First Day of School

So Emmaline and Savannah FINALLY started school on Tuesday. Seems later than usual, somehow. For two girls who don't seem very "girly," you would not believe the amount of primping that was done the night before. Manicures, pedicures, and choosing outfits made for a late bedtime. Now we're all getting settled back into the routine. And the best news?! Oliver has been "inspired" to try out potty training. That's right! We told him he wouldn't be able to go to preschool without being potty trained, but I guess he didn't believe us until it finally happened. Today he had a LOT of successes and only one accident very early in the morning. Now I've just got to find some place that still has a space open! Here are a couple of pictures. (Somehow I didn't get a good one of Savannah. In every picture she has that teenager "I can't believe you're taking a picture of this" pose.

Isn't this a cool marionette at Emmaline's school?

Reunion in Fallon

For some reason I didn't take many pictures at the reunion, but we really had a lot of fun. It was great to see everyone and sit around catching up. The big day for pictures was at Latin Farms.

Oliver loved this pretend coach.


He even napped in it.

Grandma got some fun toys for the kids... including these glasses they promptly put on and made a song (Funky glasses, funky glasses!).

A broken leg doesn't put a damper on the fun!


Grandma also taught the girls to make hats for Humanitarian projects.


As usual, Oliver spent some time on tractors. (I think I could make a book of these!)


There were lots of goats and animals to play with.


What fun day for the cousins!

Happy Birthday to Savannah!

Even though her birthday is tomorrow, I'm going to post this today since we will be with Georgia, John, Tuck and Amy Jo at the cabin.



Savannah was such a fun little person to begin our family of kids. She was so easy and really helped Tyler and I transition into parenthood. She developed an early love of art as she spent much of her infancy on a pack on Tyler's back as he threw pots or painted. She is such a people pleaser and always tries to make everyone happy (although as of late we have seen adolescence begin to rear its ugly head!). She is a great soccer player (she won the "World Cuppies" game at soccer camp all three days that they played it) and loves horses (thanks for the invite to the cabin to ride, John). We're just so happy she is part of our family.

Toledo Bend

Tyler is in New York and I wasn't able to get many pictures of Toledo Bend before he left. But here are a few (mostly for those relations on the other side of the family who are wondering what we were up to). It was a ton of fun. Wildwood was the perfect place. We were right on the lake, but also had access to several pools. Our family even got to say above the barn, next to the petting zoo. Patience's mom cooked some fantastic food and we all had a great time talking and hanging out.

There was lots of fishing

and swimming.

Oliver loved all the cuddling!

Tyler tried skiing

behind Jeff's boat (and decided he like wake boarding MUCH better).

It was a great time for all the cousins to spend together.

We can't wait for next year!

Vermont

Our trip to Vermont was very different from what I expected. Somehow I didn't realize how rural it is (think Kansas with a LOT of trees). Once, when I was running an errand, I got lost and stopped at a General Store to ask directions. The lady gave me directions with no road names, which I thought was odd until I realized there were no signs on most of the roads! The town we stayed in was Whitingham, the birthplace of Brigham Young. We visited a little park with a memorial to the once thriving little town. One lady at the branch told us that all of the strongest members left their area in the beginning of the church (i.e. Brigham Young, Emmeline Wells, etc.). I'm not sure what she meant to say about their little branch now, but it was small. They had an organ that played by itself and all of the other organizations sang without a piano during classes. The kids had a wonderful time exploring both on the land and the lake. Tucker taught Oliver to say, "Tucker's my best friend" ever time Tucker's name was mentioned. =) Overall it was a pretty great trip.
Here are a few pictures.

Since Oliver's birthday was the next day, we told him we would celebrate with an airplane ride.

(He's CRAZY about airplanes right now.) He thought it was a good present!

The moss in the woods was amazing.

There were endless paddle boat rides.

The kids caught lots of "critters" including frogs, countless orange salamanders, a few unknowns (mice or moles?), and some snakes.

We made s'mores on the "beach."

Just call him "Huck."

Parting Gifts

Have you ever read this book? It was suggested by Emmaline's preschool teacher at the time of Mama's passing. There are several lines that I love:
"Each of the animals had a special memory of Badger- something he had taught them that they could now do extremely well. He had given them each something to treasure: a parting gift that would become all the more special each time it was passed on to others."

As I think about Mama, on her birthday, I love to remember all the gifts that she gave to me. The songs she taught me that I now sing to my children ("Mama's little baby loves shortnin' bread"). The little sayings she often repeated that I tell myself when I get down ("Determination baby, sheer determination."). The wonderful recipes she shared (a batch of her banana bread is in the oven right now).

In time since Aunt Teensy passed, I've felt Mama's presence a lot less. I think partly because she is more busy now, but I hope it is also because she believes that I am doing well enough that she doesn't have to worry about me anymore. I hope she looks at me and feels me say "thank you" in the way that I live that is a reflection of her as I pass these parting gifts to my own children.