Big Day!!

This past Monday was a big day at our house. Not only did Luke start second grade, but it was Gabby's very first day of Kindergarten!!! She was so excited to start school that she started counting down the day Luke finished first grade! To add to that excitement, Nate had his step 2 board certification test that morning! Our house was full of tension and emotion the whole week before. Gabby and Luke had picked out their clothes the night before and were so excited it took them a whole hour to fall asleep. (Which is highly unusual for them. Gabby is generally asleep within 5 minutes and Luke follows shortly there after.) They have to be to school by 7:10 A.M!! So if they look a little tired, it's because I had to wake them up. (It's a good thing I don't make them ride the bus, they'd have to be ready to load up at 6:50!!)

Nate decided he wanted to walk them to school, Lily was still asleep, to get rid of some of his pre-test jitters. It was so cute to watch them bounce down the street!

Nate said Gabby just walked into class without a backwards glance. That was it. She was all smiles when I came to get them and couldn't stop talking about all the fun they'd had. Luke was a little less enthusiastic as he had been sitting by his friend from last year and was then moved to the other side of the room while the seats were arranged and then rearranged several times that first day.

Now the first week is over and they are both still super excited about school. Luke has found second grade to be a bit more challenging, which he loves because he is a bit of a nerd. (I wonder who he gets that from...) And Gabby has made a few new friends. I also started teaching early morning seminary this week and I have to admit I love it! I was so nervous about getting up THAT early again and having to teach kids who were older then 12, but it has already been better then I could have imagined! We are all so excited for this next year and hope that it continues to go as well as it has started off!

Continued...

While we were in Utah we were able to do many things, one of which was spending a lot of time with cousins!! My sister-in-law, Angela , and her kids came up for the same family reunion we can for and stayed with my parents as well. It had been a while since the kids had seen each other and they just couldn't play long enough each day!! One morning we felt ambitious enough to take them all hiking in the canyon. It was so pretty, although it was a little hot!

(From left to right) Annabelle, Sammie, Tali, Marisa, Lily, Alaura and Gabby. (Such cute girls!)

Cassie was a big help and took them all up this little rock out cropping. They really thought they were big stuff after this!

The whole group, except me... I am behind the camera thank you very much ;)!!

Part 3 or the who knows how many installments is still yet to come....

Playing Catch Up

I have been neglecting my blog. I thought that it would be so easy to just come home and get all my pictures and stories up. Apparently not. So I will try to get caught up, but I am not making any promises. I will start with our trip out. My mom came to help drive us all out, which saved my life!! I would not have been able to make this trip on my own. And the kids did AMAZING on all three days.


On our first day we stayed in Independence, Missouri and went to some of the church histories sites there. This is a picture of Carthage Jail.


We also went to the Independence visitor center and went on the tour. The kids had fun playing in the replicas that were for the kids.

The sister missionaries were so nice to take us around and talk to the kids.

On our second day we made it to Denver, CO to stay with my aunt. About five minutes after we got there it started to rain, the rain turned to hail and then there were 2 tornado warnings!! It was crazy. The next morning we got up and headed to Utah and ran into this nice little storm!

It ended up just raining a blowing a lot but nothing too serious. We made it safely to Utah and the kids were SO glad to be out of the car!! It really was a great trip, as far as car rides go. No one had any melt downs, Lily didn't nap the second or third day, but she stayed happy. I am just so glad I had help and that it is over!! Now if I can just get all the other pictures organized and posted we will be in good shape!

ARG!!!!

Ok, is anyone else getting these creepy Japanese porn sites commenting on their blog?!? How do I stop them or keep them from posting in my comments?! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

So Behind!!

I am now back from my stay in Utah and I realized that I haven't blogged about anything! I knew this was going to happen, but wow am I behind! Just be patient as I try to get organized. I will eventually get it all up, but for now just enjoy a few choice pics!!

Nana, Angela, Nick, Cassie and the kids at Timp Temple.

Annabelle, Lily, Tali, Marisa, Sammie, Gabby, Alaura, Luke, Dylan, Ben and baby Ryan. (In age order, except baby Ryan of course!)

My sisters and me. (Tori, me, Oriana and Cassie)

My very handsome husband, a.k.a Farmer Nate.

The reunion we went out for: Ben and Josy de Hoyos and their 12 children and families. (Of which my dad is the oldest)

And there is SOOOO much more where that came from!!

Happy Birthday Nate!!

This handsome man had a birthday yesterday!! It has been hard to get on the computer and update things while on vacation but I wanted to make sure that I posted for Nate's birthday! Nate, you are an amazing person, even if you are an old man now!! ;) Happy Birthday sweetheart!

Gabby's Glasses

(This post is for you Nate!)
We have been in Utah now for about two weeks and have been having all kinds of fun. I have so much blogging to catch up on, but for now I am posting the biggest event that has taken place. GABBY GOT HER GLASSES!!!!! We found out in January that she needed glasses and weren't able to get her into a doctor until the week before we left for Utah. It turns out that she was in need of glasses more then we thought, she is both near and far sighted! Her glasses are pretty thick so we had to pick out a pair that wouldn't make her eyes look too big. The glasses came in after we left so Nate had to send them to us here at my parents house. Right after she got them on, a helicopter flew by. She looked up and exclaimed, "MOM, I can see the spinning things!!!" Then a little while later she looked at me and said, "Um mom, you look at little....bigger... with my glasses on." Oh boy, thanks!!! I was sad and told my mom that she told me I was fat, she over heard me and said, "MOM, I didn't say THAT!! I just meant that you are, you know, ....taller... that's all." LOL!!! I tried so hard not to die laughing!! It is neat to see her rediscovering the world!! We love you Gabby Girl and I think you look great in glasses!!!