Here's What's Going On at My Place

Somebody pinch me! I still can't believe this is happening. I had to drive by our lot several times today just to make sure I wasn't having some sort of cruel dream. But it's true! We actually have a hole! Just a moment....I gotta do a jig....Hooray!


The last month has been a blur. We finally sold our house and moved (which goes down on my list of things to do only once, maybe twice, for the rest of my life). We have squeezed into a tiny rental house in town but it's been worth it to stay close to school, church, friends, family, and now to keep an eye on our house being built. The clincher is that we also have a two car garage which for us is a big storage unit. I'm determined to somehow fit my van into it come winter but we shall see. We gotta whole lotta crap!

Our contractor has told us that he thinks our home will be finished in April but I'm just going with sometime next Summer. I've had my hopes dashed WAY to many times through this process already (I think it's taken us 2 1/2 years to get this far) so I'm trying to under promise myself and hopefully they'll over deliver and I'll be thrilled!!!

12 Years to Go

A few weeks ago Riley began her next 12 years of all day school. It was of course a bittersweet day for Mom but it's also fun to hit these milestones. Being a first grader is cool because "You get to have three recesses, sit at your own desk, and eat lunch at school" - Riley.

Ready...

Set...

Go!!!

(Don't you love how the back-packs are as big as the kids)

With Riley taking these first milestones for our family we had cousin Sophie come over for a play date so Sammie could also have a special day. They were rockin' the 3D glasses.

Could Tyler look any more nerdy? I love it! The girls put his hair in a Mohawk after his bath and paired with the glasses it looks like a Dennis the Menace hairdo on steroids. One of those pictures that makes me smile whenever I look at it.

Bringing in the End of Summer

Holy Catch-Up Post! Man-o-man did August fly by and I'm still struggling to get my breath. To ring in the last month of summer break we planned a fun-filled week to celebrate our last moments of freedom. We were going to head up to our family's condo in Bear Lake but somehow ended up first at the Lagoon. ;) It was a fun surprise and the girls were super excited.

This is how Tyler felt about the whole experience...

This was his first and last ride. He was okay with Lagoona Beach and the train (as long as Mom had him in a bear hug) but that was about it.

The girls were die-hards and rode anything and everything they could. Brandt snapped this picture of Sam on the whale ride. I love the little nose crinkle she gets when she smiles.

Riley's favorite was the bumper cars. She is quite the driver and found joy in chasing down the boys and giving them a good bump or two. Sam was worried she was hurting the other kids and preferred to be Riley's sidekick. Quite the opposite pair.

This isn't a very good picture but I thought it was funny that it looks like I'm half horse. Yeah, I might have forced Tyler on the carousel. He's pretty happy about it. Aren't boys supposed to be tough?

My helicopter pilots in the making.

Can you tell that the operator was taking his sweet time getting this plane ride going? Sam would've jumped back off if she wasn't buckled in.

After a day at Lagoon we finally made it to Bear Lake around midnight. Luckily the kids all slept in and Wednesday was slower paced with a walk down to the Marina to look at the boats and to collect shells. Then Dad took the girls swimming while I stayed back at the condo and watched from the deck. Tyler was taking a nap so I decided to catch some rays and read a good book instead. It was tough but someone had to do it. ;)

This made me a bit nervous.

Good thing Sam pulled up her shorts. The water was getting pretty deep. ;)

Thursday we had lunch at a park then headed up to Minnetonka Cave. This is Brandt and Ty at the park watching a family launch rockets. Anytime Daddy wore his hat, Tyler insisted on his. It was one crusty, filthy hat by the end of the trip, but well loved.

The kids REALLY enjoyed the cave expedition and did great with the 888 total steps...well the girls anyways. Ty got a free ride from Ma or Pa's shoulder's. It was money well spent though and Riley still talks about it. Great memory!

On the way back the kids wanted to stop and see what a cattle guard looked like since we always honked when driving over one. Riley is a very curious girl and wants to know details about everything so she is now an expert on cattle guards. Funny that, that was one of the highlights of the trip to the cave.

Friday was our beach trip and we found a FREE one about 3 miles south of Sweet Water. I even got in the water (okay only enough to push the raft around) but still that shows you how "warm" the lake was. I'm a WIMP when it comes to cold water...I hate it.

Right before we left the kids and I threw together a quick sandcastle to mark our territory...and so Tyler could knock it all down.

Saturday we hit the pool for some more swimming and then did a little lounging before it was time to go. As you can see we played..."How many people can we fit on the chair". Don't worry that the sofa and love seat are both within arms length of the chair but that's no fun.

What else have we been up too?

Sammie started dance and hasn't stopped smiling about it. This is her posing with her mini-cupcake after the first day of class. I think this girl has found her calling.

Tyler has started a career in modeling shoes.

Mom has been running around town.

And we've hit as many parks as possible. Sometimes picking up a few extra kids along the way.

Hope the end of Summer has found you all well and that you'll help me by holding onto as much sun as possible. I'm SO not ready for the warm weather to end!

Lawn Mowin' Fanatic

This is why I can no longer mow the lawn unless some of it is done while Tyler is asleep. As soon as he hears the motor running he comes hauling over and demands to be put on my shoulders. By demand I mean he backs up to you so you can't get around him and yells "SHOULDERS" over and over until you do it.

Brandt's Mr. Tough Guy and can do the whole yard this way. Mom is Mrs. Sissy and can only do half. It sure is pretty cute though...as long as he's on Dad.

The best is when he holds onto the cheeks REALLY tight and you get that stretched lip look. I was trying to get one of Brandt but apparently he only holds onto me that tight.