The night before Kindergarten

I am sure if you have ever sent one of your children off to school you have felt similar feelings as to how I feel at this very moment. It's hit me and will probably hit me harder tomorrow.

Why does sending my first born off to the land of the unknown seem so scary to me? I sent him to preschool so I guess that helps a little in the separation department. But This is all new to not only him but to me too. It brings up so many thoughts and fears in my head.

1. Will he be excepted? Will he make friends?
2. Will they tease him? Will he get his feelings hurt.
3. What if he sneezes and snot goes all over his face? Will he forever be the booger boy no one wants to sit by? (I hope I remember to give him his allergy medicine.)
4. Why does this scare me so bad? I'm worse than he is.
5. Will he remember to Choose the Right?

Part of me wants to keep him safe under my wing and never let him out. I am scared of what is out there. This is the start the rest of his school career for the next 18+ years. There's no looking back. Vacations, appointments, and life will revolve around a school schedule. Homework, grades, teachers, and friends.
My mind is very heavy. I guess all I can do is pop some Advil PM and pray very hard that He remembers who he is and loves it. I know he's a good boy. He loves to learn and will do his very best at everything he does. I just have to have FAITH.

Family Campout

Family Camp out August 2011

Moon Lake, Utah

Of course I have plenty of pictures to share!

My camera wouldn't read the new SD card I got before we left. I was one bummed out girl. But my grandma saved the day and let me use the card in her camera. Here's my test picture.

YAY!! It works.

Hanging around. I think they finally realized I am taking picture regardless of their complaints. So you might as well smile right grandma?

See what I said smile when I say to smile or else this is what you get. :)

He was tempting me one step at a time until he caught me off guard and ran in up to his knees. Such a turd.

Like mom like son.

What is sand without....

Sand Angels!

Every ones doing it!

Pretty cool!

During the day it was warm enough to play in the water.

Daddy wanted to try fishing. The boys lasted about 5 mins. Maybe.

So pretty out there. I've been coming here since I was I little.

Water, and sand... Pure Boy heaven.

Grandpa and daddy attempted to fish. Can you see my dad hiding behind that bush?

He's such a cute fisherman.

I love his firetruck tattoo on his belly?

This is just so pretty to me.

We covered the kids and my cousin Kylynn with sand.

We got a little sandy.

We washed off in the lake.

And stripped them down to walk back to camp.

That night we had the best smore making party. It was great. We even got creative and My uncle Kevin came up with some great ideas. Like using Reese's instead of chocolate bars. YUM! And brownies instead of graham crackers.

Put it all together and Matt made the ultimate smore.

Looks good doesn't it?

My cousin Tiff helping Manning with his marshmallow.

Manning enjoying the fruits of his labor.

It was so good he didn't want to put it down to play.

And he didn't

Waking up in a tent is hard to do.

The grass was so tall it was funny to watch the kids walk through it.

Mattix was such a good brother and kept holding Mannings hand so he wouldn't get lost.

Spot the Manning.

We love camping. No computer, TV, phones (this time) and plenty of family time. Just make sure it's not too much family time. :)

It's just fun.

One More Down

Summer semester is over and I am happy and very proud to report that Matt did amazing. It seems every semester something happens that hinders Matt and makes life so hard for him. Matt is such a strong guy he never fails to amaze me. At the very beginning of the semester Matt was in a car accident. It put us in a funk for a few weeks. But dispite the pain he was in and his appointments. He got up the Monday after the accident and went to work and school. He knew he had to and couldn't afford to miss and fall behind. I am so proud of the example he is to my boys. I love him. So for this semester he had 3 classes and he got A, A-, and a B+. With a concussion, waking up at 2 a.m., 3 kids, a church calling (he is faithful too), many "service projects" and Me his wife. Yep I think he's amazing if I do say so myself.
Way to go Honey! Keep up the good work.

Whoopee!

Mattix got a new Whoopee cushion for his birthday. Manning has become quite attatched to it. He thinks that thing is the funniest thing ever. I am thinking it's time to "hide" the whoopee cushion. Tonight as we are sitting here getting ready for Daddy's birthday tomorrow. I looked over at Manning as he's pushing so hard his face is turning red. He made a little fart. Than laughed his head off. Saying "mamma bum" while pointing to his bum. Yes I do believe that lovely toy will be going into hiding for a very long time. But I do have to admit it's almost worth it. When he laughs that hard it makes me smile. And I need all the smiling moments I can get with that crazy kid.

Boys will be boys. And I love it.

Deleted Pictures

For some reason when I was trying to delete the extra space between pictures I accidently deleted some of my pictures. As if I didn't have enough pictures. I loved each one of them and have to show them off. Couldn't leave any out.

While we were getting ready for lunch the boys were grumpy and hungry I tried taking pictures of them all sitting there. I think it was David that said "no more pictures. Please!" And they all agreed and started trying to hide from the camera.

Manning was grumpy and did not want to be bothered.

Rocks make good seats and places to climb.

The boys enjoyed taking pictures with mommys' cameras.

Mason had a blast with the Bayblades.

Manning had to try everything the big boys did.

The stairs to the fort were fun. Manning climbed up and down over and over.

Mommy Son "Camping"

Daddy helped us get ready to go. We sure missed him. But I am sure he loved the peace and quiet.

Being in the mountains, we were not short on dirt. Good thing we packed Mattix's new sand toys from his birthday.

The shed was so pretty we would of easily stayed in there.

Mason and David hanging out on the swing.

Manning made a new friend. Double trouble.

Posing on a big log. This is one of my favorites.
Kesia you are beautiful as always. :)

We loved climbing on all the BIG rocks.

And sliding down the other side was so much fun too!

The cabin we stayed in was awesome. I am so grateful Reagan and her family were so nice to invite us to join them. We had lots of fun with them and our friends.

We played one very short not so serious game of Candyland.

Manning wanted so bad to play with my camera.

I let him and he took a picture of me.

We found out some of our boys were pretty good at Twister.

We set up blankets all over the floor and had a BIG sleepover movie party.

My boys were so excited to play that there wasn't to much movies watching going on.

Or sleeping. The two most tired boys were so wired they were wild.

Finally after holding him down he gave in!

Me and my boys. We are all awake!

Good Morning!

Crazies!!

After cleaning up and packing it all up. We took off for adventure and more fun. We took a walk/hike around Silver Lake at Solitude.

With 7 boys, lots of water, mud, trees, rocks and so much to see, we had many things to stop and check out.

Me and my boys.

Kesia and her boys.

All the boys!

Buddies!

Kesia, Me and some of the boys.

Climbing up the hill through the trees. We love to explore.

Checking it all out.

Manning is throwing a fit. And it looks like Mason is going to spit on him? About half way through the walk we started getting tired and hungry. But we kept going.

What? We're not playing in the mud.

More water/mud to play in. Manning loves being with the big boys.

Mattix lagging behind walking straight through the water. But it was so much fun. It was worth the wet shoes.

The boys stood around and watched the chipmunks (ground squirrels?) this little guy seemed to have a stash hidden under the pine needles. They sure were fun to watch.

There was this rock wall the boys were determined to climb. I followed up behind them....

As they got higher and higher.

But we made it to the top.

After our hike we sat down and scarffed down a yummy lunch. They boys were all so hungry. So were us moms.

We sure had a fun time!
I had such a good time. It felt good to go hang out with friends and spend some time in the mountains with my boys. I loved it all.