Kids day and flooding... Again

Connor and Rory have been elk hunting the last couple of weekends so I've been trying to keep myself and the other kids from going stir crazy. Last weekend the kids and I went to Kiwanis kids day at the park.  Everything was free and we had a lot of fun.  Matthew loved the bounce houses and couldn't get enough of them while Kinlee loved the fishing booth.  She fished almost the entire time and could have cared less about anything else.  Kadee and her friend Kloe were all over the place, it's nice that they are a little older and I don't have to watch them every second of the day.

This weekend we had plans to go to Nutcracker rehearsals and were going to go to SLC with Nana to see grandpa Earl and grandma Bet, but instead spent hours cleaning up another flood.  The Price River by our old house flooded over again leaving a mess of mud and debris.  The only bright side is that we knew the flood was coming, so we were able to get most of the furniture and other things out of the basements before they flooded.  We didn't get it all though.  Most people lost couches, freezers, washers, dryers, water heaters, and furnaces again.  It has been such a mess and it is so sad to watch these people go through all of this again.  I truly pray the county can get the permits they've been waiting on to clean up and fix the river so this doesn't happen again.  

First Day of Preschool

Today was my first day teaching preschool at the Head Start in Price and Matthew's first day of preschool at the Head Start in Wellington.  He was so excited for school and couldn't wait for me to drop him off, then when it was time for me to go he wasn't so sure he wanted me to leave.  He clung to me for a minute and then was off playing with friends.  My first day was a little more chaotic.  I'm not used to being with a bunch of 3 and 4 year olds all day long and quite frankly they wore me out.  I think it will go really good once I get into the routine and the kids get used to being there.  The best part is the homemade breakfast and lunch.  It's super yummy and healthy too.  Here's hoping Matthew and I have the best preschool year ever.  So far so good for Matthew,  I asked him how school was today and he said, "It was Awesome!"

Labor day camping

We had a super fun, but cold and muddy weekend camping up Ferron Reservoir.  It rained on Friday and Saturday, making for a muddy mess, but the kids didn't seem to mind and had a blast building forts, riding four wheelers, and using their imaginations.    Debbie was happy because the whole clan was able to make it:  Her and Derk, Rory and I and the kids, Derek, his girlfriend Kelley and their kids, and Kyle and Candee and their kids.  The kids played so well together and ended building an amazing fort out of fallen trees.  They said they were going to sleep in it, but it was so cold and by the time it was dark they were all ready for their own beds.  Sunday Rory and I took a beautiful four wheeler ride up Duck Fork and up on top of Skyline drive.  It was a gorgeous drive and we even some a couple of does and a woodchuck.  It was the perfect way to end the summer.    

Back to School

First day of school for Kinlee, Kadee, & Connor, Matthew starts preschool in a couple of weeks.

1st day of 5th grade

1st day of 6th grade & middle school

1st day of 1st grade

Denver

We had an amazing family vacation to Denver.   We were able to stay in Wellington, CO and eat at the Wellington Grill, go to the Fort Collins Temple open house and jump at a trampoline park there, the boys went to a Broncos game, we all went to the Denver Zoo, and to a Rockies game.  We stayed busy but also found time to go school clothes shopping and relax and play at the hotel pools.  We ate a lot of yummy food and even bought some Palisade peaches to can.  I so enjoy these times with my family and it was a great way to end the summer.   

With Boone Logan, a player for the Colorado Rockies

Trampoline Park Fun!

At the Fort Collins, CO temple open house

Happy Birthday Kinlee!

This girl was super excited to turn 6.  She's been counting down since Connor's birthday in July.  Saturday she invited 2 friends, Jocelyn and Maddie to come over.  I took them shopping to the dollar store where they each picked a toy, a treat, and a drink.  We then went and got fresh popcorn from the movie theater and headed back to our house.  As soon as we walked in the door Kinlee opened her presents from her friends and Aunt Susan.  She was so excited to get an Olympic Barbie set from Maddie, Hello Kitty stuff from Jocelyn, and money from Aunt Susan.  After opening presents we sang happy birthday and the girls devoured the cupcakes.  They then watched Kung Fu Panda 3 and played and played and played.  It really was a lot of fun.  Yesterday Nana Kelli took all of us to the Castle Dale pool and bought us Pizza.  Kinlee felt very special because she felt like it was another birthday party for her.  We swam for hours and all the cousins had a blast together.  Kinlee also got to pick what she wanted for dinner and she picked Dairy Queen.  As I tucked her into bed she told me that she had the best birthday ever. 

 

Last Thursday Rory and I had the opportunity to go to Cassi's wedding in Bountiful.  It was a beautiful ceremony, a beautiful day, and Cassi was a beautiful bride.    

Potter's Pond

We had a fabulous weekend camping at Potter's Pond with Kyle, Candee, Landon, Kella and Kadee's friend Baylee.  The kids spent most of the time on the four wheelers, lounging in the hammocks, playing in the lake, and even did a little bit of fishing.  Matthew loved fishing and could not get enough.  Every chance he got he was asking us to take him to the pond to go fishing.  One day we had him out in the little fishing boat and all of the sudden he just jumped out!  Luckily he had his life jacket on but it scared the crap out of me.  We weren't too far from the shore so he swam to Candee and told her he was tired of fishing.  It was such a relaxing, fun weekend.  Thinking about all the fun the kids have I hope these memories stick with them forever and hope we are able to give them a good childhood.