Labor Day 2011

We ended the summer by spending a few hours on Utah Lake in Pa's canoe. It was a beautiful day for canoeing and everyone had lots of fun!

Adam got to take the first ride of the day with Aunt Katy and Uncle Matt.

Katy, Adam, and Matt

Katy and Adam

Tessa was so anxious for her turn! She waited so patiently!

Tessa ready to go!

Aunt Katy and Uncle Matt played "Chicken" with the kids.

Adam and Pa

Tessa is finally in the canoe! She was pretty mad we wouldn't let her paddle.

My brilliant siblings decided to capture a floating log in the middle of the water. (The water was freezing!)

But they got it!

Katy, Adam, Matt, Tess, and Ben

Our sunbathing beauty!

Then they decided to turn the log into their own canoe. Adam was pretty bummed when they didn't go anywhere on it.

Uncle Ben getting sunburned

While Tessa waiting for her turns in the canoe she decided to start digging for treasure with a paddle. We asked her what she was doing and she said, (like a pirate) "I need treasure!!"

Ares decided to get in on the action too.

Thanks everyone for a fun Labor Day!

Davey Baby

My brother David left the MTC this morning and headed to the great state of Texas where he has been reassigned while he waits for his visa to come through. He and his district never got their visa's for Brazil, so while they wait, some of them get to share the gospel in Texas. David was grateful he wasn't reassigned to Utah or Idaho. He called me from the airport this morning before his flight to Texas. It was good to talk to him and hear him sound so excited! He said it ws weird to be out of the MTC and see people wearing "normal" clothes.

He is anxious to get to Brazil, but realizes that the Lord is in charge and will send David where He needs him. We are proud of him for making the decision to serve the Lord for 2 years and are anxious to hear of his adventures while he is in Texas. We hope he isn't there too long cause Eric is really anxious for him to get to Recife!

We love you Elder Lemley!

V for Vacation!

Last week Adam had us laughing when he looked out the window and saw birds flying in a V formation. He said, "Look Mommy! The birds are flying in a V! V for vacation!!" Now when he spots birds flying this way, he tries to guess where the birds are heading for their vacation. He makes us laugh!

Adam's Big Day!

Today came. He loved it. I cried.

He was surprised to find his favorite breakfast waiting for him this morning. Homemade cinnamon rolls and sausage ("the not spicy kind"). He gobbled it up and got ready for school so fast I could hardly keep up with him.

Our boy all grown up and ready for school!

Tessa had to wear her backpack to drop him off this morning. She really wanted to stay at school with him. She even shoved her backpack in a cubby and tried finding her name on a seat like Adam did.

At his new school~Riverview Elementary

He found his cubby and his seat and was ready to learn!

Before we left, Tessa ran back to Adam and gave him a hug and a kiss. Mrs. Hales saw it and almost let Tessa stay because she thought it was so cute.

Thankfully it was cleaning and laundry day, so I had things to keep me busy for 2 hours and 40 minutes. I only cried for an hour after dropping him off. My Mom told me to call her when I felt composed enough to talk. I finally called her at noon-after I had Adam back.

He loved his first day and was SO excited that he got to have recess! He told me on the way home that he can't wait until tomorrow!

If Tomorrow Never Comes.....

If tomorrow never comes, I would be happy. Tomorrow is the first day of Kindergarten for our Adam. Where does the time go?! I have been dreading this day for 5 years. I can only imagine what a mission is going to do to me. He is so excited though, and that makes it a little bit easier. I swear this picture was taken only a couple of months ago! They grow up so fast!

Mommy and Adam (May 2007)

Last Thursday, Adam went to his new school and met his teacher. He will be in Mrs. Hales class and she will be wonderful! Adam did some testing and she was impressed with how well he did and how much he already knew. She said he was the first student she had who knew how to write his first and last name!

Tonight was our big "Back to School Party". Since it is Adam's big day, he got to choose the menu. We had some of his favorites, taco's and Shirley Temple's.

Tess was just happy to have soda!

He ate 3 tacos! We have a growing boy on our hands!

After dinner we went over some instructions that Mrs. Hales sent home for the students and parents to read. Then we gave the kids their new school year presents. Adam got a new backpack and both kids got new school supplies.

Tessa got a princess backpack for her birthday from Ma and Pa. She is really disappointed that she doesn't get to go to Kindergarten with Adam.

He is ready to go!

Daddy helped him sharpen some new pencils.

I told Tessa to look at the camera. She had to look through one of the holes on her bucket.

I have had this cake on file for years waiting for this momentous occasion! The kids thought it was fun to eat a pencil for dessert!

Adam had an assignment to complete before the first day of school. We had to make a collage of things that make him a super kid! He included building legos, playing baseball, playing dinosaurs (he knows the names of almost every dinosaur...most of which I still can't pronounce), and racing cars!

After a father's blessing, pajama's, brushing teeth, and family scriptures, Mommy read a book called "The Night Before Kindergarten". He loved it!

Eric laughed at me tonight when I refused to pray for family prayers because I knew I would cry. I will have plenty of tears this week I am sure. Doing this while pregnant isn't helping!

Our lives are about to change forever.

Kindergarten, here he comes!!!

Blessings!

Today I feel so blessed! Blessed to have the technology we have and blessed to have another little spirit joining our family! I was so nervous about this ultra-sound. Luckily, everything looks perfect! Everything with the baby is developing beautifully and things are looking right on track with my due date. My placenta is positioned right above my belly button. Thankfully this means no placenta previa with this little one! I am in great shape for a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) and we will go forward with those plans!

I have had such strong impressions for a couple of years now that we had a little girl (a little Gwen to be exact) that needed to come to our family. Part of my frustration with not being able to get pregnant for so long was due to these strong impressions. However, I have learned that patience and faith in the Lord's timing is a must in my life and everything works out just as it should.

I am happy to report that baby Gwen is on her way and looks beautiful! Adam and Tessa are excited to have another sister! We feel so blessed and are so thankful for the 3 beautiful kids that we get to call our own!