First Day of School

For the older kids starting a new school year is no big deal but for Jaxson it's a little scarier. He started kindergarten - all day. We wanted to put him in a half day class but it wasn't offered at his school. We have been trying to prepare him all summer for this and it hasn't been easy. He would really be happy just staying home with me all the time. I had a hard time waking him up at 6:45 a.m. -- of course any other day he is out of bed at 6:30. Then he didn't want to wear the super cute outfit I wanted him to wear. Instead he picked out a t-shirt that is unraveling at the hem in the back. Then when I packed his lunch he got upset because I put his juice box & cheese stick in a separate compartment from the rest of his food. This is the typical life with Jaxson and some days I battle with him and others I just don't have the energy. Today I decided not to battle. I didn't want him starting off his day in a bad mood. My sister came over and sat with the daycare kids so both Larry and I could take them to school. We left Jaxson on the playground in the good care of his teacher. I really wanted to hang around and get some more pictures but we were afraid that he would change his mind and want to come home with us and that was a fight that we really didn't want to have.

It was an emotional morning for me. I am both ecstatic & sad that my baby started school. I am so worried about him. Will he be safe walking to and from school, will he eat all his lunch so he's not hungry, will he learn anything, will he be the class bully??? The list goes on and on. I don't remember having all these feelings when my other kids started kindergarten. It is way too stressful. I just keep telling myself that it will all work out -- somehow.

Haley is a freshman this year. Thank goodness 9th grade is at the Jr. High or else I would have a High Schooler. Yikes!



Nate - 4th grade.



Jacob - 3rd grade.

This was Jaxson right before we left him. He doesn't look too happy but it was better than kicking and screaming.

Now if only I didn't have the daycare I would be a free woman (for six hours a day at least). Sigh ..... someday!

Mamma's Campout

Last week the mama's packed up the kids and all the camping gear and headed to the mountains for three days. Well, it wasn't exactly the mountains. We went to Sedona and camped in a really nice campground that had a creek running through it and was only 5 minutes from town. According to my count we had 12 mama's & 42 kids - NO DAD'S - but some of the other girls who have already blogged about this have different numbers. I think there were so many of us it was impossible to get an accurate count.

The Hanna's got off to a ruff start. We had to make a potty stop on the way there so we got separated from the group and then I couldn't find the turn-off to the campground. I spent about 30 minutes driving back and forth along the same 2 mile stretch of road before I finally got someone on their cell to help me out. Then I had a hard time putting up my tent (something I've never done by myself before), my adaptor for my air mattress pump wouldn't work, I had a dead battery in the van, I fell in the creek in my clothes (which really wasn't too bad because I thought I was going to melt from the heat), I set my tent up on an ant hill and had to move it, I burned my arm on the lantern (that one's gonna leave a scar) and I failed to close my food tote all the way when it rained and all my dry stuff got wet. Honestly, by the end of the first day I just wanted to go home. But thanks to great friends and a decent nights sleep (which never happens while I'm camping) the next day was great.

We had quite a campsite.

We spent our day hiking and playing in the caves.

Playing in the creek.

Just hanging out.



Digging in the dirt and making cool Stick Art.

Roasting marshmallows & magically making them disappear (not by eating them).

You'd think it would be my 4 year old who had the dirtiest face but no, it was my 8 year old, who always has a dirty face -- even at home. He kind of looks a bit crazy here.

A little stick pulling.

Making new friends -- this is only one of the two tarantulas we saw during our stay and unfortunately it got squished. Bekki really tried to protect it but there were just too many small feet running around.



And sitting around the campfire with our buddies.

It was a great trip and when Larry asked me if I would do it again I only hesitated a couple of seconds before I said YES!

Things I will remember for next time:

Don't leave my headlights on in the van.

Wear more sunscreen.

Bring a battery operated pump for the air mattress.

Bring HEAVY DUTY tent stakes.

Check the ground for ants, sharp rocks & inclines before setting up my tent.

Don't share a tent with anyone.

And most important -- remember to laugh, even at the things that frustrate me. It makes the situation much more bearable.

I can't wait till next year.

4th of July

Saturday we went to Payson for a family reunion. It was so nice to be out of the scorching heat. I was too lazy to take any pictures -- I set my chair under a tree and for the most part just sat there enjoying the warm (not hot) weather.

After the reunion we met up with some friends to watch the fireworks. I loved how green everything was.

LeAnn & Natalia were prepared with flags, star bubbles & glow sticks. Thank goodness because I didn't bring anything.

Here are the boys playing a game of football before the show began.

And the guys just kicking back -- relaxing.

So many friends!

Once the fireworks began everyone settled down to watch the show.

Jaxson made a new friend. He kept calling Cass his buddy and wouldn't sit by anyone else during the fireworks.

As usual Jake was asleep before it was over.

We made the drive home afterwards so it was a late night for us but totally worth it. We loved the fireworks and loved being out of the heat. I think we might make this a tradition for our family.

All-stars

Haley's softball team went to All-stars and took second place in the district. To be honest about it there were only two teams that competed in her age group but years from now when people are looking at that giant trophy they won't know there were only two teams!

They worked really hard practicing every night for two weeks to prepare. Haley really loves playing softball and has improved a lot this past season. She has learned how to play a new position, catcher, and is really good at it.

A little playing action.

She had excellent coaches and made a lot of new friends on the team. Overall it was a great season!

Great job Haley!

Mountain Men

The boys had a Cub Scout Day Camp today and it had some kind of a "Mountain Man" theme. They brought home these pictures. Apparently the knife that they are both holding in the picture is REAL and that is soooo "Awesome"!

Aren't they cute!

I'm not sure what look Jake was trying to achieve here??

Father's Day

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful daddy in our family. We tried to show him how much we love him by giving him some really cool gifts. The boys made him ceramic mugs that they formed and decorated all by themselves out of clay and Haley bought him a really nice card. As a family we bought him a new wallet that is made especially for pilots. It has a special insert to carry his pilot's license and medical certificate.

We also gave him and all the other daddy's in our family, including grandpa, a three day fishing trip -- just the guys, no kids and no women. They were all very excited. They spent an hour around the table planning and deciding where they were going to go. We heard places like Colorado & Mexico (they're dreaming) but I think they finally decided on someplace up on the Rim (that's more like it).

They boys also went to a primary activity on Saturday where they decorated ties for him. This is what he looked like in church.

His ties were pretty mellow compared to some of the other men who had big bright feathers on theirs.

We love our daddy very much and we hope he had a wonderful Father's Day!