first day of school

Today was the first of school for our cute kids!
Since Sarah is in Seventh Grade and at the Junior High this year, we started our day extra early. Nathan took her to school and made sure she got all of her things to her locker. Sarah has a pretty funny story about trying to open her locker, so when you see her, be sure to ask!! Doesn't she look super cute?!!


Next, was getting Andrew, Spencer and Benjamin to their school. Love the tradition of standing by the "rock".

Here they are lining up. Benjamin with Mrs. Marlowe.




Levi played while the rest of his brothers were listening to their principal welcome them to another GREAT year. I LOVE our kids school!! It really does have the most impressive principal, teachers and staff!!



The first day of school is always an early release. That means that for Kindergarten, Benjamin was finished at 10:30. I didn't leave him until 9:30 because we took everything out of his backpack and then listened to a story. So, when I picked him up an hour later I was pleased that when I asked him how his day went, he enthusiastically said, "FUN!!"



The other boys got out of school at 1:15 and came home for our tradition of having chocolate chip cookies and talk about the happenings of the first day of school.

Sarah's school was finished at noon, but since she is doing cross-country she didn't get home until around two. This is how she felt about her first day of Junior High...or maybe that's how she feels about the cookies! She did say that she had a great day and enjoyed her classes.

Here's to another GREAT school year!!!! But, boy howdy does their mom miss them!!!

EIGHT

Spencer turned EIGHT on the tenth of this month.  He was so excited about this birthday, that I think he told everyone (several times) that it was his birthday.
His day started out early with the opening of presents.  He got cards and money from both grandparents, a water bottle, an iTunes card, the movie Lorax, an iTouch case and from mom and dad he got his own Russian Tortoise.  We spent the day at Roaring Springs and then came home for cake and ice cream and watched the Lorax.





We wrapped up a small rock (in about five different sized boxes) that had written on it, that his present was in our neighbors garage. (They were out of town - Perfect!)  Spencer decided to name his tortoise, Jessie.  "Jessie is the BEST tortoise in the whole world!" says Spencer.










I think it was an amazing day for an amazing boy!!!

JULY

Our month of July started out with celebrating Sarah's birthday (see our last post). We enjoyed celebrating the fourth of July quietly at home. We went to the Hidden Springs parade and got plenty of candy.

Then we played a game of baseball.


We had the Merchant family over for a delicious BBQ.

Then we watched fireworks at the Ramey's. (The only picture we have is a collage Sarah made on Instagram.)

We spent an afternoon at Municipal park and then walked to the MK nature center.



We spent another afternoon at Eagle Island.





These kind of afternoons, really tuckers him out.

We had lots of fun another afternoon at Lucky Peak.

That is Sarah, Andrew and Mia swimming out to the plume. I double dog dared them to go touch the plume. They all did it and got a Shave Ice from me.



The kids had two more swim meets. Sarah and Andrew did their first Individual Medley. An Individual Medley is where one swims 100 meters of all strokes, Butterfly, Backstroke, Freestyle and Breaststroke. Andrew got first place and Sarah took third. Very Impressive!!!








Andrew and Nathan had a Webelos campout in Caldwell.






We discovered a beautiful new hike.

Benjamin did another week of swim lessons and loved them. He is getting to be a great swimmer. He can swim the length of the BIG pool without stopping so we think he will do swim team next summer.






Spencer participated in the swim team swim-a-thon and swam 50 laps to earn $50. Way to go, Spencer!


Mom, Sarah and Andrew traveled to Oregon to have a weekend of visiting with Nonnie and Grandpa. It was a great weekend for everyone! We were also there the same weekend that Sandy and Ana came. What a treat to catch up with them!!







While we were in Oregon, Dad and the three youngest boys had a GREAT time! They made milkshakes, slept wherever they wanted, ate cake, shopped and hiked.