{A six year old and school}

August is here.  

I can't believe the kids are already in school.  I have really enjoyed my two weeks off of school.  I have spent as much time with the kids before they headed off to school. Here is our August so far...

We love monsoon season.  There have been so many evening storms, and we can't help but go play in the heavy rain.  My kids thought I was nuts when I ran out in the rain and then started stomping in puddles....it didn't take long before our whole family was out stomping in the puddles and getting drenched by the heavy-heavy rain.  

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 I finished my finals the first week of August.  YAY!  It was a super hard semester.  Four weeks total and nine credits after ten years....but I did it and I did really well in all my classes!!!!

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 This was my typical day.  Ear blockers on and baby Macy climbing all over me.  I was amazed each week at how little laundry I had to do....we literally were in our underwear for 4 weeks straight! 

 I finally got smart and made an official place for myself for the next couple of years as I finish my Social Work degree. Here is my little corner.... I don't seem to have kids climbing all over me when I sit here.  I am ready for Monday! 

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We spend every evening in the pool.  We love the pool and are so happy we have one. 

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August 8, 2012 was the first day of school for our Kaider-Man.  I can't believe he is in school.  He has an awesome teacher and is at a fabulous charter school,  less than two miles away.  I couldn't be happier. 

His teacher Mrs. Wade

I did a lot better this year...no tears...until I got home. :)

 He had a fabulous first day and loves to ride the bus home. (I love that part too!)

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The girls and I spent one day in the sun at a splash pad.  I usually don't like to swim or take the girls out in the sun much--we usually wait until the pool is shaded or the sun is down, but when we do we plaster their skin....haha! I had to snap a shot of the cute white ghost.  

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The house is a lot more quiet with Kaid being gone...I miss him so much during the day. Not looking forward to Maggie being gone all day next year.  It happens way to fast. But they girls are becoming good little friends and playmates. 

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 Kaid had his last golf lesson for the season.  He loves it.  Its been a fun thing for him this summer.  He is begging to do another session this fall. 

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School Day 2. Getting ready.

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Day 3 (Friday) Kaiden birthday was the following day, so he had a little birthday party at his school.  He brought donuts and had a wonderful day all about him.  

That night we let him open his gifts from Granny and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa. 

He was so excited.

 Pure JOY!

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 August 11, 2012.  

Our little man turned 6.  Jake was gone from 7 AM until 6 PM for a MBA launch.  My car battery died, and I had a meeting...so our day turned into a day spent at Wal-Mart while our car got fixed.  Thank goodness for McDonalds in Wal-Mart....and toys to keep them occupied for hours.  It wasn't how I wanted to spend the day, but you can't stop life from happening.  We tried to make it fun anyway. 

 As soon as Daddy walked through the door we had a party.  He waited so long and so patiently to celebrate.  He got lots and lots of gifts...mostly all his favorite things STAR WARS and STAR WARS LEGOS.  He was in heaven! 

His very own pool towel.

He picked his cake and the toys to go on it...don't judge, he was one happy boy! :)

 We then jumped in the car and headed to Chucky-Cheese (because Jayci told him it was better than Peter Piper Pizza for a birthday party.  He was set on going to CC)  He had a great time winning tickets and getting a prize at the end and eating his favorite food, pizza!  (Jayci-Peter Piper is so much better!) 

 He had such a great birthday and cannot wait until his friends birthday party in a few weeks.  I am still in denial that he is six.  He is such a sweet boy.  We love him so much.  He is someone I love to be around.  He is always looking out for me.  I couldn't be a more proud mom--so blessed to have him be mine. We love you Kaiden!

Jake spoiled him and let him swim after the girls went to sleep.  He then took him to Wal-Mart at 11:15 PM to buy a black light (and air filters) so they could go on a scorpion hunt...he tucked me in that night...he was up til after mid-night.  Spoiled birthday boy he is! :)

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On Monday,  Maggie started preschool.  She goes Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9-11:30.  She has such a fabulous teacher.  She loves her preschool.  

It's just me and Mace at home for several hours a week...kinda weird and quiet.  

It will be wonderful when I start school again on Monday. 

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So far it's been a busy and fun August.  Next week Jake and I both start school. Wish us luck! haha!

{July}

-July-

We returned from Utah safe and sound in a day.  It was nice to be back. Jake called me on the drive home and said he wanted to fly into Las Vegas and meet us and play through the weekend in Vegas.  I told him, no, I just wanted to be home and in my own bed after six weeks of traveling. We got home, got unpacked and started laundry...then I went to check on the pool.....

this is what I came home to and a messy house! blah!

Jake mentioned that night that we should get out of the heat and go to the mountains to celebrate the 4th of July.  So, with out hesitation I booked a trip for us to Show Low and Payson from Monday til Thursday. 

I literally dumped a bunch of chemicals in the pool and packed up again and then we headed out.  (Don't worry it looks nice and clear now!)

 We woke up to this.  Such a change from the Valley. It was so much cooler up there, and it was really nice to be alone with just our little family. 

We spent one night in Show Low and then headed to Payson, AZ.  We stopped and checked out the Snowflake temple while on our scenic drive. 

 We stayed at a Lodge 17 miles north of Payson.  It was awesome. There was a stream and lots of property, it was super quaint and relaxing. There was NO internet and NO cell service at the lodge, we were completely disconnected from the world for 4 days...it was heaven! 

We headed into town for the 4th of July activities. 

 Payson had a ton of free kid activities.  Mags and Kaids played in the jump houses. 

 Maggie and Kaiden won the three legged race. They got a toy for a prize. They were SOOO excited!

 The fireworks were amazing. They were over the lake. We loved it. 

 We spent our time at the lodge playing games and swimming. 

Update:

Macy:
She finally is better from her Lyme Disease and got the rest of her molars in.  She is now one happy baby, but for a few weeks she was beasty!!!  She is finally in Nursery....YAY! She is so much fun. We love having her around. She is so friendly to everyone and is always saying hi or sitting on a strangers lap.  She is talking like crazy and has such an opinion about things. We love this girl.

Maggie:
Is a sweet girl with a lot of sass and attitude. Maggie is a fish, she is continually asking if she can swim. We swim at least once a day, but usually we swim about 2-3 times each day. She dives and is becoming such a great swimmer. Mags starts preschool on Monday.  She will go three days a week for two hours. She is very excited. Her and Kaiden are also enrolled in a music program called Let's Play Music. We are all excited about this program.  She will start gymnastics soon too.

Kaiden:
Kaids birthday is this Saturday.  For the last two months he has been counting down. He can hardly wait for his Star War birthday party in a couple of weeks. I can't believe this boy is going to be 6.  Kaid starts kindergarten tomorrow! (we are having him repeat K, because he is young. He actually tests at a first grade level, but socially this will be good for him) He has an awesome teacher and is going to a really challenging and good charter school. He will ride the bus this year, which is so awesome for me, and he is excited too!  All three kids took swim lessons this summer.  Kaiden is getting a lot more comfortable in the water and asks daily if he can swim too. He is diving and has made a lot of progress this summer. He is such a sweet and helpful boy. He is always watching out for me and his sisters. He has such a desire to be a good boy.

Jana:
I enrolled in school. I am going to finally finish my bachelor degree. I am studying Social Work and love it so much.  It is definitely hard having three little ones around, but I believe I am becoming a better person and mom by doing this. I completed nine credit hours this summer and start up again in a couple of weeks.  Life is busy, but very fulfilling right now.

Jake:
Jake got accepted to the MBA program at ASU.  He is very excited and he also starts in a couple of weeks. We are all going to be in school working hard toward our goals. It is going to be crazy!!!
Jake teaches Gospel Doctrine and does such a wonderful job. He is busy with work and Lipzipz, but mangages his time well so he can spend time with the kids. He was a life savor while I was in school. He helped me with my papers and with keeping the kids occupied so I could study and get assignments in.  I couldn't do it without his help and support.

Well, I think that sums it up. School stats tomorrow, so life becomes a lot more structured around here. We are excited for this year.