Tomorrow is the big day

Hailey starts 1st grade tomorrow! I cannot believe that summer break is OVER! Where did the time go?? I guess all the traveling we did, and working too much, makes time go fast. We did have a fun summer, but we are now back to early to bed, school-night routine and the kids already have done great with it. Hailey is set...we just need to decide on what new outfit she is going to wear and then just wait for morning. Her backpack is just waiting....

Oh, if you see the tag hanging on the side of her backpack, that is a little reminder that I made last night to help her remember if she rides the bus or goes to CARE after school (see the second picture of the choices on what we will put on her backpack). MOST days it is CARE, but some times it will be bus. She is excited to come home on the bus this week (no CARE yet). I am excited to hear how the first day goes :)

Slip & Slide

Sunday afternoon we took out one of Hailey's birthday presents....a big slip & slide! The kids were very excited to get it going and get WET! As you can tell, they had a blast with it, even though it was a little chilly out with the wind ;) Nothing stops them!

Be careful

If you hear Ryan saying that he wants to go hunt "furry dogs" and "golfers" ....

know that he really means that he wants to hunt "prairie dogs" and "gophers"! :)

Ironwood Picnic

On Tuesday night (8/18), there was a neighborhood picnic. However, it wasn't what I expected it to be. A company sponsored it...and provided BBQ ribs and chicken, chips and all the drinks! And, to top it off, a LIVE BAND! :) Pretty fun! The kids love going to hear the band, and play with all their friends. It was a fun time to meet some more people and just relax.

Here are the kids enjoying the band...and their supper.

And here is a view of the picnic. Not so little ;)

Good news

What a way to start the school year! Today we found out Hailey's 1st grade teacher will be Mrs. Wilson. Then I found out that she knows most of the girls in her class (and is very good friends with some of them) and even knows some of the boys. I was so happy! Then....I found out that Mrs. Wilson has a blog! YAHOO! I love when teachers keep in touch and share what is happening in the classroom. Then....I found out that two neighbors had Mrs. Wilson and LOVED her. Yahoo!! Then....to top it all off....I found out that Hailey KNOWS Mrs. Wilson already! She was a CARE teacher from summer CARE that Hailey went to!! So, Hailey will be able to go to school on the 26th riding the bus with her friends that are IN her class and walk right up to the teacher that she KNOWS. I feel SO GOOD about the year. Can we start tomorrow?!?

Time for sleepovers

We came home on Saturday 8/15 in the afternoon to have a sleepover at our house. Hailey and McKenna BOTH came over at supper time to play, play, play and then crash! :) Hailey wanted to sleep over at their house, but agreed to let them come over here as long as next time she got to go there. :) They had a lot of fun.

They all got their teeth all clean and ready for bed....(after a movie with fresh chocolate chip cookies)....

The two Hailey's slept in Hailey's room ... Hailey even gave up her bed for her guest! :) And, Ryan and McKenna slept in Ryan's room. Ryan didn't want to sleep in his bed, so he got to sleep on the floor next to McKenna. Surprisingly, they all went to sleep right away!

They did get up a little too early ....6:45! But, we got ready and they liked going to Albertson's to pick out donuts for breakfast. After eating, and playing a little bit, it was time to go home. A successful sleepover...love it! :)

Annual picture day

We went to Red Lodge on Friday 8/14 night to spend the night at the cabin. We were lucky to have Kari there too...the kids LOVE it and so do Chris and I. Since I knew we had our photographer, and we didn't have any plans for Saturday, I thought we better to our family picture while we could. Now, when you look at these pictures, remember it is August 15th! Look at what we are wearing...and it is 12:00 pm! Sweatshirts, long-sleeve shirts, jeans. CRAZY! Oh well, still a nice time and I am glad to have it done. :)

I love this first one for the background, but the second picture is my favorite (you might see it again in the December time frame too :) ).

Then, Hailey had to play model a few times, and we got a picture of the kids not fighting again ;)

Hailey's REAL birthday

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY HAILEY!!!!!!!!!!!

How on earth can she be SEVEN already?!?!? Seriously...how did that happen?!?! The birthday girl had a fun day....she got to do TONS of fun things before her birthday and even more on her actual day. I took the day off of work to spend with her.

We started the day off with a stack of 7 little pancakes! :) She thought the stack idea was cute, and of course enjoyed using her birthday plate and getting a candle right away in the morning :)

After dropping poor Ryan off at daycare (I knew he wouldn't last all day with us), Hailey and I stopped to get Subway to eat later and then met my friend Anne and her daughter Megan to go to BIG SPLASH! Hailey has been waiting to go there all summer!! The girls were both big enough to go on the BIG SLIDES this year....and did it! I was so proud of both of them going down alone!! To my surprise, they spent most of their time in the POOL playing, and even some time on the smaller slides. It was a HOT HOT HOT day out, so very nice to be outside enjoying the water.

At 3:00, Ryan was able to join us for some time at the water park. Last year he didn't want to even go down the little slides. This year was so different!! He took right to them and didn't want to stop. Well, he did stop .... for the pool! And, when the storm came through and we had to sit in the car for 1/2 hour before it got nice out again and they could go down more. We stayed until 5:30...when we had to leave to go to Ryan's swimming lessons. It was a busy, and wet, night! :)

Picture of Ryan going down one of the first times....and them together.

Watch Hailey and Ryan go down....closer to the bottom....and.....

SPLASH!!!!!!!!! And, one of them playing in the pool (they are playing together so much better now...still fighting, but playing more now :) )

After Ryan's swimming lessons, Hailey wanted to go out for Chinese for supper. We finally got home and had to have MORE presents. She has been BEGGING for this big biscuit puppy that we saw at Costco at Christmas time. I don't really want to have a stuffed animal the size of HUNTER in her room, and looking online, the cost of him is outrageous. So, I was SO EXCITED when I saw that they made a "baby biscuit" puppy! SOLD! I went right out to get it, and the first store I went to actually had it. She was very excited and I think it satisfied her for now ;)

Also, she knew it was coming...and has thought of excuses to hold it off until the day was almost over...but she got her 7 "spankings"!! :)

The Candy Birthday party --- take 2

Since Hailey had the candy theme going for her friend party, we decided to carry it over to her family party too. What an easy thing to decorate for! :) We had candy all over...on the kitchen table, on the island, and outside on the tables there. I could have done more, but knew most of this was staying at our house so I stopped! (Thanks to Tyler I didn't have to keep too much..he took most of the left-over candy home with him! :) )

Hailey also wanted a rainbow cake. So, Doran made her a rainbow cake with a pile of candy at the end! Perfect!! And, it was so yummy too! :) We had the family over for burgers and hot dogs and had a wonderful time having everyone over!

After supper Hailey got to open presents....lots and lots of presents! :)

As you can see, she is lacking in anything! :) What a fun-filled day for her and everyone else too. Happy early 7th birthday Hailey! :)

The Candy Birthday party --- take 1

The "day of birthday parties" for Hailey was Sunday, August 9th. We started the day just playing at home while I made the cake of any kids dreams!! :) (actually....not just kids) Hailey was very excited for her party with her friends to begin. I was too, but was a little nervous about the timing of everything...will the kids have enough to do, will they have fun, did I order enough pizza, etc? :)

Here is a picture of Hailey with her cake. It isn't quite done yet. I had it all ready to go...in the fridge waiting for the party and remembered that I forgot to put the M&Ms around the bottom like I wanted too!! Ugh!! So, I took it back out and added them around the bottom. I think it does make a difference (there just wasn't enough candy on it before ;)). Oh, if you cannot tell, those are kit kat bars around the cake! :)

Off to Candytown USA ... Hailey had 4 friends + Ryan meet us there. We got the cake set up with the candles, a picture of the bday girl at her party, and the favors too (little gumball machines for the kids with their names on them and napkins with candy rings around them! :)).

Another picture of the cake...I just LOVED it!! (I am sure you can tell). And, I got TONS of comments at the party too and people wanted to know where I got it from. One lady actually asked if I had a store! :) Hmmm, I don't think I can make a living making candy cakes :)

All the kids at the table....and then one of them playing "Candy bingo" while we wait for the pizza to come. Everyone got a prize and can fun playing the game.

Ryan wasn't playing the game the right way...he was eating his candy that was meant for marking his bingo board! :) Nice! :)

After pizza it was time for cake....and their ice cream treat. Each kid could pick an ice cream sundae or a float. Hailey picked a root beer float and I do think that was the best looking float I have EVER SAW!! YUMMY!!

Look at all the sugar on that table! I wonder why all the kids were in such a good mood?!?!

Then, before it was time to leave, the kids all got to pick out 1/2 pound of candy that they wanted. How sweet is that?!?!? :)

Hailey had a fun time...and I think the girls did too (even Ryan as well). It was a fun birthday party for everyone. One more to go....