My Birthday

In the middle of all the back to school goings on, I celebrated a birthday. All us girls ended up with Sunday birthdays this year. Normally it would be a good excuse to go to the mountains or something, but since we had church commitments we kept it pretty simple. We went to lunch at Paninos, relaxed at home and had a BBQ later that evening (I also was served a yummy omelet in bed that morning). Emmrey did a super job with the decorations again. 

She even dragged out the old spill mat that I used under the girls high chairs:)

 I received some $ to purchase new sunglasses since mine have been broke for some time.

 Mark also added a little treat I am pretty fond of.

 These sweet girls gave me a beautiful hand written card, a new cosmetic bag and Emmrey played Happy Birthday to me on her Ukulele. I wish I could get that to load on here.

 I was also treated to a chocolate cake and Malted Moo Shake ice cream ... YUM!

Here's hoping this year brings lots of growth for me!

First day (S) of school

The girls all started school on different days this year. Karsyn was first on the 17th. They have a transition day for Freshmen so they have their first day at the High School without the upperclassmen. I love the concept, but school should not be starting that early in August. Although she is not very expressive, I can tell when my Lu is nervous. She was pretty nervous! She was not really feeling the whole "first day photo thing". No #9 or anything ;) I didn't want to push it because honestly, I totally got it. I was nervous too!

Freshmen year #9

 I drove her over to school and she kinda froze when we arrived. I offered to walk her in. Yes, I am aware this is high school we are talking about, but trust me there were many parents walking their kids in. She declined my offer and once she snapped out of her daze, she just hoped out with a quick goodbye. I was sad all the way home. They day was filled with team building activities and a quick visit to each of their classes. Poudre High School has got to have the craziest schedule. There must be some intention behind it, but as far as I can tell there is no rhyme or reason for it. There is no odd/even days. It's very random so I think Kars was pretty worried about being able to figure that out. When I picked her up that afternoon, it was like a weight had been lifted. I always tell the girls the build up before the first day of something new is the worst part. 

She even offered to let me take her picture in front of the school!

Bailee started the next day (Thursday). Starting her Senior year was quite a bit different than her Freshmen year. She wasn't super excited about going back, but it was less about nerves and more about not wanting summer to be over. I also think she is a little freaked out about what comes after this year. 

Me too Bay, me too!

Senior year #12

Normally these two will ride the bus until Bailee gets her license and then I am still not sure if I will be ready for them to zip around together. But ... for their first days I took them and picked them up. It was so cute to see them come through the parking lot together. Cute and shocking! I seriously cannot believe we have 2 high schoolers. It's absolutely crazy (and sobering) to me.

trying to be quick and sneaky usually means poor quality photo;)

Emmrey started the following Monday and ironically she was bummed that her sisters got to start before her! This girl LOVES school. I sure hope that lasts.

4th grade year

She really wanted to ride the bus (she's also very social). So we put her on the bus and we drove over to the school so we could ....  hmmm ....    yeah she really didn't need us:) 

It was definitely more for us than her.

 We watched her play with friends from a distance until she found her little buddy. I guess she wanted to make sure we saw her too because she finally wandered over to us. These two were in the same class last year and will be again this year. Sophie was home schooled prior to that so 3rd grade was a huge adjustment for her. Emmrey kinda took her under her wing and the they quickly became inseparable. 

 

 It was a bit of a whirlwind getting the girls started this year. I really hope that once they settle in, it will be the most fabulous year ever!! I sure will miss them.

end of summer

When we came home from Utah we had very little time (or so it seemed) before we were forced into thinking about school. A few random pics of the days before summer break came to an end. Our garden took a hit this year with some bug infestation. We didn't get any cucumbers which was a bummer, but we got plenty of zucchini. This is what you find when you leave for a week ... gigantic!

  The two high schoolers had check in days. I have to be creative sometimes about getting their picture. They can't understand why I need a picture of them going in or out of "Check In Day":)

 

 Emmrey soaked up some friend time. These two, along with another friend decided one afternoon (totally on a whim) to start a car washing business. They were wandering the neighborhood asking to wash peoples cars. Those little swindlers made 13.00

I have really been trying to get our photos/keepsakes more organized. It is way more time consuming that I ever imagined! I've been doing lots of scanning to save things digitally.

   Sucking up the last week of summer. Double fisting the popsicles ;)

Bailee had an appointment at Medical Center of the Rockies for an internship this spring. 

This girl is going places I tell ya!

  We had a pizza picnic in the park before the high school girls left us

 

  When pulling out lunch bags to get them ready for the new year .. this is what Kars found. Part of her last lunch from May. She wonders why I always ask "did you empty your lunch bag?"

 (apparently I forgot this day).

 We are pretty sure it was a pear, but can't be certain. So disgusting!

We also had a serious hail storm one afternoon. Didn't help our garden at all!

Emmrey and I went to an Ice Cream Social at school. This was before it officially started. She was hanging out with the other PTO board members kids.

Two days later everyone was in school:(

Beauty and the Beast

The last day in Utah, Grandpa Wayne and Grandma Cheryl took the granddaughters to see Beauty and the Beast at Hale Theatre. They planned this last year so it was pretty much the reason for our Utah trip and what we scheduled everything else around. I didn't get to go to the play:( but I did drive over there so I could get a photo before they went in. Call me a weirdo but I was pretty sure nobody would get one for me. Good thing it's close to my parents house. The girls had a fabulous time and loved the play. I am glad they got to be with all their girl cousins {except the ones that are married} and Hazen {who doesn't want to go to the Bees game with the boys}. 

What a neat memory that was made!

what a bunch of cute girls ...{and boys}

Later that afternoon we went to Shana's to swim. She has a nice pool at her place and to think I had forgot about it. We swam until it started to rain .... what is it with us an pools on this trip?  We went back to may parents and had a BBQ.  It was a great way to end our trip. 

Just wish we could have seen everyone one more time.

Smith Reunion

The decision to not go camping as a family was due to Mark's parents accident. Instead we spent a couple of evenings together and helped them with some projects. Wednesday nights BBQ included a salsa contest. Mark and Susan challenged each other a few months ago and so it was on! I don't know how many different people actually entered the contest since some made more than one salsa. Mark made his Pico and Chunky Mango salsa. Susan also made a mango salsa {suspicious?} but a pureed version. Hers did get the most votes but Marks container was empty halfway through the night .. .. just sayin' ;))

The adults played a version of the Newlywed Game. The kids watched (not really). Mark and I totally smoked the other couples ... okay not really .. .. but we do know each other pretty well.

Mark was not about to give up on the camping out all together so he insisted we do a backyard campout. We figured that most of the adults would bail on that, but were surprised that none of the kids slept out either. It ended up just being our family {minus Bailee who went back to my parents because she was sick}. Pretty sad huh? I guess they are just not as adventurous as we are;) I actually slept pretty badly. Between the traffic, planes and just general noise it was hard to fall/stay asleep.

 It was a memory all the same!

The following morning most of us did some yard work and projects around the house. 

We weeded our hiney's off in that garden. 

Kars spraying the roof soffit under grandma's supervision.

 Emmrey and Sadi thinning out the apple trees. They were supposed to be picking the ones with worm holes .. ... not sure how much they accomplished. I heard lots of "ewws".

 Mark is a working machine. He likes yard work but he also isn't lazy and likes giving a job his all. He really wanted to get things completed for his parents. One of the things I love about him. 

There is definitely more to do in the future.

The time together was certainly not the same as camping would have been and if I'm being honest,  a bit of a let down. But it was nice to spend some time with The Smith Clan.

Seven Peaks

On the first day of what was supposed to be the Smith Camp Out we took the girls to Seven Peaks. When Mark and I were teenagers it was called Raging Waters and we both recalled it hadn't changed much since then. 

 The initial plan was that we would do some day trips with the family in place of camping. That didn't exactly happen and it ended up being just us with David, Nathan and Bella. Mark's sister who didn't end up coming had rented this cabana. Since she couldn't get a refund, we had it for the day. Unfortunately this was the only time we spent there {waiting to get started}.

 It was pretty far from the slide area and we didn't do much sitting around.

 It wasn't all that busy {by water park standards} and we were able to ride the slides over and over. The girls swiped this triple tube and tried it out. 

It was short lived since Bailee and Emmrey crashed heads when they landed.

This set of two slides was pretty popular for our group. Mark made it his personal mission to make it as far as the stairs at the end of the landing pool. I think he made it once. 

 

I hear this one was pretty awesome, although I never tried it. I don't like that steep dropping feeling. Kars and I were the only ones who didn't ride it. I was so impressed with the others. 

A little video of the crazy man  ...

  Although my vision of having all the family together at the water park was a fail, it actually worked out perfect just the way it was. It was fun just hanging out with these guys!

National Night Out

After returning from Logan we joined my parents for their National Night Out Block Party. 

The purpose of this event is to "promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer nation".  

It's a pretty cool concept that I think all neighborhoods should be participating in.

My dad is one of the organizers for his neighborhood. He's a pretty big deal:) It was fun to see some old friends from the hood. Other than my parents, only 4 other homes still have the same family living there from when I was growing up. As nice as they all are, it really made me miss the old cul-de-sac.

They had all but one house in the neighborhood represented which my parents were pleased about.

The police and fire department made and appearance. 

They didn't run their sirens for us  .. .. but it was cool anyway.

Here's to safe neighborhoods!

USU Tour

The main reason we went to Logan was to take Bailee on a tour of Utah State.

 It is one of the schools she is considering. 

But first .. ..  a good nights sleep. I love when the girls are all snuggled up together:)

 Our tour guide was a trip! Cute kid from Sandy UT who had so much personality. He made me laugh but his humor wasn't necessarily appreciated by the entire group. 

Walking around that campus sure brought back a lot of great memories.

 We did a housing tour as well and then they treated us to lunch in the Taggart Student Center. Mark insisted on getting Bay a shirt at the Bookstore. Can you tell he's a little excited about the possibility of another Aggie?

 We also were treated to Aggie ice cream. Made right there onsite and deliciously creamy. We were giving Kars a hard time about her "single scoop" being more like a triple ..... ..

 .. .. . and then this happened. Lost the entire thing after just a handful of licks. I didn't get the big glob before she picked it up.  I offered to get her another one. She declined. She was sad:(

 We took the girls by our old home. They have painted the doors {used to be green} and added a carport. Bailee was the only one that lived here and that was only her first year. 

I don't think it meant as much to them as us.

You can't go through Brigham City/Perry in the summer and not stop at the fruit stands.

 We got ourselves some peaches. Not as plump and juicy as the last time, but still pretty good!

 We took a quick detour to the Hill Aerospace Museum. I recommend the place for a now and then visit. The girls have been there before and weren't quite as impressed this time.

We had a great couple of days at our old stomping grounds. We really love Logan and would be really happy if USU works out. She would be really far away from home though:// Go Aggies!