Trip to ELKO!

cute little Tayven didn't want his picture taken :(

We haven't been back to Elko in a year and a half - so it was a well needed visit. We stayed at my Dad's and went to the good 'ol fair and horse races. I haven't done that since I was back in school. Grandpa let Lexi and Kam pick the horses to bet on. They didn't win any :( Lexi actually thought she was GETTING a horse, so I told her if she wanted to buy one she was going to need to talk to grandpa about that :)

Then we went and stayed at Lisa's house. We had sooo much fun there. The kids love eachother and we hardly saw them while we were there. Lisa and Chet are the best hosts! We had yummy food, a pina coloda, a fresh fruit shake, and all the mtdew you could want. It is always fun hanging out with them. We just wish we could do it more often!

Thanks for the good time guys - we love you!

*******

sidenote - funny story:

We let the kids stay up too late at Lisa's, they were beyond exhausted. So about midnight we hear the girls screaming and crying. We go upstairs and Kamree and Taylee are up - Kamree had woken Taylee up with her screaming. I'm not sure if it was night terrors or if she needed to go to the bathroom. anyway we couldn't get her to stop screaming/crying, we tried everything. so after what seemed like forever, Mike took her outside again. He then brought her to me downstairs and we finally got her to go potty and she calmed down. So the boys went back to video games and me and lisa talked sitting on the couch and I just held kam on my chest while she fell back to sleep. around 1am there is a knock on the door - its a cop. someone called in saying they heard a baby crying and then a thump. yeah, that was just our screaming 3 yr old and then mike coming inside with the door closing. oh well - at least they follow thru and check on those calls. the cop came down to the basement to check kamree and make sure she was ok. so I hope lisa and chets neighbors dont think it was them beating their child! haha

Kamree's going to Pre-school

Kamree started pre-school and is loving it. She even wrote her name the first day. This is something she will NEVER do for me. She is growing up so much in the last month. I can see major changes with her in behavior and confidence. I think with Lexi gone iy has made a difference in Kam's attitude. She feels like such a big girl going to school and having her own backpack with her crayons and scissors. I love this little girl, she's a sweetie. She loves being Shelby's big sister and is very helpful. If I tell her to do a chore, she's usually mad. But if I ask her to be my helper and do something...she's all about it with excitement (mike figured this one out). She also is into telling jokes lately. her favorite:

"knock knock"

"who's there?"

"popcorn"

popcorn who?"

"popcorn!"

I wish...

Dear Fairy Godmother,

I wish for a new mixer. I tripled my batch of banana bread today and it almost didn't fit. It was a pain to mix and I could really use a new, bigger mixer. With this wish I promise to make MORE banana bread! :)

Sincerely,

Me

ps-I could also use a new camera, I'm tired of looking thru a peep hole to take a photo. Hello, who should have to do that these days? (my screen broke on my digital)

Lexi's first day of school!!

I took Lexi to school today to drop her off in her new FIRST GRADE classroom!! aahhh...is it really that time already? I'm old, she's old, time is going too fast.

She was sitting in her desk putting her supplies away when I did a big Mommy NO NO that I never saw coming....she had snot running down her nose and, well, I just couldn't leave her like that....so I got a tissue and just wiped it. I could still hear 'stuff' in the nose so I said "blow!". yes, I just was one of those moms that blew my childs nose...I think I embarrassed her, whoops! So when I was done I hugged her and kept saying "Do you need anything? need to go to the bathroom?" and she finally said "GO MOMMY" haha

So I think it is safe to say that she was excited to go to school today and is not too afraid! :)

A couple of nights ago she was crying and I checked on her and she said she was sad to leave me all day and didn't want us to be apart that long. It was really sweet and I comforted her - I think she has over heard me talking about being uneasy to send her away that long. I kept trying to take in the moment because I'm hoping she'll think that same way when she's 18!!

I'm still sitting here worried about her recess time, getting lost, eating her lunch, forgetting her lunch box and etc. I'm sure she is loving it though and I can't wait to see her in an hour!! :) The joys of parenthood...

WATER FOUNTAIN!

We went to the water fountain in Downtown last week with our friends

Janie and Rosie. The kids enjoyed running in the water and even us

mama's joined in! We'll have to go again it was a blast!

Shelby's Birthday!

Good morning on your birthday!!

Shelby had her 2nd birthday this weekend!! We can't believe how big she is getting - it has gone by sooo fast. She has such a fun and spunky personality...she always keeps us laughing.

Her latest thing is to yell "MAMAAAA" until I look and then she jabbers something to me or points at something with a smile. I love when we watch a movie at the theatre and she says "mama" and hits my arm repeatedly until I say "what?" then she points at the huge screen. What a cutie!!

On Sunday when we did cake she was sick and cranky, didn't feel good at all. So you'll see in the picture her super cute outfit I got her - and the sad sad face :(

She has moved into a toddler bed and loves it, she even stays in it! score!! she doesn't want anything to do with the potty yet. we've sat her on a few times, but she only stays on for 10 secs.

and everyone is asking: NO ............. I'm not pregnant :) It seems weird to not be - but we are loving the stages the girls are in right now....its a lot of fun!!

Rodeo weekend again

We went to Preston for 4 days - it was time for rodeo weekend! We did the carnival - but didn't get to enjoy too much of it b/c we were rained out :( We did the parade all 3 nights and skipped the rodeo this year. It was fun to see all the family and hang out. The girls and I got our hair cut - something I love to do when we go there...I love my hair dresser! We did some 'sidewalk' sale shopping and the girls got their famous airbrush tattoos they always love to get. We also hit the buckaroo little fair for the kids - they always love to ride the horses

We hung out with Amber and Kelly friday night and then Saturday night we did a BBQ at my mom's. The kids stayed up late playing with cousins on the trampoline and had sparklers. (The good kind that doesn't shoot off sparks onto your blanket).

We were able to visit with Jeremy just a little bit - but long enough to see cute little CREW and hold him. He is adorable and has the cutest smile. He babbles alot and is a wiggler - I'm sure he'll be walking soon!

Paper - Rock - Scissors!

Anni - Zeb - Misty

Some of the family at Thursday's parade



Riding in the back of Grandma's truck in the rain

CHEEEEEEEEZ!

face painting

Mike has been dieting for 7 weeks and has lost 44lbs!!! We are so proud of him and know it was alot of work. We have been enjoying biking this summer as a family on the greenbelt - the girls love to feed the ducks and Lexi is rocking the bike!! Lexi starts school in two weeks. I'm kinda sad to send her away all day - and sad that our summer is winding down.