Settled into School

Wait a minute...where did the summer go?  We didn't do anything big and extraordinary this summer but we did have a lot of fun.  We went bowling, miniature golfing, swimming several times at the lake, played at several parks, went to Elitch Gardens, camped in the backyard a couple of times, Emmy had a luau birthday party, and Brandon played baseball so we spent many nights watching baseball.  Oh, and I ran three different 5k races this summer...go me!  I started running in May and I am finally to the point where I really enjoy it and miss it when I don't do it.  Yep, just an ordinary hanging out with the family kind of summer.  It was nice.  It was also busy, which is why I have pretty much sucked at blogging.  I will have to try to do better.

Now the kids are all settled into the school routine again.  They have been back in school for a month now and they all seem to like their new teachers and classes.  Brandon is in 3rd grade, Emmy is in 2nd grade, and Katelyn is in half-day kindergarten in the mornings.  We have been riding our bikes to school most days now that Katie got her training wheels off of her bike.  It has been good exercise for all of us.  Lucky for me we only live a half-mile away from the school because I have to make 3 trips to the school everyday (once to drop them off, once to get Katie, and once to get Brandon and Emmy). 

I have started volunteering at the school again too.  I like to see what is going on in the classrooms and see how my kids are doing in the classroom setting.  Plus, I can give dirty looks to all the little punks who make fun of my kids, or push them in the hall, or call them a crybaby...you get the idea.  Just don't mess with my kids and we can all be friends :o) 

Here are some random summer pictures and some pics from the first day of school.  

Here is the luau cake I made for Emily's 7th Birthday.

Brandon shooting his BB gun at the farm.

They had a blast playing in the mud!  What can I say...my girls aren't always the girliest of girls.

Millie got in on the fun in the mud too!

Ready to go to school.

I built a fire for smore's all by myself :)

And I put the tent up all by myself.  Fun times! (although putting it away is not so much fun)

Brandon batting in one of his games.

Brandon trying out playing catcher.

This was Brandon's baseball team.

Brandon and his friend, John, tied up their sisters and stuffed them in the closet.  BOYS!