Halle Turns 9

Halle turned 9 this month.

She was so excited!

I was not. (sniff, sniff)

Halle got the skateboard she wanted!  

Isn't that funny that a daughter of mine loves to skateboard?

I think it is awesome.

We invited a few friends over for a birthday party.

I made an ice cream cake.

We decorated cookies, ate doughnuts off string hung to the trees

and played a few other games with music blaring in our backyard.

It really was so fun and I love it when the weather cooperates with outdoor parties in October!

Happy Birthday Halle!

I Got Braces . . . Again

For some reason, half of my teeth want to keep moving up.

Among other problems.

I have had braces twice already. 

Well, maybe I should count it as 1 1/2 times . . . the second time the braces were only on for about two months in between college semesters . . . to fix what you can see above.

The first time they were on for 3 1/2 years.

15 years later . . . and a broken retainer have led to my teeth STILL remembering where they once were and moving back home!

So . . . almost 3 weeks ago I had braces put on again.

I am looking at 9 to 18 months . . . it kind of depends on what/when teeth will move.

I am feeling optimistic!
But probably will not be confident enough to post pictures with my decorated teeth for awhile:)

Soccer Stars

Halle and Gwen played soccer this last season.  

Oh how I love soccer season.  

I REALLY like going to all their games and being busy with this sport.  They both played so well on their teams.  Gwen would score most of the goals for her team.  It really helps having a fall birthday.  She seemed so much older than some of the other kids in her league.  Halle did awesome as well.  That girl has some natural soccer moves . . . she looked so good out their and scored many goals as well.

It is kind of nice to have our Saturday mornings back . . . and the weeknights . . . but I can't wait until next year!

Six Years Old!

Gwen turned 6 this week!

She has had a birthday countdown for the last month!

Gwen had a birthday party after school.
I attempted a Hello Kitty cake.

I love it when the weather is nice enough to have the party outside . . . it helps out with that doughnut eating game!

Abby and Halle were such good helpers at the party.  Abby would spearhead some of the games, and Halle would help me out with whatever I needed.

Happy Birthday Miss Gwen!

Football Game

It has been a long time since we have been to a BYU game as a family!

For the last few years, Ben has taken kids one at a time.

A hot, Saturday afternoon may not have been the best time to try it out again . . . but now that they are not hot, thirsty

or "feeling sick" . . . I am sure they would tell you they had a great time with family and friends!

1st Day of School

My girls could not sleep the night before school . . . they were too excited!

Check out Halle's jeggings. Aren't those the funniest pants?

Kindergarten started one week after the other grades.

That was one LONG week for Gwen! It was so hard to watch her sisters go to school!

She has been looking forward to kindergarten for a long time.

Happy New School Year!

I love school starting!

I love the routine and busyness of it.

I love all the fun holidays and cooler weather that are around the corner.

And my house stays a little more clean!

August Family Reunions

The first weekend of August, we had family reunions for

both my mom and my dad's side of the family.

I wish I had gotten more pictures.

Friday evening we spent with my mom's side of the family. We had so much visiting with grandma, cousins, and aunts/uncles.

Saturday we spent at Payson lakes with my dad's side of the family.

We borrowed a canoe and that turned out to be big hit!

My kids were able to make some new friends with family they didn't know very well before.

We are looking forward to the next reunions!