Haydo-P-Tado goes to school!

Hayden started preschool today. She's been counting down for the last week or so and she was really excited. Last year we didn't know anyone in her class before she started but this year there were a few people she already knew so that made it even more exciting. It's crazy how big she's gotten. Greg thinks she isn't growing fast enough but of going by the length of her last years pants, she's definitely grown. She may not be as tall as her big sister but she's getting there. She is really into coloring now and writing words all the time. She is always asking me how to spell something and writing it down. She's a smartie and I'm excited to see how far she will come in school this year.

Oh heavans!

Why is it when I babysit other kids mine are the ones that misbehave? I don't know why this child is drawn to the baby lotion but this is the second time she's done this. It's probably because Baby Magic is my very favorite and they stopped making it so when I was pregnant with Chandler I bought a case of it online. There's no better smell in the world than a baby magic baby. It will be gone way too soon at this rate!

You can totally tell she's trying to talk her way out of trouble in this shot and how could I be mad at that face. But I sternly told her she was in big trouble while I stifled a laugh and ran for my camera. Oooh I love that girl.

First week of second grade

My Gracie Jo started second grade this week. Most kids and moms eagerly look forward to the start of school. For the kids they get to go back to a new teacher, new friends, new fun. For the mom, well, we all know that summer wears on their nerves a little. For me though I really wasn't looking that forward to school. For me it just means that another season has flown by and my girls are growing up faster than I want them to. I don't like it! It wasn't that long ago that princesses and strawberry shortcake were all that she thought about. Now it's Hannah Montana and the Jonas Bros. Real people, not cartoons! What's next?
Well so far every first day of school has started off rough. In kindergarten Gracie was sick the first day and couldn't go. In first grade we missed the bus because it came earlier than we expected. Lucky for us we weren't the only ones and she was able to catch a ride with the neighbor. Then this year I started babysitting for another friend of ours and they were coming for the first time on Gracie's first day of school. Of course! They got dropped off at about 10 minutes before the bus was suppose to come so I was pushing Gracie out the door as they were walking in and trying to get final instructions from their mom. No big deal normally except there are 3 kids. A four year old and two, yes, two 17 month olds. Twins! So I threw them in the stroller (luckily I have a double) wrapped my 2 year old in a blanked and told the two four year olds to head down the street. So me and my 5 kids made it to the bus stop just in time to snap one picture of Gracie right before she got on the bus. No cute little photo shoot for the first day like I have done the last 2 years. Other than this one I had to settle for taking pictures as she came off the bus and she had already taken her hair-do out between the corner and the house. I did get a few second day of school shots. Heaven only knows what next year will bring. I hate to even imagine. We all survived our first day. Gracie's first day of school and my first day with twins and a four year old. I think so far she's had a good first week. All she will really talk about are the turtles her teacher keeps as class pets. I mean how do you top turtles? Now Hayden starts after Labor day and I'm sure I'll be a little sad then too. It's her last year of preschool and before I know it she'll be in college. Or maybe not, she says she's going to live with me forever. So for now I'm trying to take it one day at a time, one grade at a time, and enjoying my little girls while they're still little. Because one of these days they're going to be 15 and they'll be up for adoption. : (

Where has it gone?

So school starts tomorrow and like everyone else I'm wondering where the heck the summer went. Call me crazy but I can already feel fall in the air and I've felt like that for a week or two. I can't believe it's over and we didn't do one fun thing all summer. Okay, we went to California on vacation but technically that was during school so it wasn't really a summer vacation. I mean we didn't go to the zoo, or Lagoon or anything. How Lame. Two weekends ago I made Greg take us for a drive up the canyon. We packed a picnic lunch and went up Mill Hollow and my kids whined the whole drive up because they were afraid we were lost and wanted to turn around and go home. Once we were there they had a ball and loved every minute of it but I am completely disgusted that our kids have not experienced much outside of Kamas. It seems like most of my summers were spent either camping or horse riding with my dad. I mean I'm sure I'm only remembering the good times but my poor kids have only been camping once or twice and that was a couple years ago. I guess they are just growing so fast that I'm just afraid the only memories of their childhood that they will have are going to be of vegging out in front of the T.V.
I hope we can get out some more before the weather gets too cold because they really had fun.



Over the weekend the girls had a little vacation in Salem at my parents house. They thought it was their vacation but really it was for me and Greg. For our anniversary we didn't get to go on a trip this year like we have in the past but since the girls were gone for a couple nights we went to dinner and a movie which was nice and we never do that anymore. Then on Saturday we borrowed a 6-wheeler and Greg took me up to Murdock Basin and showed me where they have been working for the Provo River water users. I didn't think of it at the time but I should have taken pictures of what they are actually working on and the road to get there. From what I understand the first couple trips down were pretty hairy. They were driving trucks and trailers and semis down a road that's is basically meant for rock crawlers and ATVs. It was such a pretty drive and a gorgeous day and we got some good pictures. We even saw a bull moose.

But I'm only 24!!!

It is our 10th wedding anniversary today and it is blowing my mind. I don't remember being 14 when I got married! We met 13 years ago in Logan and we've come a long way since then. I never really imagined we'd be living in Francis with 3 girls, some cows, a pig, and a chicken! I guess that makes me a farmers wife and I wouldn't change it for anything. Greg is a such great husband, a good son and brother, an awesome dad, and the best friend anyone could ask for. He is funny, smart, loyal, dedicated, and just about the most hardworking person I've ever met. More than once in our married life he has worked two jobs to support our family so I could stay home with the girls. He can do just about anything he sets his mind to, and if he can't do it he knows someone who can. Since I met him he's been a welder, a student, a teacher, a coach (football, wrestling, and girls softball?!)worked construction, been a town councilor, a farmer, and the list could go on. He built our home including framing, shingling, and landscaping with very little help. There were few things he didn't actually have a hand in. (I did paint the whole thing!) He adores our girls and they more than adore him. I love to watch them all together when he walks through the door after work or even when he comes home for lunch. You'd think he just saved the world by the welcome he gets. And he doesn't go back to work without getting plenty of goodbye hugs and kisses from his girls. There's nothing he wouldn't do for his family and we are so lucky to have him. Honey, you have given me 10 great years, 3 beautiful children and a wonderful life. I love you and look forward to many great years to come. Happy Anniversary!