Preschool Girl!

How it is possible that Ella is already in preschool, I will never know...but apparently kids do grow up and eventually start school:( I know its just preschool, but I feel like this is the beginning of the end! She'll always be in some school now until she moves out!! (I can't think about that...) So, Ella started her little preschool this month, and just loves it to pieces! She thinks she is so big now that she goes to a "real school"...I love picking her up and seeing how excited she is as she tells me every single thing they did that day (including yesterday when she told me some little boy tried to cut her hair with scissors...um, WHAT!!!) I'm so glad she loves it...she is so stinkin smart and was really ready to start doing something different.

First day, getting ready to leave...so excited!

Gotta have a picture on the porch with the backpack on (thats almost bigger than her!)

So big!

cute little classroom...

NOW...

Day2...

Day 3...

and day 4...she's still smiling...so I guess that means she likes it! Thank goodness she still has 2 years of this until Kindergarten!

Gage is 2!!

My baby turned 2! I know thats not very old, but its so weird to me because he is not a little baby anymore. For so long, I have felt like I have just had babies for years...but now they are starting to grow up! We got Gage a big boy bed, put away his high chair, put away the bottles (a little late, he he!)...its just weird, he is now a little boy! I was a loser mom this year...we were on vacation during his birthday, so we just had a little party for him at my parents house when we got back. He is such a funny little guy and we love having him part of our family. We love you so much Gagey!!

"I'm 2!" (at least thats what he's trying to say!)

We got him a Lightning McQueen powerwheel...He was in heaven and him and Ella still fight over it every day

Giving Ella a ride...

...then it was Luke's turn!

My lovely cupcakes...man, I just outdid myself this year!

Morgan, Amy, Ella

Trying to help him blow out the candles!

A Few things about Gage at 2:

*He is obsessed with trucks...and for the longest time, that was the only word he'd say!

*He loves the movie Cars, Lightning McQueen, Mater and Buzz Lightyear.

*Loves to play basketball with his little hoop

*Loves to eat and will practically eat anything I put in front of him

*Is starting to talk a ton, and has the deepest little voice

*Has little dimples to die for!

*Has pretty much been a horrible sleeper his whole life, but is finally getting better with his big boy bed

*Is really loving and loves to give hugs and cuddle...I love it!

Happy Birthday Monkey!!

San Diego!!

We went to San Diego in July with our good friends from St George, the Hydes and the Otts, and it was such a blast! We took the kids this year, and drove all the way to San Diego with them! It was an adventure, but the kids loved being around each other. Its much more fun to go on vacation with other kids than boring old mom and dad!

The drive there...Avery (still awake), Halie and Ella zonked out!

We headed to the beach right when we got there...All the kids...we each have one of each...Ella, Gage, Avery, Halie, Micah and baby Easton

playing in the sand with the cute buckets Melissa (not me, melissa hyde:) bought the kids...

Matt trying to get Gage used to the sand...he was being a little stink, not liking it too much! Notice how his feet are buried, Matt thought that would help him like it more...didn't help too much!

Baby Easton...best baby in the world!!

The 2 Melissa's and the girls...

Ella loved digging for crabs...

Melissa H. bought all the girls matching p.j's...she is the best to go traveling with...she thinks of everything!!

Then we headed off to Sea World...riding in some rides in the kids playland...

so cute!!

The girls were so excited to see Elmo and Grover, they just walked over and gave them lots of hugs!

Gage in a little play area...

watching the seals play...

getting ready for the Shamu show, it's not the same anymore...kind of boring now !

That night we headed out to Old Town San Diego...had dinner and walked around. Here are the 3 cutest little girls again!

All the crazy kids with suckers...

The next day we headed to the San Diego Zoo...Halie, Micah and Ella watching the flamingos...

Melissa and the girls watching the monkeys...

So, we didn't last long at the zoo...the kids were tired, it was hot, and Ella had a massive tantrum like you would never believe. So after a few hours, we headed...

Back to Sea World...and all was well again!

Ella kept making Halie push her around in the stroller...what a good sport Halie!!

Why not get another one of the girls?!

And finally, the ride home...it was interesting, especially with this monkey, but we survived!! Thanks for such a good time Hydes and Otts...we had a blast! How about next year we leave the kids home though!!

Summer, Summer, Summer

We have had such a fun, crazy summer! So much going on and we are just loving it. I am not ready at all for it to be over! We got Lagoon passes this year, so we have been there a lot, and of course boating has been a big activity too...here and in St. George. We're loving our summer!!

One of our many trips to St. George...with cute Morgan and cousins Anna and Luke...

one of the splash pads in St. George...

swimming at Aunt Sondra's house in Springdale...

...more at the splash pad (little did I know that the red dirt and water would STAIN their clothes!)

cutest boy I've ever seen:)

My beautiful sis and the kids...

Going on one of our boating trips...

Morgan got passes too, so she was always a regular with us. She is such a good little helper!

One of the only rides he'll go on!