Labor Day Weekend at the Cabin

We headed up to McCall for the holiday weekend, getting their late Friday night. Mark, Carla, Michelle, Jared, Stephanie and Mya were already there. That first night we enjoyed sitting around the fire visiting. The next day was absolutely beautiful and quite warm for September. We spend time on the beach, lying out on the dock and out in the boat. It was a perfect day. That night us adults stayed up and played Taboo. It made for lots of laughs! We took our usual walk to Charlie's Gardens and Stephanie went on a pretty good hike Saturday morning. The kids loved the sand and water. We are so thankful to have the cabin and love all the memories we've created up there. We all left Monday then gathered together that night for the BSU vs. Virginia Tech game. It was a wonderful family weekend!

I've been a little MIA or maybe a lot

Okay, wow, almost a whole month since a blog post. You're going to think I'm my sister. Haha! Love ya Lace! :0)

Let's see about catching up. Emma started school Sept. 1. She goes two afternoons a week. Last week she started a special P.E. class one day, so I take her in early and she gets to each lunch there. She rides the bus home with MJ. The bus comes to get her the next day. She seems to be really enjoying it again. She is speaking in full sentences now and very clearly. Her speech homework is getting progressively harder as she is mastering more sounds and tasks. She seems to know all her colors, and we're working on her alphabet and counting. I haven't been able to volunteer in her classroom yet, but look forward to that in the coming months. Here are some of her first day pics. And actually she got pictures taken the first two days. The first day I took her in to school, so I missed the photos of her getting on the bus; therefore the second day of shooting. And it may look like she wore the same thing both days. She wanted to wear school colors too, just like Kenzie, even though preschoolers don't have to wear the uniforms. They were essentially the same outfit, orange tshirt, capri pants, white sweater and sandals. But, they weren't the same clothes. Promise! By the second day, she was telling me to follow her all around the yard and, "Take a picture here Mom. Okay, now come over here. Just one more Mom." Such a little charmer she is.

First Week of School

Last Tuesday MJ and I went into school for her back-to-school conference. She met her teacher, found her desk and put in her school supplies. Her teacher and I visited about the upcoming year. She is so excited. She has a great teacher this year, and I know she'll do well. Her two best friends are in her class along with 13 classmates from last year. While we were waiting for her conference, we visited her Kindergarten teacher and a new Kindergarten teacher this year, who happens to be a good friend and neighbor. She used to teach 2nd grade. It was fun seeing both of them. The rest of the day, we worked on her scrapbook and played outside together.

Mackenzie was so excited for her first day of school, on Thursday (Aug. 26). We have to start getting up earlier now as she gets on the bus at 7:20. She had picked out her outfit the night before, had her usual oatmeal breakfast and was ready to go. After school, I got a play by play from the day. She loved eating lunch at the school. She had nachos. She didn't care for the cheese sauce so she just had chips. But they had refried beans, fruit, carrots and chocolate milk. She used to be such a good eater, but has turned a little picky on me. I was worried that she might not eat the lunch well, but so far so good. Friday was Canadian Bacon pizza-her favorite. Her friend Sharleen from dance road the bus into school with her. She had fun at recess and loves the learning workshops during school. In fact, she was quite sad on Friday when it was the weekend. She said she wanted to learn all weekend too. I told her to find the big notebook of worksheets she used to do, and that seemed to keep her occupied for awhile. Looks like she'll have another great year of school, which we're so thankful for.

Emma starts school on Wednesday and she is excited as well. Josh was gone all weekend to the Oregon State Fair so the kids and I have been playing outside and watching movies. I have also worked on editing and still have to finish my magazine issue.

On an unrelated note, I posted pics on the photo blog from Josh's birthday. I made him a homemade cheesecake. The two of us also went out with Jared and Stephanie that week. We had dinner at Goodwood BBQ. Josh had won a certificate there in a golf tournament he played in earlier this summer. Then, we went out for mini-golf. It was so much fun! We always have a great time double-dating with them. We want to make it a monthly thing. The putt-putt was hysterical too. I kick myself for not taking my camera in because we would have had some priceless photos from the night. But, we'll have the memories. It has also inspired me a little. I think it would be fabulous to do a family portrait session there. I already have the images in my head, so now I just need to find the right family who's up for a fun night playing putt-putt!

Here are just a few pics from MJ's first day...

He's All Boy

Me: Emma, where is Jayten?
E: He stayed outside.
Me: Jayten!! Look at you buddy! Are you playing in the dirt?!
J: Big grin

Birthday and Fair Weekend

Last Friday, we attended a friend's birthday party in Boise, then stopped by the Western Idaho Fair to watch the Junior Angus Show. The girls were so excited; they love the fair. They had a great time playing at an indoor gym for Isabella's party, then also had a blast at the fair. We got to see lots of friends. We went to the petting zoo, ate ice cream (they used their own piggy bank money and were so proud) and watch the Aussie Kingdom show about kangaroos and wallabees. Saturday morning was the ROV Angus show. It was an early morning to get there, but the kids were troopers. We showed 14 head and had reserve grand heifer and several class winners. A bull Josh and I bred, raised and sold was also a division winner. I'll let the photos speak for themselves. The kids had a blast. Mackenzie and Emma helped Carla and Michelle with awards. Little J LOVED the cattle, pointing to them, saying moo, wanting to pet them. Oh, and he loved the dirt too! It was a great day.



Jayten saying goodbye to the calves with Daddy.




Emma was content just watching the crew take the animals to tie-outs.



MJ loved helping lead a heifer calf to tie-outs.





The girls wanted to help clean the tie-out beds. Such good workers.



Getting water buckets ready.



J found this cord and had a lot of fun carting it around.



At the petting zoo with friends Fallon and Piper.



Checking out the baby goats.



MJ milked a cow.



Heading off with friend Fallon.



Saying hi to "Cupcake'' with Grandpa Mark. Our help for the weekend, nicknamed the heifer that.





The girls and Jayten enjoyed the play gym at Isabella's birthday party.

A Day with Mackenzie

Yesterday I took the little ones to daycare, and MJ and I went to register her for school and run errands. I'm not sure when the last time I had just her with me. It's been too long! We had a fun day together. She chose to go to McDonald's for lunch and later in the afternoon we stopped by Dairy Queen for a new mini-Blizzard. That really is the perfect size. Not too much, but satisfying. We went and picked out all her school supplies, which she is excited about. She found out she'll be in the same class with one of her besties, and they both are thrilled about that. It was nice just having the day with her. With her being in first grade now and all day school, I know I'm really going to cherish the time I have with her. She's growing up way to fast and will be 7 soon! I know she missed getting to do the errand run last year when she was in school, so she thought it was quite fun. Plus, she's really a momma's girl and loves one-on-one time. I really need to find more for each of my kiddos. MJ will be eating lunch at school, which she thinks is cool. And she'll be on the same bus. She loves her driver too! She starts next Thursday.

We found out Emma will have a new preschool teacher this year. She was a teacher last year, but is taking over for another gal who is going back to school. I was a little sad because we all loved Mrs. G, but I know Mrs. W will be great too. Emma starts Sept. 1, going two afternoons a week.

My weeks are crazy now, trying to still edit photography sessions and work on a magazine issue. I have decided I need to blog every day though, even if it's just a journal of what we did. I don't want to forget all the fun memories we've been making. It may get a little boring, but at least I'll be able to look back and see what we were up to!

On Monday, Jared, Stephanie and Mya came over for dinner, so it was fun seeing them. Mya turned one in July, and is such a cutie. The kids love playing with their cousin. I made some homemade vanilla ice cream. Yum! Today, we played outside some this morning, and I've been working on wedding edits and the magazine. I also took a break to make some homemade chocolate almond ice cream. Well, back to it!

The kiddos

I have to apologize for those who check in regularly. I am waaaaaaayyyyyyyy behind!! I have so much to write about and post from our summer. We had a wonderful time in Kansas. The kids played in the water, played with cousins and saw lots of family and friends. Jayten got his first hair cut. Emma went to the ER. We attended a wedding and two county fairs. School registration is next week and the girls start on the 26th. Whew! So much going on. I do hope to write it all soon, and you can bet I have a ton of photos to go with the stories. Right now I'm busy editing a wedding, a sisters session from Kansas, plus three sessions from Idaho. And putting together the next magazine issue! I just thought I'd throw up a couple pics from Kansas. As you can see the kids are getting big. And I was really excited there was one farmer with wheat still to cut when we arrived, so I could get some photos of the kids in it. They were not nearly as interested in standing in the wheat field as I was. But, Idaho wheat just isn't the same. Anyway, here is a quick image of just the wheat since it seemed to cooperate better that morning. Ha!