Back to School!!!!

It finally came and then it came again. Caitlin got to go to school bright and early Monday morning. She was excited, but I was very bummed. Two reasons: #1 My sweets is in the third grade:(. #2 Dawson had to stay home with a case of Pink Eye. Yuck!!! He was bummed, I was bummed, it was sad. But Cait had fun and really likes her new class. She loves that her best school buddy is in her class and that she gets to finally learn cursive (so does her brother in the first grade and she is totally miffed about that :).

Now First Day of School #2. Dawson and Cora went to school today. After three days of staying home and no yucky goobers this morning I sent Dawson off to start the year. He was really nervous because I actually took him in late today and he was so worried he would be in trouble. But it didn't take him long to get in the swing of things and he was very excited when he came home.

Cora started preschool today and wow, was she happy! She got to play with play dough, color, and play out side. Way too much fun for a little one that has been waiting for this day for 4 years. She loved it and I am super happy for her.

I love this backpack!!! I saw it on another blog and went immediately and bought it. I also bought the lunch box, just because it matched. If we stick at the charter school when she starts kindergarten she will have to get a new bag because this one won't fit her docket, but until then I just get to enjoy the cuteness!

Last Day Of Summer Fun!

I really REALLY wanted to have a Back-To-School party. I don't know why, I suppose it's just another reason to party. But...... with my small yard and the 24 kids I was planning to invite, it just wouldn't have worked out so well. So I improvised and called all of my sis-in-laws and we got together instead. Sis Heather has a bigger yard and bigger water toys, so it worked out P-E-R-F-E-C-T. The kids had a blast and it was fun to just sit and visit with the ladies.

(This is the only picture I got on my camera, I took a bunch with my sis-in-laws so hopefully I will get those up here soon.)

After the water part, we had a little picnic/camp fire in the back yard to celebrate as a family. I do love that part of living in a somewhat rural community. No one cares if you have a camp fire in your back yard.

Where has the time gone?

Two days, that's it. Then summer vacation is over and I won't have my kids with me all day every day. Most mom's love this time of year, but I haven't stopped crying since Saturday.

See, Saturday we had a yard sale and I sold or sent to the DI all of my baby things. We are done. I have known for a long time that we were done having kids, but I held on to the baby things, just in case. I finally got the nerve to let it go on Saturday, and the tears started to flow.

And then add the fact that all three kids will be gone to school this year, I am really struggling. I am not ready to be an empty nester. I know, I know, that means they have all moved on and left the nest, but when you think about it, they (Cait and Daws this year) are gone more than they are home if you don't count sleep time. They leave by 8 and are home by 4 and are in bed by 8. That's only, max, five hours a day that I will see those two. And Cora will be gone 2 hours a day. So essentially I will be alone in my nest more then my babies are here with me. Yikes, where have my babies gone?

I cried when the school clothes came in the mail, I cried when I cleared out Cora's 3T clothes (I mean I sobbed for like 20 minutes over this one), I cried when I read their new teacher's names, I cry over everything related to school. I even cried while thinking about the back to school get together we are having with our cousin's tomorrow. I can't stop.

Why can't they stay little forever? It's just not fair.

Zoo in the summer... not a good idea.

I knew there was a reason I didn't go to the zoo in the summer. There are way too many people and it was way too hot. But, Dawson has been begging to see the dinosaurs so we had to go before the end of this month. And, with school starting in a week and a half it was time for some fun.

We made a stop at Liberty Park this morning before the zoo so we could wait for Aunt Heather. The kids loved the play ground and the pond. I would say the pond more but that park is amazing either way. (I only had my cell phone and apparently there was a smudge on the outside of the lens so most of the pictures have a weird glare on them...sorry.)

Cool shot huh?

TEN YEARS!!!!

This weekend (specifically the 4th) marks our tenth anniversary. Or as I saw on another blog the 10th birthday of our family. I am so lucky to have married the man I loved and knew before we even came to this earth. It amazes me still that he chose me over all the better girls out there. I love him so much and I am literally eternally grateful that we will be together forever.

For our big day we were going to spend the night in the mountains by ourselves but the weather had something to say about that. So we decided we had never been to Wendover so we booked a room and made the very long drive out there. It wouldn't have been so bad but there is nothing from here to there except a weird sculpture of a tennis ball tree and a town called Delle. Boring is the best word. It was cool to see the Salt Flats for the first time and there was even a disappearing mountain. Weird but apparently it was a mirage. It was totally weirded me out though.

When we got there we had dinner and then didn't leave the room until 10 the next morning. It was awesome and nice just to be there with no distractions and no reason to get out of bed. Not happened in 10 years so it was great.

Right in the middle of those two hills is supposed to be the rest of the mountain. You can see how both ends look like they are floating. Isn't that funky?

Our room. Who'd a thought you could get a room like that for $75. I guess when you are going to the middle of no where you can.

So long Wendover!

Another camping excursion.

A couple of weekends ago we tried a mountain range in the area that we had never been to. We were hitting ourselves wondering why we had never been there. It was beautiful and peaceful and everything we have been looking for for seven years!!!

This is Dawson saddened because he couldn't' do what Caitlin is doing in the picture below. He got his turn just not on his terms.
I had to improvise the cobbler because we forgot our dutch oven. Duh, I know that's a staple, but the little pans worked great and it tasted great too.

At the bottom of the National Forest there were a few homes and a totem pole. Why? You ask? I have no idea but it was cool.