Four Months Old

Another Celebration

I was in charge of a Back To School Party for the YW, and it was so much fun planning it!

 

 

 

 

We had School Lunch for dinner: Sloppy Joes, tater tots, carrots with ranch, jello, apple sugar cookies and peanut butter bars!

 

 

After dinner my Mia Maids talked about "7-UP" lifting ways to start the first week of school. They are so wise. Honestly, I was amazed at the wisdom they shared with everyone about how to stay true to who you are at school when there are so many temptations. They are all so amazing!!

 

Back To School

The kids started school this week! Kensie started the day before the boys because they have a day for just the 7th graders so that they can get used everything!! We went to the back to school night and spent 2 hours walking around finding all her classes and trying her locker {it only took her 20 minutes to figure out how to open it!}, so she felt pretty good about starting school.

 

 



 I was pretty emotional about her starting middle school! It's a scary thing, especially in the world we live in. I can't protect her from all the bad things she will hear and see, but I know that she is a strong girl with strong values. She has good friends and a wisdom that I never had at her age. I know she will be fine, and she was so excited after her first day that I got excited, too! She is loving it and that makes me happy :)

The boys started school the next day. They were excited to meet their teachers at the school open house.

Jackson, my big First grader {weep weep} has Mrs. Nielson, and was super excited to get a Twinkie from her!

Lincoln has Mrs. Ratliff for Third grade. I think he will do really well with her, and he was excited to have his friend, Connor, in his class (they have been in the same class since Kindergarten!).

 

Now it's just me and these little buddies all day! I think we'll survive ;)

 



Back To School Celebration

This year I got to have two Back To School Celebrations: our traditional family celebrations, and one for the Young Women! First was our family celebration. We had a tool theme this year to go with our family theme for the year....

....which is:

 

BUILD UPON A SURE FOUNDATION

 

 Of course, we had the customary Thai food for dinner :) Then the kids opened their bags which were full of squirty tool toys and bubbles! They had a great water fight with them after dinner, talking about our theme and how we can build a strong foundation in our lives and in our family this year, and getting father's blessings from Matt. I think this will be a great year for all three kids in school! I can't believe that Kensie is going to middle school! Or that Jackson will be in first grade!! Three kids in school all day..... what will I do with myself?

Cabin

We spent a few days at the cabin in August. I love having the cabin so close, because I get to come back home with Aidan and get a good night's sleep while the kids sleep over with Grandpa and Grandma! My parents are the best!!

There was a bear sighting at one of the cabins that week, so we were a little more cautious about what we did. The kids went on a LONG hike with grandpa to Silver Lake. They were gone for about 6 hours!

my first thumb sucker.



"The Nose"



Matt and Landon having a campfire chat :)

While we were there they had the annual Tibble Fork owners party. It was so much fun! They had a ton of crafts and games for the kids, a "train" ride, BBQ, and the kids even got to meet Smokey the Bear!

Girls Camp

 I am so excited to be back in the Young Women program! I was gone for about 6 months, and I'm loving being back as the 1st Counselor. Camp this year was pretty low key because of trek. We camped at Crystal Hot Springs in Honeyville, UT. The girls had fun swimming in the hot springs and relaxing around camp. They also got to do baptisms for the dead at the Brigham City and Logan temples.

I am so impressed by all of our young women. They are so kind to each other, and are so willing to help and serve. We have a great group (and my Mia Maids are THE best!).

My craft this year. The girls liked what we did last year so much that we did it again with the theme for this year!

heart in a tree

playing games

Aidan came with me. Good thing there was an unlimited supply of babysitters :)

solo time

Because I had the baby with me, I decided to get a hotel room close to the campground! It was so nice! Thank goodness for reward points :)

pizza after the temple

gotta love it!

 

Thanks to the Bishop, we got to have Al Fox come speak to us. It was simply AMAZING! She touched all of us, and I know the girls were moved by her message. It was just what they needed to hear. She is such an example of faith. It was a great way to end camp.