This past Wednesday, was Uncle Bret's birthday (Ryan's youngest sibling, and only brother). He is serving a volunteer mission for our church, in Brazil. He has almost been there a whole year and while we miss him tons and tons, time has flown... He is becoming quite the young man and we are so proud of him! Ashtin is especially attatched to him, as he is only seven years older than she is. (Yikes!! Ashtin will be twenty in just over seven years!) He is a fantastic role model for our family and is faithfully serving, keep up the good work little bro.!

Bret and Ryan (little brother isn't so little anymore!)

Bret, with all the nieces and nephews (one more has been added)

Bret and Ashtin (I think she's grown at least an inch since then)

The Last Week in Review...

I thought that life would be a little less crazy once school started... It sure doesn't seem that way, and we are only in our third week! During school, keeping up with the boys is fairly crazy, and then after school? Well, we are back in the full swing of piano and dance lessons and of course there is still Young Women and Activity Girls, besides squeezing in Family Home Evening on Monday nights and all of the back to school stuff (Curriculum Nights, PTSA meetings, doctor check-ups, trip to the vet for the dog's recurring ear infection, etc...)

A week ago Monday, the Bishop called and asked me to speak in Sacrament Meeting on this past Sunday- nothing like short notice, it's not like there's anything else going on :). It actually went pretty well and it was fairly comical watching (from the stand), as Ryan wrangled all the kids. Speaking of Ryan, he has been quite busy at work and has also been taking advantage of the last of the beautiful weather to stain the deck and fence- lookin' real swell!

Last Friday, Ashtin was voted in as one of several ASB (Associated Student Body) Representatives at her Middle School. She was running against another girl and they actually tied, and so they became co-representatives. The funny part is that my sweet Ashtin voted for the other girl, because she felt "bad" voting for herself. Thus, she caused the tie! She's more than thrilled that they both made it.

Tomorrow (well, looking at the time, actually later today), Cortnee gets Contact Lenses and we are also preparing for my niece from England to come live with us for a while. She arrives in just over a week.

Seth is keeping me on my toes (and then some) with one thing after another... He pulls anything left on the kitchen table onto the chairs and/or the floor, he opens all the doors (those darn lever handles!) and especially loves to shoot the gap into the bathrooms to flush as much toilet paper as he possibly can down the toilet. He also prefers walking on his knees most of the time (even though he is capable of walking on his feet), yet he climbs up onto about anything. He also has quite the vocabulary for such a young bloke (practicing my British lingo ;)). No seriously, at fifteen months, he not only knows what he wants, he completely knows how to ask for it!! He also seems to know how to call 911, re-program our computer, change the channel on the TV, play X-box, get into cabinets WITH child locks on them, need I go on? (At this point, I'm just waiting for him to figure out a way to weasle out of his car seat.)

All this has been going on while Abby continues to cry and carry on about "not wanting to go to school" EVERY morning. (Even though she is perfectly fine in the afternoon when I pick her up!) Yet, (big sigh) IT'S ALL GOOD!!

Evidence!

Dixie, ready to sieze her opportunity

Who, me??

I LOVE to stand on my toes!

I could play with trains ALL day!

Ya, I know I'm cool

Check out my spread!

AROMATHERAPY AND AMBIENCE

I must confess that I have a HUGE fetish for scented candles. I especially like fruit and spice scents. I also enjoy the mood that the soft flickering provides. Combine that with some colonial hymns (some of my favorite tunes), and I am pretty darn happy...

Just a sampling of my "collection"

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

So, Tuesday was the first day of school and we were all a bit tired. We arrived home from Montana at 3 am on Tuesday morning and got to sleep a bit more (after sleeping in the car!?) and then it was off to school! It went in shifts as follows: Ashtin had to be out the door just after 7:00 for Middle School, Cortnee was scheduled for Traffic Patrol this whole week and she arrived at 8:00. It was then Abby's turn for a long day (first grade), arriving at 8:20. Wyatt starts Pre-school in a few weeks. Considering our lack of sleep, the morning went pretty well- or so I thought. Ashtin did great at her first day of Middle School, Cortnee had everything down pat (even has her same, favorite teacher). Abby on the other hand... basically at the end of school when I walked over with the boys to get her- Cortnee, about five teachers, the school counselor and the principal informed me that Abby had a rough day. By the time her teacher approached me to brief me on the situation, I told her I already knew the scoop. So, three school days later, Abby is still having a tough time transitioning into the full day routine and constantly says "she misses her sisters". What's crazy is that she wasn't nearly this hysterical for preschool or kindergarten. She also acts like, and basically thinks that she's at least ten years old at home, so what gives?? Anyway, we will continue to work with the school (apparently, it seems to be a whole school effort) and her teacher to get her over her reservations. Just when you think you've got everything under control with your kids, they throw you a curve ball!

Ashtin- my almost teenager

Cortnee, the big 6th grader!

Abby- First grade, here I come...

Wyatt, patiently waiting for his "first day of school"

WE LOVE MONTANA

We finally got to take a short (but much needed) family vacation. Last Thursday evening, we drove to Western Montana to visit with Ryan's mom (who was visiting from Utah) and we stayed at Grandma Jones' (Ryan's mom's mom- got that?) farm house. One of Ryan's sisters came as well with her two little girls. Not only did Ryan's mom grow up there in Montana, but Ryan grew up visiting there frequently and has fond memories of fly-fishing, hunting water fowl, driving the ATV through the fields, playing night games, and many other outdoor and small town activities. We try to take our family there once a year to get away from the city and temporarily enjoy "small town" living. Even though it seems like life slows down a bit while there, we are constantly going and going and the kids make fond memories each year. Labor Day weekend is especially exciting, as there are several rodeos, a state fair, and a parade (where they throw TONS of candy). At Uncle Dennis' there was an abandoned bunny that Ashtin and Cortnee pretty much adopted and tried their hardest to convince Ryan that we "needed" to take it home with us. We also spent an evening in Virginia City, an old mining town. We rode the train and saw the Virginia City Players perform. Also to note, Ryan has a cousin (Braden) who always has a new wild animal for a pet, this time being a crow that he had rescued as a baby. It was a great (quick) trip, and to think that we did all of it in 4 days!!

Cousin Braden's pony (mule) that the kids rode and rode...

The pony's name is Annie

...and rode

The other favorite riding toy

Seth cried and cried when he had to get off this thing

Crammed in like cattle to "drive" to the rodeo

The "Wild Horses" teams in action

The Bunny (Bunny Boo Boo, Bugs Bunny, Snuggles, Bubba)

Seth (with Grandma Clara), trying to free the bunny

Virginia City, Montana

The Little train that went to Nevada City

Home of the Virginia City Players

Wyatt's Block Tower in Grandpa's Den

Cool Window

Look at the fish we caught!

Here fishy fishy fishy fishy...

One of our favorite cousins (Bryant) took us to the secret fishing spot

The famous "tree photo" at the end of every visit to Grandma Jones'

Braden's pet crow, Caw Caw (on top of the Van)

GYMNASTICS DAY CAMP

The last week of August, Abby had Gymnastics Day Camp and absolutely LOVED it! She went with our neighbor's little girl and they had a great time. She is now having a hard time deciding between gymnastics and dance (with five kids, they have to pick and choose- especially since nothing is close around here and you spend all of your time driving around through traffic everywhere!- plus, up here in the Seattle area, you pay an arm and a leg and your firstborn for just about everything!) Anyway, she has taken dance since she was two and would also like to take some drama classes, oh the choices...

She seemed to be a natural on the beam

Certificate for a job well done!