First Day of School

I know this is a little late coming but I really wanted to wait until Kailey's first day of school so I could post them all together. Austin, Michael and Preston's first day was August 18 and Kailey started on the August 25th. They were all very anxious for the first day but then the excitement slowly dwindles. Austin is the "Top Dog" this year in the 6th grade!! He is very excited about it and keeps saying "I can't believe this is my last year in Elementary school. Next year I'll be in Junior High! Can you believe it mom?" And NO, I cant believe it! Where has time gone? and who said it was okay for him to grow up so quickly? NOT ME!!

Michael is in 4th grade this year and I think he has a GREAT teacher. Her name is Mrs Taylor. She is very good with encouraging homework and the need to turn it in. Last year poor Michael would do the homework then forget to turn it in so he wouldn't get the credit for the work he had done. Mrs Taylor has a different page of homework for each day and if the students dont turn it in the next day they will miss their recess. This is great motivation for Michael as I am sure for other children as well. I think Michael will do very well in her class!

Preston is in 3rd grade, and he also has a wonderful teacher. I think I have been very lucky this year with Teachers. Prestons teacher's name is Mrs. Kreuger. She is so great with the kids and truly values them as people and really wants them to suceed. You can see it in her face by the way she talks to the kids and shows true interest in them. Preston is one of those kids that you cant help but love!! I'm sure he'll have no problems getting along in school this year. Kailey is SO excited to be in Kindergarten! Her teachers name is Mrs. Collard. She loves the fact that she gets to go everyday! She has quite a few friends in her class from Primary so that has made it even more fun for her. On the first day of school the teachers lined the two different kindergarten classes up outside. They let one class at a time go in. When Kailey's class went in, I of course followed. Going with normal procedure I reached my hand down to take hers. She held it for a split second and then looked up at me to see me standing there and she said..."ew...no....MOM!" and shewed me away with her hand. Okay, so my baby doesn't need me to hold her hand any more!! Mrs. Collard had them line up against the wall and then she went down the line and greeted them all by name and welcomed them to school by giving them "5". She then took them in the classroom and had them hang their backpacks and find their name on the tables. Kailey found hers with no problem. Then of course I had to take another picture of her at her seat. She half way complied, but by this time she was clearly ready for me to leave. So I told her I loved her and to have a fun day, and I left. No tears though! I just cant believe how quickly they ALL are growing up. It's just not fair!!

Ordination to the Priesthood

On August 17th J ordained Austin to be a Deacon. I can't believe how quickly he has grown. He has turned out to be such a wonderful Young Man. He had his first Youth Conference over the weekend and when they came home Bishop Kettle was very complimentary of how remarkably responsible he is and what a joy it is to have him in the Quorum. He is such a joy to have around and such a good helper to me!! Congratulations bud! I love you!! Austins first attempt at tieing his own real tie!

The Gardens at Thanksgiving Point

Every Tuesday through the month of August you can go to Thanksgiving Point and get in for just $2 a person!! This is amazing! When I found out that to get into the Gardens would usually cost $10 just for me, and that's what I paid to get my whole family in, I was extatic! We went with my friend Alisha, her son Teyven and her mom. We had so much fun! There was lots of fun places to stop for pictures. By the time we were through the kids were sick of posing for them!! The reward for them came at the end when we stopped to let them play in the Noa's Ark water exhibit. They had a blast getting wet. They didn't want the fun to end. But heck...for $2 a person, maybe we can go back and do the Dinosaur Museum next!! :)

CAMPING

Over the July 24th weekend we did our traditional camping trip. We had a lot of fun! There are a lot of pictures but there where so many cute ones that I couldn't pick from them to choose which ones I wanted to post. So I hope you have as much fun looking at them as I do!

Shani brought her friend Julie with her this year. The kids all loved and adored her! She brought a lot of fun to the campsite with her. We were even blessed to have Jake, Amanda and her friend Ashlee join us for the night for dinner.

Of course J had to check out the fishin holes! Not to my surprise...he caught one!

Our traditional cousin picture.

This was my neice and nephews first year camping. I think they had loads of fun!

SAY WHAT!?

What's this? A little girl, tomboy, or just a mud puppy!?

Julie surprised Austin with a kiss on the cheek.

Boy was he surprised!!

There was a little river not far from camp that the kids

found great delight in cooling off in.

But the best part of camp is the fire... roasting marshmellows...

and eating smores!