Kalli

This is Kalli with a bunch of girls in our neighborhood. This summer, our neighbor taught them ballet and in August they had a cute dance recital in Emily's backyard. I had Kalli in ballet when she was six and we had to quit three years later because it was taking too much time. Our schedule was revolving around Kalli's ballet and especially when I had the last two boys, it just got difficult to keep her going. She was going about six to nine hours weekly and we just couldn't keep up. This was a nice class because it was just low key and once a week. Kalli really enjoyed it. At school, they offer afterschool clubs and Kalli is in the Drama club. She really is very talented. She can sing, dance and act very well. I'm so proud of her accomplishments!!!

School

This is Aidan and his first grade teacher Mrs. Lunceford a week before school started. Our school does an assessment before school starts so the teachers know where all the kids are at before they start school. I love that! Anyway, Mrs. Lunceford would ask Aidan to write different words and after each word, Aidan had a story to tell. I'm thinking, "We are never going to get through this because Aidan talks so much!!!" At one point I told Aidan, "Please write the word!! Focus!!!" Aidan is a lot like his sister Kalli in that they really enjoy talking! Aidan is really enjoying first grade but it is quite an adjustment to go from half-day to school to all day school. He comes home really tired and every little thing sets him off crying and screaming. I am trying to be patient with him because I know he is just getting used to things and it is hard. I am glad that he is enjoying school and he is enjoying eating hot lunch every day at school. It has been fun to just have two at home. Aaron is having fun ruling the roost for once. Now if I can just get him to stop pushing Ammon over when Ammon is practicing his walking.....

I love my new stove!

I got a new stove a few days ago and I am really enjoying it. My old stove had three out of the four burners working and the oven door was cracked inside. It was ready to go bye-bye. Originally we had bought a stove from R.C. Willey that was beige and a discontinued model. We purchased it because it was a great deal. I really wanted a white stove but I said, "oh, well about the color. At least I get a new stove." The morning they were supposed to deliver it, the delivery man called and said that it was the last one in the warehouse and the box was dented and they opened the box and the top was ruined. So much for my stove. I was really upset. So, anyway, Scott looked around and found this stove at Lowe's. We got it cheaper than the other stove and it is white and it is not a discontinued model. And we had wait two weeks for it to be delivered from the warehouse but in the end it turned out to be a better deal. So Lowe's delivered it last Friday and I have just really loved it. The feature I love the most is that I can see the exact temperature on the oven because it is digital instead of just on a dial. it has been a lot of fun to cook. I made cherry cobbler that turned out really good. Too bad my kids don't like it! I have been eating (and my husband too.) Anyway, I am grateful for my blessings!

More pics of Ammon's birthday

Here are more pics of Ammon's birthday. The top picture is Ammon pushed around on the train that Aaron got when he was one. Ammon loves that train! The second pic is Aaron feeding Ammon his birthday cake and ice cream. The kids enjoyed singing Happy Birthday to him. Ammon didn't really know what was going on. He was so cute!

Goodbye Summer!

Just a couple of random pictures from the summer. The top one is of Kalli when we went to the Living Aquarium in Salt Lake a couple of weeks ago. It was way fun. We liked the Amazon exhibit with the great big fishes! The bottom picture is of Aaron getting into trouble as usual. He found a bowl of raspberries and decided to play with them. I am glad it came out of the carpet! We have really had a good summer. We went to 7 peaks and had a great time at the Waterpark. I got a bad sunburn on my back-whoops should have used more sunscreen! I have finally weaned Ammon as of Sunday from nursing and although I miss it--it feels good to be free. Now we are on to another stage of life. It is fun to see the kids grow. School starts next Thursday and I can't believe that the summer went so fast. We are onto bigger and better things! Kael had a busy summer with Scouts and I am so proud of him. He went on a 50-mile hike with his uncle and cousin at the end of July and earned 9 merit badges and 3 patches. Altogether this summer, he has earned 13 merit badges and will have earned three more at the end of this month. Hopefully next summer he will do his Eagle Project and be done! Here's hoping!