Go Cougars!

Rise and shout...

It's time for football.

This year we get to cheer for two of Joe's cousins - Matt and Dallas. They are both SO good, they have football in their blood. Uncle Lance is a BYU coach. I love BYU football! I love watching family play BYU football even more. Does life get better then this?

I'll be watching all the way to the BCS...

We did it!

We did it! And when I say "we", I mean "me".

We got through the first week of school. We weren't late, no one forgot lunches, all the papers got signed, and everyone is still intact. We even got scripture study and family prayer in. I know, I know, stop clapping.

Growing up, I always saw my mom up-and-at-'em every morning - she was all pretty and clean, making lunches, doing our hair, etc. I always thought, "When I'm a mom, getting up early will come naturally. It will be a breeze!" Oh, how I deceived myself.

After a wonderful summer of sleeping in and wearing jammies as much as I want, this week has been a rude awakening - and I mean that literally. It is rude to awaken me at 7:00 every day when I just get back to sleep from feeding the baby. But I will admit, it has been fun to see the girls get excited about picking out their outfits and hearing about all the cool things they are doing at school. So the trade-off is worth it!

Koko is a big third-grader and she is so smart! She loves to read and figure out hard math problems. She even did math workbooks this summer - for fun (I am not making this up! Daddy is so proud.)

Emma has entered the world of all-day school and is in the first grade this year. The coolest part for her? 3 recesses. She loves her class and her teacher is great! She has already learned so much in this short week. I am proud of my girls.

This week at home was crazy, but Colin really stepped it up and is my big helper now. It's fun to hang out with him, read with him, play with him, and work on our own version of preschool together. Camri gets in on the action and copies everything Colin says (then she makes up a song about it). She also makes sure she is wearing a dress and some kind of winter hat every day. I don't know. And Beau is just wonderful - he makes everything seem more fun.

So here's to a school year full of weeks like this one!!!

Lagoon!

Well, we did it. we took the kids to Lagoon. Kind of like home teaching, we waited until the last minute and took them on the last day of (school-free) summer.

Two things I learned: 1) Lagoon as a Mom is NOT the same as Lagoon as a teenager. 2) Lagoon as a Mom is WAY better then Lagoon as a teenager.

I felt old as I climbed off the Wild Mouse with aches and pains. I felt old as I watched the teenage boys with low-ride skinny jeans (seriously, doesn't that defeat the purpose of skinny jeans? They are supposed to FIT, not hang down and show your boxers. Ew.) I felt old as I looked for the slow rides that the kids could ride, not the pukers that I liked in years gone by. And I felt old as I watched people flying over my head in the Sky Coaster and thinking, "That does NOT look fun!"

But, we had a great time with the kids.

Dakota is the perfect heighth - tall enough for the big rides, but short enough for the kid rides. She had fun, although she wasn't quite sure about the Rocket with Dad...She felt a little more relaxed on "Bulgy the Whale"...Emma also liked the "big" rides - at least the ones she was tall enough to go on. She was ready to try all kinds of new rides. She went on a raft ride with me and got "Soaked'n"! Colin wanted to run from ride to ride. He was a little short for some of them, but I'm sure he'll be big enough by next summer!Camri loved riding the same ride as her big brother and sisters. She is so cool. Beau just hung out most of the day...Colin begged and pleaded to go on the "Pirate Ship" Tidal Wave. So he and Emma braved it with Dad.Colin freaked out, Emma went again with me...Camri strikin' a pose...Time for games. Each of us took a turn climbing the ladder.......without much success. But it was fun! By the way, I am grateful for a husband that had the good sense not to take a picture of me climbing up the ladder. I will always love you for that, my dear! Of course, Dad had to throw the ball in the can. WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!!!The kids got hot (I don't know why, I think it only got to 98 degrees. We didn't even break 100).They cooled off in the splash park, what a great addition to the park!Camri did NOT want to get wet, so she sat back and grabbed a bottled water.Beau will remember it next time...Here's what Daddy won - a HUGE dog. At least all of the kids can share it at the same time.

I guess we're ready for school to start *sigh*. I'm going to miss my kids...

2, 4, 6, 8...

People always ask me how old my kids are, and I say, "8, 6, 4, 2, and baby". I realize now that I should say it the other way and make it our family cheer.

Baby! Two! Four! Six! Eight! Who do we appreciate?! Heuglys! Heuglys! Yeahhhhhhh!

The end of the summer is here and I'm a little sad. We have done some fun, random things this summer and I will (mostly) miss being with all my kids all day. Koko and Emma will both be going to school all day now, so I'm back to three at home. It will be weird, what will I do with all that extra time? :)

Anyway, here are some random shots of summer for all to enjoy:

Playing with cousins...

Scrapbooking...

Playing "Airplane"...

Back-to-School haircuts... Growing up too fast...
This summer wore us out...
2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate? Summer, Summer! Yeahhhhhhhhh!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today is my Mom's birthday and I feel like the world should celebrate because she was born! Here is my:

Ode to Mommy

Since I was young, you've always been

The best friend in the world.

You listen and you love me,

For I am your little girl.

You have a way with each of us,

Each daughter and each son.

You make each of us 11 kids

Feel like we're number one.

You are a Mom, a friend, a teacher,

An example and a light,

You taught us how to work hard

And to always choose the right.

Now that I share the title Mom

I hope that I can be

Just half as good at this as you,

If so, then I'll succeed.

Since you are Grandma to my kids

They get to love you too,

And see just what a Grandma is,

And what she's s'posed to do.

Happy Birthday, Mother dear,

I hope you know it's true -

The world is perfect with you here,

I truly do love you!!!