15 posts in one day

I know that has to be some record--obviously I was more than behind but we had a LOT going this last month--some planned and of course some unexpected surprises. Real life right?:)

Happy August B-days

This weekend we got to go to Columbia to celebrate our family's August birthdays. We LOVE that Stacey & Gina moved here and we can see everyone so much more. We were both blessed with such amazing families. We are always talking about how lucky we are!

This is what we brought the new five year olds. Glad their mom didn't hate us afterward:)



We also got to visit Uncle Phil. He is very talented musically and he and Haley got to share a rhythm or too. It was so nice to see him.

We also got to visit our old ward and hear a young man speak that just returned home from his mission. Dave saw him "grow up" while he served there (and that makes you feel old huh?) it was really fun getting to see some of our friends again. It was short but so good to see everyone. I didn't get a picture :( but we got to see Parker Joy too, who was just born last week---so cute!! Congratulations McDonald family we are so happy for you!!!

A first for First day of School

This year's first day of school was different than all the rest. Not only did we have 2 kids going to 2 different schools that start at 2 different times, mom was in the hospital dealing with a kidney stone (it hit 2 hrs after we got home from Springfield) so it was all on dad to do it all. Dad's first day of first day of school(heheha) He was really only worried a bit about doing Haley's hair:) but I don't think he did too bad do you?

First day of 2nd grade--- Mrs. Means and First day of 6th grade---wow---a middle schooler!!!!!!
I thought it was a little bit funny when I told Dave he should stop at the store on the way to get Jordan from school to get cookies because I have always had cookies and milk--I mean, come one--first day is a big one right? Dave was like "really?" So later I find out that after they picked up Haley they did not have milk and cookies....they went out to Dairy Queen:) and later that evening they got to come and pick mom up. Happy day!

Summer Stuff

Before we start school, here are a few things we did this summer fit into one post that mostly were just the everyday stuff.

Jordan and Haley did get to redeem their Six Flags tickets they earned during the school year. Haley was 1 inch too short to ride the water rides:( but this was the big year of roller coaster riding:) They had a great time and I wish you could hear them as they re-tell the rides and experience.
This is a great way to do math homework actually. You just have them jump from the numbers and you can add, subtract, multiply or simply just call out the number for identification (like for Meg). It's a lot more fun than a worksheet:)
Reading, reading, reading and more reading...I love it.
Morning at the movies---Cloudy with a chance of meatballs
Park fun with friends

Craft projects--take a picture, add to a blank paper and let their imaginations draw a new "background". There was one example where the picture was of them jumping in a pool and the kids drew the rest of the pool with an alligator in it:) Fun art idea....
The geometric dome --takes like 100 newspapers, probably the same of staples(ha), tape, patience, and a lot of team work!

Clara's baptism

This weekend we headed to Springfield to see Clara get baptized. She is such a beautiful girl and we are so happy we could be there with her. We are proud of you and love you tons!

Haley's donation

Today Haley donated 10 inches to Locks of Love. Isn't she so cute?:) She is so sweet. After she got in the car she told me she felt so good inside for donating her hair. "I'm so happy!" Out of the mouth of babes...

Create Your Own Candy

One thing you could do at the Chocolate World this year was Create your own Candy bar. We saw from the window how the kids were given a flat of chocolate and then given toppings to choose from and then it would go down the machine and recieve more chocolate to cover the toppings -thus creating your own creation. As we were walking by we said "we can do that" and so we did:) (They wanted 14.95 per kid to participate--ours costs a little over $8 for 4:)

First pick your toppings--which can be hard to do:)
Arrange them in the order or design you think would be most satisfying...

Add another layer for coverage

And wha-la---after a little hardening time in the fridge you are ready to devour!!