Bumblebee and Back to School

I feel like I just blogged about the kids last day at school and already I'm blogging about their first day back. This summer flew by and we had a blast at every fun trip we took but I think we all needed school to start again so we'd stay home more.

On a little side note we have some friends who live by us that have a car that gets our kids all rowled up every time they see it. We first saw it at the car show here in town...It looks like Bumblebee, it sounds like Bumblebee so my kids are determined that it is the actual Bumblebee!


They were beyond excited when our friends Bill and Suzanne came over to take them for the ride of their life in it.


They had so much fun that they were smiling the rest of the night.


Now onto school...
Its funny how I get so excited for them to get back into some sort of routine, and meet more friends, and actually do something constructive each day that I forget how emotional I get every time the day actually comes for them to start school again.

We switched the kids this year to attend the school that the rest of the kids in the neighborhood attend. And I'm so glad we did! It was the brightest morning; a perfect start to a very exciting day.
Kollin started 3rd grade this year.


Kaylee started 1st grade this year and was ecstatic that she got to stay the whole day.


Oh I'm gonna treasure this picture! Kol and Kay have been best buds since they started and I hope it will bring them closer as they go each year together in school.


We only have one bus stop in our neighborhood and the other day I counted 42 kids getting on.


Kollin is beyond me following him around with a camera so Kaylee got it bad! Here's my sweetie starting her first day of 1st Grade.


Kooper started Kindergarten this year but had to wait an extra week from the other kids. It was the longest week of his life but we had a lot of fun it just being him, me and Khloe at home together. But the day finally came and Kooper was the first one to be ready to go that morning. I know its not going to be like this very long so I captured every second...




Kooper sits at the same table with two of his friends from the neighborhood so he was excited and ready for me to go. Reading books all day, play-do, drawing, recess, snacks, riding the bus...I'm starting to wish they had a Kindergarten for moms:)


I'm so proud of who my kids are becoming. Yes we have our rough days but I know I've done my best to teach them right and wrong, how to act and how to treat other people. They'll have days where they make mistakes and wrong choices, but that's all about growing up isn't it?! I am loving and treasuring every moment of them being young...it'll be gone too fast!

Back to School Fashion Show

All summer long I would collect school clothes a little at a time. But with every sale or garage sale the kids became more and more anxious to wear their "school clothes". So the Monday before school started we had the kids put on a Back to School Fashion Show for Family Night. Kevin and I sat on the couch controlling the music and cheered them on and announced each of them as they walked in the room. So without further adieu...

Kollin with one outfit...(he's hit this DC phase bad. Not the cheapest clothes either, so he was pretty lucky getting when we found some at Ross!)




Our Diva of all Divas - Kaylee...


She didn't want to take the time to tie them and either did I! But every time I look at this picture I remember how she tried these skinny jeans on at the DI and seriously squealed out loud. She said "I love em, I love em, I love em". I love that my girls love to shop!!


She posed like this all on her own. Hello Hollywood!!


And Mr. Cool - Kooper...


Such a stud!


And adorable little Khloe. She had just gotten out of the shower and she's got crazy frizzie hair, but i love her sweet smile still.


Khloe starts preschool in November and is more than excited!


The kids' audience, music directors, mc's, and biggest fans...


They are such sweet kids! We had a blast showcasing their outfits that they put together.

Mothers Day

Kevin and the kids did an amazing job making sure Mothers Day was sooo special for me! The kids sang a song at church, and with the help of the best husband in the world pampered me all day long.

(I'm not sure why all their mouths are open like their catching flys but this is me with my amazing kids on Moms Day!)


Besides all the pampering I also got a great patio set. Its great in the morning or late at night but our back yard is burning hot all afternoon which is a bummer!


Kollin had his spring piano recital back in May. He played "I love to see the Temple" primary song and did amazing! I love love love watching him learn more songs and progress with his level of songs!


Also the days began getting warmer about a month ago and the kids have been dying for us to buy a sprinkler. But why buy them when their already installed in your back yard:) Kill two birds with one stone...water the grass and entertain the kids at the same time!






Right before Memorial Day the kids finished school. The last week was a crazy stressful week with programs and graduations but was extremely emotional for me and Kollin. Because we've moved the kids are having to change schools and its tough when Kollins made great friends and I've been sooo happy with the programs and level of learning he's gotten there. But change can be a good thing so that's what I'm shooting for. Kollin had a Mom and Muffin Day where I got to go into his classroom and watch him act out a skit they had been practicing.


Then we got to make a t-shirt together.


He served me some muffins and orange juice.


This is Kaylee at her program. I just ought to add that we were video taping and that sweet little boy in the green shirt right next to her threw-up allll over the place half way thru. And yes we got the whole thing on camera!! No one but the girl in front of him got it on them - THANK HEAVENS!! I have the worst gag reflex, I see throw-up...I throw-up!


I just need to introduce you to the best teach my kids have ever had and probably with ever have...Mrs. Holmes. She was Kollins 1st and 2nd grade teacher and we will miss her so much this year!

3 down 1 to go!

A week ago today my sweet, rambunctious little Koop started preschool. I think its taken me so long to post this because I've been in denial that I now have 3 kids in school! I'm not worried about getting older, its more sadness that soon I'll be home alone! But for a few moments I'll share the excitement that Kooper had last Thursday

In case your wondering why he looks so tired - its because he was! His bus picks him up at 7:40 in the morning. Earlier than the Elementary kids. There really are no words to describe how excited he was for this day. And every day since he has been the first one out of bed...bright and early 6:30 in the morning. He sometimes even beats me out of bed!

Here is my boy on his first day of preschool!


His school hours are longer than the Kindergartners. And he gets to go 4 days a week. One of his most exciting moments....riding the bus! This is a smaller bus and they have a wonderful aide on there with the kids who sings and does ABC's and helps them be more comfortable.

Ohh then the moment came where I'm pinching myself thru my jacket pockets and biting my tongue trying to save the tears til after the bus pulls away. Here he is ready to go!


But after it left I had this overwhelming rush of emotions that my kids are growing faster than I can handle. I just sent off my 3rd child to school!

And now its just me and Khloe. But this little sweet thing is milkin being the only child BAD!! As soon as the kids leave she's asking if its time to go get a "mommy and khloe snack".
This past Sunday I was helping her clean her room and she said...
"Mom wont it be fun when Kollin goes to school and Kaylee goes to school and Kooper goes to school and only mommy and khloe are home and we can get a mommy and khloe snack." But ya know what - I'm taking this love and excitement and running with it. I cannot believe that its just me and her at home! We enjoy errands and lunch just the two of us.


When he got home that afternoon he had soooo much to say. He even had some lovely green paint on his shirt and had a whole story of how it got there. I wanted to hear everything!!


Oh Koop dog...check out this happy dimpled face! I'm so proud of how amazing their turning out! Sadly...3 down 1 to go!


Then this past weekend Kevin and Kooper went fly fishing and came home with this...




While they were fishing the other kids and I went to some garage sales and came home to decorate for fall. It was kinda hard getting into this with it being 85 degrees outside but I know that when the cold comes its gonna come hard. Ohhh I just LOVE the fall. I HATE the snow, but LOVE the fall...the smells, the trees, the holidays...oh me oh my! I have everything up and even made some AWESOME crafts to go up too...here's a little preview of one. (notice the little bug that found its way in for some Indian corn snack)

Sweet Sunshine

Two weekends ago we went out to Kaysville to visit Kev's parents. It being Labor Day weekend they had already planned an entire day at the lake with their boat. It was great because the kids got to see some cousins on the Ashcraft side that we don't get to see very often. So we packed up lots and lots of food and sunscreen and headed to Willard Bay.

The kids could have stayed and jumped off their boat all day...it was the easiest entertainment!


Sweet Khloe was completely satisfied just watching.


After a while of jumpin off the boat they decided to take it out for some rides.


The lake was crazy with boats and floats and jet skiers. Kevin and I haven't rid on a jet ski in probably 5 years but it was something that I we did a lot as teenagers. I wanted to rent one for the day but was seriously giddy when Paul said his friend was bringing 3!! We had such a blast riding with the kids. I think I kinda hogged one of them...man I couldn't get enough!!

Kevin and Kooper.


Me and Khloe.


Khloe protecting the banana one for mommy! She loved going out with us but got a little scared once we got past the buoys. I was super careful but sometimes couldn't help but go fast...sheesh their fun!!


Then Kevin talked me into going on the tube with him. I'm all for the ones that you sit in and can almost enjoy the ride...but he wanted to do the crazy tube where you're hanging on for dear life and prayin that you don't let go cuz you're gonna hit the water sooo hard. I'll admit after we rode it and laughed and laughed I was happy we did that one and not the other.


Kollin and Kooper in the boat.


Thanks Paul and Cindy for a great day at the lake! Also that weekend Paul and Cindy gave Kollin his birthday present...new Rollerblades. And they have this great trail behind their house so we all got on our skates and went for a ride.

Me and the girls.


Check out our athletic family:) The kids did great until they fell but it was a ton of fun being able to have them all ride by themselves!




Khloe and Kaylee.


When we got home Kollin reminded me that the Harvest Fair was in a couple days and he soooo badly wanted to make something for it. At his school they told the kids to make something out of anything that you can grow. Luckily I visit the most amazing women at church who's kids are already grown and did the Harvest Fair years ago and has the most amazing garden at her house. She invited us over and told us to grab whatever we needed.

Kaylee chose to do Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. Complete with a flower on her head.




And Kollin chose to make an airplane and a pig. We started with a spider but for the life of us couldn't get it to look anything like a spider!




They had some awesome ideas when we got there and will definitely start sooner and try a little harder next year. But the kids were still excited that they got a free frosty for doing it.


And then that night we headed to carnival and let the kids play on a few bouncers. This was just another reason why I love this town.


We just got back from another great weekend in Salt Lake. Kyle and Stacey blessed sweet Addilyn (which I'll have pictures up tomorrow). Its been crazy crazy hot here! I'm hoping that since fall starts this week maybe, just maybe it will start feeling like it too!