Back to School :-/

First Day of School!

August 19 was our first day of school!  I am pretty sure that the summer couldn't have gone any faster!  It was kind of a sad day!

 Isaac started 8th grade this year!

 Max started 6th grade and his last year of elementary school. :(

 Jake started 2nd grade and has a boy teacher and he is pretty thrilled about it!  Except for the school part..... :(

 Lexie is 5 years old :)  She is starting kindergarten - - this morning wasn't her first day but she wasn't getting left out of any pictures!

I use to be really strict about what we are going to wear on the first day of school.  I have become pretty relaxed about it in my old age ;)  They get to pick first day but I get all of the other days!!  Haha I tricked them!  They were just about the only kids not in a polo and khakis or a cutsie dress!  I know they are all going to have a fantastic year of school!

Monster Trucks

A couple of weeks ago we took the kids to the Monster Truck Derby. It was fun and more redneck than I can even believe!!

These monster trucks were the best part... unless of course you prefer lawn mower racing ;)  And if you didn't know there is an association for that ;)  CRAZY!  Fun redneck night with the kids!

Building desks and Frog Hunting ....

One day just a couple of days before school started we went over to Justin's new office and helped him build desks and chairs and try to things in a working order.  He has no decorations to make it feel like an office yet but he has a computer and a desk and that is enough to get moving.

 They thoroughly enjoyed their time over helping their dad get things going.  

 These kids have been wanting to go frog hunting all stinking summer.  Finally I folded and took them..  These aren't just frogs - - the are HUGE!

The frogs were pretty cool but this was disgusting to me  - - and just in case you are wondering....  Yes they did cook and eat frog legs!  Another day I was glad I didn't shoot anything - - because you have to eat it if you shoot it!

Mom here and Park City :)

In between a lot of changes for us it turned out that Justin and I had 2 days that we could get away for a minute.  So I called my mom and she so kindly got in her car and ran down here to watch the kids.  The kids were delighted to have her come!  Isaac was even pretty sad that he was gone to scout camp for most of the time she was here.  But my other 3 kids thoroughly enjoyed their time with grandma.  

 While Lexie went to a birthday party (picture below) the boys talked grandma in to taking them to the river fishing.  As luck would have it they caught this little fishy on their first cast!  They were thrilled!!

 Lexie all dolled up after her baking birthday party!

 Justin and I went to the olympic park while we were in Park City and it was so fun!  I felt guilty the whole time that I didn't have my kids because they would have LOVED it!  I will have to take them another day!

 At the top by this giant ski jump!

 I actually wasn't bothered by heights until I had Jake.  Now Jake isn't afraid and all and I am afraid for both of us!  It took a lot for me to sit on the edge of this baby... and it looks like my little piggy sausages are swollen but rest assured it must just be a bad angle for feet ;)  But this was way high up there!

 The only picture I have from scout camp!

 We also went to Main Street in Park City and it is darling and so fun!

 At the hotel we stayed at.

 Dinner on the patio on Main Street. 

 Riding the chair lift at the olympic park. 

 Justin felt pretty certain he could do this he just wished he had a pair of skis!  CRAZY!

 We also did the extreme zipline and it was fantastic!!

 Locked in and ready to go!  

 Justin beat me down by a bit because the breaks on his line were broken so he came in pretty hot, slammed in to the end and whiplashed himself back!  Crazy again!  I had a lovely and perfect stop!

We had a lovely weekend and the kids didn't want us to come home!  The only thing that made me sad is that I didn't get to see my mom that long!  My kids LOVED having her come!