And September is here!

With September comes school, fall sports, a myriad of birthdays and holidays.  I easily get overwhelmed in the fall.  Although, it is my favorite season.  I would happily sit outside bundled in a blanket, sipping homemade hot cocoa, and reading a book. Alas, that is not my lot in the fall.  We spend a good two weeks getting adjusted to our back to school schedule.  The kids struggle every year with home behavior after starting school: they are more sarcastic in a not nice way, they say words that aren't allowed, they are a little more mean to each other than normal, and they are more sassy than normal.  All in all...they just plain push all my buttons more that normal right after school starts.

It is hard for me, because when we have a good thing going, ie. work book, chores, playtime, etc.  it is GOOD here.  We are generally happy, we have fun, we play games, we read lots of books, etc.  The last two weeks have been rough on me.  I feel like I am having to push push push, and discipline discipline discipline, and be grumpy grumpy grumpy.  I am hoping we soon get used to our schedule and the kids adjust and get back to their usual, slightly sarcastic, teasing, slightly sassy, and full of 'tude behavior. :)

J has decided to take a year off football.  I don't mind...it is really too huge of a commitment for these little guys.  Last year they practiced 4 times a week for 2 hours a day and had games every Saturday.  So I welcome a little less.  I think Mike misses it, but reality is, that he wouldn't have the time this year to devote to it.  The state survey for his building has in the past come in the summer time.  They still haven't come, so they expect them any day now.  Getting ready for that is HARD work and a LOT of time.  Surprisingly, I miss a little bit of it too.  Mainly the fun picture opportunity it has provided in the past.  Like J with his helmet and uniform on looking rough and tough...

and D wanting to be like his big brother so badly that he stumbles along like a bobble head trying to wear it. :)

J has decided to take golf lessons.  So once a week I take him out to the course in Ocean shores, we like the instructor there,  and then once a week Mike takes him golfing or to the driving range or something.  It works well for him.   He is really enjoying it.

The girls are also taking a year off dance.  It also was just too much of an all year long commitment. 

I am very happy to have a break.

A started soccer, and I am again her coach.  We have a good time.  this week I have to teach the girls a little more about defense.  They got their booties kicked at this last game because they gave up on defense. UGH!! 

S ia also doing gymnastics once a week.  She had her first class lat week and had a great time. 

All the kids are swimming.  So yes, we are busy!!  

Here are some photos for the first half of Sept.  I will post more about the first day of school later...

S chilling out, reading Cpt. Underpants

The clouds one night

Our neighbor girl, who hangs out with us a lot in the summer.

Mike, worn out and sleeping on the dining room table.

Our dear friends child, Super Frank!!

Getting ready for school!

J, on the first day of school.

S after I picked her up on her first FULL day of school.  She was a little tired and grumpy. hahaa!

Mike and D reading a book before bed.

breakfast time!

A's first soccer game!

yes, this is what I saw when i finally sat down to eat with my family one night.  I looked across the table and BAM!  I saw this fabulous sight! :)

Made some cinnamon rolls.  mmmmm!

D bathing with his goggles and killer whale.

S at her first gymnastics class.

A, just posing for me. :)

My first of many fall bouquets!!  I love the fall flowers and colors.!!

Movie night at our house.  

I was blow drying A's hair on Sunday morning and looked across the hall and saw J helping S out with the buttons on her dress.  Loved the moment.  Moments like this, tender, gentle, helping, loving moments really make it all worth while!

The rest of August

was pretty low key....

a banana berry protein smoothie: a loved favorite treat in our house.

Mike and I timed each other and raced to see who could get the fastest time.  (I won)  Finally something I beat him at.  Nah, we're not competitive at all (are we Heath).

A few dollar item from Target.  One for cleaning supplies upstairs, one for cleaning supplies downstairs, and one for just fun go to items in my craft area. :)

The kids at the lake.  I have a handful of fun ones, but this is my favorite!

D and his side kick, Frank.  They love each other!

This is the infamous dollhouse book shelf I have been working on for YEARS (about 7)  granted for about 4 of them it was in storage in another state. :)  It now has it's scalloped edges, the cupboards are assembled, edges and holes are filled, and the first level of sanding is done.  It is time to attach the cupboards and the big drawer on the bottom with all the metal fixings, and then take them out to sand and paint.  I think i am scared of the metal parts, I don't want to drill holes and mess it up. :) Then a serious sand, the paint, then reassemble.  No problem, right. :)

I was doing a quick photo shoot this afternoon and Luis came to watch the kids while I shot.  I snagged this picture of them walking off to the park.  It might just be one of my all time favorites.  I wish J was in the photo and not hiding behind a tree playing spy.

the moon

my bright colored pots.  they sit on my deck, just waiting to have something pretty in them.  But honestly, for me it was just the bright color that made me want them.  Looking at them just makes me happy.

started P90X again.

Soccer season had officially begun.  I coach A's team.  This year we start coaching more skills and a bit more about the meat of the game.  It stresses me out a bit, not the coaching part, or the girls, but more the parents.  I want to do good by the parents to be sure they are happy that their girls get the time they hope for and develop their skills.

D and A, just chilling together.  She is REALLY awesome with him, and it shows in how much he loves her.  They have a pretty special relationship.

Anyone remember when J was into ropes and tying things up???  Me thinks D had begun that phase.  I have to hide all the yarn and string and have even thrown away a few ropes.  hahaha!

Thanks to Nate and Cort, Mike and I are officially addicted to Ticket to Ride.  And since being back, we have passed on the love of the game to a few of our friends.  Good stuff!!

The soccer equipment is taking over the entry way!!

J was particularly good about reading this summer.  I am very happy about that.  What was such a HUGE struggle for us has really become a positive.  He reads:I am happy; he earns video game time:he is happy.  It works!

Not feeling chatty, but...

here are some photos for the first part of August... I'll confess, while on vacation and while having people visit, I was really bad at taking pictures.  so some are pretty lame, other are after the fact photos, and some are just plain someone else's that I snagged. (Thanks Heather and Misty.)

all packed up and ready to return home from UT.  

Long drive, but the kids were great.

Got home in time to play a few days with my family before my oldest sister had to return home.

Here we are being just a little silly with my Dad!

And here are just the girls!  

There are few things better in the world than sisters! (yes, there are a few)

Then Heather and her family came for 5 days.  and I was really bad taking pictures while she was here.  I think we were both a little pooped and we just vegged.  The kids set up the tent and pretended to camp for a few days. :)  We did a craft day, and worked on MANY Faith in God projects! :)  Good Times!

our landscaped rocks turned into fire pit for the camping adventures. (yes, they are still like this)

Dinner out at the park which turned into an Faith in God activity as we cleaned up the trash in the park.  It was great fun, and the kids were happy to clean it up.

The remnants of the camp out.  (and again, yes, they are still out there)

A sampling of all the crafty things we made while they were visiting.

On Sunday Josh and Jill and Chris and Vanessa joined us for yummy dinner and apple betty.  Heather and her family stayed through the dessert part, because who can leave once they smell apple betty cooking. :)  We were sad to have Heather and her fam leave, but thrilled to have Josh and Jill here. 

Just hanging out and playing. 

Tuesday we had a little accident while on a walk which left my sweet A with 2 bloody elbows, a bloody knee, a scraped nose, swollen and cut up lip, chipped permanent front tooth, and lots of tears, and little D saying repeatedly, "I don't like rock blood".  So we stayed in the rest of the day, watched KungFu Panda, and Jill taught the girls to use chopsticks. :)

Tuesday night Chris and Vanessa left (at least I think it was Tuesday).

Here is S on day two of chopsticks lesson.  They did quite well.

Wednesday afternoon Josh and Jill left Wednesday afternoon.  We had an evening alone....

One evening, and then I took off on Thursday to go meet Misty and Heather and their kids at the zoo.  And I stayed with Misty and Heather until Saturday.

Misty had this cute idea and orchestrated it.  Here are all the kids going down the slide.

Here are all the kids the next day at a park.  It was a little dark, so the picture is a little blurry, but seriously, 11 kids, at dusk, ISO 400 (because I don't like it much more than that), means slow shutter speed, and unless the subjects are still (yeah right) it'll be a little blurry.  In the end, I think this one turned out cute! My A kept asking me why she has a funny smile in all the pictures, and it is because her lip is swollen from the above mentioned fall.

HOME...the sunsets are coming back to be able to see them off our deck.

I'll end on the picture of Luis for tonight.  He came over to work on his mission papers.  He asked me to take some mission pictures for him.  So here is his mission picture!  YAY!

All in all we had three straight weeks of family and vacation.  It was crazy, but so so worth it!!  Love you all!