8th, 5th and 2nd grade . . . here we come!

I vividly remember telling people that my kids were 8, 5 and 2 years old. Honestly, I remember it well. So, how on earth is it that they are now in 8th, 5th and 2nd grade??? It's such a cliche that they grow up fast, but I still seemed stunned that it's happening to us.

I absolutely love the teachers that the girls got this year and am so excited about the kids in their respective classes. Kinley just keeps losing teeth, so she looks so funny right now. Her front two teeth are almost down to where you can see them when she smiles, but then last week, she lost two teeth in two days at school. Losing teeth at school is a huge deal because they give you this cool tooth necklace to take home that holds the lost tooth. She wrote the Tooth Fairy a long note and was so excited to wake up to some cold hard cash, but when morning came, there was nothing. Luckily, I went in to check for her when she was getting dressed in another room and lo and behold--the crazy lady left the money inside her pillowcase (on a pillow she doesn't even use). She sure can be tricky! Good thing I checked. :)

Life is good when your BFF is in your class!

Kaiya is back to juggling piano, gymnastics and now a new program called MESA (Math, Engineering and Science Achievement), which takes place every Thursday after school. She has also started doing some real babysitting jobs, which has been a major highlight for her. Her gymnastics season starts in just two weeks!!

Kaiya has gone to school with these buddies since kindergarten!

Cooper helped orient the incoming 6th graders and is loving being the big 8th grader on campus. He has a pretty packed schedule, but seems ready to take it on. We had to make one schedule change . . . had to do with his math teacher being more of a believer in UFOs vs teaching algebra. Long story. I am NOT that parent who runs out and fixes all of their child's problems, but this teacher was going nowhere fast. Cooper's first week of notes were about the definition of reality and the traits of a leader and being the pilot of his own learning. The dude never even took the cap off a dry erase marker. Possibly the funniest thing about Cooper's schedule is his involvement in the hand chimes group. We laughed when we saw it on his schedule, but as soon as a pretty cute girl encouraged him to stay in the class, he decided he wanted to give it a try. Cooper's musical ability starts and stops with downloading songs on iTunes, so we shall see how this plays out!

Hoping for a great school year!!!

End of summer fun

We took a quick trip to Utah to see Doug's family to wrap up our summer, but not before throwing a little birthday party for my mom's 60th. The party was a bit of a comedy of errors, but that's why we'll never forget it.

First, the water level at the lake was too low to put the boat in. No problem. We just played and enjoyed the lake to ourselves. Open gifts and have cake & ice cream. No problem--cake got soaked in the cooler and the ice cream melted. No problem--eat the top of the cake and sip the ice cream. Wind storm comes up and sends the tube out to sea. No problem--Brandon is a good swimmer. Funny stuff!

The birthday girl

Her very own milkshake . . . tee hee

Handstands anywhere there's a flat surface

Lake football

Although our trip to Utah was quick, we packed in a lot of fun and cousin time. I am always amazed at how all the grandkids reconnect each time we go. They might go six months or a year without seeing each other and it doesn't matter--they are instant best friends again. All of Doug's siblings were there (an unplanned reunion of sorts) and we really enjoyed our time together--back yard BBQs, sleepovers, and even a day at the pool with all 26 kids! I think Doug's mom probably slept for 24 straight hours after we left. Of course, it also allowed me to see my bestie from college, Lori, and her kids. It really was a great trip!

Coop and Spencer . . each wishing they had a BROTHER!

Doug's youngest sibling, Paul. Looks just a little like his son, eh?

Pool cuties

Emmett, the fearless swimmer

No fear of the high dive

Blast off!

Love the way these cousins always just pick up where they left off

Just a few of the Grandma Fan Club

So nice of Paige to have a birthday while we were there!

Grandpa's idea of a pool party

Claire and Coop

Almost all 42 of us!

Lori's girls and mine . . . too wired to iPods to even look up

The Brigham City Temple under construction (thanks for the tour, Uncle Tom!)

We got home in time to see Bennett for one night and one quick trip to Jump Street the next day and then he was off to Tulsa to start his junior year of college.

Sweaty bodies at Jump Street before saying goodbye

Just a few more days and we'll be sending kids to 8th, 5th and 2nd grade. I have no idea how that's possible, but it is. I hate the end of summer, but it's always good to get back into a school schedule. It's been a great one this year--probably our busiest yet, but so many good memories! Baseball and more baseball, pool days, Lake Owen, Utah, some Rockies games, good times with friends and so much more.

Camp Innovation

This post is just for Kinley. She earned it. For two weeks, including the week that Kaiya and I were gone, she got up early and attended a science/engineering camp at IBM in Boulder. She was nominated by her teacher and then selected as one of 75 kids in the entire school district to attend this camp.

Waving goodbye on her way into IBM

Her water wheel prototype

From what I can tell, this was a new thing to our district. It was called "camp", but according to Kinley, it was just like school, but more fun. Each day, she attended classes from 8:30 to 12:30 and learned about resource conservation and innovative ways to help our planet (it was held in Boulder, after all!). Kinley chose the water group (over energy, transportation and food) and by the end of the week, she had made a prototype of a water wheel with the help of her high school buddy. I was amazed a the notebook of drawings and essays she brought home. It was a great experience for her. They did a daily blog on the district's web site. Here is a link to the site: http://blogs.stvrain.k12.co.us/campinnovation

She also was part of a book club this summer, put together by her 1st grade teacher. I sure wish we could take her to 2nd grade with us. Not too many teachers spend their summers putting together a reading group for her outgoing students. They read a book called The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane about a china rabbit who gets lost and found numerous times. It's not an easy read and after each 5 chapters, her teacher sent out an e-mail to the group with questions to answer for the group. Then, when they finished the book, we all met at a local pottery creation workshop and each girl got to paint a piece of pottery. What a fun way this girl got to keep her mind fresh this summer!

The summer book club girls at Crack Pots