"Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year". . .

It is that time of the year again when we scurry to find just the right shirt and pants and the coolest backpack so that we can WOW our friends on the first day of school.  For the past few weeks there has been a lot of running about, great anticipation, and a LOT more money than I had intended in order for the kids to get ready to go back to school.  And so it was, on Monday, August 15th the big day came.  One by one they were on their way.  I took Cody to the intermediate school at 7:20 because he had to be early so that he could see each one of his friends as they arrived.  Mady was the next to go at 7:45 and she choose to ride the bus on the first day, she says she is too old for her mom to take her.  Austin took off about 7:55 looking the part of a cool senior in his pick-up truck, and Dalyon and Cami rode their bikes to school in great anticipation.  I followed them a few minutes later so that I could take pictures at the school.  (I'm not ready to give up that mother privilege just yet).  After everyone was safely "tucked" in their classes, I headed to work.  I wasn't able to be home as the kids trickled in from their exciting days, but when I got home there were only good reports from each of them.  For the most part everyone is pleased with their teachers, classmates and schoolwork load.  I think it is going to be a great year!  Here are some pictures:

Cody really dressed up for the occasion.  He has been planning
what to wear for weeks and he looks very nice and handsome.  I wanted
to take the picture in front of the HIS sign, but instead he had me drive to
a corner of the parking lot where no one could see us.  Not that there was anyone there yet. . .

Mady and Austin on the first day.  Even though they are in
high school they consented to pictures.  Mady even curled
her new haircut into fun flippy style for the day.  She looks so
pretty, and Austin looks handsome.  It is hard to believe that they are old
enough to do the first day by themselves.  (sniff sniff)

Some friends came over to ride with the kids to school.  This is Malachi and
Ephriam Tait, Austin, Mady and her friend (and bus riding pal) Chelsi Cahoon. 

Cami and Dalyon are ready to head to school.  They had left once, but came
rushing back to get their sunglasses. 

Off they go!  It was a weird feeling to send them on their way and go back
in the house to finish my breakfast before I met them at the school. 

Cami has Miss Karen Christensen for her teacher in the 3rd grade.

Dalyon had Mrs. McMurray for his teacher in the 5th grade.
She specialized in technology so he is really excited for this year.
He LOVES to use gadgets. 

So here we go, plugging our noses and jumping in with both feet to a new year of school.  In some ways it is the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" as the Christmas song states, however I miss my kids and really do not enjoy the homework, and am hoping we all have a very successful year! 

Mady Makes the Volleyball Team!!!

Congratulations to Mady and all her friends who made it onto the Freshman volleyball team!  Mady is really excited to play this fall and practices everyday.  This summer she attended a volleyball camp here in Hurricane and played "Club"volleyball all last spring hoping to improve and make the team.  We are really excited for her and can't wait to cheer her on!  Way to go Mady!   I'm sure there will be plenty of pictures to come. 

Oh Rodeo, Oh Rodeo, How art Thou Rodeo?

Last weekend Cody and I traveled with my mom and my sister Vickie and her daughter Kora to Preston, Idaho for a little family reunion and that famous Preston Night Rodeo.  We left Friday morning early and did some school shopping on the way, arriving in Preston late Friday night.  We stayed with my brother Troy and his family for both Friday and Saturday nights in their 5th wheel travel trailer. The Preston Rodeo has been known to the PRCA circuit as one of the best rodeos in the west for a long time.  It is a good hometown celebration that includes three nights of parades, rodeo, sidewalk sales, chuck wagon breakfasts, and a craft show.  Every year the Preston high school alumni get together and have their reunions this weekend, and this year it was my Dads (1966) and my brothers (1986), neither of which went.  My Dad wasn't able to make it to Preston because of his work, but Mom, Vickie and I happened to walk passed the pavilion the reunion was in and got him a book of his classmates names and addresses.  (Much to Moms embarassment.) 

On Saturday morning I went down to my Aunt Irenes home to visit.  It has been a long time since I have seen her and she seems to get shorter and shorter.  It is fun to talk to her and I was able to scan some of the pictures that she had of our ancestors and years gone by.  I was also able to get a few pictures of her family group sheets and pedigree's so that we had a copy.  It was so good to visit with my dear Aunt Irene.  She is my Dads' older sister, (there are four), and the one I'm closest to. 

This is me, Aunt Irene, Mom, and Vickie at Irenes home.

Later that afternoon we went to the Rodeo parade and had a great time in the hour long parade.  Cody got to ride in the parade with my nephew Bracken, which he loved, and we got to collect as much candy as we could stand.  We even got t-shirts, chocolate milk, Frisbee's, and of course lots of advertisements to add to our candy stash. 

Vickie and I giving Troy a kiss.  There are three kids in my family,
Troy is the oldest, then me, then Vickie. 

The three of us in a non-goofy picture.

Cody and Bracken in the parade.  Bracken works for Greenline
Equipment in Preston and he is driving a John Deere something or other. 

The Rodeo was later that night.  Saturday night is always the sold out night and we were all squished into the small spaces they called seats.  It was a good rodeo with most of the cowboys riding (and scoring) and good clown acts.  After we went to the carnival which is the same one that comes down here to St. George for the fair in a few weeks. 

The clown act, notice the saddle on the back of the plane.  That
is true Air ride.

Clowns watching the bull.

Sunday morning I got a great surprise when Troy asked if I would like to ride into Strawberry canyon on his Harley with him.  I was so excited because I have been wanting to go for a ride on his bike for a long time.  The whole experience was like flying, sitting on the back of the bike, smelling the pine trees (and other smells that the dairy's produce) and winding through the tight curves.  It was a breathtaking experience. 

This is a shot I got from the back of Troys Harley.  Mink Creek is so
beautiful this year!

Vickie going for a ride with Troy.  It is so exhilarating to ride like that! 

I think a good time was held by all last weekend.  It was good to revisit our childhood home and the places that we made our memories as children.  We shared a lot of experiences, feelings, and confessions as we drove around and  visited with family.   I'm so grateful for my family and all that they have been to me and my life.

Mady's Retreat

The week of July 18-24  Mady and her friend Chelsea spent the week at Utah State University at a camp put on be Deseret Book (Time Out For Women) called Retreat for Girls.  This was Mady's second year at this camp and Chelsie's first.  It is a retreat similar to Especially for Youth, except that boys aren't allowed.  They have all kinds of activities throughout the week.  This year the theme of the retreat was "Daughters in His Kingdom"  D&C 25:1-2.  They had speakers from the "Time Out For Women" circuit come and speak to them.  Mady and Chelsea heard John Bytheway, Chad Hymas, John Hinton III, Anthony Sweat, Carmen Rasmussen, Katie Smith and Kris Belcher speak to them thoughout the week.  They had a service project where they made education folders for those in need, and made crafts as well as playing games.  Every night they had a devotional before bedtime with their counselors.  There were about 160 girls at Mady's session and they were divided up into groups of 10.  Mady's counselors nickname was Origami because she could make origami anything.  The girls always have a good time and come home with a renewed energy to live the Gospel.  Here are some fun pictures:



Top Row:  Cammie, Justice, Mady, Chelsi, McKenzie, Camille,
Bottom row:  Lindsey, Azelin, Whitney, Jessica, Taliya, Rachel.



Girls from Mady's group:  Azelin, Mady, Chelsi, and Justice.



Austin, Chelsi, Grandma Patsy, and Mady outside the Taggart
student center before the final presentation for Retreat for Girls.



Chelsi, Origami, and Mady at the reception before the closing social.
Origami was the nick-name of their counselor.

It is so nice to see that my children love each other.  Austin and his
good friend McCarty came up with us to the closing social.

For the closing song the girls held hands in a cross and sang the song
"Happily Ever After" as a group.  The group circled around the whole audience.
Everyone had tears in their eyes. 

Chelsi had never been to Idaho so we got a picture of her under the
sign.  We spent the weekend in Dayton with Grandma and Grandpa after
the RFG closing social.  It was very relaxing. 

While we were waiting for the closing social we hung out in the
USU bookstore.  Here is Austin with an "AGGIE" hat.  lol

The kids took a jeep ride up through the Dayton Basin and took their
picture at the lookout there.  This is McCarty Amy, Austin, Mady and Chelsi.