School Days . . .

Hard to believe school has already been in session for four weeks! Sad to realize just how good it's been to have the kids back in school -- it's been a hectic summer:). It has been nice to try to get settled back into more of a routine (still a definite work in progress).

It's also hard to believe that Abby is old enough to go to Kindergarten and boy was she ready to go! She has always been such an eager learner and a deep thinker. She loves tackling an intellectual challenge and she loves acheiving things. So, she has really, really loved going to school.

The first day, she was determined to ride the bus (having listened to the delights of the bus from Millie for the past three years). She got all ready, kept asking, "Have we missed the bus?", and stood outside waiting with big eyes and a serious expression. She handled it with great calm. Mommy not as much. The minute she got on the bus, I piled the youngest two in the car and raced over to school to see her get off the bus. It was a tender moment for me, but made me so happy to see her so eager and excited for this new adventure. The night before school!

The boys having some down time together.

Ready for preschool. This girl is 3 going on 16. She's always been too big for her britches and she's thrilled that she's finally able to go to preschool!

Jane was so excited about the rainbow on her tote bag and her rainbow folder.

Jane with her teacher Ms. Leslie. She loves the doll house in her classroom!

On the second day of school, the girls were eager to wear matching outfits.

Off to Kindergarten!

Waiting for the bus on the first day! Abby was so happy to have big sis there to show her the ropes and Emily was there every step of the way.

Abby's first-day-of-school clothes she laid out in the hall

Backpacks ready -- check. Lunchboxes packed -- check.

Abby getting the feel of her desk at Meet the Teacher night. This girl was chomping at the bit to go to school!

Abby's thoughts about her teacher: She's nice. I like when she gives us happy tickets.

Abby's thoughts about school: I like the track. I like Centers because I get to see my mom. I like Art because I get to be queen.

Emily's thoughts about her teacher: I like that she's very funny. I like how she teaches in a good way. She's fun to be around and she's a good, nice teacher.

Emily's thoughts about 3rd Grade: I think that 3rd Grade is fun -- especially with my teacher. I like to write and read and do science and social studies. Not math, I don't like math (like mother, like daughter!). I like reading because the stories are interesting.

And with the girls off to school, Will gets to enjoy the good life . . .

Baby Blessing

Such a special day! So glad we could share it with Grandma and Grandpa McLaughlin and Aunt Melissa, Uncler Mark and their family!

Road Trip . . .

And now for another marathon post . . . Why does it seem that most of my few-and-far-between posts are so gargatuan? Perhaps because, for the most part, we live very regular, hum-drum lives and occasionally when something out-of-the-ordinary happens, I feel the need to document that we have, in fact, done something interesting. In this case, it was the month of July. We turned a trip to a family reunion into a month-long trek that took us from Texas, to Washington, to Idaho, to Utah, and back to Texas again. Overall we had a wonderful time, but tired mom with a new baby (who was a dream -- easiest part of the whole trip!), lots of different locations, lots of long drives, erratic bedtimes, and lack of routine made for some interesting (to say the least and I mean to really say the least) behaviors on behalf of the rest of the kids. We are still trying to get back to normal. I think I need a vacation to recover from my vacation. Thankfully, the girls are good car travelers -- especially good thanks to the Leapster and portable DVD player. Mark had masterfully planned our trip to Spokane, WA: four days of 7-8 hours of driving, arrive at nice pricelined hotel, take a dip in the hotel pool, go to bed, wake up, partake of the free breakfast in the morning, stop at a park for picnic lunch, and repeat. It ended up really being quite fun. The ride home? Not quite as fun. Overall we covered roughly 4500 miles and our favorite state to drive through was Montana.

Will was a rock star throughout the whole trip, and this is how he spent most of it. I could gush and gush about what an amazing baby he is (thank goodness for my sanity's sake!!). He really only cries when he is hungry or tired, started sleeping through the night at 10 weeks, is the most calm, pleasant little fellow imaginable! I just can't express how grateful I am for his temperment and how much I love my little man!! He is also quite the young traveler. At 10 weeks old he had been to 10 different states, and his first six weeks of going to church were in six different buildings.

We hit the jackpot the last night of our roadtrip in Billings, Montana. The hotel pool looked questionable, but we all felt like we needed to vent our cooped-up energy. Mark spotted a family fun center (I think it was called Geyser Park?) and we were able to feed and entertain the whole family for 2 1/2 hours for $45! They had go carts (our favorite), a terrific inside playground (the girls complained of being cold at 70 degrees and breezy!), and these bumper boats.

A few hours before arriving in Spokane, we stopped at the incredibly picturesque ol mining town of Wallace in northern Idaho. The pine-covered mountains were spectacular and we enjoyed getting out to stretch our legs and tasting some amazing BBQ at The Smokehouse restaurant. As fun as the trip was, though, we were all ecstatic to reach Spokane and be welcomed by family!

Spokane: Family Reunion

Last year, our family reunion was at Jennifer's and Matt's in Dallas. This year, Emily and Isaac hosted the family in Spokane, WA at Isaac's parent's house. Isaac's parents were so incredibly kind to vacate their dream house for a week so that the whole Ward clan could come crashing in with all of their little kids in tow. They were so, so very wonderful -- an amazing, humbling example of kindness and generosity. We are all so grateful to them for helping to facilitate our getting together! The setting is so beautiful, set on a hill among wheat fields, and Isaac's mom, Anne, is an amazing decorator. The house had so many beautiful touches. It was like having a resort all to ourselves.

Mark and Dave battling it out on the tennis court.

The pool was the girls' favorite part.

Will and Grammie

The girls with Auntie Em and Lucy

Mark, Will, and Isaac at Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane.

Abby playing on the blocks at Riverfront Park.

Abby on the giant Red Flyer wagon slide at Riverfront Park

Jane and Lucy

Aunt Miffy and Jane on the carousel at Riverfront Park

Will meeting his cousin Jane Hawkins for the first time. Jane is 5 weeks older.

She might be five weeks older, but she's not much heavier and not much longer. He is a big boy!

The girls went on their first hike ever during a visit to Couer d'Alene, Idaho with Grammie and Grandpa and Uncle Dave.

With Uncle Dave at the city park in Coeur d'Alene ( the mouse on the Moose's antler is named Millie).

Grammie, Emily, and Aunt Miffy

Jane and Emma taking a bath

Emily playing the piano. I just loved the moment with the setting sun coming through the windows.

Silly cousins Emma, Lucy, and Jane

Idaho

Mark had to return to work after Spokane and so I went with the kids to Pocatello, Idaho to spend a week with Mark's parents. Here we are at the zoo. Unfortunately, most of the animals were taking their naps. I was so happy to be able to meet up with one of my dearest friends from high school, Leslie, who lives in Rexburg. We hadn't seen each other for about 7 years and it was so good to get caught up! She is such a lovely, loving, amazing woman! (And major apologies to all of my friends who I didn't end up being able to see! I'm so sorry it didn't work out! Things ended up getting so crazy when we arrived in UT!)

And the kids got along splendidly . . .

Emily was able to fulfill her year-long dream of having a lemonade stand (in Texas the weather makes it a little prohibitive for us to sit out in the heat for hours). We made all of the plans the night before and woke up to find that the neighbors across the street were having a garage sale! The girls were thrilled with their venture.

Spending time with Great-Grandma Berrey

Pioneer Day!

I was so glad to be in Salt Lake for Pioneer Day so that the girls could get a taste for what it is all about. We loved visiting "This is the Place" Park the day before Pioneer Day with Grammie, Aunt Sara and Cannon (who weren't able to join us in Spokane), and Sara's sister Lindsey and her kids.

The girls enjoyed riding the train with Grammie . . .

And they loved the pony rides . . .

and they got a huge kick out of the candy cannon that shot salt water taffy out into Main Street

My memories of the Days of '47 Parade include walking blocks from the car to the parade site, jostling through the crowds to find a spot where we could see, and then sitting in the hot sun for several hot hours (although it was fun and exciting nonetheless). I didn't know if I could quite manage to traipse down to Salt Lake from Midway with all of the kids and fight the crowds, but my mom, and I decided that it was worth it for the girls to have the experience and it was perfect! We found a spot on the steps of a Methodist church in the shade where the girls could clearly see all of the action unimpeded and a parking place steps from it. It was so much fun!