We've come full Circle!

My very first blog ever was on Haley's first day of school. Well guess what! Today was Avery's first day of school. I know I am lame and never keep up on this blog but I am really gonna try this time. Honest.... no I mean it. Like TOTALLY gonna do it!

Yeah, I don't believe me either. I do really like looking back at previous post. They make me laugh so I will do my best but I still probably won't get many posts in this year. "Sigh" I guess a few are better than none.

On to the fun stuff! Avery's 1st Day of school!

For 2 days she has been bouncing.... literally bouncing up and down. Every time I saw her today she would say "you know.... today is a VERY big day for me". Yep, I know honey, me too! My last little one is going off to school.

You would think there would be tears.... NO WAY! With how naughty this little one has been this summer I was not really all that sad. She is so ready for her BIG day. Here are a few pics of the big day!

Getting on the bus!

(Did those steps get bigger or is it just me?)

She would NOT let me take her to school in the car. She had to ride the bus! As she says "I have been waiting 5 years for this mom, and I am not going to miss it!" Okay... so can I follow you over to the school in my car and make sure you get to class okay? Ummm.... no.

Check out that face! She was so mad that I came to the school. She obviously thought I was gonna stay home. Yeah like that's gonna happen!

Congrats! Baby girl. Welcome to the Big Leagues.

Is it over yet?

So I was having a pretty good day today. I got my house all cleaned and even baked some fabulous peanut butter cookies with chocolate dove centers! I was looking forward to a nice relaxing evening with the kids while the hubby is off fulfilling his calling for scouts. (cue the ominous music) dun, dun, dun.... The phone rings. This is how the phone call goes.

Him: Honey ?

Me: Yes....

Him: Our activity fell through

Me: "that's too bad" (I really am thrilled but would never say so) are you coming home?

Him: Well, yeah but can we come back to the house and have our activity there?

Me : Are you really asking me? (Anyone that knows my hubby can tell you, he doesn't ASK for things often. He is more of a do it and ask forgiveness later kind of a guy.)

Him: Ummmm no.... we are almost there I just thought I would give you a heads up.

2 hours later all 15 of them are still here, yelling their heads off in the basement. I have since made a pizza run. Cleaned up after the plague of locust ate all 6 pizzas and 4 bags of crazy bread, in under 2 minute, and hide my delicious hersey's kiss cookies that have magically dwindled from 4 doz to about 8.

Can I tell you I am so happy that I only have one little boy!

I just can't help myself.

I guess it is no secret that I LOVE Disneyland. Well, just in case any of ya didn't know...I DO! I made a promise last year, when I drug my husband by his fingernails, that I wouldn't make us go back again for 2 years. GULP! Guess where that leaves me this year???? Disneyland free.

While trying to figure out where our family trip might take us this year I keep running across deals for Disneyland. (I am not even looking for them.... REALLY! They just seem to find me) I personally it's just fate, or a sign or something, but not everyone I know feels that way.

But, anyway back to the story. When I asked everyone at dinner the other night where they wanted to go for a family trip this year I was surprised that the majority wanted to go to the beach. Well, maybe not the majority but definitely the loudest portion of the group. Since we live in Utah obviously the closest (and warmest) beaches around are where else, SUNNY CALIFORNIA! You tell me how I am supposed to plan a trip to Cali. and not include Disneyland. See... not possible is it? Here's the plan (if we really do end up going to the beaches of California) I am going to sign us all up for a day of volunteer work and get the free passes to Disneyland. That way we could still have a beach vacation with a little bit of Disneyland thrown in just for me : ) Whatcha think? Totally breaking my promise of no Disneyland for a 2 years or just kinda side steppin' it a little? Do you think the hubby will go for it?

New Year = New Me!

Well I think it's been long enough don't you? Apparently I was a little burnt out on the blogging situation. Really, it may just be that I have the attention span of a two year old! I flit around to things that interest me and then drop 'em when I'm bored. I guess it's a really good thing that my family is so darn crazy, and interesting I could never get bored with them : )

(see what I mean.... snow hat + swimming goggles and a pony)
Don't ask.... I don't know what she's doing!

So in a nutshell over the last 6 months these are a few of the big things that have happened around here....

School started.
School ended for one little 3 year old who decide "it just not for me" YEP.... me neither kid!
I turned 21 again.... Hooray!
Michael had a birthday.... he however is not 21
Dylan turned 6 - Happy birthday dude
Haley turned 8 -It's great to be 8 ....right bug!
Haley got baptized (A very cool experience)
Christmas and a house full of family for the holidays.
Mom slept for 2 weeks straight afterwards....

This has brought us to January, most peoples most dreaded month. Me. I love it! A new start, I have no birthdays or holidays I need to plan for. I am stuck inside with my beloved Kindle with nothing to do but read. Really what's not to like!

This year I have plenty of resolutions some I will mention.... most I will not (come on now! A girls gotta have her secrets.) One I can mention is my resolution to get more organized. I am well on my way to achieving this. I have almost an entire floor of my house currently sporting nicely organized closets. Cool huh! Anyone that knows me will know that I clean everything in my house ALL The time... except my closets and cupboards. They are a nightmare! But no longer I tell ya. It's a new year, a new decade even. So there ya have it. We're back, at least until I get bored and wander off on ya for a while. Now I'm off to fulfil another goal. It' time for the daily run.

Talk to ya soon

Hi-YA CowBOY

All of my kids have been blessed with larger than life personalities. My youngest however may have just a little somethin' extra! Today on our way out from Costco we spotted a Costco employee that was getting ready to head out and round up the carts. He was wearing his bright orange vest and a straw hat (I can only guess probably to keep out the sun). Before I even had a chance to notice him sitting on the side Avery yells out... " HI YA COW....BOY. with all the western drawl and inflection she can muster. When I start to laugh (as does everyone within ear shot) She turns to me and says "What mommy? He is a cowboy! See his hat?" It was the funniest thing! It totally brought a smile to his face, mine too.... but she does that everyday anyway!

Sum....Sum... Summer Time

I have now resigned myself to the fact that I completely suck at blogging during the summer. Accepting this fact and stating it out loud is quite therapeutic for me. I no longer feel like such a slacker when I put 1 maybe 2 pitiful little posts up per month. Having said this, here are a few of the things we've been up to lately.

Some much needed swimming lessons

Fireworks.... of course!

Lots and Lots of T-ball

And LAST but definitely not least.... My baby girl turned 3

(she was insistent that she have cupcakes and not a birthday cake!)

She had a swimming/Tinkerbell party complete with Tinkerbell swimming suit and dress up costume.

I love summer time!!!! Is there any wonder why? It just doesn't get any better than this.

Not so glad to be back

I'm sad to say that our trip to Hawaii has come and gone. We are back from our week long stay on Kauai. People have been asking me if we had fun on our trip. I guess the appropriate reply is yes, even though this doesn't really begin to cover how much fun we had. After ten years it is strange to find yourself alone with your spouse for a whole week. No one is there to interrupt 10 times before you can finish a sentence. It is SO nice!

We stayed on Poipu beech on Kauai. It was rated No 1. beech by the travel channel last year. Now I know why! This was our view from our room. Just around the corner was the sandy part of the beach and the cabana chairs where we spent many relaxing hours!

We paddled down the Wailea river and hiked to the "secret falls". We were so hot and sweaty! It was a cool experience, but required WAY too much effort for a vacation activity! Part of that was due to the guide (ask me about it later)

We also took a little zodiac boat out around the island to the side of the island called the Na'pali Coast. The only way you can get there is by boat it was pretty awesome. We took the bumpiest smallest boat that proved to be more of an adventured. We got to go into little sea caves that the big boats couldn't go into. It was well worth the sore butts that we got in return! Then we snorkeled along a reef over there and visited an ancient Hawaii village that many locals aren't even allowed to go to. (This was only because our guide was part of the rehabilitation project)


We spent plenty of time relaxing and watching the sunset (or sunrise... we had trouble sleeping in over there) Did I mention we had an amazing room! These pictures were taking from the balcony in my room.

We had so much fun. Just hanging out with each other. I've already started planning our 20 year anniversary trip. That one is going to to take a passport for sure! : )

I won't torture you with endless photos. I'll just leave you with one more thing. This video is of me boogie boarding. So FUN!!!! This turned out to be one of my favorite things to do! Who knew! Turn on your sound to hear Michael cracking up while I very un-expertly ride my wave up the beach! Enjoy!