Back to School

Going back to school is hard for me. Granted, some days during the summer it felt like it couldn't come fast enough. But mostly I like having my kids around, knowing what they are doing, knowing that they are safe.

Sami was just so excited to go to first grade. After the meet the teacher night, she kept saying, "I can't believe I am in first grade!" Then she started telling Janie how she would grow up one day too. Hilarious.

I was more nervous for Sami then for Janie because Janie gets Mr. Greve, Sami's teacher from last year, and he is awesome. But I was worried that Sami wouldn't have a good teacher or that she wouldn't have a good experience. But it was needless. She LOVES first grade, even though she only gets one recess and no snacks. She is ready for the challenge.

 Janie was very nervous about starting kindergarten. She was super excited to have Mr. Greve, but she was worried about everything else. So worried she couldn't sleep the night before and she had a tummy ache before school. But she came home and said it was the best day ever! She had four recesses and snack and made tons of friends. She even got to be the line leader the first day of school.

 Once again, Lucy is sad to be left out. She was ready to run into the school too and threw a fit when I wouldn't let her. She even put her backpack on, ready to go. Poor thing, this is going to be her lot of life.

 We decided to walk to school the first day. It's only half a mile and it is easier than fight for a parking space. Sami danced and sang the whole way, she was so excited.

 I am so grateful that they are having good experiences.
Here's hoping for a great school year!

Dance Camp Recital

The girls were in a summer dance camp and had the "recital" last week.
I use the word "recital" loosely because they just danced for parents the last ten minutes of class. Jonathan was less than impressed by the dance because it just seemed like they clapped their hands a lot...and not much else. But the girls loved it and I liked that it was teaching them to follow directions in a group setting, although I would also agree that it seemed little technique was involved.

But we both agree that our girls are darling in their dance enthusiasm.

 Poor Lucy. She had to watch her sisters do all the fun things this year without her. Next year will be great for her because she will be able to go to swim, dance, and preschool. All things she believes she should be a part of now.

It's funny how I said "let's take a picture with Lucy" turned into putting their hands on Lucy's head. Oh, well. Lucy didn't mind.



Fourth of July

Since Jonathan had to work the night of the Fourth, we did our own little fireworks on July 3rd. Jonathan went out and got a few mild fireworks and the girls were so excited.

Well, Lucy was a little nervous at first...

 ...but pretty soon she was loving it. She was very determined (of course) to do sparklers, even when she held them wrong and they were hurting her, she wouldn't stop. She wasn't going to let anything stop her.

 The girls loved the smoke bombs the best.

 Lucy had a blast.

 I know if we had boys, Jonathan would buy some of the big stuff. As it is, he enjoyed the smoke snakes.

 Ah, my Sami girl. She's growing up so fast.

 

 Janie made some good faces for me. Here she was surprised by some noises. It's like she didn't know fireworks made noises. She is all girl, this one.

This one is my favorite though. I laugh every time I look at it. She is trying so hard to pull that string. Here face just cracks me up.



 I like this one because all the girls are lined up, youngest to oldest.

Happy Fourth of July!!

 

Becca and Preston's Visit

Becca and Preston came for a visit this past week.

We are honored that they would come to visit us with their vacation time.

Sami was so excited for her birth mom to come and she and Janie told everyone that her birth mom and her husband were coming. Two days before they came, Sami and Janie were announcing it to strangers in Wal-Mart. That's how excited we were.

 

 It was non-stop fun. Sami and Janie woke up ready to play. It was high-energy, I tell you.

 We went to Winter Quarters Visitors Center. I am always so humbled when I go to this temple and see the graves and names of all the pioneers who sacrificed so much here.

 Becca and Preston are so cute. I gotta say that I feel a bit protective of our birth moms. They have been through a lot and we love them for it. And it's so good to see Becca with such a good husband.  Preston is a gem and you can just tell how much he loves her. I am so glad they have each other.

 The girls got to get dressed like pioneer girls. It was so cute.

We did lots of fun things that I wish I had taken more pictures of, like going to the zoo and going to the park and lake.

I am so grateful for our birth moms. We are so blessed to have Becca and Preston in our lives. They feel like family. I wish all adoptive parents had that. It is a blessing for us to have them in our lives.



Our Anniversary in Cancun

This past week was our 10 year anniversary.

We have gone on little weekend trips in the past, but to celebrate this anniversay, Jonathan wanted to do something special. And he worked super hard moonlighting a ton to pay for it.

But we both think it was worth it. It was the best trip we have ever gone on.

We went to an all-inclusive resort in Cancun. This was the view from our room.

 We went to Chichen Itza. It was so cool to see the Mayan Ruins. But it was SO humid. We both came home drenched.

 We got to spend a lot of time on the beach. We even had a "romantic dinner" on the beach, provided by the hotel.

 We got to swim with a dolphin.

 And one of our favorite days was when we went zip-lining through the jungle.

 We both went zip-lining up-side down. It was a rush, I tell ya.

 I was really scared at first. But after the first zip-line, I got the hang of it and it was so, so fun.

 After we zip-lined, we went off-roading. Jonathan drove through every puddle he possible could.

 And finally, we jumped into a "cenote," or pond. It was one of the best days.

I am so grateful for the last ten years with my sweetie. It has been rough at times, but we have grown a lot together and been so, so blessed. We have been happy together and I look forward to the next 50 years together!

Janie's Preschool Graduation

This was a fun night for Janie. She is officially done with preschool forever.

 Her teacher, Miss Darcy, is so sweet and fun. She was a blessing.

Thankfully it was a short "ceremony." We went to Culver's afterwards for ice cream to celebrate this "achievement."

She is so excited for kindergarten.

On another note, today was Sami's last day of kindergarten. They don't have a kindergarten graduation at this school. She has been crying all afternoon saying how much she misses Mr. Greve. I have cuddled her and given her a popsicle and yet the tears still come. She even journaled about it. I am pretty sure in a few years she will hardly remember Mr. Greve (I have no idea who my kindergarten teacher was) but it's a little hard at the moment.