Aiming High

Justin has been working a lot lately. This happens every fall as people try to fit in one last paving project before the weather turns too cold. It's not unusual for him to get home at 11:00 p.m. and then leave by 5:30 or 6:00 the next morning. He was working late again on Monday night trying to finish a bid that had been dropped on his desk that morning that was due the next day. At 10:30 p.m. as I was finally getting Barrett to bed he turned to me and said, "Poor Daddy, he's still at work. Kilgore just doesn't give him a break. That's why when I grow up I'm going to work at McDonald's, because McDonald's will give you a break and if you get hungry there's food there for you to eat." I had to try really hard not to laugh and Justin did laugh when I related the story to him after he finally arrived home sometime after 11 p.m.

First Day of School

Blythe started school last week on August 27th, but Brynne and Barrett both started school today.

Blythe is in 6th grade and is

now in Middle School.

The three kids together, with Brynne

and Barrett still in their PJs.

Barrett is truly a little monkey!

I could not get him to hold still.

Barrett ready for his first day of

Kindergarten. He is attending

Shining Stars Co-operative School.

He was so excited to finally be

able to wear his new Yoda shirt.

He is VERY into Star Wars now.

Brynne ready for her first day of

4th grade at her new charter school,

The Weilenmann School of Discovery.

All three of my "B's" ready to learn.

I can't figure out when they all got so tall!

The Rest of the Summer

I didn't take very many photos this summer. Brynne did Swim Team again, but I couldn't talk Blythe into doing swimming too. Brynne attended a few meets and came home with quite a few ribbons. These photos are from a swim meet in Kamas.

Brynne waiting to start.

Ready to dive.

Happy with her finish!

In July my Mom, Brittney and I had our annual Women/Kids/Dogs week in Moab. The kids spent the week in the pool and ate their weight in popsicles and ice cream sundaes. We took the dogs out for walks at either 6 a.m. or 9 p.m. and read books, watched movies, surfed the internet and napped. The kids stayed up late every night and then slept in, but the dogs had us up early every morning, so afternoon naps were essential. We also had a lot of fun trying out some new recipes. We made a yummy roasted pepper and fresh mozzarella pasta salad and pork wraps. Brittney took beautiful photos of all the food, which I wish I had to include here. We also made old favorites like banana cake with caramel frosting (which is the boys' absolute favorite dessert) and blueberry pie. Barrett got his annual summer haircut and took James along with him this year.

The boys with their matching haircuts

and Ironman t-shirts.

Barrett pulling a goofy face.

The girls threw Caddie in the pool a

few times, which she didn't appreciate.

She much preferred to watch their

antics from the comfort of beach towel.

My sunbathing beauty.

The men dropped us off the weekend before and picked us up again the following weekend. That was when we did the rafting trip and when Blythe got to ride to Klondike Bluffs with Justin, Peter, Brittney and my Dad. We didn't get much biking or hiking accomplished, but that's what the fall is for.

The kids playing with Blythe's friend

Belle at a playground.

Barrett adores Belle's younger brother

Bryce and was thrilled that he got

to play at the park with him.

Blythe's friend Madison slept over

and they did their favorite activity,

"Blind Makeovers."

That concludes the photo record of our summer. The kids each did a summer camp. Blythe spent 4 days at BYU at a Basketball camp. She stayed in Helaman Halls right across the hall from Justin's freshman dorm room. Brynne spent every morning for a week at "Art and Cuisine of the World." She had a great time making lasagna, egg rolls, crepes, peach cobbler and Mexican walnut cake. We've already made the lasagna at home together, but won't be making the walnut cake for obvious reasons! Barrett attended his first summer camp in August. It was held at his former preschool and the theme was Wild Nature. He enjoyed seeing some of his school friends at camp. I spent a lot of time at my gym trying to undo the effects of all the ice cream I ate in Moab. I think next summer I'll have to stick to sorbet.

June Highlights

I was going to title this post "Summer Highlights", but then decided I had too many photos to include so I settled on a post just for the month of June.

Barrett graduated from preschool.

Blythe graduated from Elementary School.

She is wearing her Gold USA reading award and

is holding her Silver Patriot award and her

Presidential Outstanding Academic Exellence award.

We are very proud of her.

Brynne attended History Camp at Camp Floyd.

She was a Confederate soldier and her

friend Katie Hale was a Union soldier.

She got to bring all her gear home with

her including her gun.

Justin and I celebrated our 15th Anniversary.

Oh, how the time has flown!

The Petty cousins came to town for a wedding.

We did the alpine slide together at PCMR.

Would you believe it was the first time for all my kids?

Alex and Barrett waiting to ride the lift up.

Emma ready to head down the mountain.

Blythe ready to roll as well.

Barrett ready to get back in line

and ride again.

Emma, Brynne and Blythe at the wedding

reception at the Grand America hotel.

Brynne

Blythe meeting her new cousin, Tessa Stevens

for the first time.

Brynne so excited to finally hold Tessa.

Sock Hop

A few months ago the girls planned a Daddy-Daughter dance with their Activity Days leaders at church. They decided on a 1950's Sock Hop theme.

Justin and Blythe

Since we have two girls Brynne was lucky enough

to have her Granddad Chudleigh as her escort.

(Notice the penny loafers w/0 socks.)

Granddad with both the girls.

I was a little jealous that I didn't get to go too. They had a potato bar for their dinner and lots of dancing and limbo. Apparently, my Dad did quite well at the limbo contest. My Mom and I took Barrett out for a Mommy/Grandma date and we had dinner at Cafe Rio. A fine time was had by all!

Technical Difficulties

So I actually wanted to post twice in one week. However, I'm having problems with iPhoto. It's just not responding once all the photos load, so I can't upload any photos to blogger. I have some cute pictures of the girls with Justin and my Dad from the Daddy-Daughter sock hop they went to a month or so ago. I also have photos to post from Blythe's awards ceremony/graduation from Elementary School. I have a lot of catching up to do and some free time, but no photos.

Also our water heater has shut off twice this week. It really makes me appreciate having hot water. The first time the repairman came he just unplugged the water heater, then plugged it back in again and it started right up. He had no idea what the problem was. Justin and I were hoping that it was just a fluke. Last night I was washing my face before bed and the water just wasn't getting hot so I went down to the basement and sure enough the water heater had turned it's self off again. Justin is up in Logan chaperoning Youth Conference, so I decided to just leave it be and call the repairman in the morning. Luckily, he was able to come right over and got it going again and this time has decided to order a new switch to install because he thinks the existing one is dirty and is causing the problem.

A How to Train Your Dragon Birthday Party

We took the kids the kids to see the movie, How to Train Your Dragon while we were in Moab for Spring Break. Barrett absolutely loved it. It is seriously the first movie that he has ever sat through with no trouble. I had anticipated him asking for a Spiderman or Transformers themed party, but was more than happy to do put together a dragon themed party instead.

Barrett dressed for Dragon fighting.

All the kids.

The decorations.

The Dragon cake, another masterpiece by Brittney.

Barrett getting ready to blow out the candle.

He's even wearing a "How to Train Your Dragon" t-shirt.

The kids went through the games faster than I had

anticipated so I read them a How to Train Your

Dragon book, which they seemed to enjoy, especially

since they hadn't all seen the movie.

Brynne drew this dragon and Blythe colored it in

for the kids to play "Pin the Tail on the Dragon."

Brynne had fun dressing up as

a Dragon fighter too!