Want the pool to yourself?

Go the week after school starts! Its still plenty warm but its nearly abandoned. Z. took a friend or she could've ended up bored. Gasp! Actually she has a great talent for adopting friends. Last time she was bored she introduced me to some strangers, a real nice family from out of state and she got their #. Friendly!

 T-man is in love with the diving boards. He could spend Hours doing imaginative things on the board and in the air. What a great little swimmer!

 S. poses for a shot along the kiddy pool shore. I think she stole my seat! These kids are like fish and love the pool. Any pool!

Babes goes to Kindergarten!!

 Finally!  The long awaited day arrived! Well, in her case the long awaited afternoon.

What great excietement to walk down to the school and hang up her backpack on the hook with her name. She was happy to see a few of her preschool and primary friends there too. 

Now, I didn't cry or feel like she had gone and grown up on me because she does a great job daily of reminding me she's "Not a Baby!".  In her heart she is already one of the big kids but she will always in my heart be the baby, even if I don't cry over it.

Watch out if you whine during Family Night...

Daddy will pull out your teeth with pliers!

Daddy loves to include desert whenever it can be tied to a lesson. We love it. This night Z. had a loose tooth that was causing a lot of pain. Next step, Pliers!

Although pointy metal tools look scary she was so relieved to have that old baby tooth out of there. And the bonus was that she could eat her "every body helps out"brownie without pain.

What would we do without Daddys tools!?

And the S. word starts again.

You have to take and post picts of your kids on the first day of school. Otherwise you are out of the mom club I think. So here you go.

 Z. had to show off her press on nails. They were her consolation prize for having to go to school the first day with a bag that was not new. Oh, boy. Imagine the embarrassment. I won the bet. She actually lived. And waiting to buy a new backpack paid off. The 50$ bag she wanted that was not part of the budget went on sale a week later 60% off. Lucky girl.

T. man was thrilled to find out his teacher shares his love of Superheros. Spiderman shirt is finally appreciated by someone other than himself. Funny thing you cant see is the plastic grocery bag he is wearing as a backpack. No, Im not that mean. His new one was at school already, waiting for him, keeping his desk prepared for his arrival. Back to school night he left it there. Next morning he panicked when he realized he couldn't ride his bike and hold his lunch at the same time though!

 N. wouldn't let us say"school"(the S. word) until August started. Otherwise he cried it was ruining his summer. He also didn't want to hold still for even a second the first day, in case I kissed him goodbye or snapped a quick photo of him or something. So here he is at the bus stop for nearly 20 minutes. Nobody wants to be late I suppose. Safe distance from moms camera for a Jr. High student I guess. And I did get a kiss in, it just wasn't a long one.

S. starts Kindergarten soon. Deserving of a post all its own!

I finally got a nephew of my own.

And he is so adorable I cant believe he could have caused so much discomfort to my sister for the 9 months he was growing. It must be that the cuter they are the harder they are to carry. 

I like to hear his little cry and see his fat cheeks squish up so cute. He is the fattest looking normal weight baby I have ever seen. Welcome to the family little Oliver! Rollie Poly Ollie!

Otter Pops...

...I would love you if it weren't for the litter out back. Every Day. All over the place. Sometimes right next to the trash! The worst though is when its folded neatly into a little accordion square and stuffed into a crack. 

The kids though, they love you always. And look at the cute and fun that comes out of it. Maybe I do love you.

Final splash of the sumer

One last trip to Cache Valley for a baptism brought us to our favorite joint:

LeBeaus! Of course we sat under the bus Daddy painted.

 Adams Park is just how we left it, almost.

 And then off to Idaho for a quick snuggle of puppies. They grew so quick. Their teeth especially!

 Their extra skin was too funny.

 Although they are super fun to chase and hold those teeth are super sharp!

 Daddy and N. pretending spicy fries aren't spicy. I know better

 Grandma and Grandpa Merrills pool is a great place to end summer. We spent so much time swimming this year with a city pool pass and 7peaks that we didnt get nearly enough time at grandmas. 

 T. likes to act like goggles full of water actually help him see better underwater.

 This is the face Z. makes when she gets caught doing something. In this case heading toward the floatie N. was chillaxing on for a little dunk.

 Little mermaid girl S. splashing up a storm!

Goodbye Summer. You will be so missed. Until next year then!