First Day Pictures

 
 
 

Well, it's been exactly a week since the kids started their first day of school. It seems like the week went by in a blur, but all went well. The kids really are enjoying their teachers and their classes. I was worried that Parker would have a hard time adjusting, but he has done just fine. I actually have enjoyed getting back into a bit of a routine, I've been getting up and actually been productive with things that I need to get done. Hopefully, it lasts for awhile! :D Ashley and Megan are both going to play softball this fall. Ashley is excited to play again, practices start for her today 3 days a week, (nothing like the 6 day a week schedule for Allstars). Megan is a little jealous that Ashley is already starting, we have yet to hear from her coach. I really hope that she has a much fun as Ashley has had. I'm really looking forward to the cooler weather and the start of the holiday and birthday season. It's a chaotic time, but fun none the less!!

Watch out!! I'll shoot...

It has been so much fun having my (step)mom, Jessie and my sister Elysse stay with me for the last few days. Mom was bringing Elysse here to Utah to drop her off at BYU in Provo. Elysse doesn't get to actually stay there until Tuesday, but I got to go down to Provo with them on Saturday and got to help her get some of her stuff moved into her dorm. Oh man, have the memories starting flowing back from the good old college days...ANYWAY, I'm bummed that I didn't get any pictures while we were there on Sat., but I'm heading back down with them tomorrow, so I'll have to get a couple then.

Besides getting Lyssee all ready, Friday we took sometime and hung out with Jeff and my brother Shaun at the shooting range. Yes, I said shooting range. Neither me, mom, or Elysse have ever gone shooting before. Jeff got into it a few years back, thanks to a motorcycle injury that kept him off his bike for awhile. He bought a few guns and has gone shooting with his dad and brother in laws a few times, usually around thanksgiving. Anyway, Shaun suggested we go on friday and we had a blast. It was actually a litle scary for me, walking into this stuffy room and having a bunch of men with loaded weapons shooting them. It took me a little bit to get comfortable in the place, but I ended up having a great time!

We were the only women in the place!


We had to put on the "eyes and ears" before we could go in.


The "Pros" showing the girls how it's done!


Shaun and I had a shooting contest, I think he beat me out by a hair on this one, but I won the long range shot. I swear!


This was Elysse's very first shot ever! BULLSEYE!

I'm torn...

Wow, and I was doing so good for a little bit... I've always felt that I need some pictures in order to post, but I didn't do so well in the picture taking category the last few weeks, so there's not a single one, and you still get to see my rambling...too bad.

Anyway, school is starting on Monday and I can't believe how quickly time has gone this summer. It has definitely been a good one and quite busy, but I'm not sure how I'm feeling about it. I'm looking forward to school starting, but I think I'm going to be a little sad to have to get back into a routine, oh and I guess I'll miss the kids too. :) Parker is heading to school and will be there all day, it will be interesting to see how that goes. I can tell you one thing, I will NOT miss the half day kindergarten schedule in the least bit!!

I'm just hoping I'm on top of it enough to get "first day of school" pictures, so I can get them posted.

I love the fall time, when the weather starts to cool down and the trees start changing colors. I love living in a state where I get to see all of the seasons...I'm looking forward to the change!

My girl is a ball player!!

 

Tonight was a great night at the ball park! I haven't been this excited for Ashley...EVER! Here we are in the beginning of tournament play in the West Valley Classic. We played a couple other games earlier tonight, pool play they call it. We won our first and lost the second, Ashley played her heart out! I don't know where this girl has come from. I have been impressed at how well she has done and how much she has learned this year, especially with her coaches on the Allstar team. Tonight, though, she was a different person than even 3 weeks ago. She BROUGHT IT TONIGHT!! She was aggressive and was hustling all over the place. She caught a fly ball and got a couple hits, which is huge anyway, because 2 weeks ago, she wasn't even swinging her bat. Two weeks ago, she was striking out without even swinging the bat and it was really frustrating! Last week, she finally started swinging and got a few hits (we had to bribe her with money, because threatening with grounding wasn't working, she got $15 out of the deal!;D) I couldn't bribe with money for this weeks game because, I could tell she may have found her mojo. I was right!! I just have to brag, because the girl hit a freakin' awesome, honest double, right over right field's head which drove in TWO runs. I wish I had it on film so I could watch it over and over. Ashley's coach who was on 1st base came over and was laughing at me, because I guess I was going a little crazy, on my feet, jumping around, screaming like a crazy woman. It was just priceless to see the smile on Ashley's face that I still don't think has left it. It was a MOMENT! You know, the kind of moment that makes you realize that there is nothing more rewarding than to be a parent, to see your child realize that they can do ANYTHING!!

Girls Afternoon Out

 

I had a fantastic afternoon out on Monday. I had the chance to go see Hello Dolly with Karel, Brenda, Grandma Beazer, Becky, Amy, and Grandma Yvonne at the Hale Center Theater in West Valley. (We missed not having Debbie with us, she is in Bear Lake for the week.) Besides the fact, we needed ski parkas and mittens to stay warm (which we failed to have on hand), it was a very entertaining show and the cast was great. I have always enjoyed going and seeing shows there (Brandice and Mike introduced us to Hale), but it has been quite a long time since we have been back. It made me realize just how much I enjoy live shows like that and how much I've missed it. I hinted to Jeff that season tickets would be a good Christmas present :).
Afterwards, we went to Applebee's for a bite to eat and we had a riot. It was so fun to just get out and spend some girls time together. Sorry, Brenda for teasing you, but you just make it so easy for us to do!! I loved it! I just hope that it doesn't take us so long to do a girls day away again. Love you all!

 

My Own Little Bobble Head

 
 

I just had to share these. CJ is so entertaining at times. Of course, with spending so much time at the track and around motorcycles, he has grown quite fond of them. The other day, he got ahold of Jeff's helmet and wanted to put it on. Not only did he want to wear it, but he had to sit on the motorcyle and make the noises along with it. He sat up there a good ten minutes and was not happy when we decided we were done holding him on the bike. He threw a bit of a fit, but got over it, thank goodness.

An Afternoon at the Lake

We finally had a chance to take the boat out and use it for the first time this summer. Jeff and I decided to take the kids out for an afternoon on Willard Bay. Megan brought her friend Michelle, (who seems to Meg's other half, second pea in the pod, etc. :)) and we all had a great time. We were there only about three hours, but the kids definitely wore their selves out with the swimming and tubing. The lake was a perfect temperature and it seemed like we were the only ones out there. It was soo nice to be able to do and think of something other than motocross for awhile.

Going for a little ride!


Parker having a good time! Belly flops and front flips, it was definitely entertaining!


Tubing time! They probably did this for a good two hours!!


Ash and me

Jeff and Parks

CJ was a bit nervous at first about being on the boat, but really started having a good time. We was our flagger, not out of choice, but he wouldn't give the flag to anyone else. Oh well, whatever it takes to make the kid happy!