Sunday Prep

Saturday is a special day, it's the day we get ready for Sunday...

One day that will be alot of priesthood holders under one roof!

By the way, the shirts only stay like that for about a 3 seconds. Then I see all of the boys, including the baby, on the floor wrestling while they're waiting to leave for church. A little painful, yes, but someday they'll be able to iron their own shirts. Someday...

*Editorial note (added after this was originally posted): Brent would like me to clarify that I do not, in fact, iron every Sunday. I apologize if I implied that I do. Additionally, when I do iron I very rarely iron Brent's shirts. He knows how to use an iron.

Owen's Big Day

Excuse me while I post way more pictures/details than necessary of Owen on his first day of preschool! Let's just say I was feeling a little more verklempt than I had aniticpated about him being big enough to go to preschool and I just loved how excited he was to pose.

Owen woke up that morning and was lazily laying on the couch. All of the sudden he sprung up and shouted with more excitement than I thought possible-

It's my first day of preschool!

Then he ran around getting ready like a crazy person.

And this little picture could be why I got all teary in the first place!
Could he be cuter? No need to answer. I already know.

Showing off his muscles.

Because everyone knows "you have to have big, strong muscles like me to go to school, Mom."

He was so excited to get "school shoes" and then he was checking out his hair to make sure the wind didn't mess it up.

And off to school we go!!

Oh wait. It doesn't start for another 45 minutes.

Oh, and we're driving, not riding scooters.

Aaand you're going the wrong way, dude. Preschool's the other way.

He's been trying tto write his name but the "e" and "n" were giving him trouble.

While he waited to leave for school he did it!

I love, love, love how he wrote that.

And more waiting.

He said "Mom, you don't need to come in. Just drop me off and drive away."

Ouch. That was unnecessary.

I talked him into letting me just walk him up and of course snuck in some pics.

Little turkey. He's not supossed to be quite that independent yet.

Eager to unload his backpack and get down to business.

My cue to leave.

I think the anticiaption and excitement "used up all of my energies"

He took a 2 1/2 hour nap.

Sweet.

Back to School

Blessed be the
normal bedtimes,

normal mealtimes,

scheduled and calendared extra-curricular activities,

everyone dressed and ready before 8:30 (including me!),

a house that can stay clean for longer than 5 minutes.

Thy name is STRUCTURE!

I'll probably be sick of you by next spring but I sure love you now

My kids are so over the first day of school picture thing, but they went along with it just long enough for me to get a couple of pictures. They'll thank me for being a picture taking fool someday, right?

GARRETT

ELI

LUKE

OWEN
(more on his actual 1st day later)

MAX

Eli's new class-Aloha was their theme for the first day! He sits right next to his "worst enemy in the world". She seems plenty sweet, just happens to be female which qualifies her for enemy status.

Luke was of course excited about eating lunch at school, 3 recesses, and getting his very own locker.

You would never know by that smile just how naughty he was going to be for his new teacher that first day. His behavior has been much better ever since! It is weird having him gone all day. Especially for Owen.

No picture of Garrett in class because he went solo for the first time ever! He just knew the drill and had seen his classroom and met his teacher ahead of time. Who needs mom? I was so proud of him. He had been so nervous I was a little worried, but he was awesome.

Owen and Max relaxing in the peace and quiet. Aaahhh.

Deconstruction of a Cake

Appreciate the cute little froggy cake.

Cuz in about two minutes it went from this...

...to this.

(How come when I go at a cake like this it is considered innappropriate?)

Messy and happy!

Clean but sad.

And then the vultures swoop in.

Max is 1!

Happy 1st Birthday Max!

I can't believe it was a whole year ago this little guy was born! It has flown by! He was a joy from the beginning. And aside from not sleeping through the night forever, he has been so easy and fun. He is pretty mellow and puts up with alot-being wrestled, squeezed, dragged all over the place, woken up from deep sleeps by brothers who want to play with him (NEVER by me!), being dragged everywhere with me and basically just mauled and loved to death. I'm happy to report he has not fallen off of our bed our tumbled down the stairs! Maybe we're actually getting the hang of this baby thing... I have to say I have fully enjoyed this little man. I held him alot when he was littler, just because I could! He wasn't fussy at all but my bigger kids were old enough that I took advantage and just held him and played with him. He is my little buddy.