Goodbye, Sweet Summer

Even though we spent most of the weekend sick, we managed to salvage Monday.  The kids wanted to go to the Fair, but I knew it would be so crazy with Labor Day and all. Instead we headed down to the river here in Idaho Falls.  We started off at the playground and had a picnic lunch. 

Michael was in a major mood, and it took a while to snap him out of it.  Annie and Sophie thought they were in heaven at the park.  When we lived in California the park was three houses down and we went almost everyday.  Here we don't get to them as much as we should!  The boys got into the slides and monkey bars too...even if they were not initially as excited.  The slide in this picture is three stories high and the boys took turns taking Sophie up to the top over and over again.

It sure makes it easy having little ones with these guys around.  I just snapped pictures and watched.  (I am trying to learn how to use my camera.)

Ryan joined in on the action...

If you look extra close in this picture you might be able to see that Ryan has a new addition to his teeth, that's right...he has braces now!  (That apple took him about an hour to eat.)

James was a good sport, posing for me endlessly while I tried to figure out different settings on my camera.  (Only my mom will fully appreciate that the temple is NOT in focus in this picture!  We took a little photography class and our teacher used this as an example about five different times.)

After the park we took a walk on the greenbelt.  (It follows around the Snake River and our "Falls".) Ryan and I were actually the only ones walking as you can see. 

I always forget how much I love this part of Idaho Falls.  There were several houses across from the river for sale and I thought we should buy them.  As usual, no one else agreed.

Finally, we headed over to the Temple Grounds and Visitor's Center.  Everything was so beautiful!

I left my better camera in the car thinking we would not be able to walk on the temple grounds since the temple was closed.  I didn't realize they let you in through the visitors center.  Here's my crew...

I took a quick snap shot of the gardens for future ideas in a garden of my own someday.  This really doesn't do them justice!

On our way home we had one last VERY important stop to make.  We had to stop at the snow cone shack for our last icey of the season.  So sad.  They close after Labor Day.

This summer Annie truly "got" the glory of the snow cone and not a day went by that she did not ask for one. 

Sophie "got" it too.  She goes NUTS and starts shaking all over the minute she sets her eyes on these things.  I tried "sharing" with her and getting two spoons.  She quickly took over both spoons, shoveling her flavored ice in as fast as she could. 

Good bye, dear Tigers Blood.  Good bye, lazy summer afternoons.  Good bye eating our favorite treats on warm evenings at this dusty corner in Ammon, Idaho. 

I was seriously a little sad eating our snow cones and thinking that the closing of the snow shack means that summer is officially over.  Fall has always been my favorite, but now that I live in Idaho...I think I just appreciate the summers a tad bit more.  Everything is so beautiful when it is green.  I love the long days and how it gets dark soooo late.  And lets face it...I love summer because I am a "yellow" (remember the color chart) and I shirk any responsibility, and so I love NO SCHOOL and no schedules thrust upon me.

 September really is just about perfect here in Idaho though, so I might as well stop lamenting and enjoy it while it lasts!  (I think as I age I get more sentimental...yikes, that is a little scary.  If I am getting emotional over snow cones now, what will I be like at 70?)  Good bye, sweet summer.

It was a looong week!

 Well, we survived the first week of school, and what a week it was!  I just had to throw in this picture of my cart from Sams Club. I can't believe how much money I can drop in that place.  It can be dangerous. As my kids are getting older I am definitely seeing the grocery bill go UP. I swear I go to the grocery store and in about two days, the kids are already telling me everything that we are out of.  I decided to buy pre-packaged chips this year because once a large bag is open, they are gone in about one day.  These should last me a while with the kids lunches.  I do try and pack some healthy things....but chips are usually a must!

It is nice when the girls will sleep through all the morning madness.  Annie will half the time, Sophie almost always does.  Sophie is so happy when she wakes up.  I just love it.  I wish that were the case when I woke up the boys.  Wouldn't that be nice if they would coo and giggle when they are 12 and you wake them up for school.  Why doesn't it work that way?

I think Annie had actually just woken her up.  She can't seem to resist. 

The first day of school I was trying to accomplish a million things before the kids returned home.  I figured I MUST make them homemade cookies for their first day.  (Something that somehow I created in my head as an important tradition.)  Annie thought it would be so fun to help and insisted on sugar cookies.  (I was hoping for a chocolate chip request, much faster!)  I said gave in since I knew Ryan likes sugar cookies best.

This is the recipe I always use.  It is my moms. I love it because not only do I think it taste the best (not too sweet, to balance out the sweet frosting) but it doesn't require you to chill the dough first.  I ALWAYS double it (at the least).  

 This is what happens when you decide to let the little ones help. Don't worry.  These cookies were not going out to any neighbors and yes, Sophie had just taken a bath.  

I thought I would go all Martha and make a letter for each child's name that they could decorate when they got home.  I did stars to represent being a "star student".  I thought I was being this wonderful mother, and then in walked the kids from school....

Michael: "COOKIES!?  Who in the world wants cookies when they get home from school?  We are HOT, we want something COLD."  

James: Sniffs, looks around, and basically says, "I'll pass, I am not really into those cookies."  

Joshua: (By the time he gets home he can tell I am not having the best afternoon so he tries to be a little more diplomatic.) "They look great mom, really, I love them, I am just not really in the mood for something sweet right now."  

GRRRRR........

Thank goodness I had Luke around...

 He told me his day was, "THE BEST!  Second grade is the best grade ever!" 

AND he loved the cookies.  

(Although he did tell me he likes them a tad bit softer, thanks for the tip buddy. I think he was comparing them to STORE BOUGHT cookies....I know, I don't get it either. )

Speaking of tips...I picked up a new chore chart from Staples. I love it.  It has a huge pad of these papers, and there is a magnet on the back.  We just did a big switch up with our chores at the start of the new school year, and I love a cute chart that makes it simple!

Thank goodness our first week of school was only four days long.  We had Friday off, and then Labor Day weekend to follow.  Friday morning I went on an eleven mile run. I have not trained too well, and I felt awful.  By the end I laid down in the grass and thought I would die.  Later that afternoon I just got worse. I thought it must be some sort of dehydration or something (I forgot to bring water with me).  I soon realized that while the run probably had not helped things out, I really was coming down with the flu.  Soon James, Michael, and Annie were throwing up.  Sophie and Luke also had a mild version of the sickness.  All Friday and Saturday we were DOWN AND OUT.  I couldn't believe it.  This is the FOURTH time we have had the stomach flu in our house this YEAR (as in 2012).  We were completely sick over Memorial Day Weekend, and wouldn't you know it, same with Labor Day!  I really do clean and sanitize my house...I don't know what is going on!  I am just glad it is OVER!

We had a huge rainstorm Saturday late afternoon when I was feeling super sick.  I woke up from a nap feeling much better and the sun was poking through the rain clouds....

Wish I could capture how pretty it was!  It was my little bit of "sunshine" during a yucky couple of days.  Man, I sure do appreciate good health more after being sick.   I think of those who are chronically ill, and it gives me just a taste of how brave they are.  I am such a baby.

My cousin's wedding....

The same weekend we went and saw President Monson's Birthday Celebration I talked about here, we also went to my cousin Andrea's wedding.  It great to be able to see her get married, and also to see many members of family on my Mom's side.  It is kind of crazy because I remember her parents wedding.  I even remember their cake.  I am telling you, smells and taste bring any memory back to me!  I also remember going to visit my Aunt and Uncle when Andrea was a brand new baby.  I wish I could find the picture I have of me holding her!  I felt so old at the time.  Believe it or not, all these years later I feel so young!

These two cute girl are my cousin Emily's daughters, Lucy and Rachel.  Annie fell in love with them that weekend.  They babysat both Annie and Sophie for me the night before.  

Not only are they good little babysitters...they are pretty good photographers!  I stole this photo that one of them took outside the temple of the happy couple with her sisters.  I love it! (This is the only one right outside the temple that I have...I had to run to our hotel to get the kids right after the ceremony.)  

Speaking of the ceremony....the man that married them did such a great job.  I loved hearing his advice to the couple.  It is always a good reminder for my own marriage.  He admonished them to pray together every single morning and night.  He also told them to read their scriptures as a couple.  Man that is a hard one for us!  It seems we are thinking we are doing pretty darn good if we manage to read with the kids, not to mention personal study.  I think it would be great if we could figure out how to incorporate couple study in the mix too.  

Our kids are sure easier to get to smile for pictures than they were when the boys were all little.   Now, if only we didn't have the big old sunspot in the picture.  

My girls...

The girls really love their brothers!  This week has been an adjustment for Annie with all of the boys in school.  She is finding there are some perks that she enjoys, but about an hour before they return home, she is counting down the minutes!  

Joshua and Annie

James and Sophie

Joshua and Annie (again!)

These two are growing up...that's for sure. 

These two...not so much.  Just kidding.  This is Luke with my cousin Emily's son Adam.  They really hit it off and had maybe a little too much fun together. 

Joshua and cousin, Sadie

Cake cutting...

The Milligan ladies chatting it up...(wonder what they were discussing?)

The girls were so happy to have some of the wedding flowers! Easy to please I tell ya!

Cousin Paul and Aunt (or really Great Cousin?  I call her my Aunt) Marcia.  This was out in the parking lot.  Somehow Ryan and I always manage to be the one of the last ones to leave pretty much any event.  I guess we just like to chat. 

It was a lovely day and we are so happy for Andrea and her sweet husband Nathaniel.

And they are off...

The kids made it out the door!  Wow, sure is quiet.  We had a meeting last night and went over new bedtimes and routines.  The kids actually seemed pretty cooperative and excited so that it always a plus!  They were all so excited they were easy to wake up.  Me, on the other hand, I was exhausted!  I stayed up late cleaning so everything would be ready to go in the morning.  Then I couldn't fall asleep.  I think it was 130am last time I looked at the clock.  Yikes.  6:00am way too soon!

Everything went as planned, except I bade them farewell in my bathrobe.  I know, I have it pretty good, I don't have to drive them or walk them to school. (I did that one for years.) Now they just run to the end of the street and catch the bus.  But, don't worry....there are times when they miss the bus throughout the school year, and you bet I still am wearing this old robe driving them to school.  A robe, Uggs, and sun glasses (I am hoping that no one will recognize me) are my usual attire.  I pray the whole way home that I don't get in an accident. (Not too worried about the actual accident, just the whole getting out of the car thing.)  Ahh!  What would I do?  I told myself I was going to be dressed (at least in my workout clothes) before I wake them up this year.  Maybe I will do better tomorrow!

Here are the "first day" pics.

Luke, 2nd Grade (How did that happen?)

Michael, 3rd grade

(Do you like how the sky here is white?)  That is not just bad picture taking skills.  That is how it has been for like a MONTH!  I miss clouds and blue skies.  Darn fires! 

James, 6th grade

Joshua, 8th grade

This is more like it...

Fond farewells...

Now I must go conquer the house!  Not to mention, I already received a phone call from the school.  It was Luke.  He can't seem to find his lunch box.  Did he leave it at the bus stop?  On the bus?  He is not really sure.  Here we go....