Kindergarten Girl

She started on Tuesday. She loves it... I miss her. She seems so grown up. She was a little nervous to walk up the first day and find her line, then once we were there she shook her hand shoo-ing me away and told me she had this. I felt good the first day cause there was a dr. appointment to fill the time. Today I really missed her. I feel old and both daddy and I can't believe how fast this all happened. I can't wait to hear all about the things she is learning and discovering. The next thing you know she will be graduating from HS and going away to school...

Primary Pioneer Trek

Gator kept asking if we were all going on the Pioneer "truck" I think he was sure we were going on something he didn't want to miss out on. Ry had no Pioneer-ie type shoes so I was going to have her go bar foot and really have the experience, just joking she just had flip flops instead. They even had the Pony Express (a real horse) show up with letters from the parents to the kids. I helped make scones for the the kids at the end... I wasn't feeling up to trek. Gator helped me and he we all had a fab time.

I just know that as time gets closer and closer to baby day I am not going to want to move much. So here are a few shots of the pre-birthday pics for Ry. Also this shoot turned out a little lighter for Gator too.. I was so happy to have our little Grace and of course my fave photo gal Ericka. I am still learning camera stuff every day. The main focus this time was my gold reflector. I like the effect of warmth. I think I am going to try the white side or silver next... Yeah!!!! for parks with cool tires and giant lollipops from the dollar store!!!!!

24th and reunion

We spent the 24Th at a reunion. It is something I looked forward to each year as a child and has become some of my favorite childhood memories. The cousins, the food, the laughter. My kids really got a kick out of it too. We stayed in our Hilton of a tent on air mattresses. We set it up right by the river so it drowned out all the loud noises and gave perfect white noise, the nights were perfect for sleeping, cool for a preggers lady. The kids loved swimming. Gator loved swimming until he fell in the pool while daddy and mommy were busy playing water volley ball. One of the "great" Aunties was thankfully watching him and was able to grab him by his swim trunks after he bobbed to the top with his arm floaties and haul him out. I am probably gonna win momma of the year for that one. They also swam in the reservoir while the big and brave did the rope swing. We had grand plans to see the self guided tour of Napoleon Dynamites filming locations but ran out of time. My Auntie came up with some very fun -Minute to Win it- games. Plus we got some great things from the family auction. I am especially happy about my composter. Whooohoooo!
Gator watched. He wasn't sure if this looked like something he would try. Although he did say that maybe when he was five he would give it a go. I don't think I would try the rope swing. It looked way too scary. Daddy said he wished he would have brought his swim suit so he could have tried it out. I was kinda thankful, he is waaaaaay to brave and would try something that would end up with a nice cut or worse.

I asked the kids what their favorite part of the trips were... (something I tend to do)

Ry said- She liked the swimming and the treasure hunt. In the treasure hunt she got a bubble gum machine, a princess painting kit, a train whistle and lots of candy.

Gator said- He liked the house. The house had ping pong and other fun games. He liked when people were together.

Mommy said- I liked the video games and movie on the giant 16 foot movie screen and being with family.

Daddy said- He liked being together too. (actually, I can't remember what he said, but he is asleep right now so I can't ask him)








Saturday we came home but wanted to get in some of the *BIG* firework action. So we met up with the Dumas' and watched them in the park.. They were amazing.

I can't believe that summer is nearly over for us and we haven't even done some of the things we always do... Ry starts school in a week and I am going to miss her while she is away. I feel old. Then Gator will start next month.. Then baby.... AHHHHH life is moving super fast.....

I have been setting some small goals, some I get done, like cleaning out the lockers and linen closet. Some of my goals keep getting pushed to the next day. It all moves too fast to keep up...

But Where?

This little conversation happened in the car recently..

Gator-"Mommy, where is Jesus' house?"
Mom-"He is at the Temples and Churches"
Ry-"yeah, but where does he live?"
Mom-"Those are the Houses of the Lord"
Ry-"But which one is his room, I have never seen a bed?"
Mom-"Well he doesn't really......"
Ry-"I know he sleeps on a table"
Gator-"That is not berry fun"
Ry-"He likes it!"
Gator-"I should sleep on us table."
Ry-"No you'd fall off"
Gator-"I lub dis song... Turn it up"

I didn't get to finish telling them, I guess if the believe that Jesus is there and that we need to be respectful that is okay for now.

On her way!

Ry has been asking for a little sewing instruction. So we started out with a little project that she could finish in a few minutes. She is actually very good. We made a little bag. She helped me sew on the machine, then she learned how to sew by hand. Two little techniques, a running stitch and the whip stitch. Then she helped me do the button hole on the machine and she learned how to sew on the button. It wasn't very fancy. It wasn't very hard. Considering that she is five and wants to go for Barbie clothes next, I feel it a huge success. There were tears on two occasions. The first, she poked her finger "Really bad!" and the second when she tried for about twenty minutes to thread the darn needle. I told her it was hard and took practice and that she could put it down and finish another time. She doesn't do that very well... Kinda like tying her shoes, riding her two wheeler, and braiding hair. She will do it until she CAN do it and do it well... I really like that about her. Some things I think are way over her head until she gives it a shot. She usually succeeds.

She loved that the thread was bright red.

This was the sewing kit she talked me into buying for her.

Sa-wing batta batta batta!

Keep your eyes on the ball.

That looks real nice. Now, when the ball comes close SWING!!!

This is how you hold the bat and your body so you can hit a home run...

Nice swing... Ry hit the ball two times... Gator just loved to be playing with Dad.