365+1 Week 34

We are officially back into the school schedule, it is only day two, but so far so good! I can hardly believe that I have the afternoon to myself!  It is fantastic- except now I have no excuse for my dishes being piled in the sink...

Photo's #232-238:

While I am cleaning the work office the girls like to leave art work/questionnaire's for their grandpa to enjoy.  They look forward to the correspondence and love the element of surprise. I like to think that he ENJOYS these things and that they aren't at all unprofessional when he has business to conduct!!!

It was a Lego building kind of a day- I love stumbling upon the joint creation masterpieces. Everyone worked together, all had a say on what and where. My favorite part- the flowers planted in front of the house.

One last swim at the pool before school starts.  Because the rest of the valley had already started we basically had the water to ourselves all afternoon.  Lets just say that Liv never left the big red twisty slide except to take this picture for me!! They were in heaven!

Back to school hair cuts.  Another outing that I put off until others were already attending school.  We walked right in and had the salon to ourselves.  The stylists told me it was a good plan being that they had given nearly 600 cuts on the previous Saturday and Monday!! Liv cut off 5 inches and Eva just got a trim to clean things up.  Abby (despite Paul's plea to keep it long) needed a change up.  She always wants a sassy little bob and so that is what she got- She LOVES it and that makes both Paul and I happy as well.

Dance class has begun.  The countdown started weeks ago and the days had finally arrived.  This year we signed up at a dance studio nearby and she is taking a class twice a week- Tap one day and Ballet the other.  Her classes are smaller with more one on one instruction and the teachers seem really fun and talented- Olivia is elated!!

"Today" This is one of my favorite dresses.  I love the color, I love the subtle print, and I love the little puff sleeve. Just love it.

Look who is playing soccer!! Eva has been waiting for this day to come since, well, the day she was born!! She has watched Abby play 4 days a week pretty much her entire life.  She KNOWS how it is done, she KNOWS what to do, she KNOWS that wearing a uniform is the best thing ever(especially when it is her favorite color), now she just wanted to do it already!!  And yes, she did wear that uniform for three days straight, even to bed, leading up to this moment :)  Five year old's playing soccer IS one of the cutest things ever!

365+1 Week 33

This week we are still out of school, even though most of you are back into the full swing of things.  Although all of our extracurricular activities are starting back up, we have several things planned to take advantage of the smaller crowds around town!!

Photo's #225-231:

I have been released from my calling of serving in the Ward Primary Presidency and issued a new call into serving in the Young Women's Presidency.  Truthfully- my heart was broken over this news.  I was desperately sad to walk away from a presidency that I truly loved with all my heart and from those darling children that brought me so much joy each and every week :(   But, I know that I have a place in this new endeavor. Even though I feel really out of place still, the girls I will be working with are fantastic.  Truly, wonderful young women, and they have a lot to teach me.  My mother told me that just maybe I am being put here for my own learning in how to work with, love, and except teen girls- you know, because I have three of them just around the corner!!  Please send all your prayers my way for the next while, OK!!

 Abby was wanting to make cookies for a family night activity.  Who am I to say no!! We all worked together on a new recipe "Ultimate Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip" which had us roll the balls of dough in sugar before baking in the oven.  They were a delight!!

Our first picking from my Father's garden- I look forward to this all year.  You just can't beat a vine ripened tomato.  BLT's, Bruschetta, on a grilled burger, just sliced with a touch of kosher salt...

Backyard swimming with friends.  Got to love it!! This year we upgraded from our classic little blue pool.  While the set up and take down are more labor, now Abby can actually sit in it and they all can swim together :)

Today I pulled out my card making supplies.  It has been far to long since I got myself all paper crafty.  I had some cute cards to make for some spectacular ladies and it was a grand time putting them together.

Tonight was the event of the year for my girls. The 3rd Annual End of Summer Tea.  Here is just a glimpse of all the goodness- more to follow.  This kind of fun and delight does deserves it's own post!!

With my new calling I had to jump right in- Saturday was the youth temple trip.  We drove up to the Logan Temple to take part in some Baptism's and then we were lucky enough to have reservations to the first day of the Brigham City Temple Open house.  Both structures are so beautiful, but I was in love with the design and furnishings, and finishing touches of this new Brigham City Temple.  Paul and I had a great time spending the day together and with such great youth, friends and neighbors.
Thanks Dad for watching the girls for us!!

365+1 Week 32

Whew!! I am finally getting myself caught up after our fun filled week of family playing.
Enjoy the following and know that I am content inside to be back on track with my photo postings even though it is always so hard to narrow down the photo's from a vacation!!

Photo's #218-224:

"Pair" Today after church we were on our way up to spend some more time with at the Davis family get together before many family members went on our way to other events.  These are one of my go-to pairs of shoes- comfy and cute.  Also every time I wear them Olivia has to reach down and stroke those shiny patent toes-always makes me smile.

This year was the return to Albion Idaho to play at my Dad's Family Reunion.  It is always fun to see everyone again, play, eat good food and talk about old times.  After a creative and fun Family Home Evening put on by our host this year, Aunt Bonnie, we mingled around the roaring fire and roasted up smores, mallows, and starburst until all our tummies were about to burst.  It was a great first day!

Day 2 was spent (aside from swimming) getting to know knew cousins, kid crafting, and riding around on the banana bikes (I still don't know why they call them that!!) as well as some good old fashion bug catching!

My Brother's Slack Line Walking talents seem to be rubbing off on the next generation :)

Day 3 was spent mostly in the water- pool, hot tub, slides- and my brother Cory sent candy flying through the air in the Candy Cannon (this is a pic of all the kids proudly holding up their cups of loot). Not pictured (because of space!) was Aunt Mardi's sawdust hunt, ALWAYS a blast!

Day 4 we said our sad goodbye's. Many of these fun people I won't see again for two more years! But I do always make sure to get a picture of my girls with the Greats before we pull away and head for home. I just LOVE those two!!

Tonight after a long exhausting and emotional day (details later!) my mother and sister took me and the girls out to dinner for a girls night.  It was much appreciated and we always go to the same Chinese place- all of our spouses don't much like Chinese food, so this is our tradition!

This afternoon we met my Brother's family at the movies for my nephew's birthday.  Seeing "Brave" has been on our summer to do list for months and it was great to finally go- and with such fun people to boot!!

365+1 Week 31

Photo's #211-217:

The Olympics had been underway for a couple of days and the girls were over the moon watching all the athletic competition!  The favorite so far? Gymnastics of course.  Gabby Douglas is a house hero and they made themselves stay up every night to watch the drama unfold. This Sunday afternoon was spent perfecting their individual events- Olivia was rocking it on the "Beam"! And yes, we were then invited to a full Gymnastics meet in our back yard while each girl performed in an all-around event!!

Back at the Manila Pond for an evening of relaxing fun.  The girls made this "Hot Tub" and Eva was completely content to soak up some rays while giving herself a mud treatment!! :)

Just another picnic dinner with my two little's at the soccer park.  On tonight's menu: BLT's. Mmmmm...

Today our Story time was outside at Wine's Park for a fun Magician show.  The girls really enjoyed this and the magic man had that entire crowd of over 100 kids laughing hysterically.

"Eyes" My Eva girl, I just love how her face lights up, you just can't be unhappy when she is around.

Today was a busy day as we ran Abby to and from her Mini Soccer Camp in Provo and shopped to get ready for the two upcoming back to back family reunions.  A pit stop for some Happy Meals was in order to keep the troops in good favor!!

Today was spent with the Davis family.  Group and individual Family Portraits, lunch out with all, birthday cake and ice cream, and then a trip up Mill Creek Canyon for some hiking, exploring and roasting until the sun set over the mountain in glorious fashion.  I really love the dreamy effect that this shot gave while shooting into the sun.