First Day of Kindergarten

Lucy started kindergarten on July 31st. She was so thrilled yet nervous and had knots in her stomach. She didn't eat any breakfast that morning.
It's been a little bit of an adjustment having to wake up so early each morning (for me, I mean :) But Lucy is loving it so far and doing really well. She amazes me at what a great reader she is already.
My first baby is growing up! And no, I didn't cry when I dropped her off. Almost, almost. :)

Saturday Morning

Saturday morning Do-Nothings are sometimes my favorite. 

Lucy working on her picture posing. 

A little better.

There we go! :)

Best Friends

There's just something about watching your children get along and play together that makes the heart swell. We drill it into our children's mind that they are each other's best friend. We want them to grow up knowing that they always have each other no matter what. But not only that, we want them to love and enjoy each other and really develop a genuine, lasting friendship. 

It all begins with barbies and dinosaurs.

Well, it was nice while it lasted. 

River Tubing

Back in June, me and the kids drove 3 hours to Blythe to meet up with my family who were going tubing down the Colorado River. It was an overnight camping trip and my kids loved every minute of it! The tubing itself didn't go quite as planned. Todd and Annie cried and cried, so much so that they exhausted themselves and slept half of the way down - Todd laying on my chest and Annie on my mom's. Lucy had a good time, as far as I could tell. She mostly had fun hanging out with the older crowd. She thinks she's twenty or something. 

When our trip ended, I sent them home to California with my family so they could watch them for a week+ while I went back home and prepared to leave for Girls Camp. 

Todd and I watched the sunrise together. So beautiful reflecting off of the water. 

Auntie Teeny, Annie, and Auntie Laura soon joined us.

Meanwhile, Lucy was still snoozin. I guess that could be comfortable..?

Ready for the river!

My handsome twin

and my lovely mother. 

I genuinely hope we get to do that again, and I hope Alex can come too!

When There's a Party, Count Us In!

We feel so fortunate to be close enough to visit family, and that much of our family lives near each other. So when our niece is having a luau/swim birthday party, we all show up! Nothing like sitting poolside, chatting up a storm, sharing some laughs, and watching all the kids have an absolute blast together. 

A Birthday Visit

My wonderful grandmother had her birthday while we were visiting California. I'm so grateful that my children get to know their great-grandparents. There are always treasures to find around a grandma's house. L and T were especially enthralled with the magnets on the fridge and the cuckoo clock.