First Day of School

We had a great summer but it had to end and I think we were all ready (some more than others).

Mikayla was excited to go back to school. I think mainly for the social aspect of it. Austin would have preferred to stay home but he knows that won't happen and so just goes with it.

Austin is in 4th grade this year. His teacher is Mrs. Walker who is the same teacher that Craig had when he was in 5th grade. Haha! We had to chuckle at that a little when we found out. Hopefully, Craig left Mrs. Walker with a good impression for Austin's sake.

Mikayla is in 2nd grade this year and is excited about her new teacher and classmates!

And they are off!!

(with neighbor friend Jackson)

 Brooklyn started "school" on Tuesdays at a local church in town.

She was super excited about being a big kid and going to school!!

And equally excited about her new backpack!

We picked up Craig from work and dropped her off on her first day and she did great!!

Looks like it is going to be a great year!

Happy Birthday Katelyn!

 What better way to finish up the last day of summer than celebrating this cute girl's birthday!!

 She woke up to a floor covered with birthday balloons!

 So hard to believe it has been a year already!!

Present Time!

 

  In the evening we invited our family in town to celebrate with cake and ice-cream.

Katelyn got a mini-cake all to herself!

 Mmmmm.....yummy!!!

 

 

 

 She did a pretty good job dismantling the cake at least!

(And later Abby found the rest of it in the trash can and enjoyed it herself)

Happy Birthday sweet baby girl!!!

Roller-Skating Fun!

As the summer was coming to a close, I asked Austin and Mikayla if there was anything else they wanted to do. And they both wanted to go roller-skating/blading. We went last December for Austin's birthday and the kids have asked several times this year about going back.

So we made a plan and went! And we brought their cousins with us because skating is more fun with friends to skate around with!



 

Klayton hit the 1000 ticket jackpot!

 

And used his tickets to buy flashing mouth gear for the boys to wear while skating!



Austin participated in the skating races and made it to the semi-finals.

I was proud of him for putting himself out there and trying!


Those 2 hours of skating passed super fast they were having so much fun!!

Happy Birthday Brooklyn!

Brooklyn woke up to a room of balloons and a new Frozen bike! She is such a little sunshine and radiates pure joy!

 Party prep began first thing that morning.

I'm not sure who was more excited about having a party--Brooklyn or Mikayla?

Brooklyn helped putting together the Olaf snacks and the goodie bags. I think as the day went on she knew something fun was going to happen!

That evening the guests arrived.

Mikayla, Brooklyn, and Kambria all dressed in princess dresses

McKenna and Macy

 Bailey and Blakey and Austin

 And Bristol! Let the party begin!

 First up was Frozen coloring pages.

 

 

  This was actually Mikayla's idea and a great one!
That girl loves to plan a party!
 

 Then we turned on the music "Let It Go" and had a snowball fight! (using cotton balls)

 
 

 I was surprised this activity went over so well but the kids loved it!

 Then we turned on the music "Do You Wanna Build A Snowman?" and the older kids turned the little ones into toilet paper snowmen!

 Present Time 

 Time for cupcakes 

 Brooklyn picked an Anna cupcake

We sang Happy Birthday and she blew out her number 3 candle.

(Then we did it again because we forgot to push record on the video camera)

 Taking pictures with this sweet girl of mine while waiting for daddy to join us.

How did she grow so big so fast!

Please don't grow up anymore!

Happy Birthday Brooklyn!! We love you so much!!!