My in-laws rock...

They are so patient. Mya fixed Grandmas hair and Grandpa helped Austin with lots of scout "stuff". In the picture they had carved a bear out of soap. We worked them to the bone when they were here! Blurry pictures...I did find my camera though. I have to start using that instead of my phone! While they were here they also:

-cooked

-cleaned

-took each of the kids on a date

-built shelves

-hung pictures

-told the kids bedtime stories

-stayed up late talking with Eric and I

-went on a kids-free date with us

-went with us to the kids prep day

-went with us to get the kids school uniforms

-organized

-unpacked

-washed ALOT of laundry...like 97 loads

-washed ALOT of dishes

-helped bury our under ground dog fence

-this list could be never ending...

August B-days

Mya and I had different ideas about her birthday party. I wanted to invite all of my family and kids over for one big party. She wanted a few friends and have a cooking party. Let the pictures tell the story...

Austin's cupcake creation

Ali and Tiana

Happy 7th big girl! I love you!!

(We made little pizzas, assemble fruit kabobs and decorated cupcakes.)

Aliyah is modeling the aprons I made for all the party goers. Austin opted out but would like a army one with orange fire flames on it at some point thankyouverymuch. Notice, NO PINK on these little babies...no siree...it's all purple and Caribbean blue around here these days.

For my birthday Gabby helped the kids throw a surprise party for me. Cake, party hats and all! Eric then took us all out to Hello Tokyo for some hibachi but only after he SPOILED me! I had asked for bread loaf pans. I got

-loaf pans

-gift card to the outlet mall

-a new stinkin' piano!

Who does that!!!???!! A husband looking to earn some serious good husband points, that's who!

We Have Adopted a Teenager

You may remember Gabby from a previous post about Mya's sixth birthday. Blonde,right. (The other is Maddie, her sister)

She lives with us now. Lots of reasons. She will leave for LDS Business College in January so we only have her for a few months.

This is how she pays rent. This and babysitting. Did I mention I am ok with this arrangement? (She did finish the laundry by the way.)

First day of Preschool.

Poor Aliyah had to wait a whole 1 1/2 weeks after her brother and sister started before she got to go to school. I finally told after the next "church day" you will go to school. On the drive home from church yesterday it finally all clicked! She has been talking about her new friends that she is going to make ever since. She got up at 6:30 and got dressed this morning. We didn't have to leave until 8:45. Poor thing... Right as I was leaving, the dishwasher repairman showed up so I had to send her off with Eric (who luckily was leaving a little late today)! So I hopped in the picture with her. I should do that every year with all the kids I think.

First Day of School

So, as always the first day of school came once again. I was sure it wasn't coming this year, but it did. I love/hate the first day of school. The house becomes eerily calm and quiet during the day. I love that. I begin to regret all the things we didn't get to do during the summer. I hate that.

So sweet and pretty :) Miss Priss had left her booksack (yes that's what we call it in the south) at school when she dropped off her supplies so she only had this box her teacher asked her to bring on the first day to show off. Not nearly as cute as her "not pink because I hate pink, but girly enough for people to know I am a girl" teal, black and white plaid booksack. (And yes, she "hates" pink and her bow and shoes are...PINK! But she picked them out, not me which is totally different.)

Orange is the "cool" color this year. It was an orange bag or bust. But look at the face, how could you say no?

We can do this... I love/hate uniforms. Actually that is a lie. I just love them :)

Next year Liyah-Bear, next year...

One More for the Road

Aliyah waked out to wait for the bus with the older kids, looking super cute for her first day of preschool.

Mya- MOM! Look at Aliyah! You have done a good job raising that kid!

Funny Children...

Austin- Why doesn't the rabbit ever get to have Trix in the commercial?

Me (driving)-mmm uh. (I have always thought the same thing. Such annoying commercials.)

Austin- Really?! What would it hurt? Just let the rabbit have some Trix, yo!

Mya- after eating a few bites of broccoli that she hated- This food mocks me in all sorts of languages.

Aliyah- to Austin when he had to wash the car for a punishment, in the sassiest voice she could muster- Get it right homeboy, get it wrong homeboy!

New House

Wow, I am so tired. We have been packing and moving and unpacking and purging and putting together stuff and on and on. Lest I sound like I am complaining, I am not! I love my new house, but a new house does not come with alot of stuff an "already lived in" house does. Like...grass, shelving, underground dog fence. It does some with alot of other stuff though like trash the construction guys left, more projects to complete, construction grit etc. I'll take it though :) Eric's parent's (fortunately for us and not so fortunately for them) flew in to visit on the day we moved in. We worked them to the bone with our unpacking. Chrisie washed every cloth item and every dish that were in storage and kept up on the laundry all week. Walt put away everything he could get his hands on and assembled several bookcases, tool chests, cabinets, etc. The kids were so well behaved through the whole process and found that there were lots and lots of children in this neighborhood. They would ride down the street as a pack of three and come back with at least 4 or 5 extra everytime. The neighborhood seems so very kind! Whew!

Here are a few photos for you. These were all taken a few days before we moved in. Maybe I'll add more later, maybe not. You would probably get bored with all the pictures and my decorating skills are nothing to boast. :)

The front

Eric's shower

Kitchen

Kitchen

Entry way and stairs. The door to the left is the office.

Office doors

Parts I love:

- a walk in pantry

- large porch off of the back that I can sit on and see the kids riding their bikes for a very far stretch

- a loft upstairs for the kiddos right outside of their bedrooms

- lots of extra closets

"I like to ride my bicycle. I like to ride my bike."

****Nasty picture alert!!

But I hate crashing...

I texted Eric the first picture asking if he thought it needed stitches. He called and said, "What happened to what body part to what person???" Yeah, that would be me. I slipped on a rock on my bike and got a gear in the ankle. Not pretty. After getting stitched and resting the tendon I bruised, I think the worst part was the tetanus shot. I have felt sick all day!

Goodbyes are bittersweet

My grandpa passed last night. He had a rough few final hours from what I hear but I am sure he was not aware of it. Father took one of valiant sons home. My Grandpa was reunited with the love of his life. I will miss him and his caring, loving, frank and honest self.

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