Fun at the Fair

It's that time of year!  Time for overpriced rides, expensive food, and dirty kids.  Yep.  Fair time!  I have to admit, its pretty fun taking the kids to the state fair downtown.  We lucked out this year with a cool, cloudy day and crowds that were bearable.  Miles entered an ice cream sandwich eating contest and got second place, which is a miracle since anyone who knows him knows the pace at which he eats :) 
Good times!

Sad cell phone picture, but trust me...they were both having fun!

Carousel fun

His competition

Sporting his second place ribbon!

Tram Time

We always enjoy heading up to Snowbird for Oktoberfest.  Yes, Oktoberfest starts in August here, but we'll take what we can get!

10 shots.  Not one where we are all looking at the camera. O well!

We went up with the Nicholsons.  Cute shot of the kids with Sam.

First Grade!

It is officially September and I officially have a first grader! His first day was two weeks ago, but I'm just getting around to putting up some pictures because August was nuts.  Life at Brookwood Elementary seems to be going well for him.  We just hear random bits about his days, but apparently he has made some friends and likes his teacher.
I was heart broken that I had to miss his first day (understatement of the year).  I had a project tour for work that I could not get out of.  I'd always seen Moms getting so worked up over day #1 and it seemed dramatic, but now I get it.  He'd been at First Steps since he was 3 months old, hanging out with the same kids and same teachers and following the same comfortable routine.  Picturing him with his backpack on waiting to get on the bus and start this new chapter in his life made me weepy.  I suppose that's how I will feel at all the big transitions in my kids lives...wondering how they will do, will they be happy, will they be scared, will they struggle, will they have quality friendships, will they be kind and polite...all sorts of questions about the paths they are headed down, not just in first grade, but for the rest of their lives.
Anyhow, all my drama aside, he was in good hands that week and now we have a new normal.  Time for doing some homework!

Ready for the big day!  First grade, 2013.

Excited for the bus ride

 

Miles' last week at First Steps

I just wanted to include a few pictures from Miles' last week at First Steps.  It was Spirit Week, so each day was a fun activity.  It was sad to look at his name on the board that last day and know the following Monday it would be replaced with a new name, but exciting to know he'd be moving on to bigger and better.  He told all his friends goodbye and when he got to the gate turned and told his teachers, "Thanks for teaching me so many things!" 

Crazy Hair Day

Costume Day

Water Day

Drying off with his buddies!  I was so happy he had such a fun last day there.

Last day and he kept 3 stars! 

Albion Basin

We are so lucky to live close to the Wasatch Mountains.  It really is a whole different world up there...much cooler than the valley in the summer and the flowers are a bonus. We headed to Albion Basin last Sunday morning to stroll.

Miles and 6 moose.  The most we've ever seen together. A treat!

Smile

Iris rallied. Steep climb and she stayed happy.

Pretty Indian Paintbrush and pretty smile

For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of seeing her stink eye in a while...

Fun day

Oregon

We took our summer trip to the Oregon coast the last week of July.  We met lots of family out there and had a great time.  I love being near the ocean and seeing the amazing lush green forests up there.  We spent our days playing at the beach, swimming in the pools, hiking and just relaxing.  It is so nice to escape the rat race for a few days and enjoy being together with no schedule to keep. 

View from our deck.  We saw whales blowing within 10 minutes of getting there.  So cool!

Matching hair styles courtesy of Jeff.  I call this the polygamist twist.  Has nothing to do with Oregon other than the fact we had lots of time to play and do silly stuff while we were there.

Iris at Seal Rock

Tide pool treat

JUMP!

Teamwork

They spent hours damming the creeks

Fun on the beach

Geared up and ready to head out and whale watch

Group hike to Drift Creek Falls. Clockwise: Michelle, Jeff, Don, Deanne, Doug, Dave, Miles, me , Iris

Drift Creek Falls

Cuddling cousins. Miles, Cece and Iris

Best way to stay warm!

Hands on at the Newport Aquarium

I just had to add one more...

Reunited with my long lost bestie and her new baby Ruby.  Wish we still lived near each other.

Belted in and ready for take off.  Safety first for George Coonie!

Taking the trax train to the car. Almost home after a long travel day.

Still smiling after 4 hours in the car, 2 on the plane and now on the train.  Such good travelers!

Miles lost his first tooth

I have been such a slacker about updating this, but I figure losing the first tooth is blog worthy news. Miles is apparently half shark, so the new tooth came in behind the old one, meaning I see $$$ for braces in our future :/ 
I wanted to find a picture of him when he was a year old with just that one little tooth poking through.  Instead I went on a photo trip down memory lane and wound up in tears about how amazing my kids are, how blessed my life has been up to this point and how it really does all blast past at warp speed.

It's there if you look very closely!

OK...you can't see the missing tooth gap, but look at that smile