Make-up !!!

Don't you just love children?! I had gone to the church for a meeting the other night and Emma decided that her brother needed some make-up. Dad said she brought him out of her room and this is what he looked like. Isn't he just beautiful. At least she didn't have a dress on him. Just look at that smile he just loves it when his brothers and sister play with him. Doesn't Emma also look BeaUtiFul???

We have made it through the first two weeks of school. We have had a rough start this year, other then the kids loving their teachers and being in school again, Emma missed a day the first week due to being sick and Clark has had a cold/cough since last weekend and then Andrew came down with a cold/cough and an ear infection. Hopefully we are finally on the mend and no one else will get it.

Like I said the kids are enjoying school so far. Clark is in all advanced classes this year, and he is really enjoying it. He is so much smarter than I. Ryan is loving the 6th grade, he has two different teachers one for English and one for science, social studies and math. This year he is aiming to be the top reader in his class, he came in the top ten in his class last year and this year he wants to do better. He is in Ace again ahd he is so excited they are going to learn about photography the first half of the year (which is great because he working on the photography merit badge in scouting). Emma is totally loving third grade and not just because one of her best friends is in there. They have been together for the last three of their four years of school. I think she is realizing that third grade is a lot harder then second. She is doing great and she loves school. We also started back up with piano lessons and the kids were excited to get going. Now if we can keep that excitement for the year that would be great. Soccer is supposed to be starting and the kids can't wait to start playing. Ryan was showing interest in playing football again but when I asked him he wanted to play soccer. Emma wanted to play volleyball but we talked her into waiting another year till she got a little bit older (and Andrew a little bit older for Mom's sake). Her friend also wants her to do cheerleading, but when we caluclated the cost it came out to be more that what I paid for all of them to play soccer. So we decided that we woud wait on the cheerleading. Anyway she seems more like an athlete than a cheerleader. But they are all excited to get going. Even though I am home with Andrew it seems like I am still trying to find time to clean. Well there is a little bit of our life for the last few weeks. Hopefully we can keep it kind of slow and steady.

First day of school

Can you believe that it is time for school to start. It seems like it just ended. But then summer seems to go by faster and faster every year. The kids were so excited this morning, they were ready really early today, I didn't have to get after them, it was great. Too bad it probably won't last.

Clark is in the 8th grade this year. He's not sure of his classes yet (he finds out today).

Ryan is in the 6th grade. He has two different teachers, one for the language arts and the other teaches the sciences and social studies and math. He is so excited he has good teachers, one of them is excited to have him (she was one of Clark's teachers in 5th grade, she jumped to 6th this year).

Emma is in the 3rd grade and she is excited because one of her best friends is in her class (third time in four years) and she gets to go to a new school. She also has a great teacher, we think. She is a new teacher and has a lot of energy and some fun and new ideas. I know Emma is excited.

They grow up so fast. I can't believe they are already as old as they are. I know they want to grow up but I would like them to stay young for a little longer.

Mother Daughter date

Emma has been reading the Ramona books for the last little while, and when we heard they were making a movie I told her that I would take her to see it. I figured the boys didn't care to see it so last night I took her and a friend to go see it. It was such a great show, I loved it and she says that she loved it too. There was even a group of boys there and it sounded like they enjoyed it also (probably because Selena Gomez plays Beezus)jk. I highly recommend it especially if you have girls, even if they aren't into the books yet. With Ramona you just know that whenever she turns around she is getting into trouble. I loved reading Ramona books when I was younger, I had forgotten how funny they are. I was telling Emma that I am going to have to read them again, and she said that would be great that I could read them to her. So we will see if that happens, we have to finish "Goosegirl" by Shannon Hale first. Which is a book I highly recommend to read, she loves it when I read to her.

Summer's Ending :(

Can you believe that summer is just about over? I can't, school starts Monday (8-9-10) for us. The kids are getting excited but I am trying to figure when Summer ended the second week of August. I remember going back to school the last week of August. It is too hot (in my opinion) to start back already.

Since we have been back home we haven't done a whole lot of stuff. We have gone over to the YMCA pool a couple of times to keep cool, but other then that we have just tried staying cool in the air conditioned house, we have had temps of 115 with the heat index, and yes to all you people that live in the west yes I believe humidity makes it feel hotter, I froze (at least for the first month) while I vacationed there this summer.

Clark, Ryan and Emma have progressed so much in their swimming. They love going and playing with the other kids in the ward we go with.

Emma finally talked her Dad into going to the pool with us. She wanted to be able to go to the big kids pool so she could jump in and practice her swimming. She was so excited and got mad at us when we made her go with me to the other pool for a few minutes. But all in all everybody had fun. Even the boys were excited to have their Dad there with them.

Andrew loved being at the pool. He would get so excited when we would mention the word pool. Who says babies don't know what you are talking about, they know. He loved being in the water, and having the kids play with him.

An update on Andrew
With Andrew turning one it was time for another well baby check-up, it went great and here are the stats!

Weight: 21 pounds 11 ounces (30%)

Height: 30 1/4 inches long (75%)

Head circumference: 18 1/2 inches (65%)

Which means he is a lot taller than he is round (that is what the Dr. said). He is following in his father's and brother's footsteps in the large head department. We just thank the Swedish blood in our genes for those large heads.

With it being a one year birthday we went and took pictures the other day. When we set out we didn't realize that it was 102 degrees (not counting the humidity in that) and it was extremely hot!!! He is so fun to take pictures of right now, he was so cute. Here are some of my favorites from then and then some more of my favorites.

Isn't he such a handsome little man??

He is always so happy.

What a stud, in those glasses!!!!

We were having Fat Boys the other night and Andrew felt left out. Clark decided he could share and I think Andrew really enjoyed it. MMMM chocolate and ice cream!!!!!

He has found his toys and loves to play with them. Especially the toys that have little plastic balls, or the stacking cups. He is so funny to watch when he gets over in his corner of toys. He has this laugh that he uses and it would make anyone start to laugh.

He loves to brush his teeth. He thinks it is so wonderful. Isn't it funny how kids love to do new things and when they get older it's like pulling teeth to get them to do anything.

He loves to take baths. He grins and giggles when we even mention the word bath.

He looks like an angel.

I had put him in the highchair with some treats the other day, so I could get the dishes done, he played for a little while and then he gave up and fell asleep. He was so cute I had to take a picture.

While we were taking pictures of Andrew we decided to update the rest of the kids pictures also. I have a hard time getting the kids to cooperate, plus with it being so hot they turned out great (I think).

Clark 13 years

Ryan 11 years

Emma 8 years

A fun craft for Mothers Day.

Emma made this Lady Bug at school for Mother's Day (Yes, I am a little late with it). She kept getting mad at me because I hadn't taken it out to the garden yet. So I decided now was better than never. As you can see it loves its new home next to the beautiful flowers that I received for Mother's Day from the Ward. I thought it was a really cool project, all it is is a larger rock pianted like a lady bug (if you couldn't tell). Her 2nd grade teacher was so creative and had lots of fun with the kids projects, we will miss her.

Coming up starting school...