Elle's 1st Day of Preschool

Today was Elle's official day of preschool at Lil' Dude Ranch. Monday I went with her for an orientation day and she thought that she was going to get be have school too. She was a little sad to leave after 45 minutes of talking with the parents. So today she was so so excited and had a hard time waiting for it to be time to go, especially after Amber got on the bus. I had planned on going a little early so that I could get a couple of pictures of her in her classroom and with her teacher. Then as we were about half way there I realized that I had put my camera down so I could get Nathan's shoes on and hadn't picked it back up again! So we turned around and hauled back to get it. So after leaving early we ended up being late. I was able to get a picture of her with her teacher quick before I left. She said that she had a great day and loved it.

Elle on Monday all ready to go to preschool even though it was for orientation.

Elle and Amber both set to go on Monday.

Elle with her teacher Miss Melissa today.

Elle showing off her star she made in preschool.

Elle: See it spells my name E L L E.

Happy girl!

Mom's Graduation

My Mom has been going to school for almost as long as I can remember. Taking a little at a time while we were in school and then doing more once we were off on our own. She worked so hard on very class and I don't think she ever got anything below a A- (maybe in math). After all her hard work she is finally done (hopefully for good for my dad's sake). She graduated with her Family Nurse Practitioner degree on August 12th. I was able to sneak up* to BYU in Provo and be there to support her in all her hard work. You are awesome Mom! I love you. Here is a little video I put together of her graduation.

*made possible by J staying home with the kids.

Amber goes to Kindergarten

I am in shock that this day has come. Amber is in Kindergarten! She has been counting down the days all summer long but it seemed to sneak up on us so fast. I thought that I was going to be okay with her going to Kindergarten because she has done preschool for a couple of years. Then I got home and thought about it and I got a little teary eyed because I couldn't believe that she has gotten so big. She is in real school now! How on earth did it happen so fast? I am sure I will be crying again tomorrow morning when I put her on the bus to school for the first time (I took her this morning). She is so grown up but in my head she is still my little Amber.

Amber on the other hand didn't have any problems just taking off the second we got in the Kindergarten play yard. When she got home from school I asked her what she did and of course like any little kid, all she really remembered was that they got TWO recesses today. When I asked her what else she did she said she couldn't remember. I was able to get a little bit more out of her asking specific questions (did you learn your class rules? did you get to know anyones name?...) but that is all she really wanted to tell me. Here are some pictures from her first day.

Dressed and ready to go.

Amber with her new teacher Mrs. Jones.

Amber lined up with her classmates (can you tell it is red day!?)

She made it home. She got to ride the bus for the first time.

July recap

So I don't know what has happened to the summer but it is nearing it's end. We have been doing quite a bit and I haven't said a think about it on here. So I am going to give you the highlights of July (mostly) via pictures.

We got together with the Picklesimer's again to celebrate the 4th. It is fun getting together and talking while the kids play together. Amber was even brave enough to do a sparkler this year (or maybe it was more like I was willing to let her try this year). Elle was just happy to watch and Nathan was a big chicken and I had to take him inside because he was just crying.

The girls did two sessions of swimming lessons this summer and loved every minute of it. They would have been there for every session if I would have let them. I was surprised how much they learned and how great BareFoot Gymnastics is for swimming.

Living in the heat the best thing to do in the summer is go swimming - which we did a couple of times. The girls were like fish the whole time while Nathan wasn't as interested. He thought it was too loud for his taste. He still had fun but it took some time for him to warm up to the idea.

We decided to take the family to Sand Hollow Reservoir one morning. It was fun and Nathan has decided riding in the canoe is much better than being stuck on shore the entire time. There for a while he had the whole think to himself.
We had a fun time outside on the slip and slide with friends. In 100+ degree weather what else is there to do!?
I finally took Nathan's binky away and he had a hard time going to sleep for the first two weeks so I thought he needed to be done with his morning nap. Boy was I wrong because then this would happen - in the car, on the couch, in his high chair. He has re-adjusted and is doing great sans binky.

Amber and Elle took a dance class this summer (June and July) and loved it. They liked that they got to go at different times and I enjoyed it because then they had a break away from each other. It was fun to watch what they had learned at a performance they had at the end.

There you have it. Most of what we did in July (I will do a separate post for my 10 anniversary trip with J).

Big Boy Nathan

I can't believe how big Nathan has gotten in the last couple of months. He will be 18 months in a couple of weeks! He is such a fun and funny little guy. He can communicate very well, which is nice because then I can figure out what he wants - therefore less crying and whining. He is definitely a boy and loves to make big messes and growl and climb and get messy…. It is so fun seeing the differences between the girls and him.

He and Elle have a lot of fun playing together. She is really good with him and is his second mom.

I had to take his picture when he was wearing this ensemble because his shirts says "born cool"

He still like to have me hold him and will come up and whine and pull on my leg until I pick him up.

I am sure someday when I show these to his girlfriend(s) he is not going to be too happy.

This is Nathan with his pal puppy that he takes with him almost everywhere. He gets such a big smile on his face when he sees it.

He love to climb and sit where everyone else is

He loves chasing his sisters around and playing with them

He like to put the girls' shoes, socks, clothes, and dress up on

He still is a good little snuggler so that is nice

He gets himself into all sorts of strange situations

I sure love this little guy. He always keeps me smilin' or pulling out my hair.

Sisters

Amber and Elle have a love/hate relationship, as I recall that was how my sister and I used to be as kids as well. I remember my mom getting frustrated with us and would have to have us go play alone so we could get a break from each other. I know feel my mother's pain. It is wonderful the days that they are playing well with each other and look like this:

But then there are days when they are just so mean and fight with each other that they make me crazy! Those are the days that I pretty much have to separate them for my own sanity. Amber's face pretty much tells you that this is a hate day:

I just hope that their relationship turns out how Bonnie and mine has. We are great friends and talk at least a couple of times a week (if not daily). We totally get each other and think alike so it is so nice to have her to talk to be we just 'get' each other.

Here are a couple of other pictures of my cute little people and the different things that they have been up to.

All sitting with Grandma Virginia

Couldn't leave Grandpa out.

Dress up with there cousin Natalie that got to sleep over. It was the girls first sleep over at our house. They had lots of fun and were sad that she had to go home.

Elle on the picnic blanket after we had lunch out on the grass.

Amber relaxing on the blanket

Playing in the kid house

They have spent hours and hours playing on this thing - loving that!

Dress up when we were in Heber a couple of weeks ago for Bonnie's baby shower.

Preschool Graduation

Amber graduated (if you would really call it that) from preschool on May 18. As you can tell by the jackets it was a very cold day for St. George. Everyone was squeezed inside a tiny gazebo at the Vernon Worthen Park so as not to be out in the wind and on and off again ran. She was excited to sing all the songs for me but wasn't too excited to have to say goodbye to all her little friends and her teacher Ms. Kami. She has a lot of experiences at preschool most of them good. She was always excited to go to preschool and cried when she was sick and couldn't go. I can't believe that she will be going to kindergarten in a couple of months!? It makes me a little sad that that part is over and now she will be heading to an elementary school.

This is all the kids from her school only half of them are from her class. Amber is on the right side in the pink jacket.