1st day of 2nd Grade

This Handsome young man just started 2nd grade. He was thrilled and excited. He has two teachers and I am curious to see how he adjusts, but I know them both and know they are awesome ladies, so I hope it goes well.

Lets just be honest, Braxton and I are about sick of each other this summer.

*****We have played outside and spent many minutes in time out.

*****We have laughed and cried (him more than I).

*****We have had the greatest day ever and ended it with complaint after complaint!

*****We have happily done chores, and grumpily done school work or reading.

It has been interesting to say the least. I believe that children being overindulged makes them ornery and ungreatful, and my children have been overindulged this summer. They swam almost everyday of thier lives, they played non stop with friends and cousins, stayed up late, watched many Netflix shows, were toted all over town to this and that, taken camping and vacationing, and after all that they just want more more more! I am so thankful to have a schedule back and to have bedtime, Shane and Geana time, and possibly be able to go somewhere (ANYWHERE!) without all three kids in tow. Do you know how bad I want my hair cut!!!???

I love my children with every bone in my body, but I have been overindulged with them for three straight months and to be honest I am just excited for school! Sorry for the brutal honesty, but someday, oneday I bet you will feel the same way.

.....and after feeling all of those feelings, my heart still felt sad for one solitary minute when he left on his new adventure......

Randomness

Just a few fun things we have also done this summer. Dakota learned how to ride his bike without training wheels (sorry the picture rotated on its own) he is so proud of himself and we are proud of him too.

Braxton so very unkindly took the front off of the crib and turned it into a toddler bed for Cameron while I made breakfast the other day. He thinks this is his house I tell you. Cam has done much better than I ever expected and actually stays in his bed. Now the question is, Will the crib ever work again? I have no idea how he did that, he didn't even have tools.

We went to the Weber County Fair and they got the cutest face paintings. Dakota's is fireworks and Braxton's is a wolf.

Perception Park

We have owned this trailer for about 8 years now, but have not ever used it. It was part of a house we split with Brent/Rebecca, the guy just threw it in, and we never had anything to pull it with until we got the truck. Well this year we decided to pull it out of its spot in the field and now we have used it a ton of times, every chance we get. It has been quite the upgrade from the tent and the kids think they are picked on when we don't use it. We decided to skip out on the Family reunion this year and head to South Fork to a place I frequented as a child Perception Park, and it was just as fun as I remembered. We spent the day tubing the river and walking along the paved path.

A camping adventure is never complete without smores and our new found favorite roasted Starbursts.

Swimming Lesons

This year Dakota and Braxton took lessons from Anne Tippets. She is such a great teacher and both of our boys are turning into quite the fish.

Dakota freaked out last year and would NOT get in the water, but this year jumped right in and swam like a champ. He was learning so much so fast, I was in awe. He jumps off the diving board over and over, what a change a year can make.

Braxton's class basically swam laps the entire lesson with different strokes, he did so well, I never have been a swimmer and I am so happy that they can be.

Day At Home

We had a ton of Zucchini that I needed to get in the freezer, so me and the boys spent the morning getting it all grated and ready for the freezer. I was surprised how much they enjoyed helping, mostly because they got to use knives to cut and push their heads on the grater to help it along. It was a fight to which boy was doing which task. I found this summer that even though we partied hard, days like this were the best ones!

Cherry Hill

The Facer family decided to head to Cherry Hill for a weekend adventure, we camped in their crowded (sardine like) campground, watched a concert on the hill, and spent the day Saturday ALL DAY swimming. We had a blast! Who would think we could swim from 10 till 7 and still want more. If hunger had not overcome us, we could have kept on going. It is a really fun place with lots to do. The Lazy river, we spent most of the day here.

A little Boggle playing, which by the way Shane and Troy totally CHEAT at, they make up the silliest words that do not exist!

Braxton taking Carerra down the slide.

Mini Golf in our suits, it doesn't get any better than that.

Hogle Zoo

The whole Crew: Jake, Denim, Dakota, Braxton, Carerra, Cameron, Mom, and Geana, Marley is in front and Kiley is taking the photo.

Carousel Ride

Would it be a trip to the zoo without seeing how we measure up?

I am so far behind this seems like a huge deal to even attempt catching up, but we have reached a slight bit of normalcy around here with school starting and so hopefully I can prioritize and get some of these pictures and adventures posted. I love having these all in my blog book, for the chance I never get it scrapbooked. Also I write more of my feelings here than in a scrapbook, they have to be too cute!

My mom, Kiley and I attempted the Hogle Zoo with 7 kids and it turned out really well. I get overwhelmed when there are more kids than adults especially 2:1, but they were very well behaved and it was a fun trip. Braxton did get lost for about 5 minutes, but I did not panic I just thought like Braxton, I am starting to figure out his brain (or not) and I just went to the last place that I said we were going, which was the car, and he was there wondering why I wasn't. He forgot to think about what it takes to round up 7 kids and all leave together and just went alone.

Reflections

Legacy!

I took my Grandma to a viewing of her cousin today. I was watching her walk out of her house, not so quickly as she used to, and was thinking about her legacy. You know that not to long ago she was just like me. Sitting here with small children, possibly going a little crazy like I am, and as a great friend of mine calls it "just livin' the dream!". I remember her kids talking one day and saying they could tell when she was especially angry or 'had it' because she would just leave the house and the kids knew they better shape up before she got back. My Grandma Jo basically raised her kids alone and I have to say that takes great patience and love, working to provide at the same time as trying to raise respectable, God fearing children. (I often question how well I am doing and I have a wonderful husband at my side.)

I thought about all of us and if we give our Grandparents the respect, time and consideration they deserve. If they hadn't lived the great lives they had, then we would not be here today. They went through the same things we went through and many days now they spend alone, lonely at home. It may take a little longer to get around and a little more patience to do what they want, but it is worth it, every minute!