I wasn't rooting for either one specifically--everyones' a winner. The cooworkers that came with Shayne were huge Giant's fans. They had a lot of fun baseball tidbits to share which helped make the game interesting.

Lydia did excellent on her first baseball game. Luckily we were seated on the lawn instead of the bleachers. She was able to crawl around and be wiggly. That's pretty tough to do on Dirty metal chairs.

Each year the boys stay interested in the game a little longer. This iyear the cracker jack treat was the big entertainer. Thank goodness for the treat inside. They folded the little piece of paper for an hour over and over.