Sunday

Why is it that Sundays are so HARD? Or is it just me? I like to keep Sundays for a family only day and for the most part it works, but then there are days like today, the boys friends come over or they hear them outside and its Mom can I go outside please, about 1000 times, I finally give up and tell them to ask their dad. How can I make Sunday better, I have great ideas but for some reason they just don't happen. We had a really good lesson today, I was actually able to go to the combined meeting today and sit with Dennie and listen to the speaker, without kids interrupting, (they were all in primary) needless to say it was very nice and I came away with LOTS to think about, but when we get home its like "oh was it church today" its right back into the everyday life, (not that is bad) but to me Sunday NEEDS to be a special day, a time for only family, to spend time doing things that we normally don't do during the week. I guess I am just frustrated with my lack of planning and lack of support. Guess that is going to be the topic of our family night discussion tomorrow, maybe if I get them all involved it will work out better and the kids won't be whining about being with friends every Sunday. I know its hard when they can hear and see them outside playing, and where we live so close to ALL the neighbors that do everything from cleaning their cars to having party's its hard. I know I am making excuses, but that's the way it is so I have to try harder to make Sunday special and not let the ways of the world affect us so much. Do any of you have this problem? If so what do you do? HELP any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. Have a super week, hope mine is not so busy, Melody

First day of school

I have survived the first day of school and even the second day more importantly the boys have yeah! Its been a crazy week but its Friday and almost over yippee!

I can't believe I have a 6th grader, I was really anxious about sending him, but after going to the orientation on Tuesday it wasn't so bad. The good thing is that even though the 7th and 8th graders have been in Middle School, they are at a brand new school, so it kind of puts them all on the same level not knowing where their classes are etc. He came home from school super excited about his schedule and teachers, which helps me too, I know SUPER OVERPROTECT MOM, I can't help it but I am getting better.

Our mighty 1st grader, he was nervous but did great, he rode the bus to school all by himself, (Jonathan got a ride with a friend) I did meet him at the school and made him go in and meet his teacher, which was very uncool in his eyes, but I thought it would be nice to at least know who his teacher was and what she looked like so he would know who to follow into class, as it was he was going in with another class and I saw him and got him to the right teacher it was super crazy over there, need I say more, I could but I won't.

It was a super long day yesterday, school gets out at 3:oo and at 3:55 they were here getting off the bus, poor Jared just came and laid down in the shade where we were waiting for him. I can only guess that they had a lot of trouble getting kids and kindergartners on the right bus. Wednesday wasn't bad at all they got home about the same time they did last year, but they didn't have kindergarten until Thursday. I bet they have some of the same trouble today, but hopefully they will get home a little earlier than yesterday. (could that be anymore confusing?) All in all school this week hasn't been bad, the kids are excited and ready to learn hope it will last.

Well this had turned into a very long post and it really wasn't going to be, but that is what happens when I get started, believe me it could be much longer if I really let go on the school system up here but I won't. I need to be nice and stay positive. Have a good weekend. Melody

Busy week

This week has been so busy, I know I have said it before, but we have been on the go ALL month, no I am not really complaining but it just seams that I can never get anything done, course being on the computer doesn't help either, but I can't neglect my blog, oh no that would be well we can't even think about that hahaha. Monday I took Jared to the dentist, and yes his top tooth needed to come out and he also had a bottom tooth pulled which I wasn't expecting but it needed to come out to prevent some orthodontic problems hopefully in October all will be well.

Jared's new smile.

Monday

I know who changes their blog background more than me? Anyone? I didn't think so, I wanted something more like back to school, but couldn't find one, so this is what I got. Its FALL yes, my favorite time of year, this one might not get changed until Christmas, but then again who knows if I find more cute fall ones I might change it every month. Its never boring here at my blog hahahahaha.

Super busy again this week, lots of places to go and school starts Wednesday ha I am not ready for that, I don't know how I ever let Jonathan go to first grade and not have panic attacks, but then again I had Jared at home and another on the way, I just don't remember it being so hard oh well I will survive (ask me in a month). Soccer is going great its their first games this week Jared's on Tuesday and Jonathan's on Wednesday it is so confusing I hope I can keep them straight. It must be bad teeth month at our house, first I had to go and have work done, then Dennie had a tooth go really bad and finally ended up having to have it pulled, now Jared has to have a tooth pulled it's the one that he bumped last year it turned gray and the dentist said it was dead and to just watch it and if it started getting a puss pocket on top to bring him in, well almost a year later its going bad so off to the dentist we go today to have it pulled. Well this was just going to be a quick update but I got to rambling along the way, have a good week. Melody

By the way I do really like comments I know your all super busy like me and just get quick snatches to be on the computer let alone to comment on everyones blog.

Camping pics

We finally were able to go camping, it was a short trip but still fun. It was kind of cool and the wind blew the first night and whipped the tarp on the tent Jared didn't like it one bit, it was quite the adventure for sure but we survived. Saturday we went to Yellowstone.

Jared

Dennie and his little girls


Yellowstone

More Yellowstone
Greetings from West Yellowstone with the only bear we saw on our trip.
Wish Jonathan would have been with us it would have been a fun picture
for our Christmas cards oh well.





This was so much fun, Jonathan was playing light saber with the flashlight and the campfire smoke, I thought humm could I get some pictures of this? So I tried and this is the result I think the pictures turned out pretty cool. Either way it was fun, I think Dennie thought we were dorks but we had fun anyway.

Busy

Holy cow this has been a super busy month! Don't know what hit, but we have been BUSY BUSY BUSY! We finally went camping last weekend, I'll post pics later, it was super fun even if it was only for a couple of days! Soccer has finally started and wow with two boys playing on different teams different age groups, we will be busy on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturday. It may get really CRAZY! School starts in 1 week, not really looking forward to that, (I like my kids home) but the boys are ready to go, it is really going to be super HARD for one of them getting to bed early and up in time for school, wish us luck, hopefully it won't take too long to get him in a routine. Looking forward to fall time I love the fall and the changing colors, I just LOVE it, but then that also means winter is coming and snow and slick roads but it also means the holidays and oh I love those too. So much to look forward too in the fall so much fun. I really don't know where all that came from, I guess the thought of back to school and all.

Don't Knock It Till Ya Try It

Do you happen to have too many of these?

Maybe you should make some of these!

We had the best "apple" pie ever, only it really was zucchini pie, I have made apple pie before but it didn't taste as good as this! The boys love it, Dennie, he likes it but he really isn't a fruit pie kinda guy he prefers the cream pies. Any way if any of you would like to give it a try let me know. I have made zucchini bread and brownies before but never pie, I hadn't even heard of it boy was I surprised it kinda makes me want to try the zucchini freezer jam recipe I found. Do any of you have any more good recipes for zucchini? Please do share.

Our Berry pickin' weekend

Last Friday we went huckleberry picking, the bushes were loaded. I couldn't believe it, we have always had good luck at this spot, but this year was unbelievable, the berries were BIG too. After picking for a couple of hours we had over a gallon of berries. The kids help us for the most part, but they eat twice as many as they put in the bucket, oh well it was fun being together and we enjoyed the huckleberry pancakes later that night.

Dennie, Sara and Jonathan in the bushes, picking huckleberries.

This is what Rachel and Jared did after about an hour, the dirt in the road is just powder and they had a blast playing in it, laying in it,and rolling in it, needless to say they were covered in it and had to dust off before getting in the van, here they are still pretty clean.
The huckleberry bush loaded with berries.

Some of the berries I don't know if you can see how big some of them are but there was some big berries this year.


Our berry stained hands after picking for a couple of hours.

Our bucket of berries. We had so much fun, we went back on Sunday after church and picked another gallon of berries.

Summer Rain

I love it when it rains in the summer, I love the smell of rain, the coolness it brings, the sound of the thunder, the relief from the heat. Here are some pictures of the rain storm we had today, unfortunately I forgot the bedroom windows were open, so we had 1 wet bed, and our floor by the window was wet, Jared said, "good job mom" thankfully Jonathan was in his room and shut his window, I usually remember and get them shut but this time I forgot, oh well its not too bad.
I know some of the pictures are dark, but there was so much rain the road was one big puddle. We even had some hail not to very big and not very much.

This was my project for the week (it took a good part yesterday to make these) I made them for Audrey's girls for their Birthday, I think the turned out super cute and even better I made the bows to match the shirts we got them hope they like them.

Rachel modeling the bows

New Bike

Jared and his new bike, he has been needing one for quite some time. He loves it it has hand brakes which makes me a little nervous so far has done fine, the only thing is he HAS to wear his helmet when he rides it, something we haven't always in forced, but feel (OK I feel) is necessary now.