School Days

My beautiful Emma is a big first-grader today! She is SO excited and didn't seem a bit nervous. Although she did say she would miss our "mommy time" in the afternoons and she would miss playing with Ray Ray and Luke. She couldn't quite wrap her mind around the fact that when she comes home after school Rachel and Luke will have already taken their naps and had their snacks. It will be different, for sure. Here I am, sitting here and Rachel just said, "I miss Emma. When is she coming home???" We will all miss having her around--she is so fun, sweet, and always full of crazy, new ideas for playing. I think of all the trips to the park, picnics, outings, and little things she will miss this year. Letting go is hard to do! Sigh. Any other moms having a hard time today???

Here she is on the big day! She loved this horse sweater at Gymboree (she is very into horses and ponies these days).

Oh, the anticipation. Lauren and Emma peeking into their classroom. They are lucky to be in the same class again this year!

School Preparations

We had our Back-to-School Feast/FHE tonight and it was so fun. I went all out and made delicious bacon-corn chowder (which no one except me liked, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!), homemade biscuits (these were a major hit), fresh green beans, and fresh peaches and cream. Yum. Summer dinner at its finest. We fancied up the table and the dishes and had fun. I presented each of my girls with a Schultute. I read about it in a magazine--it is a big paper cone filled with school supplies and treats and given to schoolchildren in Germany. So I made one for each girl and they loved them. Then Ben gave Emma and Rachel a father's blessing to start the school year off right. They were so happy to get a blessing. Emma said, "I feel a warm glow growing inside me." And Rachel said, "Thank you for the blessing, daddy!" I love this time of year--there is so much excitement and anticipation. And I can't resist buying WAY more school supplies than we actually need.


With their Schultutes


My sweet girls--are they really going off to school in just a few short days? How I will miss them!

My Little Fashionista

Isn't she adorable??? This is the latest fashion for fall, you know.

Visit with Mom

My mom came out to visit last week. Hooray! She is known as Granby to my kids and we all just love her. The thing I love most about my mom is that she really knows how to play with my kids. She gets down on the floor and gets into whatever they're doing. She plays and plays. She is so able to bond with my kids because she takes the time to talk to them, get to know them, and make them laugh. Even though we only see her about twice a year (if we're lucky) the kids just love her so much! She is a wonderful grandma. We enjoyed a fun-filled week of activities with the kids, as well as an overnight getaway up in Sandy. We enjoyed eating out, pedicures, and LOTS of shopping (I was feeling shopping-deprived so it was nice to get out and spend money--sorry Ben!!). My grandma and Aunt Lisa came too and we had a blast. Thanks mom!

Children's Museum at the Gateway. Such a fun place! We easily could have stayed there all day with so much to do.




Shucking corn


It's become tradition for Granby to take school-age kids (including PRE-school age kids) on a back-to-school date to pick out a new outfit for school and enjoy a treat.


Coloring

Nail-painting

Granby taught Emma how to play Uno and that's all Emma wanted to play for hours.

Chuck E. Cheese--another tradition

My Grandma McAffee's grave (my mom's mother). She passed away over 30 years ago so I never knew her. It will be wonderful to see her in heaven!


Lots of reading.

Mom, we miss you so much! Thank you for a wonderful visit. Love you tons!

Summer Cuties

These pictures are some of my favorites from this summer! Luke is simply adorable. Add Rachel and it's an unbeatable combination! Love these kids so much.

Random Summer Pictures

The girls had their swimming lessons in early July--this was Rachel's first year and she was so excited! She loved it and had so much fun.

My Papa and the girls



Lots of wild'n'crazy summer fun

A fun apron-painting project on a quiet Sunday evening


Oh how I love these guys. (a recent picnic dinner and fishing excursion up the canyon)

My grandma loves to spoil the great-grandkids with chocolate donuts.


I love my Papa so much! He is the most gentle, loving man! (With a great sense of humor too...)

The Fourth!

The Fourth! Man, I love the Fourth of July. I love seeing everyone come together to celebrate such a wonderful place to live. I feel a joyous appreciation for all the many people who have worked and who continue to work and sacrifice to give us the peace and comforts of life we enjoy here in America. And you just can't beat the colors!
We got together with our friends and had such a fun time BBQing, eating yummy homemade ice cream (thanks Ben!), jumping on the trampoline, and watching fireworks.

The girls are waiting to be bounced up in the air by Bill, who is lying UNDER the trampoline. That guy is so creative! The kids laughed so hard!

A little ring-around-the-rosey action. Luke LOVES this game!

The girls are all waiting patiently for it to get dark so we could bring out the fireworks.

We topped off the holiday weekend with a picnic at Rock Canyon park yesterday. Such a fun park with lots of stuff to do. AND....we finally got a great picture of ALL THREE KIDS! I can die a happy woman. Look how happy they are!