Potpourri

WOW! i just can't seem to find any extra moments these days! We've been painting some rooms in the house, playing softball, watching football with friends, and just getting through each day as best we can! I am very happy to began the season of autumn and embrace all that is has to offer! I already started by making some homemade strawberry jam and muffins and banana bread. I just started menu planning which has helped our grocery bill, my blank mind when it comes to deciding dinner at 4:30 and the opportunity to try new dishes. I've typed out a list of "dinner options" and everyone gets to pick one meal for the week and then i fill in the blanks. I printed out a menu to write in all down including a space for my weekly grocery list. Last week was my trial week. Next on my list is sewing Halloween costumes and making a quilt for our bed. :)

i have an assortment of things i would like to journal about, hence the title!

First, I just want to remember these clever sayings i've seen on various church signs:

1. BIBLE stands for: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

2. Ch ch: What's missing? (ur)
3. Ever see a U-Haul behind a hearst?

Second, my aunt Claudia and uncle rick came for a visit a couple of weeks ago from Oregon. They rode their Harley all the way down here. We were able to spend a couple of days with them one of them at our house for dinner. Here is great auntie reading a bedtime story.

Here is great uncle rick being his silly self! (and yes i will still mail your stuff!)

Third, Kienan started skateboard lessons and ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT! He gets ready super fast each morning so that he can practice skateboarding on the front porch before school. I did a Skateboard Dinner Party for him and his friend Saturday with hot dogs while watching Fuel TV after skateboarding all day. We also had his first parent/teacher conference for kindergarten and in so many words she said he was at the top of his class!!!! VERY PROUD :)

Fourth, Mackenzie is LOVING preschool! She looks for the paints every morning as that is her favorite. She is just now remembering her friends names so she speaks about them all the time. She can spell her name verbally and written. Her 4th birthday is around the corner if you can believe that! I'm looking into ballet classes for her :)

Fifth, Kiera has become a spit fire. She is very opinionated, knows exactly what she wants and has no qualms about expressing herself. Her smiles and kisses puts each and every one of us under her Spell of Absolute Cuteness!! She is starting to babble more and will climb anything and everything.... ladders in the garage, monkey bars, chairs.... no fear :)

Sixth, Josh has the highest grade in is Economics class and I believe an "A" in his Statistics class. YAY! He is working at our local pharmacy store and still making great videos. He and a friend "Jammed" in our backyard Sunday night. When i say "Jammed" i mean full on drum set and guitar with amps at 8:00 at night :) To him it was the "greatest jam session EVER!" :)

~Here are just some random photos~

Labor Day Weekend at my parent's house

I love footie pajamas!!!

Tara's Annual BBQ (been going off and on since i was 19 years old)

As you can see I still have some serious dance moves!

It's hard to party when you're so young :)

~Sisterly Love~

(I'll be using this picture when they are 17 and 14

and fighting over the bathroom mirror.)

First Day of School

It doesn't seem right to start school in august. September signifies new school supplies and new school clothes and the anticipation of new classes and seeing friends again and then as a teacher all the new stuff.. new bulletin boards and activities and a new grade book and new sharpies OF COURSE!!!! ugh, no wonder why i live for September 1st EVERY year... there is no other like autumn... i would have named my daughter autumn if there was a "k" in the name... i love the weather and the way the sun shines during these next 3 months and the colors.... the earth tones are my favorite and of course football... every sunday is a holiday when there is football :) and thanksgiving... favorite to host thanksgiving in my home... so many reasons why i love this time of year and starting school in august was a bit funky, but here we are anyway!

KIENAN STARTED HIS FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!

...and you just gotta let the tears slide down your cheek cuz that's what moms do on the first day that you really let them go and began a new chapter of their lives.... he was so excited and wanted to make sure that he looked cool! His teacher seems great and so far he is lovin it! He looked so handsome that morning.

i was a bit concerned when i saw him walking with the disorganized dangling papers on his very first day of school. i am certain i will find important school papers smashed at the bottom of this kid's backpack amongst a week old decomposed lunch and deteriorating month old gym socks :) ohhhh i dont want him to grow up just yet!

JOSH STARTED HIS SENIOR YEAR!

if that just isnt crazy. He was 6 years old when kyle and i got married and here he is all growed up! Here is a link to a short video he already created for his production class. the kid has some serious talent!

http://www.vimeo.com/1569461

Now we just need to fine tune those teenager moments :) i'm not sure why God does not give us the ability to "get it" until we are soooooooooooo much older... but i now see how much i DIDN'T get it when i was in high school!

MACKENZIE STARTED PRESCHOOL!

She is just one BIG permanent smile right now! She has been waiting for this moment since last year when kienan started preschool. She runs to me beaming from ear to ear every day after school pointing out her earned sticker for the day. And they let her paint ALLLLLLLL she wants which is a blessing to her (painting was something she was thankful for during our dinner prayer).