Fresh from the oven

Before Kara started kindergarten I read this idea in a magazine. I dog eared the page and tired it out on my first child's first day of school. It was a hit and we have been doing it ever since.

The tradition is simple.

The tradition is cookies.

Every year on the first day of school my kids know they will come home to a pile of homemade cookies fresh from the oven. The house smells good, the cookies are warm and gooey and mom (and sometimes dad) will always be there to go over every detail of the first day of school. Questions are asked, how do you like your teacher? who did you play with at recess? what was your favorite class? Some questions are answered, mostly by the girls who give all the details, a few by the boys whose typical answer is "GOOD." I hope that they will remember the coziness of it all, that their mom is interested in their cute little lives, that school is important AND that their mom can actually make something from scratch (even if it is only once a year :)
Happy First Day of School!

At last...it's here!

It's not like I have been counting down or anything to this, the most wonderful time of the year. (OK, maybe I have)

Do you blame me? Seven kids and all their friends all summer, all eating, all wrestling, all over my house!

I was very ready for this day to arrive, and actually I think my kids were too.

I think.

Kara was a little bummed that the whole first week of 11th grade she had to wear her student council sweater and therefore couldn't strut around in new school clothes. (Do girls strut?) I told her she could wear all her new school clothes the 2nd week of school when everyone else had exhausted their new wardrobes. I don't think that helped. I still think she looked cute.

Tyler left early for 9th grade because he is taking early morning seminary this year. He just had too many classes to fit in his schedule (remember Japanese?) He has really good classes and teachers and I think it will be a great year for him.

I have 4 kids at the Elementary school this year. That is a new record. But only these 3 started school today (My kindergartner was inside sulking since he didn't start for 1 more week, torture for him and ME!) Brandon is king of the school in 6th grade. Bryson will be in 4th and Alyssa is in 2nd. They left happy and came home happy. That is a good sign. I am so grateful for good teachers and can I say it one more time....so grateful for the first day of school!

Madame President

The mighty Junior Class Council 2010-2011!

The girls! Smart, beautiful and ready to rock the cave!


With a president with this kind of spirit-what a year it will be!
Go Kara!
Go Cavemen!
Go Madame President!

A decade ago....

A decade ago, at the start of a new century, a tiny baby came into my life and took over my heart. Ten years ago, my sweet Bryson was born. Ten years ago this quiet little soul became a part of our family. Ten years ago he found his place as the 4th child and now 10 years later finds himself smack in the middle of all his siblings, a true middle child. Ten years ago his love for his brothers was born and to this day they are his heroes and his very best friends.
Ten things Brycie loves: Bionicles, Legos, Books, Heroscape, Wii, Rolls, Jello, Sword Fighting, Nerf Guns, Being at Home.

Ten words to describe Bryce: Quiet, Smart, Thoughtful, Shy, Happy, Skinny, Imaginative, Spiritual, Devoted and Content.

For ten years we have been blessed to have him in our family. For ten years we have loved him and learned from him and laughed with him and cried with him. For ten years we have been so grateful that he is ours.

Happy Birthday Bryson!

Boredom Buster

What do you get when you mix a box of paper clips, wire and junk found in dad's tool box and out on the street with....

....a little elbow grease and creativity AND...

...4 boys trying to beat the heat and keep themselves busy without TV and video games during the summer?

You get some pretty amazing little creatures we call paper clip men. They are so fun and interesting to look at. My boys have now made tons and they just get better and better and more creative with their features and of coarse, weapons!(Swords, guns, spears, tridents, whips, knives, bows and arrows, and even a mace) They have spent hours doing this, they have taught many other friends and neighbor kids, and they aren't sitting around fizzling their brains with too much screen time.

I'll take it! These little guys are welcome in my home anytime, weapons and all!

Put a sock on it....Please!

This picture does not do these feet justice. They were filthy! Black between all the toes and up onto both ankles. What in the world do they do outside in the summer to get their feet so dang dirty?! It is sick! And it's even sicker that then they come into my house, 12 of these dirty feet every night (thankfully Kara has outgrown the dirty summer feet syndrome), and run around on my carpet and floor. There have actually been some nights where I have made them crawl with their feet in the air up to the bathtub because I couldn't stand the thought of them walking in my house.

We have 3 weeks left of these dirty tootsies and then thankfully we will be wearing socks and breaking in the new school shoes!

My carpet and I are can't wait!