Labor Day Weekend Part 2

Connor at the bottom of the blow-up slide
Connor riding the barrel train with Rylie

"Where's all the candy, Mom?"

Waiting for the parade to start!

She's so happy!

Even I get into parades!

Rylie was CONSTANTLY trying to escape from us!

She loves her Grandpa!

Isn't he handsome?

Hanging out with Grandpa!

************************

One of the highlights of Labor Day is the parade in my hometown, of Wellsville! Which includes cowboys, indians, floats with Dairy Princesses, fire engine trucks, bands, floats from different wards, pooper scoopers, etc. It's a great time and the kids LOVE the candy! Anyone who knows our family knows that we are very competitive so, when the candy came around it was like a zoo! So funny! Connor is not the most competitive child ever. He's more like Mike. I made the comment to my Dad that it's hard having a child who is not as competitive as me, 'cause I have to learn to sit back, not push him to be something he's not, and just be happy with it. Inside I was going nuts though. I wanted to get the candy before anyone else could, no matter what the cost. Of course, I realize the end result would not be pretty nor very nice. So, I refrained! Ha ha! After the parade we usually go wander around the town square. I always have to get a scone or else a navajo taco. Then I wander around the different booths. Afterwards we all meet up at my parents house for a fun-filled afternoon. We blow up the swimming pools, BBQ, and just hang out! What a blast! Hopefully Mike will be with us next year.

Labor Day Weekend Part 1

I LOVE Labor Day! For me and my family it's a BIG DEAL!!!! While most people are just glad to have the day off, the people of Wellsville are having a celebration! Which includes a parade (pictures soon to come), a sham battle, festivities on the square, a rodeo, and mutton-busting, among other activities. It's a GREAT time! I love it because it's the one time of year when my whole family gets together, without fail! It's almost more fun than Christmas! So, this year we had all but Mike and my sister! We missed them a lot! We all set up tents in my parents backyard (6 tents), we played games, roasted hot dogs, marshmallows, and just had a good time! I love being with family so, Labor Day is always a highlight of the year! Good times!

Our New Abode!

Our new house!
The living room.

Master Bathroom

Rylie playing in the hallway.

Rylie's bedroom - 1/2 way put together.

Connor's bedroom

Kids/Guest Bathroom

***************

2 weeks ago we moved into our new townhome. It's GREAT! The rent is cheap and it has a lot of room! It has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a 2 car garage, a large kitchen, and a dining area. It also comes with a laundry room, lots of shelfing and even a fenced in backyard. It has been so nice to live in our own place and have made it home quite fast! We're so grateful we were able to come upon this place and have really enjoyed living here and calling this place home!

Chef Rylie!

Chef Rylie!
Chef Rylie sampling some granola bar

She decides the granola bar is good enough that she had better sit down to finish it!

I think she's wanting more!

Looking, looking, looking for the next piece of food to devour!

Moving & Piano Woes

A picture of one of my broken piano legs

So, we've now been staying at our new abode for 8 days now! I thought I'd post a few pictures from the move. The pictures of the kids were taken in the back of the moving truck. At least the kids find a way to enjoy the moving process, right? The other one is a picture of one of the broken legs off my piano. Moving is never a happy event for myself! Yes, you get to dejunk and organize but, being the O.C.D. person that I am....well, it just stresses me out to the core. So, I'll be glad when we're all moved in. The kids are loving our new place and have really made themselves comfortable and even sleep better! My piano will be getting fixed this week, hopefully! We found a furniture repairman who came and looked at it and feels that he can fix my poor, sick piano. I think it's very ironic that we have moved my piano over thousands of miles, literally. Then, we move a mile away and it breaks. SAD DAY! It's ok though. If anything, it's made me EVEN MORE grateful for my piano! I took pictures of our new place however, my lens was blurry at the time and I didn't know it. So, I'll retake the pictures and post them soon.

Connor's 1st Day of Preschool

Connor started preschool on August 17th. He couldn't wait to start and had a BIG countdown going. His teacher is Miss Julie and Grandma Smith! He has had a BLAST! He loves going and this weekend he has been bugging me to know when he gets to go again! It's fun to hear about what he learned, the kids he has met, and the things they do. I'm so glad we found such a great, organized, amazing preschool!

My 31st Birthday!!!!!

This is where we ate for dinner!
I've been wanting an iPod FORVER and Mike surprised me with a purple one!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!!

I thought this picture was so funny! Almost like she was posing for a diaper ad or something. Connor took this picture also.
Another picture that Connor took himself. Soooo cute, I think!

My Mom, sister, her kids, and my kids having lunch at the park.

The Birthday Girl (no, I didn't have McDonald's)

Me, on my 4-wheeling trip with my Dad

****************

For my birthday this year I was up at my parents house. Unfortunately, Mike was gone taking the Bar exam so I didn't get to spend any time with him. However, my parents, sister, and all the kids made a GREAT DAY!!!! First, we went and picked up lunch and took it to a park in Logan. My Mom had Taco Time, the kids had McDonald's, and my sister and I had Fredrico's!!!! Mmmmmm! Such great food! The rest of the day we just kind of hung out and played. For dinner we went to Golden Corral. Of course, my first choice was Up-Chuck-A-Rama but, there's not one in Logan so, we went to Golden Corral instead. Then we came home for cake and ice cream. My Mom makes THE BEST chocolate cake with white frosting! Then, a couple days later my Dad surprised me by taking me on a 4-wheeling trip. I even got to drive my own 4-wheeler, which is just the way I like it! The trip, overall, was 89 miles! I had a blast! We first drove from Hardware Ranch to Randolph, UT, where we had lunch at the Gator Drive-In. After that we headed to Old Ephraim's grave, then back to Hardware Ranch. The drive was GORGEOUS and so fun!!! Thanks to my Mom and sister for watching my kids for me! I had a great birthday this year!!!! Thanks everyone!!!!!

Swim Party with the Cousins!!!!

Enjoying the cotton candy

Connor testing out the slip n' slide
Laura's first and last try at the slip n' slide!
Connor LOVED the cotton candy!

Rylie wasn't quite sure what the think or what to do with the cotton candy!

Rylie LOVED this little pool!

Slip n' Slide fun! Thanks Wendy!

***************

This week my Mom and Dad had all the cousins and their Moms over for a swim party! Almost all of us were able to come. We had a BLAST!!!! My parents had 2 large pools for the older kids and a smaller pool for the younger kids. Then, my sis-in-law brought an awesome slip n' slide, which was a HUGE hit!!!! We swam and played for quite a while!!! The kids were soaked to the bone and loved every minute of it! Even some of the adults got in on the fun, including some pretty intense water fights! About 1/2 way through the kids got a surprise! My parents neighbor owns a cotton candy machine. So, we all made our way over to their backyard where they made a TON of cotton candy for everyone, including 2nd's and 3rd's!!!! We also had lunch with everyone and yummy drinks! It was really a great day and we had such a great time! Hopefully we'll get to do it again before the summer comes to an end!