Drying Apples

After Reagan's parent teacher conference on Thursday we all headed to Idaho for Wyatt's blessing. We decided to get family pictures on Friday. They seemed to go really well! I can't wait to see the pictures. Friday morning Reagan and grandpa went and picked apples and brought them in the house to get them ready to dry. Grandma washed them, Grandpa peeled them, and the kids arranged them in the drying trays. They had a blast. I"m glad my kids get to experience these types of things when they go to my parents. It reminds me of being little.

Parent Teacher Conference

Reagan had her first parent teacher conference for 1st grade on October 22nd. Her teacher, Mrs. Ott, said she is doing great. She received 4's in all areas. She is doing really well with her reading. She is at a level H and the average is a G by the end of the year. I was really shocked to here this. Alan and I can get a little frustrated when we are reading with her because we think she can do better. Obviously she is doing fine. We are going to try and not be too hard on her. She is also doing well in math! I was really happy to hear this. Overall she is doing great. She is off track for 3 weeks now. She can't wait to go back.


This is something Reagan made that was hanging in the hall by her class.

Cornbelly's

Nancy, Bailey, and Trevor came and visited us for a week before going to Idaho. Nancy was brave and watched the kids while I went to work. Things seemed to go pretty well. I"m sure things got a little crazy at times, but Nancy said everything went fine. Other than it being a lot of work for her, I"m glad she did it because it gave our kids a chance to play together. They had looked forward to seeing each other for months! That had such a good time! They are already talking about the next time they get to see Bailey and Trevor. I hope it's sooner than later! I took Friday off the week they were here and Nancy and I took the kids to Cornbelly's. I have heard about this place for a few years, but have never gone. The kids had a blast! The weather was perfect and the kids were pretty good too. There were so many fun stations for kids to play with or on. They loved the bounce area the best! We decided to eat lunch there and then played a little more. By then the kids were pretty tired and so were Nancy and I. Letting kids have fun is way more work for parents! I will definitely go again!


The first place we went let the kids dress up if they wanted to. Of course the girls did!






Next, we went to the Duck Races. You had to pump water to push your duck in the race. We were at this station for awhile! Trevor especially loved it!










The kids saw a cow ride and wanted to go on it. When we got there only Kairi and Bailey would get in. Readgan saw a track where you rode a bike that looked like a tractor... she did it instead.




After playing on slides, we went to a bounce area. They had these animals for little kids to ride. Tahlia sat on hers or a long time. She wouldn't get off!




These bounce things were buried in the ground. I have never seen anything like them. The kids really had a good time on them.




We hadn't seen Reagan or Trevor for awhile... when I found them they were leaning against the bounce thing and laughing. They had also been building sand castles.


When it was time to go eat lunch, Kairi and Bailey and joined them.


After we got our shoes on the kids went and started playing behind this... cute picture and we didn't even have to ask them.


Waiting for lunch.


Big chair!


We had promised the kids cotton candy...




We tried to get a group shot as we were leaving, the kids were past wanting to do this. We went home and took a great nap!

Fall Soccer

In the spring when we signed the girls up for soccer, Alan put down that he would be a coach if needed. Well, when roster where distributed, Alan was the coach for both teams! We weren't expecting it but I think he is really liking it. He holds practice every Tuesday. Kairi's team first at 5:30 and then Reagan's team at 6:15. They have had a few games so far. They have been fun to watch! Some of the kids, on both teams, have played before so they really understand what to to. Our girls however, have not played before and are learning. They are getting better with each game though. At this age the kids just all run around in a herd of players. There are no positions, it's just a free for all. If you aren't aggressive enough you may not touch the ball very often. They both love their uniforms and getting ready to go play. Alan is doing a great job coaching. Some of the parents have called the organizers and told them what a great coach he is. One of the parents even asked if he was going to be the coach as these kids grow up. I think that that is a great complement to Alan. I am very proud of him! I couldn't do what he is doing. Hopefully I will understand this game more as the kids keep playing.

Dress Up

Our girls have loved playing dress up since they could walk! Now it is time for Tahlia to join in! She loves dressing up. Especially wearing the tiara! She even puts on the shoes and make such beautiful noise as she walks around the table. Reagan and Kairi love that they can help her dress up. She is growing up too fast! Kairi helped Tahlia get dressed for these pictures.

Visitng Wyatt

After Reagan's first week of school, we left for Idaho to see Wyatt who was almost 1 week old. He is so cute! We all fell in love from the moment we saw him. Leslie and Tyson have done a good job! Leslie brought Wyatt to moms Friday when we got there for a little while. Then Saturday morning, while mom and the boys went golfing, I took the kids and we went and spent the morning with Leslie and Wyatt. It was so relaxing and nice... It is amazing how you can love a baby so much and it not be yours. I love all of my nieces and nephews. I know I would do anything for any of them. I can't wait until Nancy comes in October so they can all be together. I think Leslie is such a great mom! She takes great care of Wyatt but isn't too worried that she is paranoid over little things. Love you guys!










I don't know if Leslie knows I took this picture... if not now she does!


When Tahlia saw Wyatt sitting on the coach she wanted up by him. She sat there for a minute and leaned in to give him a huge... so cute!

After spending the moring with Leslie, Tyson and Leslie had to go to his side for lunch, so everyone else went to Fiesta for lunch. Camden and Dane were crazy. They found some bug in the window that occupied their time.

Reagan is a 1st Graders!

I can't believe it, but Reagan has started 1st grade. Her first day of school was Aug. 17. She was really excited but a little nervous because she moved from Monte Vista to Jordan Ridge Elementary this year. I tried to assure her that everyone would be nice. She was mostly worried about missing her friends. I know how important it is to have friends. I told Reagan to be nice to everyone and in time she would make friends. Her first day was not a normal day of school. She had an appointment to go meet here teacher and do a little testing. So, she actually went to school all day on Aug. 18th. She woke up extra early and made sure everything was perfect. She had picked out what she wanted to wear the night before, but that is normal at our house. I didn't start school until that Thursday so I was lucky enough to take her and pick her up from her first few days of school! We arrived at school at about 8:15. Her teacher said she would come outside to get them about 8:25. So all of the kids played on the little playground for a few minutes. Then everyone started to line up to go inside. Reagan started getting really excited. She had a backpack full of things to give Mrs. Ott, from her teacher wish list. Reagan loves giving things to people! I felt a little emotional as I gave her a huge and stood back as she started to walk away. I didn't get to take her to her first day of kindergarten because I was already in school, so I think this was make up from last year. I just can't believe she is growing up so quickly. She is loving school! She is learning new things everyday. She is recognizing so many words that reading is becoming easier each week. It is amazing how quickly kids learn at such a young age. She loves math... she talks to me about patterns and things she notices with numbers weekly. Inside I am really happy because I know how some kids struggle and I hope she gets a good understanding at each level. She loves that she gets to each school lunch! She was a little nervous that she wouldn't like what the school made, but so far there has only been one thing she hasn't liked. They get to choose between two food items per day. Reagan also loves recess. The first day of school, she was playing and didn't hear the whistle to in and got left outside. She was crying and someone saw her and helped her find her class. She has payed better attention since! She is also making friends now. It took about two weeks, but now she talks about different friends. There was a big difference from kindergarten to 1st grade. In kindergarten, not too many kids know each other, but by 1st grade they do. There were some girls that didn't want to play with her because they didn't know her. Reagan was really sad about this. I told her to keep trying. It would take some time, but she would make friends. Then, one day, after I picked the kids up Reagan said, "Mom you were right!" I asked here what I was right about and she said, "You said it would take a little while to make friends and I made one today! You were right!" My heart was immediately happy for her! She told me all about her. When I asked Reagan what her name was she said she didn't know and that she would ask her her name tomorrow. We went to a fundraiser last night at Bingham High for the PTA and she saw several classmates and they had a great time. I'm glad that she has settled in!


Reagan didn't want any special breakfast... just Fruit Loops.


This is the first grade door. They line up around the corner... I just wanted a picture.


Playing before time to line up.


Waiting in line.


One last wave goodbye... I love this girl!


This is Reagan coming out of school... she is in the back of this picture.


She had a great first day!