MYS auditions

Madison off to her audition!

"The Boy Pagnini" her audition piece. She worked all summer on it, and now she finally no longer has to look at it ever again!

Don't "Tie" me down!

Westin was so excited for his very first Sunday wearing a tie! He couldn't wait to "look like Daddy"! Unfortunetally it was short lived........when we got to chuch the kid sitting in front of us said "your tie looks like a baby tie"! That was it, the tie came off never to be seen again! We will have to wait and see what happens next Sunday when he gets to wear the tie I purchased that hangs a little longer!

A few of my favorite things!

During a mundane day of housework, grocery shopping, taking care of a baby, cooking, errand running, getting kids to and from school, homework, and all other extra curricular activities otherwise not noted,.....Here are a few of my most favorite accomplishments(my happy, feel good moments!)

Clothes in my closet: washed and organized

Refrigerator: clean and freshly stocked with yummy fruits and vegetables from Costco!

All the bottles in the house: clean and ready to go for a "quick" hastle free feeding

New school year resolutions

It has been one week sice school started..........I am quickly finding that I have more QUIET time than I ever imagined! After a summer of chaos the quiet is not only wecome but also a little confusing! I am working on Rusty's stocking, but that will be done and then what? I am going to be looking high and low, something will turn up! Maybe it will just be a nap!
I have also enjoyed starting getting up again for scripture reading and prayer. It always makes my day so much more complete when I start it with us all together.
Trying to keep my body in shape and healthy has been another of my challenges this year. Knowing that I am no longer going to be reproducing has given me added focus on taking control over my body! I am loving the fact that whatever I do now will stick with me forever! So the goal for the year is....Mon., Wed. run 5:15 AM, Thurs. night Ballet, Sat. 6:30 run. Raymond has been joining me in the process which I really enjoy..... that is the running, not the ballet of course (although the thought of him in a tutu is even more humorous than me in a tutu!) We are shooting for a 10K in Nov., so I will have to keep posted on how that is going!
All in all I think this new school year is going to be a good one! I never know what type of curve balls life is going to throw at me, and it always does, but I am going to try to be in the right place in my life spiritually, physically, and emotionally so that I will be ready to throw one right back at ya! Thank goodness for prayer!

Back to school, Back to school......to prove that we are not a fool!

The kids are headin out for their first day of school '09!

The walk down to the bus stop is a HOT one!

Westin kickin it with the older kids!

The bus stop is quite large! One stop fills the entire bus! We have about 60 kids on our street that catch the bus each morning!

Sadelle getting on the bus for her first day of ALL DAY SCHOOL!

Madison and Kennady waiting their turn with their HEAVY bags full of school supplies!

"HOORAY" says the parents, the bus is gone......Now what?!!!!!!!

Our summer "craft project"

For those who know me this is sooooo not me.......I despise "craft projects"! At any rate, I promised my girls a new bulletin board for their room so they would have somewhere to put their "special" things. I said we would get it done before school started so............the last Sat. of the summer we created this Magnet Board!!!!!!! I actually think it turned out pretty cut! Pictures really do not do it justice!

Over the river and through the dessert......to Grandmas house we go

A day trip to Great Grandmas house is always a favorite family treat!

Grandma is still as beautiful as ever! We love to hear her tell us about her childhood stories, and the stories her grandmother used to tell her about crossing the plains as a pioneer.

People say I look the most like my grandma......I take that as a complement!

It is not easy to get all these kids to sit still for a minute at Great Grandmas when there are so many places to be explored and so many treats to be eaten!

I love this picture! It shows how genuinely happy the kids are to see their Great Grandma!