Back to School 2015/16 Pictures with a fun twist

Hitting the books!

Back to School this year is another bitter sweet.
Garrett going to 4th grade (What!?!?)

                         Embrie in 1st grade (..all day school???)   

                                                Maren last year of Preschool (no way!)

 

Garrett didn't want to pose for a 4th grade picture (you are NOT too old or too cool for that Mr.!) but at least even though he has decided that he doesn't want to be the center of any picture he totally fine with photo bombing So at least he is in there somewhere.

 

 

Embrie was super excited for school. Garrett couldn't sleep the night before.

 

And I can't believe it will be my last year with this little one home majority of the time. These next two will fly by so please don't let me forget to enjoy it!

 

 

Summer 2015 finale

I feel like we really took advantage of our summer this year maybe we decided not to take our 6 weeks for granted. With year round school you never know when you'll end up with 3 weeks instead.

Here are our final activities....

My brother Kalvin got a surprise birthday party from my sister in law Morgan.
He's such a goof ball! It did allow us to get a sibling picture.

 

We took the kids to Antelope Island (which none of us had been to except for Brad). It was actually really fun to see the "old sheep farm" I am a huge fan of old buildings and artifacts. I love the feel of history they leave behind. They loved playing in the sheering barn, my little sheep. We took a hike ( a pretty steep one since I am a go big or go home hiker) and checked out the buffalo.

 

 



And here are some random pictures that I took of the kids this summer that just make me smile!

 

Kids enjoying the IHC employee and family party :) yay for face painting!

 

Maren running around without shoes on and tearing the skin off her toe, ouch!

 

Another hike, one that started out with the whole family, but dad and the girls headed back early while Garrett and I kept exploring to find a hidden water fall.

 

 

$1 movie with our friends the Johnsons!

 getting caught in the rain

 

 

 My little entrepreneurs and their summer sucker stand (they made them!)

 

My kids just might be weirdos. Their  love of learning about wild animals inspired this "National Geographic" moment where they pretended to be predators catching and eating zebra....hmmm. Should I be concerned?

 

Chore day! Weeding the garden. Get to work kids!

 

Garrett's final day of school in July was field day (here with friend Keaton)! Maren and Embrie helped me keep the 3rd graders in line.

 

and finally... washing every bike, scooter, wiggle car etc. from the garage. We like to keep it clean around here. 

 

Happy Summer!

 

 

Our Summer 2015!: July Holidays

We had fun in July! School had just gotten out and we spent the 4th of July with the Callahans'.

We went fishing, we went to a parade and picnic lunch. Grandma had a do-it-yourself tiedye t-shirt craft that everyone could do. AND hold the phone.... Grandpa & Grandma planned a adult against kids surprise water fight. It was a blast and I think the kids loved that the adults were willing to get wet and play with them. It was a super fun time!

 

 

 

Then for the 24th we visited the Kemp/Watsons. Went the town rodeo and parade. Since grandma was in charge of a float the kids got to ride on it and throw the candy! yay!

 

 

Our Summer 2015!: Cousin Sleep Over

I made a last minute plan to have Jaxon and Jerzee come spend a weekend with us, finally! How much fun and free stuff can you pack into 2 days? Apparently a lot!

 

 

I think the pictures sum it up well enough. What a bunch of cuties!

Our Summer 2015!: Baseball Season

This actually happened in the spring through summer. Garrett had his first "try-outs" for a baseball team. I was so nervous for him. Having not played any baseball for a few years pervious I thought he did fairly well. He had a really fun team. Herriman Gray and some great coaches.

He got to ride with his team in the Herriman Days Parade too!

We can see that he has talent and that is exciting. He's working on overcoming some timidity at bat (yeah it hurts a little when you get hit with a baseball), but we think as his confidence grows he'll overcome that, especially since he seems to have a great swing. He also throws a baseball much better than his mom. ;)

Our Summer 2015! : The Looooonnnngg Hike

Yeah it's not a very original title, but hey we actually had a summer this year, so I'm going with it. We had 6 weeks of summer and we really seemed to fill every moment! Here are a few things we did:

We drug our children on a 5 hour/ 8-10 mile hike to Cecret Lake. We didn't really intend to hike that long,  (you can blame it on me), but we made it! We wore the kids out in the process! We saw 3 moose, some rock chucks, squirrels,and salamanders (or something like that).  Maren was quite the trooper, they all were really, but I did have to carry her about half the way back. Not too bad for a then 3 year old on a surprisingly long and sometimes steep hike.

We also saw snow in summer which the kids thought was so wild! We passed the ski lifts, Dad picked wildflowers for the girls. And see that top right corner picture? That is from where we parked. We hiked to that furthest peak that you can see the sun is still touching.

Good thing we took snacks and water! They were all asleep by the time we drove home. :)