mixed emotions

Today is the first day of school. And boy do I have some mixed emotions! Let me just replay to you this mornings events.

I go in and wake Sara up, now I honestly expected her to either already be up and dressed out of excitement for the first day or to wake her up and have her jump out of bed and get dressed quickly. Neither of which happened. I took me a good 5 mins to get her out of bed...and then another 10 mins to get her dressed in the out fit that was laying out on the floor already to be put on! Now she wasn't upset or ornery about it, just slow. She acted as if she had been going to 1st grade for months and this was just another morning. I on the other hand was always so excited/nervous on the first day of school. Then we do her hair....I gave in and did her hair how she wanted, then we went downstairs for breakfast. I told her that today I would make her a special breakfast of whatever she wanted. I expected to be making pancakes or french toast this morning, but she wanted oatmeal. Which to me is not a special breakfast, but she informed me that it was her favorite. (I am glad that she chose it, only because I know that it is so filling and will keep her full until lunch, but still a bit surprised.)

Then we got ready to leave. She has insisted all week that she wants to ride the bus, and I am all for that especially have a baby due soon for her to be riding the bus. However I kind of wanted to take her the first day and take pictures at the school and make sure she knows where she is going. She didn't want that at all....(where did she come from!) I told her that I was at least coming to the bus stop to see her off.

Now the way the kids walk to the bus stop there are 2 small fences that they climb over to cross through a neighbors yard. I told her that being as pregnant as I am could not climb these fences so we would be driving to the bus stop. She didn't love that idea either so she said. "Look mom, can I just walk by myself and I'll take the camera and have someone take my picture? I'll put the camera in my backpack for the rest of the day and not take it out and bring it home to you, I promise." (Did my ears deceive me, or did my daughter just tell me in a round about way that she didn't want me to even come.) My, she is independent! This child is so not like me or her father is many ways! Well I told her I am sorry but my first child is going to first grade for the first time and I am at least going to the bus stop to see her off. And here I thought I would be crying about her being so old and growing up so fast, not because she didn't even seem to care if I was there. I told her I was going to miss her today, and asked if she'd miss me. She said I think I'll miss daddy today and you tomorrow. Man, she kills me!

When we got to the bus stop, her little friend ended up missing the bus so I had to send her alone, which didn't seem to bother her at all!

So here is her picture waiting for the bus, in the outfit she picked out, and a new lunch box. Her new shoes that she had to wear today! I didn't fight this battle either.Her and her brothers. In a form that her teacher had me fill out, one of the questions was what bothers your child the most. When I asked her, you can guess her answer.....her brothers.
Getting on the bus...the beginning and the end.I'm going to miss that little sassy pants during the day, but am so happy that she is as independent as she is. I should be grateful, I can't imagine sending a crying daughter to school, what a terrible day that would be!

the smallest things...

Sometimes the smallest things make me smile! Today it was my little helper Zack. He helped me vacuum today. The thing that made me smile the most is that he was moving things all around to vacuum under them...like the couch, a table and the speakers. I was so impressed that he even thought of moving those objects. It also added to the list of things that make me believe he is a perfectionist, like so many of his relatives. (Both Gpas come to mind, and a few others)

a blur

Matt and I were talking the other day about how the past 6 weeks have been a blur! So much has happened that 6 weeks ago feels like a year ago! But I am going to attempt to record them!

First up we have the 4th of July! One of my favorite holidays! This years felt very different, due to Matt trying to prepare for his first week long campout as scoutmaster. But it was memorable! It began Friday at 5:30 in the morning. I took the kids to the hot air balloons down in provo, and met alli and chris and kids there. It was so early in the morning I forgot my camera! (and I'm pregnant) My kids have been there before, but they are at that age where everything is so much fun, because they understand things and comment on the things they see so well. (I don't know if that made sense, but every event this year is more exciting because they are older.) As the balloons were being blown up, my kids were afraid that they would fall back down on them. Matt went hiking that morning with his dad and brother, and enjoyed the balloons from up on timp. We then met up at the Ranch, where my mom cooked all of us, and my siblings a delightful breakfast! I then took the Sara and Zack with me to provo and met Laura. We went to all the different booths they had downtown. Then we went to the Provo Parade Saturday morning, again I forgot the camera....did I mention I'm pregnant? I then the kids and I headed up hobble creek canyon to my favorite place to be on the 4th, Watkins cabin. Matt went home to pack and get ready. We spent the afternoon there and then came home to watch the staduim of fire's fireworks at a park near Paul and Shantel Gehrings house. It was a busy day but so much fun. Poor Matt was trying to have a fun weekend, but was a little stress about the week to come.

These are the only pictures I have of the 4th...how sad I know! Sara had a matching tank top too. My mom got a good one of them up at watkins...you should post that mom!

The next week was scout camp. Hooray for it to finally be here, yet sad to have Matt gone a whole week with no cell phone coverage to even talk to him. My Family was a great support that week though with my mom taking one child a day that week, and then planning plenty of activities that week made it not seem so long. We headed to a Griffiths reunion up in Clarkston that Saturday, which was nice.

The next weekend we headed up to silver meadows for the Ford Reunion. I told Matt earlier this year that if he wanted me to go camping to his reunions there was one rule. We had to borrow my parents trailer so that I had a bathroom to use in the middle of the night. So we borrowed the trailer and had a wonderful time. It is so pretty up there. To reiterate what I said earlier, camping this year was so fun because of how excited my kids got. They so love the outdoors and are just at a great age where I don't have to be looking after them every sec. They can play and I can relax. We did some shooting and 4-wheeling.

Lets not forget Pioneer day. Thanks to Jenny and Jared we had a wonderful time going to their house for dinner and fireworks! I'm starting to really enjoy that holiday too.

On the 25th we headed up to Bear Lake! Our Kids absolutely love bear lake and talk about it year round. This year was a bit windy, but one of my best bear lake trips since we started having kids. I know that sounds weird being 7 1/2 months pregnant and enjoying a camping trip where your husband is out in the boat practically the whole time, but it was. My only reget was not spending enough time chatting with my cousins. I feel almost guilty for how cool of a summer we've been having, it has made my being pregnant much easier.These first few pics are from Sarah's camera, thank goodness she went I now have alot more pictures!Blake and the boys.Matt surfing the wakeThe pics of wake boarding are of Matt, he's getting pretty good!

The following weekend I took a girls trip to Park City with my sister-in-laws. We had alot of fun and got to spend some money! What girls wouldn't love that! We plan to make it an annual thing! Laura was suppose to go too, only Matt's Grandpa Wirth died the wednesday before and stayed home to help out with the funeral arrangements. It was somewhat of a difficult death for us, even though it was expected. It was fun however to visit with all the relatives from Baker, Oregon, that came out to the funeral. What a wonderful family. We had a busy weekend with them and the funeral. Matt and his brothers all spoke at the funeral and did an incredible job!

That following weekend (Aug. 7-10) we went to the Leo Ford reunion, down by fish Lake. We weren't able to make it down until Friday night, but it still was worth it! And can I just say....Dusty!!! My daughter....takes the cake when it comes to getting dirty! It is amazing at how quickly she can get dirty. It doesn't take long for the boys to follow suit. The highlight for Matt and I that trip was seeing our kids, Sara and Curtis, catch their first fish all by themselves. Zack caught one too all by himself, only it was his second fish he's caught. (All by themselves meaning they reeled them in by themselves.) Zack fished last and it was getting dark so his fish picture is taken at home, where we fried up the fish and ate it! Yum!

I thought I would take a few pictures of the "rigs" that went up to the reunion, along with a random picture of Zack:) The white buffalo is Gma Jenny's, the 4 wheelers are Blaine and Laura's, Ours is the other one with my parents trailer of course! Now there were alot more great "rigs" up there, but I didn't get my camera out in time.

And now you know why I haven't blogged in a month!

Don't worry I haven't forgotten to breath during the last few weeks, but I do feel very exhausted!