August and First Day of School

We stayed in Mesa the Sunday after we got back from California and drove home that night. The night before the first day of school! I almost forgot that meant Father's Blessings.

I love that Collin already knows to look forward to this.

The boys sat so good for their blessings, then Olive hopped right up there, correctly assuming it was now her turn. I couldn't believe how she sat so still and reverent. It was like she felt how special it was. Afterward, I tried to get her to go back so I could take a picture.

Travis said when he shook Collin the next morning to wake him up, a huge smile spread across his face before he even opened his eyes. He was SO excited about the first day of school! I made him Mickey Mouse pancakes for breakfast, that he didn't eat because he said his throat hurt. I packed his lunch with a note and a Little Debbie Ho Ho. That's gotta mean it's a special day! ;)

All ready to go with his new Nike shoes. I was determined I wasn't going to buy him new shoes until school started. I'd say his last pair were well used!

He has Mrs. Romero for first grade.

I'll admit, I was really crushed when he didn't get Mrs. Decker. She's the sweetest lady in the other ward who's family is all raised and she teaches just because she loves it. She does cute things like has her husband dress up like Johnny Appleseed and visit the class when they're studying apples. Or has her class visit her home and pick vegetables out of her garden and feed the animals. But Collin's friend, Kabren had Mrs. Romero last year, so when he found out that's who he got, he jumped for joy and said he was hoping to get her. I guess that's all I can ask for. Lilly's not in his class this year, but he was so excited to see Iyesh in the desk next to his when he walked in. They had been friends last year. All week, when I picked him up from school, he'd complain that he had to go home and wait an whole night before he got to go back! And the weekend was a HUGE bummer! Haha! It is such a relief and blessing that he loves school!

On the first day, we walked down to pick him up and I had to document sweetest girl in her mama's dress! I love that my mom kept several of my old dresses. 

 If the kids had their wish, they'd play on the driveway all day. I just hate how fast cars fly by.

 The next day, was Weston's "first" day of Preschool. He's actually been going since last April, but it continued through the summer so this was the closest thing to the first day, anyway. He got a new shirt with an orange stripe. His favorite color.

Now to get him some new shoes. He's had those for two years!!

Tuesday night, we got some special visitors!!! Rachel, Gavin and Liam stopped in for a quick visit on their way back home from Utah. I felt so bad, because it was crazy town when they drove in. Soccer started the same week school started, so we were buying new cleats and shin guards and trying to get dinner ready for Trav before heading to the field. They came with us and watched while I helped coach Weston's team. (Oh yeah, I'm an assistant coach. It's a long story.)

But once that was over, it was a relaxing evening at home letting the boys play and us mama's talk! And Rach brought me my first ever, legit "Swig" cookie from Utah! It was as yummy as everyone says, too!

The next day, we met Megan at the park and had fun visiting. Then, Trav was super nice to watch the kids while we went out to lunch. Megan and Brinn met us at Angela's Cafe. Always nice to have a reason to get a little dressed up!

After Collin got home, we took the kids to another park. Not much else to do here, but it worked out fine. They had fun and we got to talk more.

And Olive got to make this face on the swing.

 Both nights, Rachel favored the boys with the most creative bedtime stories ever! I mean, seriously, there were funny characters, memorable plot lines, and even sound effects. I was dying! They boys were eating out of her hand and I heard about it for the rest of the week after they left. Bedtime just hasn't been the same since.

Even Olive preferred fun Rachel to me! We were all so sad when they left the next morning. Real life really can be such a bummer. :(

When you let the kids have cookies and milk on the tramp, actually believing a cup won't spill.

(I love that the three of them pal around together. It's so funny when you realize the baby isn't a baby anymore and is even on the same playing field as the previously so big brothers.)

That weekend, the boys both had their first soccer games. They split the teams in half and have them each play on their own fields so they have more playing time. I shouted myself hoarse after that first game. Those young ones don't know what they're doing at all! It's been fun to see so much improvement in just a few weeks though. Weston is on team Sizzler and Collin is on team Custom Computer Services.

It's like they knew just the color to match his eyes. 

My good friend, Megan, had a baby over the summer that I just haven't gotten to spend much time with. So I begged her to let me watch her one morning. I knew she needed to get some things done and I needed some snuggle time! :) 

Olive was loving on her too.

I hate that it's blurry, but her smiles are the best!!

Back to soccer...

Collin and Weston have practices on Tuesdays at 4:30 and Collin also has them on Thursdays at 4:30. Travis has to be at the church by 5:30 on those two days though so it totally interrupts our time we'd be having dinner with him. But even if it's only for a few minutes, he always comes down the field to see us before he has to change and leave. I feel so lucky that he loves us so much. 

The second weekend of games didn't go down so hot. Collin had his on Friday night. He wasn't playing really well though and even walking a lot instead of running. I was so irritated. The boy had ENDLESS energy and constantly runs circles around us, until he hits the soccer field?! What the heck?! So I started yelling a lot to run and go after it, etc. Well, after it was over, he walked over to us and just burst into tears that his head really hurt. He could hardly walk to the car without crying. And turns out, he had a high fever. I felt terrible!!! Mom of the year, over here. Poor kid!!! He laid on the couch for the next two days.

The Jones' boy, Jackson, is on Collin's team, so we get to visit with them during games. Their oldest daughter, Halle, loves Olive and plays with her the whole time and will do anything she does. It's like free babysitting.

This was walking back from one of Weston's games. She insisted she carry it herself. (Oh, and she HAS to be the one to climb in and out of her car seat. Which of course takes 3x as long. But she somehow needs someone else to feed her. She's incapable of that. Why do these preferences never benefit me?)

Shopping in heels.... she's got it down!

So we have these crab apple trees. And the boys are obsessed. Particularly, Weston. He has been picking them since July and actually eats them. Like one or two a day, as if they are the tastiest snack ever. And is constantly sharing with me. The crazy thing was, when I finally took a bite of one (last week), it was sweet! Who knew! But he still prefers the super green, bitter ones. Obviously. 

One morning, I pulled out of the driveway and something caught my eye. No worries, totally normal. Just a giant, porcelain cat had come to visit. I was dying! I thought this had Brinn written all over it, but I guess it was Travis's assistant's practical joke. All I know is, friends of Gallup, beware. Posh Spice Kitty will be making visits. ;)

So, I'm pretty much the worst person ever. After our weekend of Collin being sick and missing church (not that that would have changed anything really), I got a text from Travis on Tuesday, saying that Sunday had been Terry's one year anniversary of getting baptized. Bahhh!!! Major friend fail!! I felt TERRIBLE!! How could I not have kept track of that?! I called him right away and apologized and asked if he could come over that night. I made my 6th trip to the store that week and made a peach pie. I thought it turned out really pretty. Just wish the crust had tasted as good as it looked. We were able to have a good visit, which I've missed since we don't have those regular discussion nights to catch up at. Hopefully, we'll be able to go to the temple with him later this month. I'm so grateful that after a year, he is still going strong in the church. Here's to 30 more! :)

We have a Kidsongs addict on our hands. After we handed the kids their bowls of peach pie, and retreated back to Terry in the front room, I got curious about Olive and found her like this. As if we let them eat in front of the TV! What a turkey! She has gone from having ZERO interest in TV, to being addicted to Kidsongs. So much so, that she wakes up demanding " I watcha show! I watcha show!"  

We got another fun morning with Miss Ivie!! I seriously love her.