First Day of School

Here are Kolbe and Avery...

Kolbe looking so big...

Okay...try to take a picture of Eli when he's just smiling. It doesn't happen.

Miss Thing

Wanted her hair curly again...the first day of school every year she has me braid it! She's so funny.

I had mixed emotions today. I have been so completely exhausted this month...that I've not been as fun as my kids deserve. And I've been seriously anxious and excited for school to start. But I must admit, watching Avery hang her huge backpack on her cubby this morning was HARD! And the worst of it...she was not even a little apprehensive! She tipped her head and smiled funny and said, 'well, I gotta make some new friends today!' Then she sat on the carpet for circle time and scootched her way forward until she was right between some kids. She's gonna be great! Kenna is always tough to leave, because she hates change. She looks like she might burst into tears at any moment! When her teacher was talking to her she would just sort of stare...she'll be fine, I know, but the other two were all smiles! Kolbester looked SO handsome and big today. He was completely confident, and made sure to double up on his morning shower of AXE spray for the ladies! Love this kid...Poor Eli walked away from the school sort of dejected...and said, "but where's Bo-Bee mom?" It will be tough on him...but fun to have some one on one time with him. He's big into playing games, so I think that might be my newest time killer! Nate took the day off, he says to take kids to school. But he was like tapping his watch the whole time...and now he's golfing...so we know what his REAL plans were!

Better get my tape done so I can be ready when he gets home...

Lewis and Clark Caverns

A not so impressed Kolbe!

Ghost stories

This is Avery's "scary story face" Pretty freaky huh?

Eli petitioning for another marshmellow.

We took a quick overnight camp trip to Lewis and Clark Caverns yesterday. I think its one of my favorite places in the world...we camped at the base of the caverns in a fun place that had a huge playground for kids, running water and SOAP. We got there late so we quickly started a fire and set up camp. We played, explored in the dark, and then of course did the s'mores! Then it was scary story time. The kids were hungry, so the scarier/ funnier their story, the more we 'paid' them in pretzels! It was a solid half an hour of giggles! Then all was quiet until 7:30, which for us is a pleasant break! We packed up and headed up to the Caverns. About five minutes into the tour Eli started whining that he needed to go potty...'SO BAD mommy!' I'm sure you know what happened with that! When we got to the part where there is a steep set of stairs, kind of exposed on both sides, Kolbe freaked! He turned around and I thought he might require carrying out! He was sobbing....and I was snorting I was giggling so hard. We managed to convince him to keep walking, and I think he liked some of it! Avery was most impressed...she said "this is AWESOME!" at least 100 times. I cracked my head a few times on the stinking rock...yeah...'keep your head down' is important information! It was about 2 hours long, 2 miles long...there were tears, giggles, screams, and I think all of us enjoyed it. A quick picnic lunch and we headed home. Thank heavens for DVD players(and REDBOX)...now onto laundry and baths!

I loved our little...very quick...family get away!

Exhausted

I feel completely and utterly exhausted on every possible level. The trek was an amazing experience, one I think a thousand times more intense and meaningful than I thought it would be. Its amazing to me what experiences/thoughts Heavenly Father provides us in preparation for things yet to come. So many things came to mind in the month before trek, and so many things were remembered as we trekked. That is a blog in itself, one that will have to wait for pictures to be developed! But I can't recover...emotionally, physically, and spiritually, I'm cooked! I cannot remember another time where I've ever felt so drained. And while I know its the tired talking...its so easy to be discouraged and overwhelmed right now! When does persistence pay off? When will routine return? When will sleep be my friend? Does Avery really hate me? I love my life. I love being a mom. I love my goood husband; he's the most devoted, loyal and dedicated man I know. I love my family. I love my siblings. I love my parents. My church. My life. But it still feels tired and complicated today. Perhaps I'd better lay down when Eli does today...