First day of School 2013

The first day of school has come and gone. On that first day I sent away these cuties:

I was left with these two at home. I wish that I could have gotten a better picture of Henry, but he wasn't happy that James was pulling on him. Henry would have rather been crawling around than sitting on the couch for a photo.

Henry still takes naps (thank heavens) so while he took a nap this is what James and I did:

Katherine on her first day of Kindergarten!

 Jacob 2nd grade.

Mariah--4th grade

Wyatt--7th grade and Bethany 5th grade

Amanda is a senior!! Wow, I can't believe that.

So some may wonder how I can get all these kids to school....simple: I make them ride the bus. I don't like the traffic that occurs around the schools at the start of the day and the end of the day, so I simplify my life and let (make) them ride the bus. I mean how else can I do it when every school it starting at the same time and I have 4 different schools? So I have Amanda at the high school and she actually gets to drive because of early morning seminary. Wyatt is at the Middle school. And then I have these two at another school:

 And these two go to the same school:

 So other than Wyatt and Amanda this year, everyone has a buddy at their school. It works out nice....until it comes to parent teacher conferences!


These are just some cute expressions that James had as I was taking pictures that morning. He is such a ham!!

Boise

I was able to make a long trip to Boise with my parents. I ran away that weekend so that I could be there to support my younger brother as he was getting married. It was weird as I only took Henry and left all the rest of the kids to manage with Gabe. I rode with my parents so my responsibility was only to Henry. We had a lot of fun and it was a nice break for me.

The Tetons were covered in smoke on our way over.....but still stunning.

 Henry had my full attention in the back seat...not sure he knew what to do with it all!

While we were there, I decided to go shopping. I had been wanting a new skirt...and what better occasion that my brother's wedding! So the girls went shopping and I found this outfit that I love.

 On the way home we stopped to eat in Pocatello. I had never eaten at a 5 Guys restaurant.....so we tried it! It was awesome!! The fries were never ending.

 These are the Tetons on the way home....much better!

Summer Recap

We didn't do a lot this summer, yet we had some fun times and made some memories. So to recap. Wyatt, Bethany, James and I all had birthdays this summer. We took a couple of trips up to see Grandparents....and even got to see my Grandma and some of my aunts! I am only going to post a few pictures and so you will get one post of our summer via pictures!!

Wyatt's Birthday present from his primary teachers! How cool is that of them. Thanks for that!

Wyatt did summer band and they had a mini concert on the school front lawn. So hot and fun too!

We went up to my parents for Gabe's 20 year class reunion.....and the kids had fun in the trees.  Amanda was working and couldn't come with us.

 Henry with my Grandma K.

 Another trip north to see family. This was taken at the War memorials outside of Cody. Again Amanda had to work.

 This balloon actually came right over the house and I thought it was going to land on our roof! But it made it right to the vacant lot across the street. We have a balloon rally every year, and don't have to go anywhere to see it as it comes right to our door!

 Love this smile! This is some of his birthday loot!

 My birthday cake that the kids made and decorated for me!

Summer piano recital.

 I played a duet with Bethany for this recital.

 Bethany with some of her birthday loot.

So there you have it our summer in just a few pictures! We had fun and now it is off to bigger and better things.

Henry

So I have sort of fallen off the face of the earth (again) and have gotten so far behind that I don't even know where to start. So I will start with Henry! He is growing so much of the past few months that I hardly recognize him anymore as my little baby. He is now 10 1/2 months and, if you are friends with me on facebook you know, he is walking!!!! I am shocked. Granted he is only taking a few steps at a time, but he is doing it all on his own. Last night he was standing up to the couch, he turned and walked toward the kitchen taking about 10 steps. That is the most I have seen him take. He does better if he decides to do it than if the other kids try and help. If the other kids stand him up and ask him to go, he gets too excited and loses his balance after just 2 steps.
  He is starting to get teeth. My kids for some reason get their teeth really late. I mean he didn't cut the first one until 9 months. Now he has 3 and more coming. He looks really funny as his teeth aren't coming in "normally". Now when I say this I don't mean that they are coming in crooked....they are just coming in a different order than usual. Usually babies will get their two bottom front teeth, followed by the top two front teeth and then they will work their way out in 2s from their. Henry on the other hand, he got those 2 bottom ones....and then has sprouted a fang. He has his canine on the left side, and is getting the other one....he should have it by Halloween. He looks like a vampire. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get a good picture of the "fangs" yet. I am still waiting for that one. But know that once I do you will get to see it too!
  He is starting to talk. Most kids say Dada first....only because the "d" sound is so much easier to make. Not Henry! He said MaMa first!! In fact he doesn't say dada very often. He usually calls Gabe "mama" too. He is starting to try and say other things. Sometimes it sounds like he says "ya" or "ok" when Gabe asks him something.
  He is one hard child to contain. He wants to be going places. He isn't content to sit and play with toys....unless it is the dishes in the cabinets! I have taken to shutting all the doors to the bedrooms so that he can't go into them. Because if he goes in there, he will shut the door himself and thereby lock himself in as he can't get out!

Henry at 8 months:

Henry at 9 months:

Henry doing what he loves best.....having us chase him up the stairs!