happy halloween

Isabels 6th!

We were in Pinetop this year for Isabel's birthday. Her birthday landed on our fall break from school. We spent the week in Pinetop and had a super time. She was very excited for her birthday this year. We started the day with our usual tradition of doughnuts, chocolate milk and juice. We went to Red Devil Pizza for her birthday dinner....YUM!! (good choice Isabel!) Topped off the day with a delicious chocolate cake and ice cream and the opening of some presents. I was lucky to have my mom make the cake and decorate it. She does such a great job! Isabel had a super day and she is growing up so fast! Love her!

Happy 8th Sofia!

I can't believe that my middle child is 8. Time is moving so quickly! We started the special day out with doughnuts for breakfast. Sofia was able to take a treat to school to share with her class. She was able to choose where we ate for dinner. She chose Souper Salad. After dinner we came home and she opened her presents. She seemed happy with her 'loot'. Then we had cake and ice cream. It was a simple birthday celebration, but just right for us. Sofia looking forward to being baptized and is such a great girl! I love you Sofia!

camping

The kids talked me into taking them to the ward campout this last weekend. I am usually so tired by Friday evening that driving for an hour and a half and camping overnight just sounded like too much! But they were super excited for it, so we went. We had a great time. Love our ward and were able to visit and get to know more people. The only problem I had was the spider infested cabin that was assigned to us....UGH!!! It was a nightmare, for me especially because I am petrified of spiders. Needless to say, I didn't sleep well that night, but we survived and the kids had a blast. Next time, I'm finding a place to pitch my tent!

The kids in front of our 'cabin'

Isabel found some friends, and I hardly saw her...she's growing up!

Jacob with his marshmallow gun, HEAVEN!

Sofia mastered the art of marshmallow shooting pretty quickly.

The BLUE team



Jacob with the warm campfire

hiking up the creek

Isabel and her friend

art gallery

"Sofia's art gallary" is written on the sign if you can't read it. What fun you can have with watercolors and masking tape!

school is in session

School has begun...I am exhausted, but the kids seem to be adjusting back to school schedule. I have 29 5th graders this year. Just a ton of work keeping on top of things, but SO much better than last year when I wasn't sure what I was doing or if I could even teach!! Jacob is now in 4th grade, Sofia in 3rd and Isabel in 1st. No tears from Isabel this year, I can't even begin to describe the relief of her being a happy little school girl, again a huge change from last year where she basically cried for 2 months straight. Anyway, here are the yearly first day of school photos. I kind of forgot to take pictures the first day and the second day and the next, but finally managed to get it done this week.

future teacher?

My kids were 'lucky' enough to spend time with me in my classroom while I was getting ready for the new school year. They have a lot of fun playing 'teacher' with the whiteboard and all my teaching stuff. They are very creative and luckily it kept them busy while I was doing all my work. I found this picture on my camera after the fact. Sofia loves to take pictures and I'm always finding odd pictures or self-portraits. This one was fun. Isabel is instructing the pretend students. Too cute!