A First and Last

Tate's very FIRST spelling test...and my last child to ever have their very first spelling test.
Bittersweet, for sure.

Today's Project

I've been wanting to re-do the boys' Jack and Jill bathroom since we moved into this house 5 years ago...

Since all of the kids are back in school I decided that NOW was the time to get 'er done. The previous owners did a half butt job on the paint in this bathroom. Seriously, there's spots that didn't even have paint on them...in the MIDDLE OF THE WALL...and they didn't even try to make straight paint lines along the ceiling. And, there's spots all over the tile, and smudges on the door frames. What a mess!!

So I took down the towel bar, the toilet paper holder, and the hand towel holders, as well as removed the light fixture front and the light switch covers, and then taped around everything. (Because I like STRAIGHT paint lines!!!)

[click to enlarge] I put on the first coat of "Woodsmoke" paint, and then had a little panic attack about the color. After the panic subsided, I realized that I LOVE the color. Grey with a hint of blue...PERFECT!

After a couple of hours and a trip to Wal-Mart for camping supplies for Tanner's camp-out tonight (because I have to replace all of the stuff he left on the last scouting camp-out!!), I put on a second coat of paint. Then I spray painted the light fixture (since spray paint is only $5 and a new light fixture--at least the one I wanted--was $100), the hand towel holders, and the t.p. holder black. I also took down the wood blinds and cleaned them--I don't think they'd been touched since we moved in--MY BAD!! They were disgusting!

After the paint had dried a few more hours I put the huge mirror, the light fixture, and all the hardware back up, and hung the new shower curtain I got from IKEA for $12. I also got two new rugs for in front of the sinks and a new rug for around the toilet. I think the whole project only cost me about $70!!! SWEET!

Funny Treyson

Lately, Treyson has been cracking me up...ok, so he makes me laugh constantly, but I have to be really careful to make sure he knows that I'm not laughing AT him, but that I'm laughing because he is such a sensitive, loving, beautiful, funny, quirky kid who does hilarious things. Sometimes I think I'd like to crawl inside his brain, just to see how it works.

He worked for 3 days on this "comic". I just had to share...

[you can click on the pictures to make them bigger] Trey filled out this paper during the first week of 3rd grade.
I love that his favorite color is "lava", and that his one wish is "if I had a sister". I also love that when he grows up he wants to be "a major league baseball player or an ather". (I think he meant AUTHOR)
I am so thankful for Treyson in my life...for his smiles and hugs...I don't know what I'd do without him!!!

Back To School

Well, I did it! I successfully got all four kids out the door on time for their first day of school. I also convinced Tanner to have a photo taken, which is a small miracle in itself. This is getting harder and harder to do by the day. I pulled the "guilt" card, and he relented. He's such a teenager, and yet such a great kid!

He started 8th grade today. I don't like that he started 8th grade today. Yesterday I tried to convince him to stay home and let me home school him. He said, "NO WAY!".

{sniff, sniff}

I will miss him while he's gone during the day. I love having him around. Many people I know have a hard time sending their young ones to school. For me it's the total opposite. I hate sending my Jr High-er to school. He'll be 14 in November, which means I only have 5 more short, short, years with him. Then he'll be off on a mission, college, and all too soon will be married with a family of his own. I keep trying to convince time to slow down, but it just won't. I guess I'll have to learn to deal.{Tanner}

8th Grade

5 feet 7 1/2 inches

124 lbs.

 My Tiger started the 6th grade today. They model 6th grade after Jr. High, so he will have homeroom, and then switch classes and teachers. Ty's homeroom teacher is Mrs. Flemming and I know she's going to be awesome! He wasn't at all excited to go to school today (SHOCKER!!), but once he got there and saw all of his friends he seemed to be a bit more excited. {Ty}

6th Grade--Mrs. Fleming Home Room

5 feet 2 inches

120 lbs.

Of course, Treyson was excited for school! He's been talking about it for at least a month! He started 3rd grade today, and has Mrs. Schafer. His classroom is in the portables, which he wasn't too excited about, but he has Sarah and James Martin in his class (twins, and his friends from 1st grade) so that made it a little bit better. He was so excited to wear his "skinny" jeans to school this year, although when you're already as skinny as a bean pole, skinny jeans tend to be a bit baggy. We're going to work on putting some meat on his skinny bones this year!!!

{Treyson}

3rd Grade--Mrs. Schafer

4 feet 6 1/2 inches

50 lbs.

{Tate}

1st Grade--Mrs. Davis

4 feet 1 1/2 inches

47 lbs.

Then there's Tater Bug.  Boy oh boy, did he wake up in a M-O-O-D this morning!!!

His shoes didn't fit right. All of his "school" clothes were dirty. He only wanted toast for breakfast. And he didn't want me telling him to "get a move on!!!". Luckily by the time we got to school he was happy and excited to be there. He started 1st grade today and has Mrs. Davis, which I am thrilled about! I think he's going to have a fantastic year!!{Treyson and Keaton}

{Tate and Trevor Martin}

{The Growth Chart on the Door Frame}

Two Weeks In Utah

This summer has seemed so extremely short this year...I think it's because we played baseball into the middle of July and weren't able to go to Utah until the 18th. Other than a quick trip in December for grandpa's funeral, we hadn't spent any quality time in Utah since last July. We packed our two weeks with as much family time as we could. We went to the pool, did some hiking, did some school shopping, visited friends, went to Lagoon and Park City, and played tons of baseball in the Trane's backyard. We are so thankful for a loving family who goes out of their way to spend time with us! We love you all!!

{click on the picutre to enlarge it}