Back to School

It's every mother's dream come true....BACK TO SCHOOL!!!
Don't get me wrong, we had a fabulous summer. We enjoyed every beach trip, pool swimming, movie going, friend playing moment together. But when nothing sounds fun anymore - the beach, pool, friends, movie, watching tv in the new playroom - it is time for a routine and schedule! I love staying home with my children and feel so blessed to be able to do so.
Playing all summer was fun but so is the excitement of a new year. I get to relive all the excitement and nervousness again through each of my children.
I am looking forward to spending time with Blake (who is at this moment climbing in my lap and demanding me to color with him). I am also helping at school with the PTO as secretary. I am hoping to go in to help in the classrooms when I can. I also stay busy with meetings and things to do with church. I plan to get my house more organized (drawers, closets, etc.) and catch up on my photos - not just scrapbooking but ordering and organizing photos from the past 1 1/2 years. Anyway, enough about me...........here are my kids!!! Jamie
I can't believe it is her last year of elementary school!!! It was only yesterday, it seems, that she was running out to the bus for her first day of Kindergarten (and she was so sad that she could not ride it that day). She has always done well in school and has never cried or complained about going. I imagine that if I were a teacher, she would be the perfect student to have!!!

Madison

Madison is in the 2nd grade this year! She is growing in every way. She is such a sweet girl and loves to meet new friends. She gets really excited about boys - especially one little boy on the bus! We have had the "you can't have a boyfriend until 16" talk but she doesn't care. She thinks life is a party and I wish I had that same enthusiasm each day!

Tyler

Tyler is in 1st grade. Tyler is my "home boy". Really, he is. He loves to stay home. I have to literally force him out of the house when we need to go somewhere. This is not so good when he knows he can't stay home all day because of school. He would be happy to be home schooled! He cried when I woke him up the 1st day of school - yippee. And then he cried getting on the bus on the 2nd day of school. 3rd and 4th days of school have been just fine. He is in the same class as our neighbor friends - Kierlan and Sarah. He has been surrounded his whole life with girls and he doesn't seem to know the difference! AAhhhhh...innocence.

Blake

At the beginning of the summer, Blake was one cranky boy trying to figure out what was going on in our house. We had lots of his cousins plus his sisters and brother in our house and it was caos. It was crazy for about 6 weeks before school got out and it didn't seem to slow down! He didn't know what to think I guess. Finally school has started and it's very quiet around the house. Probably too quiet. Now it's just us and Bella. He has to take a nap everyday (which he is doing in the trundle bed!!!) instead of running off to the pool. I think he prefers the routine and schedule too but he sure misses the kids!! Today he started playing with Bella. First I pulled them in the laundry basket....

and then he pushed Bella around the house for a while. Bella was a good sport and didn't even try running away. She thinks it is too quiet around here too!! Somehow, we will manage....

Cheer Camp

The girls participated in a local high school cheer camp this week. They had so much fun! Madison has been begging me for ages to let her be a cheerleader. We may look into doing one of those Upward programs at a local church but I don't really want to get her involved with competition, etc. at this age. Just for fun!!!

Here is Jamie getting ready to hoist one of her team members up...

And you can see her BF Gabbie to the left getting ready to be hoisted! There they are!! Gabbie in the middle!!! Jamie was so strong to hold someone up and the girls were so brave to do it!!!!

This is Jamie and Gabbie's group getting ready for their cheer...

Here is Madison getting ready to do her thing. She didn't even tell me she was the big stunt girl on her team!!! Before I can grab my camera, she is turning cartwheels down the line of girls!!! If you know Madison, you know that was right up her alley!!!! She loved it!!!

And she SO LOVED the attention of the high school girls!!!! Oh yeah....she was all about that!

The fun thing is that the girls get to participate in the pep rally before the first home football game and then do a show during half time!!!

Sounds like we are gearing up for fall season of football! Yah!!!! Not that I am a big fan of football - just fall!

First Day at the Groomer's

Here are some cute pictures of Bella after her day at Doggie Spa (not really...Terrific Pets is more like it). But she really did get the works!

Bella did pretty good at the Groomer's today. They said she was a complete sweetie but really not interested in grooming at all. That's probably why she had such long hair on her paws!!! She smelled so good and looked so cute!! We were really excited to pick her up. The kids of course were fighting out of the store, on the way home and when we got home as to who was going to hold her (which she is not a big fan of being man-handled by the kids but will tolerate it b/c she is so sweet!).

Day 3...

I have to make another post and let you know that we had a good day. You know how the first 24 hours is the hardest with a newborn baby? Well, the same goes for a puppy!! We are getting more used to each other.
Bella is getting quite playful. The kids don't know really what to make of this. Sometimes they like it, sometimes, they are scared and hide in the closet!!! I think sometimes they like her crate more than her because a lot of times when I come in the room, they are all taking turns sitting in the crate. Hmmm....
Bella had one accident today. The kids were supposed to be on "Bella Watch" but she was sneaky. She does get credit for the 4 times she has been outside today. It's a lot like potty training a 2 year old. You don't ask them if they have to go, you just watch the clock and take them out A LOT.
Who do you think does the most with our little Bella...it is Tyler! He loves to walk around holding her and take her out on the leash for a walk. He is really good with her.
Tomorrow is Grooming Day so I'll post pictures of our little cutie!

Day 2 of Life with Bella

I'm tired. 6am - potty break
6:45 - walk around the neighborhood
7:45 - potty break
and the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on....
and we still had to clean up pee and poop in the house.
I'm ready for bed.......
Still love her and she's still cute but I am tired.

Welcome to our Family!

Today we surprised the kids and got a family pet - a shih poo dog. We got her from a friend of a friend. She seems to be very mild tempered, a little shy (who wouldn't be in this zoo?), snuggly and sweet. We are going to have her groomed this week but her previous owner had her shaved. We just want a little trim on the ears and feet and to get her nice and sparkly clean. I have been reading a lot about this particular breed of dog. They are hypo-allergenic and naturally clean. Smart and easy to train. They have real hair and not fur so they don't shed. yeah!!!

The kids really like her. Blake is getting used to her. He cried at first when she even looked at him. Tyler keeps calling her "shih poo" and forgetting we named her Bella.

The kids took her out front to play (out back is where we are trying to house train her). We are trying to get her used to the leash. She played and ran with the kids. They loved that!

Run Bella Run!

Then we all came in and "she pooed" all over the new rug. Sigh.....why did we get a puppy after just getting new carpet and a rug?? Oh yeah...it's all about the life experiences we enjoy. And although we don't like cleaning up the poo, we will have fun sharing our love with little Bella. And by the way, Josh cleaned up the mess!!!! Thanks Sweetie!!

Wish us luck in our new doggy adventures and especially house training!!!!

Happy Birthday Tyler!!

I can't believe our Tyler is 6!! Time really does fly!
It feels like we have been celebrating Tyler's birthday for a while! And we have...when Mom and Dad were here a couple of weeks ago, they gave him some legos and SpongeBob pjs. He lived in those pjs and played with those legos nonstop for days!!!
Then he got money from Josh's parents and off to the store he goes to pick out a transformer. He couldn't get enough of that either!!! Then Saturday came (day before his birthday) and he chose to go to Arturo's Mexican Restaurant and Dairy Queen for dinner. Then Sunday came and it was really his birthday. I made him a cookie cake and he got to open presents. Another fun day! Then Monday he got to go spend more of his money and he bought more legos. THEN today (Tuesday) he had a few friends go with him to the new city pool for his birthday. My goodness. Needless to say, he is acting a little rotten now so the good times have got to slow down!!! Too much for him to handle I tell ya! My baby!!!

Tyler opening some presents from the family - puzzle, legos, lunch box video and a big remote control car.

Cookie cakes are a big hit on birthdays at our house. I just get the large package of cookie dough, spread it in my pan and bake. Then I decorate it with icing and viola - birthday magic!!! Easy and good.

A little out of order. Oh well. This is the monster r/c car that Tyler got for his birthday. It scares Blake to death when it is zooming about. I don't blame him - it is not easy on the toes!!!

Tyler and Taleia at the pool - best buds since babies. I used to babysit Taleia when she was less than a year old. These two have been good friends ever since. When it was Taleia's birthday, she had her party at a ballet studio. She wanted Tyler to come to her party. I asked if she was sure she wanted him to be there since he would be the only boy. She said, "Ms. Amy, I have got to dance with my prince!!" She wants to marry him when she grows up!! So cute!!

Go Tyler!!! He did awesome on his swim test and then got to go down the waterslide!!

Cute birthday boy!!

Blake, Josh and Jamie - Blake is taking the leap of faith to Josh. He is a water baby for sure! He is not afraid of the water but is cautious enough not to worry me to death!!

Tyler enjoying cupcakes and presents from friends. He had such a great time and is thankful for all his toys (even though he is a little rotten right now!!!) and friends!!!!

Happy Birthday Tyler - we love you!!!

Pioneer Day Fun

New Bern Ward Pioneer Day was a blast this year. Some people dressed up, there were lots of games and activities, there was a trail to follow to listen to people tell stories of past pioneers, dinner and family pictures.
I am so glad we had this activity at church. It was sad to hear my children say, "What are pioneers?" Now they know.
Pioneer Day is celebrated on July 24th to commemorate the early pioneer settlers who entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. I admire their faith and determination! A big group of girls played Ring Around the Rosie together for quite a while. It was really neat to see the older and younger girls play together a game the pioneers probably enjoyed!

Madison and Blake with their "gold" - the kids got to pan for gold with a sand sifter, painted rocks and pool of water.

The girls panning for gold.

Our silly girls!!! They wanted to take an "old timey picture" so they had to have a serious face! Anna Miller, Madison, Gabbie Miller, Jamie and Skylar Savitz.

Jamie and Gabbie sewing buttons.

Tyler was so tickled with all his gold!!!

Our old timey photo - Tyler, Madison, Jamie and Blake

Our family picture (with our adopted children for the night - Gabbie and Anna)