It's about time! Right?!

Ok, So I know the kids have been in school for a while now but I just couldn't leave these pictures out. Grandparents look at this blog too. So without further ado, The First Day of School pictures.

The night before was a hard one. They were to excited to sleep and went to bed way to late. I thought I was going to have a hard time waking them but the excitement carried into the morning. It wasn't until the 3rd morning that the lack of sleep caught up with them.

Layton staying cool in his Labron James jersey, camo shorts and new shoes. Forget the forth grade. This kid is headed for stardom. Or so he thinks anyway. It's hard to keep this kids head out of the clouds, but he is going to have an awesome year. I can just feel it.

My GQ boy Jaren. Out of all my boys, this summer was a time of change. He grew up the most. He got taller and has a look now more like a big kid then baby face. He is headed to second grade with great expectations. He had a rough year last year but the future looks bright. A lot of good things to come for him.


My big kindergartner. Kelland was probably the most excited about the day. He normally is very slow in the morning but this day he was up and willing. To bad every morning can't be like that. The worst part of my day is trying to get this kid going. Slow poke is an understatement. I feel like I accomplished great things when I get them to school on time. He is so cute though. You just can't stay mad for to long. It will get better. That's what I keep telling myself anyway.



Ok, funny picture! I asked the boys to put their arms around each other like a hug and this is what I get. Can't they just stop being boys for two seconds while I take a picture? Honestly!

So I drooped them off and then snuck in to take some pics of them in their new classes. Jaren in his seat not even noticing I was there.

And Kelland who I couldn't get to turn around. I didn't want to be that annoying mom with a camera. I tried to be cool about it. I knew, however, that Layton wouldn't have found it to be cool at all but I tried anyway. His class left all ready for another activity. bummer. Another missed opportunity to embarrass, gone.

I always pick the kids up from school And it never fails that the first day of school is the worst day to do it. The line went on forever. The school was still around the curve, and over a small bridge away. Crazy, I know!

Brigham couldn't wait any longer. After waiting in line for 1/2 hour he was gone. Dreaming of picking his brothers up in a timely fashion no doubt.

And my cute kids waiting for me. They had a really good day. Lots of fun. It's going to be a good year. I'm really excited about it!!

"I'm not a baby! I'm a BIG boy!!!

Another year has past and he doesn't seem to stop growing no matter how hard I beg and cry. My sweet little one is a big 3 year old. How did this happen. Life is cruel sometimes. We didn't have to big of an ordeal planned. Just a weekend of fun with the family. But a family of our size is an instant party. So I'm not worried that he didn't feel special. Still a lot of people to celebrate with love. We took him to dinner. A birthday dinner at Jason's deli. Our kids favorite. I think they just go for the ice cream!
Kelland takes his ice cream seriously!

Mom: "Jaren take a lick of your ice cream so I can take a picture."
Jaren: "But it's sooo cold mom!!"
Layton: "that's why they call it ice cream Jaren." (cue eye roll)



Then (of course) a trip to TOYS R US. A tradition. We always take the birthday boys there to pick out a toy of thier choice..................Well, with in reason anyway. He always goes straight to the big wheels. After this, nothing seems as good.

model cars? No, just not the same.

Model Airplanes? A little better.

Remote control airplane? Yeah!! That will do!

Helping daddy put it together before bedtime.

This was when Grandma and Grandpa or Nana and Papaw called to wish a happy birthday. I can't remember who it was exactly, but both times it looked just like this. He really enjoys talking on my phone. Pretty soon he will be begging for one of these for his birthday. They start way to young. Am I right?!

Sunday was his actual birthday. So we had some friends come over to celebrate with cake, ice cream and presents.

Kelland was counting the candles for him and anticipating digging in.

"Happy birthday to Brigham! Happy birthday to you!"

Present time!!

Lightning McQueen is his favorite Disney character. What a shocker for a kid who LOVES cars!

Thank you Oma!!! You always sends books and the kids are never disappointed!

Come on Brigham. Be nice and let Kelland have a turn!

Our sweet friend Jeniffer is always there for my boys. She shows them so much love and they LOVE her for it. I swear, they would spend all day with her...... And have before. It just wouldn't be a party without her there to celebrate!

Best present of all. And of course the cheapest!

Brigham is an amazing kid. Very animated and funny. I love to be around him. Always puts a smile on my face. I hope it was a special day. Only the best for my little man.

BEST NIGHT with my BEST FRIEND watching the BEST BAND ever!

I love Paramore! There is just something about them. I have never felt this way about any other band. I love their music and if I was 10 yrs younger I probably would have spent the whole summer following them going from concert to concert. But I'm not 23 I'm 33 and that would just be plain crazy! So I settled for one concert. It still was a little crazy. Because the closest concert was in St. Louis 5 hrs away and in the middle of the week. Don was great though and made sure that it happened for me. Even though it was a pretty stressful time for him with his job. We decided to make a little trip of it. Just one night but worth it. It was our first night away from ALL the kids, but not the last. They did wonderfully and we had a blast. Paramore was great but were opening for No Doubt. So Paramore's concert was to short and when No Doubt came on I found myself disappointed. I've always liked No Doubt, but to me they just weren't as good. A little weird actually. We were getting bored and I suggested we leave, and walk around. I was hoping to run into them. Don just kept smiling at me. I'm sure he was thinking I was crazy but he didn't make me feel that way. Instead just went along with it. We didn't get to meet them but it was still a wonderful night. Hot! but wonderful. They wouldn't let us bring cameras into the concert so we had to use cell phones. Bummer.

Don had WAY to much fun taking pictures of me and even a few videos. I think he thought it was so funny how excited I was. And it was funny. That's why I'm going to spare you and leave the videos nice and snug in their file folders.


The next day we didn't have to much time before we had to get back but we wanted to do something. We didn't have a lot of knowledge about the place so we had to go with what we knew. The Arch is the place to visit when you go to St. Lois right? So that's where we headed. It was fun but something you don't have to do twice. Beautiful city though.

I can't wait for more bests! Thanks hon! Your the ultimate BEST!

Independence Day

Well it' about time I posted these pictures. The 4th of July seems like such a long time ago. It's crazy how fast this summer is going. Anyway, We were still visiting my sister and her family for the 4th. We had just got back from our camping trip and and were a bit warn out. So we didn't want to go all out. Just some place to go to watch fireworks and then maybe a few of our own on their driveway. But really, it turned out perfect. I think if we had packed anymore into our night it would have ruined it.

We found a perfect location. It was in a town that I had never heard of before but it wasn't to far away. We traveled down there, found a parking lot, got out and waited by the car to watch. Brad and Natalie let the kids climb onto there Suburban, which, as you can imagine, was a BIG deal to the kids. Brigham was the only one not allowed up there but as you can see, he was content with daddy.

This is the part of the night that was a bit scary. All the children wanted to help Don and Brad with the fireworks. And most of them didn't get to.

Layton got to!

And Cally got to. But that was it. And you can see that some of the kids were disappointed. Honestly, can't they just be happy with what the got!?! Wow I just had a flashback to my parents saying that to me. I couldn't have been as selfish as my kids were acting could I have been???? DON'T ANSWER THAT MOM!!!!

I put this picture in because it shows how many children we have together. We definitely are a crowd. Brigham was the only one not in there. And look how big they are getting!

Well, that was the end of our trip. We left the next morning. It was great though. And I miss my sister terribly all ready. Next time it's their turn to come visit us. Hopefully before school starts. So what do you say Natalie?