{Anticipation}

Emmrey loves the anticipation of an event.  Not just events that benefit her directly either.  She is just as excited for her sisters/parents birthdays as she is for her own.  Right now, however, it is her birthday that is on her mind.  After weeks of asking "how many days after the first day of school is my birthday?", I decided a good old chain countdown was in order.  We whipped that baby out in no time with 21 links.  Everyday she rips one link off the chain and informs us how many more days until the big event. ...you know in case we need to do a little birthday shopping:}

Which by the way she has covered as well.  One afternoon she was spending a lot of time in her room {by choice:}.  It was awfully quiet in there, however, she kept asking me questions about what letters make certain sounds and vice versa.  When I asked her what she was doing she said "just writing some words".  When she emerged she delivered this sheet to me.  One side has what she wants to do for her birthday....

• Craft party
• Birthday cake
• Chocolate pop tarts
• Taco Johns or Jimmy Johns {she'll take either one}
• Go to Wyogurt

The other is her "Birthday List" and  has the 16 items she would like:} 

{fish, fish food, fish tank, lalaloopsy, cabbage patch doll, craft stuff, roller-blades with 4 wheels, baby carrier, little pet shops, board game, play-dough maker, kindergarten book, "lolly pockets", journal, friend LEGOS, any baby stuff}

Don't worry she made separate lists for both her sissies as well!!

{chap-stick, purse, ring, dress up, pies, puzzle, board game, ???}

{fish, 3 "mermans" for her mermaids, kitchen stuff, play shoes, any baby stuff, church bag, tennis shoes, stuffed animal that records your sound}

Oh how I love the excitement that life brings with little ones:}

Dirty Dash

For our church youth activity this week they put together a farm version "Dirty Dash".  Our YW President lives on a dairy farm and so they have lots of space for such an event. 

 They first had to climb a huge stack of hay bales.  Bailee ended up getting far behind because she was so intent on waiting and helping everyone to make it up the bales, first I was frustrated.. ...then I remembered to be proud:}

And get back down some how....she ended up just kind of jumping..

 Next it was crawling through old tires in a canal

Finding there way through the corn field and running to the next obstacle

There was something in between here...but I forgot to take a picture.  Then they had to run to the end of this ramp and jump off into a mud puddle {where many actually got stuck}

The last part was crossing this rope monkey bar style....resulted in some serious rope burns..ouch!!

And finally dropping into this pond...many of the kids lingered and played here.  Not Bay~she wasn't too keen on the idea that cattle frequent this spot as well.  It pretty much grossed her out:}

It was a really fun activity and Bailee was such a good sport an completed the entire course....cow water and all.  She was dirty and wet and was anxious to get home and shower.

Missing Mark

Mark is in Minnesota for a work meeting.  He has been gone since Saturday.  During the summer we get pretty used to being apart.. .. ..especially during August it seems.  We have both come to accept this as part of his job, and try to remember the winter months when he has quite a bit of flexibility with his schedule.  When the girls were smaller, this time apart brought it's challenges.  Now that they are a little bigger, it brings a different set of challenges.  The girls and I have developed some traditions and try to make the most of our "girl time" together.  Although we are all fairly used to this arrangement, it doesn't mean we necessarily like it, and there is sadness every time he leaves.  This trip has seemed especially looong and we are all really missing Mark.  Bailee likes to call or text him to ask him questions, Karsyn is often checking her email to see if he has sent her a message, Emmrey asks everyday "how many more days" until he's home, and I just need my teammate back. Life is just not the same without my Marko:}

Hello School.. .. and Birthday

Well it happened.  Summer once again flew by and I am wondering where the time went.  Our girls started back to school today....  Bailee as an 8th grader

Karsyn as a 5th grader.. ..

and Emmrey as a Kindergartener.. ..NO WAY!!

Some say it gets easier to send each child to school.  I disagree....I have been equally sad with each of my girls.  For me it is more about leaving that phase of life than just missing them {although I do plenty of that too}.  

Emm was pretty excited to go to school, which makes it less heart wrenching.  {I remember the days with Bailee who was literally clinging to my leg sometimes and it killed me}. She has Mrs. Kleersnyder as a teacher.  I worked with her doing Practicum hours her first year of teaching {5 years ago} and love her.  So I feel good knowing she will take care of Emm.  At Meet the Teacher Night she asked the kids to decorate this little guy to look like them and bring it the first day of school.  I loved how Emmrey did her entire name...including nickname:}

Karsy and I spent some time getting her settled in and I thought I was okay until it was time to actually leave her...the eyes started burning and filling up and I knew I needed to make a speedy exit so I didn't give her reason to worry. 

  I headed straight for the cafeteria where they host a Boo Hoo Breakfast for Kindergarten parents.  Oh it helped a bit to chat with other parents, but I am surprised how many shared the sentiment of  "Woo Hoo Kindergarten.....finally".  I guess I am weird like that ...I really enjoy my girls and like when they are home {that isn't to say we don't have our moments when I think I might send them off to camp somewhere:}  We have all day Kindergarten here.  I was so worried that by afternoon, Emmrey would decide she'd had enough and want her Mommy.  She didn't.  She said "I'm surprised Mom, it didn't even feel like 7 hours" {and yes, she does talk like that}.  I am so glad she will have her big sis at the school to look out for her.

After picking the girls up...we enjoyed some warm from the oven chocolate chip cookies {most delicious recipe} and milk and I got to hear all about their first day.   I am so glad we had that time to just sit with each other and not be rushing off to one activity or another.  That will come soon enough.  I loved catching glimpses of their personalities as I listened to all their stories.  Emmrey was very excited to tell me that they read The Kissing Hand, which I had read to them last night before bed.  Such a sweet story.. ...

 Later we had our traditional Back to School Dinner.  Mark is in Minnesota so it was just the four of us.

I decided to do Chili Cheese buns, since it is something the girls all like.  I brought this simple dish into our marriage as something my mom made for us as kids.  Somehow they have become a bit of a tradition when Mark is out of town:}  They are so simple and I don't really know if you can call them a "dish", but my girls think they are pretty divine.  

We ate, talked more about school and drew on our table paper {which will be a welcome home sign for dad}... we are missing him*

 I made these little goodies to put at the girls place settings.   The post it note stands with wise owl messages on them.  They loved the pencils and were very curious about what was inside:}

I think the first day was a success around here.  Let's hope that the entire year continues with this pattern!!

***********

So aside from it being the first day of school.. ...it was also my birthday!  The girls all told me Happy Birthday this morning, but my focus today was on getting the girls ready for school, settled at school .. ...basically SCHOOL!!  After leaving them all at school, I walked into a very quiet, empty house and suddenly felt a little lonely... ..it was a strange feeling!!  I had plenty to do and used my free time to make some little things for our dinner and cookie dough.  As I walked through the house cleaning up and putting things away, I kept finding these little cards with messages that Bay had left.  Although she may be rolling her eyes or shaking her head at me.. ..she is truly the most thoughtful little girl.  It was just what I needed to brighten my afternoon*

Kars had also put together a little something for me.  Some lotion from her room-ha:} and a little coupon book she made. I love that it "expires when all are used".  I will definitely be taking her up on some of those massages:}

 

 Emm made me a note at school...

I {heart} you Mom

It was a good day

See you at home

Emmrey

We are going to officially celebrate when Mark gets back in town on Friday.  In the meantime ..I have 3 little sweeties who try to pick up the pieces while Daddy is away.  I love those girls!!
Thank you to our Moms & Dads for birthday money and for all the birthday wishes from family and friends!

Kids Festival

We spent our last Saturday of summer break volunteering at the Kids Festival.  The Optimist Club hosted a little carnival for kids at the City Park and our CKAT Team was asked to help run the games.  All games were free for the kids and everyone won a little prize.. ..even if they were the kind that end up in the garbage two days later {oh, is that just at our house?} My little girls were such good helpers...I was so proud of them.  Bailee and her buddy Maddie ran a booth together.. ..

Kars and Emm ran a booth together {with a little assistance from Mom}

Uncle Sam made an appearance ...

After 2 1/2 hours of volunteering, it was time for these girls to have some fun of there own.  We made the rounds and let them play all the games they wanted.

 

 And they also earned a game of mini golf:}

I always love when my girls get to experience things as the giver as opposed to the receiver...it was a good day!!

8th grader with Benefits

It's hard to believe that our little Bailee is already entering 8th grade.  She was asked to be a WEB{Where Everyone Belongs} Leader for incoming 6th graders.  The students are selected by faculty who feel that they demonstrate leadership qualities and are good role models at school and in the community.  This kept Bailee busy for three days last week, with training and then the 6th grade orientation day.  She and her partner were in charge of 9 kids....taking them on a tour of the school, playing team building games, goal setting for success in school, and of course assisting with lockers:}    She took it upon herself to make these Survival Kits for her group of kids.  She felt very proud that she bought all the supplies herself and put them together:}

 She will also meet those kids on Tuesday morning and throughout the year to make sure that they are getting settled and help them with any challenges.  It is a great mentor program that helps kids as they transition into Middle School {which can be a pretty scary experience}.  I am so proud that she got to be a part of this program.  I hope that this year opens many new opportunities for our little bug.  I already see her blossoming:}

The best part about this year.. ... ..so far.. ...is that every student in Middle School {and High School} was issued an iPad.  Can you believe it.  Our kids here are so incredibly lucky that our schools have a 1 to 1 technology program. They have had laptops until this year ...now iPads.  Serious benefit to being a Middle Schooler!!

{Look Who's In The News}

Our very own Cody Enterprise picked up the news release about Mark's award and printed it in the paper.  That's right he's pretty much a local celebrity.. ..ha:}

Froggy Pool

I had to make a trip out to Powell the other day and decided to make an afternoon out of it with a trip to the Froggy Pool.  This little wading pool is designed for kids 8 and under.  And while it is perfect for Emmrey right now, Karsyn and Bailee are really too big to do a whole lot.  They were hoping to go next door to the Aquatics Center, but it was closed for maintenance:[   

Bailee spent the time on a blanket reading.. ...

 Karsyn sat on the side off and on.. ..fighting feelings of being "too big" and wanting in on the action

 And Emmrey slid down the froggy's tongue over and over

When we got in the car it read 101 degrees .. ..WOW!! So we headed downtown for some much needed ice cream:}

Sister Time

Mark and I have been trying to have consistent date nights.  Right now we are satisfied with just going to dinner and being able to talk to each other.  However, as soon as we get home .. ...date night is over!! The girls are right there wanting our attention again.  We decided that date night needed extended longer, even if we are technically back at home.  So we {I} came up with an idea....the girls have a sleepover in one of their bedrooms or guestroom on date nights.  When we get home they can play games etc. in their room together while Mark and I watch a movie {or Mad Men}.  It's been great, because the girls have this special sister time together and we get a little more "alone time".  Last week I went in to check on them and this is what I saw... ...

Apparently, Emmrey doesn't quite understand the concept of the game.  When it buzzed, she just kept going after it until she got it:}

{Take a Hike}

These past 2 weekends we have been doing a little hiking.  First we hiked around Cedar Mountain.  We only had Kars this time.  Bailee and Emmrey weren't interested in hiking that afternoon, so it was just the three of us.

 It is always sooo different when we go anywhere with less than all 3 girls.  We love listening to all the girls talk when we hike together, but taking just Karsyn we get to hear what is really on her mind.  Times like this allow us to get to know our girls in a different way .. ..without all the distractions and competition.

It was such an enjoyable afternoon.. ...until the sky darkened and the thunder rolled in.  That ended our hike pretty quick.  Karsyn goes into complete panic mode {she seems to have gotten a little worse this summer for some reason}

***************************

This last weekend we took the whole clan to hike to the Blackwater Fire Memorial up the North Fork.  15 firefighters were killed on Aug 21, 1937 in a fire caused by an electrical storm.  A memorial has been built in their honor.  We did not make it all the way to the memorial {a little too hot and long for some}, but we did enjoy some pretty scenery.. ..and suckers for the journey;}

 Emmrey was dying to use her new CamelBak that she just won as a prize for Summer Reading.  The bad part was I went against my better judgement and let her use a flavor pac for her water......not long into our hike she was over the "flavor" and just wanted some cold clear H2O....

 We stumbled upon this neat little bridge that was so narrow and only had one side of railing {I guess for the horses to cross}.  The girls had fun playing on it and in the water

 These 2 were so cute together....  like best of friends

 

It is not always like this at home...that's what we love about getting away from "home".  They just walked, talked and sang

 This little one just walked and asked for more of dad's water and how much longer we had because she was "so hot"

 On our way back Emmrey spotted something huge on the trail... .. turns out it was a Mormon Cricket

It was a day to think about those that put their lives at risk to save lives and preserve our forests and appreciating this beautiful area we are blessed to live in:}