First day of School

I have this love/hate relationship with the first day of school .. the entire school year actually. I super duper triple miss having my children home during the day.. all day.. to argue.. and fight.. and pick at each other.. really I do. I miss it terribly. I love all the noise and craziness around me. I love the "Best mom evers!" and "I love you more's!" But... but.. I do look forward to getting some things done around the house as well. .. errands ran.. and maybe even sneak in some "me" time. 

The school aged children thought these were awesome..

Some times I pull through and seem like I have it all together. Like when the children woke up to this.. I was an awesome mom this day. The children only thought I was going to be making lunch every day.. that lasted the first week.. I even included printed jokes.. (Awesome mom).

Max. (5th grade). 

Alexander.  (3rd grade)

Barrett boy. (3rd grade)

Jacqualynn Grace (2nd grade)

Lola Marie. (age 2) She thought it was really important that she got in on all this first day of school action.. 

backpack and all.. HECK YES!

My crew..I can't even write how much I love these guys! They are pretty awesome. (Word of the day = awesome). I mean it. I love just about everything about them. Best Children ever!! 

Alpine Water Slide

We have been wanting to try this hike/waterfall for a couple of years.. Sometimes summer just passes and there are still super fun things on our "go see" list. Not this year.. we made sure we fit it in and I am so glad we did. This was awesome amounts of fun. The hike was an easy paved road that lead right up to the Alpine water slide. I think this one might become a routine hike for us. Everyone took a turn going down the natural water slide. The water was frrrrrrrreeeeezing cold, but we all survived with a smile on our face. I give this one two thumbs up.

Nickel City

We decided to take advantage of the library reading program this summer. Read books = coupons to do fun activities around town. Usually we just let them expire and they end up in the trash. Not this year.. we fit a couple things in. The children were loving these little outings. This one was to the Nickel City..

Picking out treasures.. 

I could not get Lola off this thing.. Woof.. 

I'm not quite sure what goes through that little head of hers.. 

Nope.. no idea.. 

Or that mothers of her.. where is her mother.. ??

Hello??!?! Oh.. that's me.. taking pictures.. 

Opps! We had to switch things up fast before they kicked us outta that place..

Much better.. 

This works too.. 

I honestly didn't see much of Jacq. She was just off doing her thing. Whatever it is that 6 year olds do.. 

Hi Dad!

Alexander and Barrett had a fun time playing around on all the games.. 

Yep.

Until they found out about this machine.. then it was all over.. 

They were all about the jackpot

 The more tickets the better.. and they learned how to collect on this guy.

 Happy boys winning lots of tickets.

 Then there was Max. He was all about the Mastery. He just knew he could beat this game. 

I walked by again.. still there.. 

You guessed it.. the ENTIRE time.. 

This is NOT my idea of a super duper fun outing.. but the children were in heaven and that was what these around town outing were all about.. NOT me.. but them.. until next summer..

Bless their hearts..

There are three twin size beds in Alexander and Barrett's bedroom.. all lined up in a row.. promise.. you can't walk between them.. not even if you tried. The boys have smashed the beds up next to each other .. one lined up next to the other like a big giant bed. It doesn't really matter much..  the beds might as well not even be in there. These two just need one twin bed to share. Bless them. After that scary ride at Lagoon I can't seem to get them sleeping in their own beds. I have to admit.. it melts me when i check in on them at night. Just melts me. I love how these two just watch out and care about each other.. Best Brothers ~ Best friends!

Best Friends

I don't think it matters what age you are.. the ZOO is just plain fun!! SO. MUCH. FUN! We decided to head up there when Ma Deb came to town. Wahoo!! We love it when Ma Deb comes to town.

Alyssa with her babes!

Alyssa and Ma Deb! We love it when Ma Deb comes to town. Wait.. 

I think I already said that.. we like it that much! :)

Me and Sissy! We brought our strollers to pack our coolers around. No one (Lola and Hailey) wanted a "free ride" at the zoo.. there is way too much running/playing/seeing going on.. 

(It's true that stroller is over 10 years old.. YIKES ~ I'm getting OLD!!)

I didn't get a whole lot of good pictures.. I mostly just see this.. yep.. the backside of everyone..

I love this one.. the children were so engaged! All 8 of them.

Let's do some "best friends" pictures.. If those smiles don't say, "Best Friends!" I don't know what does.. 

Oh yeah.. "Best friends!"

More.. "best friends.. " Aren't cousins the BEST!!?!

These two are "best friends" for sure.. {Jacq and Jax..} 

Jacqualynn will pretty much do anything to be with her little buddy.. "BEST FRIENDS!"

{bonus} Jacq gets to be with Ma Deb too! "Best friends!"

Umm.. "Best friends" for sure.. This lady somehow always ends up being with her Auntie.

Nothing spells "Best Friends" like .. BROTHERS!! 

They don't get that yet.. but someday they will be the bestest of friends!

Just freakin' love this one.. one as in.. just freakin' love my Max. No best friends here.. Just my number 1.

And my "Best friend" girl.. after all.. we are "Best friends!" If you don't believe me.. just ask her... 

"Mom .. you are my best friend!!" Life is pretty sweet.. I get that every day.. all day.. these days..

The Zoo.

The end.