Before School Starts...

 Every year, on "Cow Appreciation Day," I make my kids dress like cows so we can get free food from Chic-Fil-A. So far, they have yet to protest.

 Swimming lessons at the Aquatic Center were a hit for these two. Both ended up being better swimmers, they thought it was amazing that they got to take lessons where there was a giant water slide. I, on the other hand, got to chase Cam around on concrete for two hours each day for two weeks, when he was barely learning to walk, during his naptime, and trying desperately to keep him out of the water. Let's just say we got pretty creative for those two weeks. And I learned my lesson. Sign them up for swim lessons early! 

(P.S. Whose kid wears rain boots to swim lessons? Mine does.)

 Between 12 and 13 months, Cam decided to start walking. With that, it was necessary to break out the shoes. When they look like this, that is not a bad thing.

 These two will definitely miss playing at the park together during the school year!

 I don't remember the reason for these pictures. Probably just that he's so darn cute.

And just like that, summer was over, and we are into the school year. Not only that, but I have a first grader!!!!!

Meili's been ready for first grade since... the womb. I'm excited for her. I know she'll love it. But I think it stinks for me. I just lose my buddy, and entertainer of the other two kids.

 

So far, as expected, she loves school. She is still at the age that eating lunch at school is super cool. She comes home so tired and hot everyday. I feel like she is already such a busy little girl-between school all day, homework, reading, piano, gymnastics, and friends. She has kept some of her friends from kindergarten, and already made lots of new friends in first grade. She's also excited to be on the Leadership Team at school, which just means more responsibilities for this little go-getter!

 

Grant was also, so excited to start preschool. I told myself that I wouldn't put anymore of my kids in two years of preschool, just because it's just one more thing to do and more money, where I don't think it's necessary. But I couldn't help myself. He has watched for the last 3 years as Meili has done so many fun things, and I was impatient for him to have some of those experiences himself.

 

 Grant is more attached to me at this age than Meili was, but he was still so ready for preschool. He hugged me, gave me a kiss and walked into school all by himself. And preschool is pretty much heaven for Grant. He is oblivious to any learning or classmates at preschool, and his teacher has a pretty ridiculous collection of trucks. So everyday when I ask Grant his favorite thing about preschool, he tells me that he played with trucks. I have noticed that he's learning some of his letters, and he is starting to learn the names of the other kids at school, so I'll continue telling myself that he is getting something out of it.

I ask myself regularly how I got so lucky with these 3!

Solar Eclipse

We had the rare opportunity to see a solar eclipse this summer. I didn't realize just what we were in for or just how rare it was. In our area, we saw about 95% totality, but just a couple hours north of us, it was 100%. If I would have really realized ahead of time, we probably would have made the effort to see that. But as it was, it was pretty cool, and a fun experience with the kids.

 The Logan library was having a viewing party, with balloon animals and some treats.

 Luckily, I at least put the effort into getting glasses. Everyone at Josh's work, shared his one pair. We lost Grant's pretty early on and the library, but he wasn't upset about sharing with Meili and I.

 Where we were, it got a little darker, and a little cooler, but the sun was never totally covered. It was fun to see the crescent-shaped shadows on the sidewalk, and I wish I had taken pictures of that.

 We made a stop before the eclipse to take pictures at USU that Meili could enter for the fair. And these were some of the extras we took. (I just want to point out that Meili picked out her "eclipse outfit," because it was dark like the moon, and light like the sun.

County Fairs

The last few years when we've taken our kids to the Cache and Box Elder County fairs, Josh has said that he wants our kids to enter some things into the exhibits. So this year, we finally thought ahead enough to make that happen. I'm not totally sure if the $30 we made was worth the effort that we put in, but I think the kids liked their new experience.

 

I also told the kids that this year, since we had gone to Lagoon and were going to Disneyland, we weren't going to do any rides at the fair. Josh thwarted that plan when he got unlimited to the Cache County fair again. I swear, our kids have no idea how spoiled they have been at the fair lately!

 Cam was not big enough to ride any of the rides, and he was none the wiser.

 This year, Grant was big enough to really enjoy some of them, and our daredevil Meili, has yet to find a fair ride that she doesn't enjoy.

 This is our pile of items that we entered for the Cache County fair. Meili painted a picture of a butterfly, and took a last minute photograph of our neighbor's flowers, that we printed on our home computer, I entered a baby quilt, wall hanging, and scrapbook. Grant was too young to enter anything. Between the two of us, we got first, second, third, fourth, and participation ribbons.

 So for the Box Elder County fair, we learned some things, and put in a little more time and effort. Meili got a first place ribbon for her drawing of the Titanic.

 We took some pictures up at USU, and she got a second place ribbon.

 Grant took a picture of some of his favorite things.

 Grant and Meili also entered some honey, and each got first place ribbons. I entered a baby quilt, wreath, and another scrapbook. And between the two fairs, they each earned $15 toward a souvenir at Disneyland!

 This is a picture of the kids learning to lasso.

 Luckily, we were able to bring Meili and Grant home with us at the end of the night, even though they were both booked into the Jailhouse!

Pioneer Day

Aside from last year, (giving birth to Cam), I have always spent Pioneer Day with my parents in Bountiful, and all of the festivities that go with it. This year, we decided to try something different. We definitely had fun, but I wouldn't say that I'm converted just yet.

 We went to a parade in North Logan. Our seats were not great, and the kids were burning hot, but the kids still got their parade experience for the day.

 Then Josh and Cam went home and took a nap, and I took the kids to Willow Park. They had a lot of free activities that were really fun, like getting a tattoo, making these safari vests and hats, and getting their hair painted.

One Year Pictures

My friend Lacey came through once again, and took Cam's one year pictures for me. We took pictures for about 20 minutes. He was cute and sweet, and we didn't think we could get any better. It's the first time I've ever taken pictures with my kids that I didn't leave completely exhausted and sweaty.

At one, Cam was taking steps-right on the verge of walking. He has 4 teeth. He is becoming a little bit of a picky eater, mostly because we have given him so many treats in his life. We have also helped him develop really bad sleep habits, but we are breaking him of those things, and so far, he's doing really well. He says Uh-Oh, Mama, and Da-Da. He is the only one of our kids that I would say preferred Josh to me at this age (although he definitely likes Mama too.) He loves to drop things, say Uh-Oh, let someone around him pick it up for him, and then drop it over again. He loves the stairs, and balances precariously on them all day long. He makes it really difficult for me to get anything done ever, because he doesn't like when he can see me, but I won't pick him up. He LOVES juice, drinks, water, popsicles, slushies-anything cold and refreshing, and he'll let you know. He cries as soon as there is a drink in sight, and then after he drinks it, he opens his mouth wide and says, "Ah!" He's such a good sport with his siblings, and they just love him. And he's got Josh wrapped around his finger!