School Days, School Days!

Jaxton had his first day back to preschool today and he was pretty excited about it. It was hard for me to feel sad or abandoned by my little Jax when he was such a bundle of happiness to be headed back as PreK schooler. When I picked him up he said, "I had a GREAT day at school with Connor." (Connor is his best buddy who has now moved to our neighborhood and they get to attend preschool together.) I think Jax's in for an awesome year!

Mac started 1st grade last Wednesday. After he left for school I had an empty, lonely feeling inside -- all summer long Mac has been my "go to guy." If I needed something done and done right, I asked Mac to do it. He has grown up so much and become such a wonderful oldest sibling and example to his three younger admirers. His help was definitely missed all week long. When I picked him up that Friday after school and asked him how school was he said, "Kindergarten was a BLAST! It was the best year of my life! All we do in 1st grade is listen and LEARN!" I told him he better get used to it, 'cause he's got a lot of learning ahead of him. On a happier note, he's totally stoked about being in the same class with his best buddy, Carlo and getting to sit right next to him.

P.S. I just got back from picking Mac up from school and today he said school was GREAT! When I asked him why, he told me, "Because it's a new week and I got homework!" Looks like my school lovin' learner is officially back from summer vacation (phew!).

More of the Birthday Girl

I took Jilli to the doctor today and she is now weighing in at 20 lbs. 9 oz (50%) and is 30 in. long (75%). I can't get enough of those tan lines inside her little skin rolls. She has 12 teeth, including her molars. Jilli started crawling at about 10 1/2 months and now she's really good at pulling herself up to things, but she hasn't attempted walking yet. She also loves interacting and socializing with others by pointing, motioning for more or to come here, grunting, squealing, and dancing. Words can't express how much we love this little girl. Every day is a little more fun (and slightly more dramatic) because she's in it.

365 days of J.O.Y.

My baby is one year old today. Her face alone makes my every day better. We are so very thankful for the joy she brings to our lives.
As a family we talked tonight about what we love about Jilli and we came up with some wonderful things.
Dad: Loves getting her out of her crib in the morning.
Mom: Loves her snort face and her dancing.
Mac: Loves her panting noise she makes when she crawls and when she pulls herself up to play with toys.
Jax: Loves her kisses, her hugs, and how she plays.
Beck: Loves the way she crawls (he actually said he loves when she falls down and we made him think of something else -- do I sense some sibling rivalry?)
Jilli is everything wonderful and has been every 365 days since she came into this world. We love you Jilli -- happy 1st birthday!

Five Weeks of Nothin' But FaNtAsTiC!

We had such a great time in Utah. The kids definitely miss their cousins and being a part of such a close-knit group. Both Mac and Jaxton cried when we told the cousins "goodbye" and kept asking why we couldn't stay. Mac kept telling Nate that there were a lot of stores that he could work at for a job and that we didn't need to go back to NC just for a job.





Myles and Hailey got married the last day that we were in Utah and it was a beautiful day. Their sealer was Joseph F. McConkie and it was very cool to hear everything insightful that he had to say.

Their reception was held that night in Hailey's backyard, which included a pool, waterfall, playground, hot tub, volleyball court, etc. We had been telling the boys all night to stay away from the waterfall/pond and they had actually done well to listen. We made it all the way to Myles and Hailey's send off when Jaxton appeared completely wet from the waist down, with sand and grass caked on him. Come to find out he had got in the pond and then to dry himself off he had put sand and grass all over him. After he told me the story he was quiet for a minute and then he said, "What the crap was I thinking?" The kid is hysterical!


Mac and Jaxton took swim lessons at the SV pool (talk about childhood memories) while we were there in Utah. On the last day each of their classes got the opportunity to jump off the diving board if they wanted to. Both Mac and Jaxton were up to the challenge and Jaxton got up and did it with no problems. Mac on the other hand, tiptoed his way up, looked down at his teacher, and then as he jumped he screamed at the top of his lungs so everyone could hear, "I'M GONNA DIE!" But when he came out of the water he had a big smile on his face and wanted to do it all over again.










Until next year . . .

Just in case . . .

you're wondering if we made it back from our trip to Utah, well, we did! And we enjoyed every minute of it. Every. Minute. (not counting the last day of our drive home.) Who wouldn't love cousin sleepovers, making forts in the mountains, exploring a 400 acre ranch, staying in a cabin at Bear Lake, swim lessons, hiking a cave, picnics, celebrating holidays and a wedding, dodgeball camp, swim parties, and much more? Mostly my kids were in Cousin Heaven, enjoying every moment they possibly could with the people they think are the coolest.
But until I purchase myself new photo editing software (our other one bit the dust with our old computer), this post is going to have to suffice. Just understand one thing: even experiencing one day of driving with a child throwing up every 45 minutes, complaining of earaches, having to detour from our path to find an urgent care, cleaning up two not-so-easily-cleaned-up potty accidents, all while driving in the van for 17 hours and not pulling into our driveway until 2:30am will not keep me from doing it all over again next year. Now if that doesn't illustrate how much we love our family (or how crazy we are), then I don't know what does. Already counting down the days until next years 36 hour trip home.