Back to School . . . Already

The kids started back to school on the 8th of August. We switched from year-round school to a modified tradition schedule. They were excite to start, and I have to admit, I wasn't crying either=). We had a fun summer, but they seem to need a little more structure than I give at home. I just can't believe how fast they're growing up!

Talie:
Started 5th grade this year - She can't be that OLD! She has Miss Williams, who will be getting married this year. The last three years, Talie's teachers have either gotten engaged or married, I guess she's good luck. Talie is great at making and being a good friend; on the first day of school, she came home saying she made a best friend already!


Dallin:
Is going into the 3rd grade and has Mrs. Stone again. When he tells people that he has Mrs. Stone again, he always adds that she moved up to the 3rd grade, specifying that he was not held back.He loves Math and although you'd never guess it at home (we love you Dallin), he is extremely polite, respectful and a very hard worker.
The bandage on his arm is not the new style, but the day before, he fell off the wrong end of the swing and landed on it - thought for sure it was broken, but it seems to work just fine.



Ashlynn:
Started kindergarten this year with Mrs. Harris. She goes in the morning for a half day, and is loving it! She is the second oldest kid in her class, and seems to enjoy that. She has about 4 kids from the ward in her class, and informed them on the first day that she would play with them later, but right now she wanted to make some new friends. That's Ashlynn - never afraid to say it like it is. She also stated that she didn't have a boyfriend because she is already going to marry Owen Packham- so no need for a boyfriend.


We are glad Ashy is only at half-day kindergarten, otherwise Peyton would miss her like crazy!


Peyton:
Although I'm left at home with only two kids for half a day, I don't have time to be bored. Peyton is busy making messes faster than I can clean them, but if I step out of the moment, I can laugh at his little quarks. I decided that he does seem so busy because Talie, Dallin and Ashlynn aren't around to entertain him

Peyton's first time climbing a tree - he took to it quite naturally - I always knew he was a little monkey.


Kennedi:
Is my little angel. She is such a good baby, and I'm grateful for that, other wise I think I would have gone insane about 8 months ago. She still isn't crawling, but somehow I'll look over at her and she has moved about 5 feet - still in a sitting position. I ask her, "How did you get over here?" And she just gives me a little mischievious grin. My guess is that she enjoys a little less chaos with the older ones gone, but I don't think she notices much of a difference with her noisy, bully brother still around.

The Smith's Nine Lives!

The day after the 4th, we loaded up and drove to Idaho to visit family. We got To Sugar City late Saturday night, went to church and did the typical Sunday things. Monday we met up with Laura and Nate and Katie at the Splash park and the kids played and stayed cool. Then we went with Nate and Katie to bridge jump, but the water was too high and swift so we decided to not risk our lives, and went to a sand bar instead. While there, Benson took Dallin and Ashlynn to another area to dive, and I stayed in the wading area with the others. Peyton decided to climb up the stairs, and after handing Kennedi over to Katie, I ran up the steps in time to see Peyton climbing in the top of a water slide (no life guards on duty). Afraid that I'd land on him if I slid down after him, I booked it down the stairs and ran (fully dressed) into the lake where he is bobbing up and down. Luckily he was fine, just a little scared. I wrapped him in a towel and settled him down, just in time to look up and see the chain, separating the wading area from the swift water - leading to a waterfall, break and start to float off in the current, with Talie hanging on. Still fully dressed, I ran/swam and pulled her back to the shallow area.
The Kiddo's at the Splash Park.


On Wednesday, we got to hang out with Matt and Lindsay as well, and then to start off Benson's family reunion,we went floating down the snake river with 10 little ones. There were some tip overs, and a traffic jam into a tree on top of poor Shannon, but after Bart and Benson pulled us out, all was well.

Thursday we decided to go 4-wheeling down an old favorite trail. After Benson did a backwards somersault off the back of the trailer (while still on a 4 wheeler), Kennedi and I pulled a double Evil Kenevil (forward somersault) on our 4 wheeler, and Talie tipped sideways, we called it a day. The worst of the 4-wheeler injuries
(photographed by Talie herself=)


Friday, we decided to play it a little safer and went fishing first thing in the morning, and then drove to Jackson Hole to go swimming.

With the help of the Master Fisherman, we ALL caught a fish!

All in all, it was a fun trip, and we were grateful to arrive home safely.

The 4th of JULY!!

We were lucky to have uncle Nate, Aunt Katie, and cousin James come from Arkansas to come spend the 4th with us. We started the morning by sending Talie and Dallin off with Dad to go 4 wheeling. While the rest of us stayed home to enjoy the neighborhood parade, which consisted of neighborhood kids riding around the subdivision in their patriotic decorated bikes behind a fire truck. Apparently last year the kids went ahead of the truck, making the driver nervous, so this year, the truck tried to drive fast to keep ahead of the kids. Of course, they just rode faster and Ashy - one to never be left behind - tried to keep up and biffed it on her first go around the neighborhood. When I saw all of her friends ride by and no Ashy, I became nervous, and ran to find her. She had gotten back on her bike, but was not interested in finishing the parade or staying for the popsicles and festivities. But hey, her bike sure looked cute - great decorating Ashy!
After that we hung out at a park for awhile and then came home for the little ones to nap. Nate and Katie played water games with the big kids while Benson and I packed for the trip to Idaho the next morning. Then we finished up the evening at the Albrechtsens' home for a BBQ and fireworks. It was so cute, when the firework show started, after each firework shot up, Peyton's eyes bulged and his mouth shot open as he pointed, yelling "Fyah Wooks! Fyah Wooks!"
Then he would throw his hands over his gaping mouth.
Unfortunately we don't have a picture of it, but it was cute!
Hanging in the Hammock.

Garage Saling!

I have just discovered garage saling and it's become a new hobby. (Although Benson refers to it as "garbage collecting") Every Friday, I would drive Ashy and her friends to preschool, and noticed the enormous amounts of garage sales. So I started slowing down and looking, and then actually stopped and found some fun things. This was one of my prize finds: An exersaucer in perfect condition for only $5! I brought it home, sanitized it, and she LOVES it! Not sure how the other kids did it without one. Nothing is more fun than getting a great deal! And she's so darn cute, had to share the picture!

MMMM mmmmm Good!

Peyton doesn't like to have to wait too long for anything, but having a baby sister 18 months younger, I can't jump to his every request, so he has become very independent and helps himself to whatever he wants. Well, as most two year olds, he isn't crazy about eating his dinner, but rather eat things like ice cream, fruit snacks and chips. So the other night, I was sitting on the couch feeding Kennedi, and I looked over and saw that Mr. Independent had reached up into the silverware drawer, found himself a butter knife, opened the freezer door, found a tub of his favorite ice cream, ripped off the lid and was in toddler heaven.