Another Rodeo!

L'Deane invited us to the rodeo years ago, and it's become such a fun tradition!  Even if I feel like we don't have time, I know we will have the best time!  This year was so fun.  Truman was on a scout campout and wasn't able to join us but the other kids had a great time.  We picked up L'Deane and went to our favorite place for tacos before heading over.  We made it just in time for the start.  The seats are horrible and Jer says he can't do it again...but I'm sure we will get him back.  

Miniature Golf

Truman had wanted to use a gift card he had gotten for his birthday to Fiesta Fun.  He was so anxious to spend it on everyone instead of just himself.  I love it when my kids are kind and thoughtful without any prompting.  He took everyone miniature golfing and then let them each play some of the arcade games and then pick out individual prizes.  Plus we did it on a Monday night for family home evening so I didn't even have to plan a lesson that day!

Ward Picnic

We went up to Pine Valley one evening after school started for our ward Back to School Picnic.  I wasn't looking too forward to it but it was beautiful up there and luckily instead of having to be too social I was able to hang out with the kids while they pet the horses!

First Day of School 2017

Truman heading off to 7th grade at Lava Ridge Intermediate.  He's the big man on campus this year.  Next year he's at the middle school.  He is really involved already with honors choir, HOPE squad (suicide prevention), "ELF" play, on top of all his classes and soccer.  He recently received 6 merit badges at his court of honor and is close on 3 more.  He is off to a busy start!

Chambers enjoying a leisurely donut breakfast while the kids get ready for the first day.  He was pretty confused as to why his preschool wasn't staring if everyone else was starting school!

Tacy is the oldest at elementary school this year in 5th grade.  I can't believe she's been doing Chinese for 5 years now.  I'm sure it will be a fun year.  She is in class with her best friend Beth, and many others she likes.

Cardon started his first year of being at school all day in 1st grade.  I was a little worried about how he would handle all day and the Chinese part of his day.  So far he comes home happy and says Chinese is only a little boring sometimes.  His reading really took off this summer so I'm glad he has a good handle on that so he can focus on other things.  He has already made some fun friends and got invited to a swim party the first Friday.  I know he's been exchanging his phone number with lots of kids in his class.  He seems pretty social compared to my other kids.  I'm glad he's enjoying school. Can't believe I have two Chinese speakers now!

Tacy and her friend Scarlett.

Looking forward to a great year at Santa Clara Elementary!

Finishing up Summer

I redid the kids' job charts to be ready for the coming school year.  Chambers was especially excited to finally have his own.  I love how little kids are so excited about things that actually aren't that fun.

I have seen so many turtles on my runs in the morning that I took the kids one morning when I got back to see if we could see one.  Of course there wasn't one!  We did see a bunny and roadrunner.  I loved this picture of Cardon carrying the water bottle over his shoulder with a stick.

This is a picture I took on my early morning Saturday run.  I got some new shoes and water pack and was excited to try them out.  It was a great 9 mile run and I loved my pack.  I liked my shoes til I got home and saw I had a couple little blisters.  Maybe I need to break them in a little more.

Minature golfing for family home evening.  The kids could seriously live here!

Splash park with cousins.  The kids played and played since they had others there.  Cardon of course made friends with everyone that was there that day!

Leonard Reunion

I felt bad because we had all been looking forward to our big trip to Bear Lake all summer and unfortunately the car accident was fresh on my mind and I was pretty anxious about going.  Freeway driving actually makes me less nervous but we were pulling the Razor so that added a little stress.  After Jer getting the brake lights working correctly we headed to Bear Lake.  

Luckily we ended up at Maddox right at lunch time.  We ate at the outdoor tables for the first time and it worked out great.  Even if if did start to rain on us right as we were finishing.  Love their chicken!

Aunt Melissa ordered the biggest pizzas we'd seen.

The first day we went for a Razor ride and enjoyed the beautiful weather and scenery.

The Razor was pretty muddy after going through this!

We found the perfect beach spot the next day with some sand, grass and shade.  We were worried about not finding a spot but we got an early start and went over to the Idaho side.  They kids had a great time playing there all day.

Every morning while we were there I went for an early morning run and the views were beautiful.  And it felt so good to run in such cool weather.  It's been a while since I've done pavement running but it felt great.

We also went to Bloomington Lake.  I can't describe how amazing it was.  The wildflowers and trees and the lake was pristine.  There was even some snow on the far side.

The kids took tons of pictures on my phone of the different flowers.  It was our first time there and we already plan to come back next time.

Wish I would have gotten more pictures with the family, especially Phil and Linda.  They are so kind to take us every other year.  We love getting away there and I know my kids are making the best memories with all Jer's family.  And I'm happy to say it was a long ride home but at least we made it there safely!