Merry Christmas!

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December

Week 3

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December

Week 2

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December

Week 1

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Backtrack::November 2012

November 2012

Went to California for Thanksgiving
Had a four minute ferry ride to Balboa Island
Met Jill at the Point Vicente Lighthouse
Met little Charlie for the first time
Introduced the kids to In-N-Out
The tide pools were really cool!
Ate ice cream with Grandma and Grandpa at Ferrell's
Ran our Turkey Trot Fun Run with the Halls
Ronni accompanied the children's theater at the elementary school

Weekly Review

November

Week 4

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November

Week 3

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November
Week 2

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November

Week 1

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Backtrack::October 2012

October 2012

Kelsie finished our her Volleyball season, 6-2!
Caleb and Mom go on a field trip to the pumpkin patch.
We've spent a lot of time between the soccer and football fields.
Mom and Kelsie take a girls trip to Seattle! We meet up with old and new friends.
Wicked was awesome! (We can't get the songs out of our heads.)
Boys (including Dad) finally make it to the Balloon Fiesta.
We make a special trip out to Wagner Farm and get lost in the corn maze.
Halloween costumes finished just in time for parties and trick or treating.
Too much candy has been consumed.

Weekly Review

Oct 28 - Nov 4

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Weekly Review

October

Week 4

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October

Week 3

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October

Week 2

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Week in Review

October

Week 1

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Backtrack::September 2012

 
September 2012

Still feels like summer with the warm temps this month.
Kelsie tried out for the Volleyball team at school and made it!
Sports start up again, soccer and flag football.
Jog A Thon at school where the boys both impress us with their mileage
Primary Sacrament Meeting Program was a huge success (my first time as chorister too!)
Caleb's first field trip to the zoo
We made an attempt to take family pictures.
Spent a few warm afternoons on bike rides to the park.

Week In Review

September

Week 4

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Life Lately

I thought that once school started and we settled down into our routines again, life would slow down a little bit and not be quite so hectic. That lasted all of about two weeks. It's not like I didn't see it coming, but I guess I was hoping for a little more quiet before the storm. Sometimes I long for the simple days of when they were all younger and we didn't have quite so many things filling up our plate. When we could go outside every night together and ride bikes, draw on the sidewalk, and enjoy being together. We still enjoy being together, it's just now on the sidelines of the soccer fields or in the bleachers of a middle school gym. As busy as we are, it's always nice to slow down and play in the grass. Then, when they all go to bed and I look at what's on the calendar for the next day, I can remember these down times!

Kelsie made the middle school volleyball team and has been busy every night with practices and games. I love going to watch her play and have so much fun cheering for her and her team. The boys keep me company as well as some of her friends from church. It's been so great to see her more confident as a result of volleyball. In addition to all the demands of her sport, she also has school, homework, young women activities, babysitting, and friends. She really doesn't have a whole lot of down time, but when she does, we love spending as much time with her as we can (even when it's waaaay past her bed time).

The boys have also started up sports again. We spend our Saturday mornings at the soccer fields, with Wally and I switching games at halftime to watch each of them play. Brandon is a natural at sports and is already starting out great on his team. He scored his first goal for the season during the first game. We are trying something new this fall with Brandon playing both soccer and flag football. We're hoping that we didn't make a horrible decision and that we don't go crazy between all the running around that is inevitably going to happen. He joined the Morning Miles club at school on Friday's and stays busy with Cub Scouts each week as well. He is very determined to pass off everything in his book as soon as possible.

Caleb was excited to play soccer again this fall and quickly made some friends after his first week. We're hoping that he'll have a great season as well and that he'll realize that he's got to kick the ball if he wants it to go anywhere. He loves kindergarten! There hasn't been a single tear about going to school. He has made lots of friends and always comes home with a big smile on his face. I am able to help out in his class once a week and he is always so happy to see me come. His new love is Lego Ninjago. It's pretty much all he eats, sleeps, and breaths. Even at school.

Isaac is just along for the ride. I guess that's how it is when you're two and the youngest of four busy kids. He and I get to spend every day together. He's my little shadow and is constantly narrating everything that I do (Mom washing dishes? Mom vacuuming? Mom reading?). He also thinks that he's just as big as his older brothers and can do just about anything they can do from running football plays with Brandon and fighting ninjas with Caleb.

So, yeah, we're busy. There is always something going on. We try to squeeze in as much family time as we can in addition to all the other balls we're juggling. The kind of family time that involved taking updated pictures which didn't go as planned the first time around. If I'm completely honest with myself, I really love to be busy. Even though it feels like I'm running a marathon for months, it's totally worth it to see all of my kids learning, excelling, and gaining experiences as they grow. There really is nothing sweeter. Except, maybe, bedtime for Isaac at 6 pm.

Week in Review

September

Week 3

Week in Review

September

Week 2

Week in Review

September

Week 1

First Days of School

The kids started another school year about 3 weeks ago. We were all excited and anxious to start. We had an order of all new schools (again) this year, so there was quite a bit of nerves to go along with all our excitement as well. We also had a brand new kindergartener, which means a certain little guy misses all his older brothers and sister while they're gone all day.

Kelsie started 7th grade this year. She was pretty nervous about starting another school, but after we walked through her schedule a few times and made sure we knew where everything was, she was good to go. She has been able to see a lot of friends from church and has also made quite a few new friends as well. She is a great student and is working hard for straight A's again this year. Her favorite class and teacher right now is P.E., and comes home everyday with a new story to tell about it.

Brandon couldn't wait to see who was in his class when it was time to find out who his teacher was. He was so happy to find out that one of his best friends from church was in it with him! He loves his teacher and is making a lot of new friends. He has even made friends with the nurse within the first week of school after he tried playing football on the cement. Not his best idea. He came home with some pretty big bandages on both knees and hands.

Waiting to find out who Brandon's teacher would be. Caleb wasn't too sure about going to school anymore.

Caleb was so ready for school to start, that is, until it was actually going to start! He started school a day after Kelsie and Brandon did. He was nervous about meeting his teacher, but once he did and saw his classroom, there was no turning back--especially once he found the bucket of lego's! He did amazing on his first day, and there were no tears coming from him at all! I, on the other hand, may have showed my emotions a little more. He leaves every morning with a big smile and a wave as he gets on the bus and comes home just as happy. 

Getting ready to line up for his first day of school!

All in all, it's been a successful start to a new year. I still can't believe that Caleb is old enough for school and am getting used to having the three older kids gone all day! Isaac really is beside himself on some days. He is starting to enjoy this new found freedom he has while everyone is gone though.We have settled into a routine that starts pretty early now, but everyone is happy and learning again! Here's to another great year of school and happy kids!

Brandon showing some nerves, just before the bus came.

Backtrack::August 2012

August 2012

*We did a lot of hiking this month, which unfortunately, isn't a family favorite thing to do.

*Mom and Dad went out on a 4-wheeling adventure in the desert where we helped construct a zip line and also found ourselves lost after dark.

*We spent the first couple of weeks shopping and getting all ready for the first day of school!

*With three kids in school now, we've got 7th, 4th, and Kindergarten covered.

*Isaac loves his new found freedom from his older siblings during the day, but is just as excited for them all to come home at the end of the day (Mom really isn't that much fun).

*We camped in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, just outside of Santa Fe (again hiking is not everyone's favorite thing to do).

*We're enjoying the end of summer warm days and settling back into a routine, just in time for sports to start.

Instagram - I love it!

Backtrack::July 2012

July 2012

We drove up to Denver for a family reunion.
We spent the 4th with family and a huge soccer game and lots of fireworks.
We were able to celebrate Grandma and Grandpa Paxton's 50th wedding anniversary!
We had so much fun with our cousins and were sad to come home.
We were successful with our fruit trees and started enjoying what they had to offer.

The garden is growing!
More swimming lessons and lots of swimming on hot afternoons.

Mom, Dad, and Brandon celebrated birthdays this month.
Wally went to scout camp.

Backtrack::June 2012

June 2012

We now officially have a young woman in the house! Kelsie turned 12!

Swimming lessons for Brandon and Caleb - we especially love the "shark float"!
Grandma and Grandpa Watkins came for a quick visit to drop off an organ.

We went to Pop-pop's as many times as we could while they were here.

Grandma and Grandpa took the kids up the tram to the top of Sandia Peak.
We went camping in Moab and to visit Aunt Kenna.

We spent many nights at the park with friends

Mom and Dad went mountain biking one night, we're so lucky to have such a great babysitter!

Backtrack::May 2012

May 2012

We celebrated Isaac's second birthday!

Mother's day was the best with homemade breakfast pizza and lettuce wraps.

We finished up school and started summer with a bang.

We hiked Tent Rocks for the first time and loved it!

Wally built a water rocket and we have spent many nights at the park shooting it off.

We picked cherries at a friend's house and she let us hold her puppies that she was taking care of.

We got the garden planted and watered and are anxiously waiting for the growth of our new plants!

Kelsie's Birthday is Not Forgotten

I was already planning on getting up early Saturday morning, June 16. This was a big day for us. My little girl was going to turn 12! I had the whole morning planned. We were going to get some breakfast, get our hair cut, head over to the make-up store, and then the mall. It was the ultimate mother/daughter girls day out and I was so excited!  I wasn't prepared for the unexpected visitor we had before the alarm went off. It went something like this:

"Dad, how do I know when it's time to flip over the crepes?"

Both Wally and I jumped out of bed and noticed the smell of burning batter. It was Brandon, who decided that he wanted to do something nice for his sister on her birthday. Upon further explanation, we found out that he wanted to cook her breakfast. So, he decided that crepes were the best thing to make. Wally asked which recipe he used and how he made it. This is how he described it:

"Well, I couldn't find the 1 cup measuring cup, but I remembered that 2 tablespoons is about the same as one cup, so that's all the flour I put in. Then I remembered that Kelsie really likes sugar, so I added a little extra."

Being the great dad that he is, Wally helped him make a new batch of crepes, following the recipe this time, and more importantly, finding the 1 cup measuring cup.

This sweet gesture from a loving brother ended up being the start of a really great day for Kelsie. She and I were able to spend the whole morning together. We got our hair cut and I took her to Merle Norman to learn about make up and then spent some time together at the mall. She learned all about how to take care of her face and put on make up and she looked completely grown up afterwards.

before and after the make up store

While we were gone, the girls from her young women's class came and heart attacked her room, welcoming her into the Young Women's Program. She was so surprised when she came home and quickly declared that all those hearts were never going to come down!  She was more than ready to graduate from primary and join the older girls at church. She also went 4-wheeling with her dad and brothers that afternoon and then finished off with her party at the end of the day. She had a really great day and had a big smile all day long.

We love having a 12 year old in the family. She is a great babysitter and we may take advantage of that fact quite a bit! She is maturing faster than we'd like her too, but we couldn't be more proud of the young woman she is becoming. Happy Birthday, sweet girl! We love you!

Moab Memories (June 2012)

Hot, hot, hot! We're talking over 100* each day.

  

KOA Kampsite was nice, but not very shady - and very sandy, especially when the wind picked up like it did the first night and didn't stop until we left. We also learned that a rain fly is not to just keep out the rain. It can keep out blowing sand too. We found that out a day late.

Sand Dune Arch was so fun and a great hike for most of us (Isaac's legs were just a tad too little to get through all the sand.)

Landscape Arch was pretty cool too, but not in the heat of the day and with wind and sand exfoliating your bare skin every few minutes or so. It was nice to have our friend Nillie Tillie around to encourage us along the trail.

 Swimming in the campground pool is the best way to spend a very hot afternoon.

Wally's dreams came true when he got to bike the whole Slickrock Trail. It only took him 3 hours and most of his energy for the rest of the day. He also ate anything he could get his hands on, including some good old Moab shake'n'bake (thanks to the wind).

Aunt Kenna is awesome! She made so many fun things happen for us! 

She truly is the camping queen.

Rowing down the Colorado River was great, until we were rowing against the wind where we went absolutely no where. 

Brandon and Caleb loved the river. Kelsie and Isaac did not.

Ronni walked 2 miles up the road in intense heat to get the car after we docked a couple miles early in our river fun. She did have an offer for a ride, but declined since it was only 100 more yards to the car.

The Moab Diner has awesome ice cream. Especially when we were all tuckered out from rowing and being in the sun. It was the best thing to do after the river.

We made glow stick pictures and told ghost stories around the "campfire", which was a simple lantern.

The Moab Rock Shop was really cool and everyone came away with some new rocks to add to their ever growing collections which usually end up out in the yard anyway.

Aunt Kenna made us some really great chicken tacos. Have her make it for you some time and ask her what she calls it.

Highlight of the trip? The hummer ride to Hell's Revenge. The roller coaster part was everyone's favorite, even Isaac's. The views over the Colorado river were stunning and everyone had a great time.

Caleb had a huge smile on his face the entire trip. Nothing was going to get him down. Searching for lizards every time he went to the bathroom was the highlight of his days. The hummer ride was another favorite, followed closely by the river. Especially when Aunt Kenna let him get in the water with her!

Kelsie told a great story around the "campfire", but my favorite was the story she told about the girl who went camping with her family and hated every minute of it. She let us know that they have a lot in common. Being the drama queen that she is, she let us all know that she was going to die on the Hummer ride, but in the end loved every second of it. And, admittedly, her favorite part of our trip was going down the river. Go figure.

Isaac was the most happy when he was roaming free looking for rocks, lizards, and rabbits. He especially loved the smores that we cooked and drove his dad a little mad when it came to holding the roasting stick out of the coals (as in none of his marshmallows were edible). He was not a fan of the river and sat quietly in the boat with a scowl on his face until he could get out. We just covered his face with a hat. He loved the hummer ride as well, and somehow managed to fall asleep in the middle of it. He must have been really tired.

Brandon was totally in his element being outside. He brought his pocketknife and carved on any stick he could find. He was so excited to go down the river, but his excitement drained a little when he realized how hard he was going to have to paddle nonstop. The hummer was his favorite adventure and he let us know how he could to this again. Like now. Right now.

As for the parents, camping is a lot of work. Hard work. Especially in the heat of Moab. We had a great time (minus the wind and sand) and would highly recommend a trip, especially if you have never been. Just not in the middle of summer. Or in the windy season.

Or  at least book a cabin instead of a tent.