Parade!

We were lucky to be able to park at a friend's house which was close to the parade route!  We sat with them and had a great time!

A few floats, fire trucks, dogs wearing slippers, a car blowing bubbles, about 6 marching bands, these fun little cars, and candy throwing, and . . . and . . .   :)

 These horses were at the end and B looked on longingly . . . . I remember loving horses at that age too!!!  :)   She's been reading a book series called "Pony Pals" - nice that she found something age appropriate!  :)  

St. Louis Trip

An old mission companion of mine who lives in CA (that I hadn't seen since either of us were married) was visiting her family in St. Louis . . . so I took the kids on a roadtrip!!!  Her mother's house was an excellent place for a visit!  It was so fun to see her in her life as a mom to 4 kids.  She always was so positive and dedicated on our missions . . . and she still is!  Fun visit!  Plus I got to see/read the book she made of all the pictures of her adventure on the show "Wipeout"!   :)

Ak drew one of her sons.   :)

The next day we got to see an old childhood friend and eat lunch with her family!   She is always a gracious hostess and fixes such yummy things!!!

Adair still sounds the same, laughs the same, and loves the same - but she has matured so much and it's so fun to see her as an adult!  Another fun visit! 

We stayed with some friends that moved out of our ward ealier this year -  it was so fun to see and play with them again!!!!

I caught Z just chilling on the guest bed . . . made me laugh - had to take a picture. 
My friend is pretty crafy and I was SUPER impressed with her newly painted floor for her sewing room . . . pretty creative huh!?!

We got to go to church with my brother!

And before leaving town - my kids wanted to touch the arch!  A couple years ago when we drove by it was raining - so we only got out for a couple of pictures - this time we went up close and underneath.

We visited the free musuem there - but we didn't want to pay to go up in the arch without the dad's (plus I was nervous that one of the kids would freak out and D deals better with that!)

 

But we got to sit in a sample car that takes people up to the top!  One day . . . .

 

I always loved these steps!  

We said good bye to our friends in the parking lot then got on the road to come home.   Feel blessed to have been able to see good friends!!!

Within the 2nd week

 I got a call from the principal at 12:35 pm telling me that B had been leaping in gym class and fell.  (She thought she was going to hit her head she said so she stuck out her hand/arm.)  They thought she broke her arm but asked if I could come to the school to look.   ???me???  I wouldn't know more then they would - but luckily I was with my orthopedic surgeon friend's wife and she came with me!!!  She was able to get ahold of her husband and he met us at his office (without us having to wait in the waiting area) - took an extra xray - said it was "broken" (more like "bent" and the Dr. said kids bones are still pliable) and would need a cast.  He set it and we went home.  Got there before 2 pm.  Less than an hour an a half between the call and back home.  AMAZING!!!!  I felt blessed!   D was a little upset that I didn't call him and interrupt his class to let him know - but  it all happened so fast and I emailed him as soon as we got home!    She didn't cry at all.   So brave!!! 

Rest of the first week

Z got glasses last year to see the board (he's near sided - so he doesn't have to wear them all the time).   Ak got glasses.  She's far sided . . . maybe that's why I have found her sitting closer to the TV than my other kids???   Cute huh?  :)   

 We got hooked up with an apple & pear connection - wonderful to get free produce!  Feel blessed!  Overwhelmed, but blessed!!!

First Day of School!!!

Kindergarten Orientation

 She got to go on a short ride to get used to the bus.  She was all smiles - D, Z, and B went with her and they said it was hot!  :)

In her class - she gets to move an owl with her name on it each morning and her favorite part was learning they have a class pet!   

Skipping ahead . . .

Written 9/29/12

So May . . . June . . . July happened - and we did alot!!!  Our whole family came to town to celebrate my parent's 50th anniversary and the went up to Wisconsin and out to Colorado.   I have LOTS of pictures to share - but no time to do it . . . . I hope to add them here one day, this year, but I have decided to start with school starting and try to move forward in hopes of catching up!  My system for getting pictures is not as easy as it once was . . .so that has added to my delay and I can't even start tonight with their first day due to that issue . . . but  I just read my sister's blog - it's been over 5 weeks!?!?   How did this happen???  I haven't even talked to her much on the phone in those 5 weeks - so I missed a lot!  But I've been so busy, insaning busy.   All 3 kids in school and it has NOT slowed down.  I cannot continue at this pace.   But as my brother said in response to one of her posts:

"Do your best and forget the rest.
If u do your best your best gets better. "