School has started...

I know I am not the normal mom that gets sad when my kids go back to school. I am counting down the days as much as they are for a couple reasons one I don't have to constantly have something planned to entertain them, two I can get stuff done now, and three I don't hear fighting all day long. The last couple of weeks before school starts seems like they are so hard. We have already done most things and the school shopping is finished so it seemed like all my kids did was either play with each other for five minutes or fight. So for my kids to go back to school and for us to get into a normal routine with a specific bed time will be heaven for me.

Makenzie and Hannah

Makenzie at her desk.

Hannah in her class room.

Kaitlyn and Spencer. Kaitlyn is in the afternoon kindergarten class and she thought it was never going to come. All day Monday she kept saying she wanted to go in the morning but she is not a morning person so afternoon it is for her and the last two days she has been fine with waiting until after lunch. Spencer is lost with out his sisters home in the afternoon to play with. He asks almost every ten minutes after Kaitlyn leaves if it is time to pick up the girls yet.

Kaitlyn sitting at her desk.

We did a Back to School dinner and had a theme this year. The kids loved it and I think I will do it every year.

I am excited for this year the girls all got great teachers and they all have at least one friend in their class. Makenzie has 21 girls in her class and only 8 boys. Hannah has a teacher that she has worked with before so she knows her and is really excited to have her. Kaitlyn has the same kindergarten teacher Hannah had so her teacher knows her as well. It should be a fun year for them.

What do you do when someone turns 90?

You throw them a party!!! My grandma turned 90 last weekend and we decided to have a little party for her. We met at the park and had good food and yummy cake. My grandpa turned 90 last February its pretty amazing at how well my grandma still gets around. My grandpa has Alzheimer's and has for a couple of years now so he thinks anyone and anything is strange. It was good to see them and some cousins I haven't seen for awhile.

My dad also shares the same Birthday as his mom, so after her party we went back to my parents house and had a little party for my dad.

The kids like to dress up and put on little shows for us. Nyah, Makenzie, and Brody(this picture will be shown to his dates later in life).

We had a fun weekend with everyone even though it was a really quick trip.

Ward camp out.

Our ward had a camp out this year. We had a fun time we went up Friday night had dinner and a short talent show. We went outside and sat around the camp fire and told jokes while the kids played games. Woke up the next morning ate breakfast cleaned up the cabin and headed home. It was fun to get to know people from the ward.

The kids went up this trail many of times.

Hannah, Kaitlyn, Makenzie, and Spencer. They were all looking at me amazing.

The kids mostly played in this tree.

I remember going to swing in a tire swing when I was little but when I went to swing on it I found a snake inside. Ever since then I avoid the tire swings but the kids had so much fun on it.

When ever we couldn't see the kids we would go look in the tree or around the tree and we would usually find all the kids. I am glad we went my kids loved it and we enjoyed getting to know everyone better.

Fun visit with a pretty lady.

A couple of weeks ago we got to visit with this pretty little lady (Josh's grandma). We took her down to the river to feed the ducks and walk around for a little bit. She had just had surgery two weeks before she came and she was doing really well. Her and Spencer shared a special bond. He loved going over and talking with her and making sure she had everything she needed.

Hannah, Kaitlyn, Spencer, and Grandma Owens

My kids love feeding the ducks and this time they let them eat right out of their hands.

After we enjoyed snow cones. Favorite summer time treat.

Spencer, Kaitlyn, Hannah, Grandma, and Bestamama. Makenzie missed out on the fun because she was at a friends. Sadly I didn't get any other pictures throughout the week. We loved having her visit she always has a smile on her face and a good story to tell.

July part 3

On our way back from the cabin we decided last minute to stop and explore Craters of the Moon. I am so glad we stopped but wished we would have been a little more prepared. We were glad to get out of the car for a while and hike around and explore some of their caves.

Next time we go we will take flashlights and everyone will be wearing tennis shoes. Also on our journey back we saw there was an Atomic Museum and Josh said this trip could not get any better. Sadly they were closed by the time we drove through but Josh wants to go someday. These are the highlights of our month, now, onto August.

July part 2

We spent a weekend with my family at a friends cabin and had a lot of fun going on hikes, playing at the hot pools in the river, riding 4-wheelers, eating good food, and having fun. The cabin was a maze in itself, there were four different sets of stairs all leading to a different part of the house. The kids would run around saying "where is so and so" and we would tell them where we last saw them and they would say "where is that". So fun, and they literally were lost for a couple hours trying to find everything.

The boys going for a ride. Josh had his boot tear apart on this ride when he hit a rock sticking out of the side of the mountain.

My dad was the one who ended up taking the kids for rides when the dads had older kids on longer rides. What a good man.

The kids climbed up the side of the hill and then realized it was a little more difficult getting down so they came up with this idea. Makenzie had the stick and everyone grabbed on and she helped them down.

Going for a hike.

Most of the kids sitting in a hot pool. If you didn't have some of the cold water coming in to cool it off there is no way you could sit in it. The water was really hot like boiling hot if you touched it without the cold water. Sometimes you could sit in the same place and it was fine but then sometimes you would get burned because it would come out of nowhere. Nyah, Ben, Makenzie, Bailey, Maddie, and Hannah.

Rylee and Kaitlyn these two are two peas in a pod.

Most of the kids trying to stay warm and not get burned.

Me, my Mom, Ann, and Annie in the back. Since we are always the one taking the pictures and yes I took this picture.

Troy, Josh, and Brett just before they swam across the fastest part of the river.

In the hot tub. In the back is Bailey, Rylee, Kaitlyn, Nyah. In the front is Makenzie, Maddie, Hannah, Brody, Spencer and Ben. We were only missing Brooke and Connor in this picture.
Short story we decided to go for a ride the first night to check out some of the trails and we had three 4-wheelers and the Rhino. It was my two brothers and two kids and Josh and I on the 4-wheeler and my dad had two kids on his. We came to a trail head and my dad couldn't follow because his was too wide so we decide to go and he turned around. Shortly after I thought I should have switched places with Bailey so she could enjoy the long ride with Makenzie and Maddie. By the time I thought about that my dad was gone and it was too late. I didn't enjoy the ride because I felt bad that Bailey was missing out. We decided to try one trail that branched off of the main one and it was up hill the whole way by the time we got to the top we realized it was a dead end and had to turn around. Josh and I were the first ones to head back down and as we were coming down over this steep ridge we discovered that this 4-wheeler had no front brakes and our tires were bald so we were set into a slide. Josh was trying to keep us from going speeding down the mountain but sliding was not any slower. Some how Josh turned the 4-wheeler to try and stop it but at the same time we thought it was coming over on top of us so we bailed. Josh was off before I was and he landed in a tree and I jumped off and then jumped again because I thought it was going to land on top of me and ended up sliding right into Josh. I think when we both jumped off it decided to stop without tipping over. Luckily no one was hurt except for the few scrapes and bruises on our legs but nothing serious. After that I kept thinking I am so glad I did not switch places with Bailey because I don't know if any of those girls would have known to jump off. Josh safely got it down the rest of the way and I jumped on with my brother until we got back to the main trail we started on. We safely got back to the cabin and then Josh did some work on the 4-wheeler and fixed the brakes. Lesson learned always check the front brakes to see if they work before you head out for a ride.

July part 1

I have no idea where July went and now we are in the middle of August and school will be starting in two weeks for us. Crazy how fast it goes. At the beginning of July we went camping with Josh's family and motorcycle riding up in the mountains. We had a lot of fun. We were the only ones in a tent and we froze it was so cold that night.

Josh and Spencer and Tyler(Josh's dad).

This is Cory and Stefanie's new dog Max and Spencer loves him. We decided to let him go for a ride.

The boys went for a ride so we took the kids on a little hike.

The next day we all went for a ride. Makenzie did really well keeping up with the rest of us. We went all the way to the top of the trail until we saw snow and then decided to turn around and head back.

Fourth of July day started off going to the parade and the kids loved it. Then we loaded up and headed to Ryan and Lynette's house for the rest of the day. We ate good food played in the pool and played games. Kaitlyn, Spencer and Rob hanging out by the pool.

Basketball games.

It may look like Ryan and Josh are flying this kite for fun but they are trying to shoot it down with fire crackers. Boys...

Most of the kids watching the fireworks.

Boys doing what they do best. Playing with fire as Spencer watches closely.

Lynette and I took the kids to the Splash Park and had a fun afternoon in the sun. Rob, Spencer, Kelsey, Makenzie, and Ben trying to get warm.

Spencer

Kelsey and Hannah