{Cabin time with Mama, Papa, and Uncle Daybed}

They were headed up to Millcreek so I suggested, no pushed that they take my two older kids off of our hands for the evening. The kids think Mama is the greatest because she played the dreaded LIFE with them. I don't know what is wrong with me but I hate LIFE. The kids couldn't stop telling me about it.

JJ and Papa just hanging out.
Emma took this picture.

The Fellas
Isn't JJ looking so cool in his shades.

Daybed pulling Mama's and Emma's hair out. What a turkey.

Emma is giggling right now cause she had no idea that Daybed was pulling her hair.

{Done, MOM}

Sometimes our kids will do something that just make us bust up. Last night was one of those nights. We were eating dinner and I had made bread. Ellie LOVES bread. She was heading to the stove to get her 3rd piece when I stopped her. Here is the conversation that came next

Mom said "Ellie, you have to eat your salad and then you can eat another piece of bread."
Ellie: "No, Mom"
Mom: "Yes, Ellie."
Ellie: "No salad, Mom."
JJ: "If you give us all a kiss you can eat the bread."
Ellie: "Okay!"
Ellie jumps up and runs around giving us all a kiss. Then sits down. JJ then hands her another piece of bread. I am still not sure what just happened. Why JJ thought he could make this deal, or why my orders where being over run.
Mom: "Ellie, the salad has to be gone if you want to eat the bread."
Ellie: with her eyes locked on mine picks up the salad, places it on JJ's plate, and states "DONE! Mom"

I busted a gut. She full on knew what I was saying and took my words and used them against me. She was so serious when she said "Done, Mom." that I couldn't help but let her have the bread. She did what she was told. Little smarty pants.

Kindergarten here I come!

After dropping the kids of at school Ellie was a little disappointed. She knew today was the day that she got to go to school and now I wasn't taking her. We haven't ever had afternoon anything. So this was a first for Ellie and myself. Because the power was out we headed up to Mama's to get her hair done. She looked so cute when we finally got in the car and headed back for school.

Ellie couldn't be more excited to go to school. She was cheering and thrilled to go.

Poor Boo thinks she is going as well.

Is this Ellie's class? NO! It is just the kids in our neighborhood that go in the afternoon.
Can you believe how many are just within a 3 block radius.

Here is Ellie with Mr. B

All the kids after school. Ellie was so excited to see them.

Here is to homework, early bed time, schedules, and possibly an hour to myself every day and time with just Elsie.

Back to School, Back to School...

This year the summer went by WAY to fast for me. I can't even tell you how sad I am that they are back in school. Yes, I know I am weird but I hate schedules, and I hate having my kids away that long. I know it is good for them but I just wish things could slow down a little.

This year was just a tad bit crazy. The night before school the power went out. For 18 hours. This meant that we had to get ready in the morning without power. Emma had been planning for 2 weeks to do her hair in braids the night before and then take them out so it was crimpy. This turned out to be a very wise hair style. We didn't need curling irons, flat irons, or blow dryers. IT was perfect. And well JJ he was fine.

Not bad for no electricity.
The fact that we work up was a miracle.

I can't believe I have a 5th grader and a 3rd grader. Yikes they are getting old.

JJ and Trevin

Emma and Eliza

Ellie and Elsie were sad to see them go. After this we headed straight up to my moms so that Ellie could get her hair done for her big Kindergarten moment.

{Poor JJ}

I have had the organizing bug lately. I had been cleaning out my closet and drawers and JJ had been begging me to stop and make dinner cause he was starving. I had finally left my room and was just about to cut a tomato when I hear JJ let out a scream and Jeron yell, "Where did that hit you, I'm sorry bud...MEGAN GET IN HERE!!" I come in and immediately yell at Jeron "What did you do to him." He looked at me like W.T... and said "Elsie did it." She was up on top of our bed, there was a mug, and she threw it at JJ who was sitting on the floor. It sliced his eyebrow pretty good. There was so much blood. Oh, my goodness. They aren't kidding when they say the head bleeds a lot.

There is graphic pictures for the faint of heart.

First you must apply pressure.
On our way to the ER

Finally stopped bleeding. It's a doosy, alright.

It is at least a Q-Tip deep. She was just shoving that thing in and out.

Getting it ready to glue together

Here it is all glued up.

One mug $5
One ER visit $150
One sister throwing a mug at her brothers face: Not so priceless is it. (then again Jeron in the background just might be priceless. Emma and I can't stop giggling at it...shhh don't tell.)

I will have to say that JJ is a champ. He was so brave as they cleaned. They are not soft at all and he didn't flinch or yell out or cry. Tough guy.

Now does someone want to tell me what to do with Elsie. She owes me $150. I expect her to pay in full.

JJ's last fling of the summer with Papa and David

Since JJ couldn't come with us to Pineview I had him take the camera with him and Papa. Mama was out of town and Papa was heading up to the cabin. Here is what JJ captured.

He even got to go to the airport to pick up Mama. I thought it was cute that he took a picture of Mama and Papa at the airport. 08-21-10

Our last 2010 trip to Pineview

JJ got hit in the eye with the mug so he couldn't come on our last family fling before summer ends. We sure missed him but managed to have some fun.

It is our first time with dad which meant that Emma and I got some good swimming time together.

Seriously so cute

Dad playing in the sand with the little bugs

Fun family times...minus our guy JJ

I grew up with a boat so Pineview is one of those places that I just love. Even without a boat I can still manage to have a wonderful time at the beach. I just love all my little fishies. Can't wait for 2011 to swim, swim, swim. 08-21-10

Hanging at the Fair

The kids and I decided it would be great fun to get on our bikes and head to the fair. It was actually a lot of fun and FREE! You can't beat free. Even the balloons were free. I only lost Ellie like 40 times so really it was very uneventful. The kids loved the animals. JJ almost held a scorpion but decided against it in the end. There was even free cotton candy. Seriously we didn't have to spend a dime.

What is a fair without sponge bob. Ellie kept hitting him.
JJ loved that gun. I think he was hoping it was free.

Emma and Elsie were the only ones that made it back to the bikes with their balloons. Elsie let hers go about a block from our home. Emma was the only one left. When we got home we went to get it off the bike and it popped. Made us laugh. It was a fun day at the fair but man I need a big drink of water and a couch.

Doll Project

I have a love/hate relationship with PBK. I love absolutely everything Pottery Barn, but hate the price. I usually find out that the price is very reasonable after I have finished coping a project and there is no exception here but I also know that $5 fits my budget way better than $59+shipping.

So the kids and I loaded up the ole' van and headed to Home Depot. I love it there. I love even more that they will cut my wood for me. I found a thin board that was 3x5 feet and only $5 + change. I had the guy cut them for me on the spot so all I had to do was go home and paint, paint, paint. I was so excited to see how cute they would turned out.

SUPPLY LIST
2 boards 7" by 11.5" Head and waist
1 board 7" by 14.5" Legs
Craft paint(colors you choose)
Paint brushes
Pencil
Drill
ribbon

1. What I did was free hand the doll onto the wood with a pencil. This takes some time. Make sure that when you move from the head to the waist, and the waist to the legs that you line up your boards so it all flows.

2. After drawing them paint away. I started with the background, then skin, hair, clothes, and face last. Just kind of paint how you dress. You do your hair before you put in the bow. You do your socks before you put on your shoes. Remember that you can always fix something. Elsie painted with BLACK paint all over the doll that is Emma's. I had to redo it but i was able to cover it up.

3. Make sure and paint both sides of the waist and legs since these are mix'n'match dolls.

4. Drill holes on the top and bottom of the head and waist and the top of the legs.

5. Put ribbon in holes and tie the middle holes with a knot and the top ribbon with a bow.
This really is a fun project. Ellie does have one. i cut the wood wrong so it is not finished yet. Her is the one with red hair and purple dress.

Father Son outing

JJ and Jeron just had their date night out. JJ was very wishy washy with what he wanted to do. He saw all the fun that Emma had so he thought maybe he would enjoy that. Last minute he went with the Clark Planetarium. I will have to say that I may have pushed it a little but I know my son and he loves things like that. Ends up that he maybe wasn't all that thrilled to go there but they did have fun anyways. JJ got to spend time with dad and that is all that matters.

I think it is crazy how much they look alike.

JJ came home with a mood ring and a super cool pen. You will have to try it out to see just why it is so cool. Let's just say it will shock you at how cool it is.

Fun in the Sun

I have been meaning to do this all summer and I realized that the summer was about to be OVER so I though I better get on it. I invited some ladies from the neighborhood to go up to Pineview for the day. We had a great time. It was easy and fun. The best part is the kids are entertained and the moms are as well. Best of both worlds...

...except for Boo
Her face looked like this most of the time.
Screamed in the water.
Refused to wear a life jacket(panic mom)
Warmed up at the end when she found some seagulls
She chased them clear down the beach
Sandcastle building was a good time as well.

JJ was in HEAVEN!
He kayaked the entire time.
He has a great goggles tan.
He had a blast.

Belle was all to thrilled to be there as well. (sarcastic)
She ate, and ate, and ate, oh and ate.
There was the occasional sand castle building.
She did lay on the towel a lot.
Then when it was time to go she decided she loved the water.

Emma had as much fun as anyone.
She loved the air mattress float tube.
Best idea ever...even if it is a little trashy
She was in the water non-stop
except for the occasional castle building.

I had a lot of fun swimming and playing with the kids
and playing with the moms
and chatting with the moms
and just chilling out.

It is great to have great friends

I am glad we did this and hope to make it a regular thing.

Daddy Daughter Date

We have felt like this summer has gotten away from us. The kids have done a lot with me but Jeron has been really busy so hasn't been able to do a lot with the kids. I arranged some dates for him to take the kids on. Emma got to have the first date. He picked her up at 5:30 and they headed to Salt Lake City. They stopped at Hires to eat dinner and then headed over to Foothill Village to Color Me Mine to paint pottery. Emma said she had so much fun. She loved being able to spend time with her dad. They came home all smiles.


I hope we can do a lot more of these in the future. I think this is precious time for Jeron. He loved every minute he spent with his little princess.