SCHOOL TIME!

So the new school year has started! The kids are anxious in many ways and then again, they realize all the fun of summer they will be missing. Of course, the night before Jake was saying he didn't want to go, but as soon as 7:oo am rolled around Thursday morning, he was up and at 'em! He got dressed and made his bed before I even knew it!! He was really excited to get the day going! I wasn't planning to wake him until atleast 7:30 or so, but apparently he had a different plan and didn't want me to know! Amber wasn't very excited about her new teacher. His name is Mr. Smith (hmm, a familiar name, isn't it!?- where are we, Utah or something??). Anyway, she was told by older kids that he is strict and not so much fun. Well, turns out, he's a great teacher and she has really started to like him! Jake loves his teacher, Mr. Carter (wow, another last name we know....) - he thinks he's great and has lots of fun, so far. Oh, and by the way, our other camera gave up on us and we lost Jake and Amber's official first day of school pictures, so this is the only one I have (2 days later!)!

Now it's David's turn! Monday was his first day of school! The kindergarteners started 2 days after the rest of the school. David is going to have a unique experience for his kindergarten year! Last year, when we were living in CA, he started kindergarten. We then moved to UT in January. Due to the state laws which says that a child has to be 5 years old on or before Sept. 2, to enter kindergarten (he turned 5 in October), they would not allow Davey to continue going to school here! It was awful at the time, but now it's all worked out. So now he's doing this all over again, except different! He is in an all day class where only about 5 or 6 students in all of kindergarten are in with him. They all have different reasons or stories but are similiar, 1/2 day kindergarten would not give them the challenge they need. So they have their education tailored to their needs and the level they are on, that's for 1/2 the day. Then, the other half of the day, they are helping thier teacher doing other things, including helping other students that might be having a hard time learning one subject or another. So they are little tutors! It's just perfect for Davey! It's not that this handful of students are brainiacs or something, it's just for different and unique situations like David's, that there is this program here to help them grow and be challenged too! So cool! He absolutely is thrilled about it!!!So now it's little Luke and me at home. It's different for sure! So good to have one on one with my little man! He's sporting his whistle and hat for everyone! Two things he can't live without!

Let the Harvest Begin

"Cheese!" Hurry Mom! I want to pick the eggplants not take another picture!

Look! Look! The BIG pumpkin is turning orange!

This week has proven a success for us! When we planted our garden in the spring we weren't sure if we'd get much out of it! We weren't used to gardening in the different climate. It seemed that when we'd plant anything, living in California, it'd grow and produce. So yes, we practiced some faith and look at the growth. The kids love to go out in the garden and pick whatever there is, whether it is ready or not! We have a few green tomatoes on our table as well as a watermelon with a white middle! David said, "This is the best garden we've ever had!" True in some ways, not so much in others. Normally when we have beans coming out our ears and cucumbers to share with the whole neighborhood, we don't. However, our pumpkins are taking over and I don't think I'll have to buy one pumpkin for Halloween this year! The tomatoes are abundant and delicious! We've never grown eggplant before, but our neighbor had a couple extra plants that she gave us. We've given it a try and we have almost too much! The cantalope and watermelon are finally growing well after thinking we'd get nothing. One of my favorites is the acorn squash! Yummo (in the words of my good friend, Lisa!)!!! They are so good!

Luke, Jake, and David showing the "baby cantalope"!

Jake working hard finding beans, not so much luck. They look pretty though!

Youth Conference

I just have to share my thoughts on this past Youth Conference I attended for church. Thanks for so much help from my sister-in-law and some friends that watched our kids while Josh was at work, I was able to attend the 3 day conference. We went camping in the mountains about 20 minutes from our home. We were so far in the canyon, the Stake committee had to bring in port-a-potties and water. I wasn't so excited to go at first but of course, when I got there I was loving it and having so much fun with the Youth in our ward. We played a lot of games, went hiking, helped at the local church farms, played on this giant (about 20 yds. long, 7-8 yds. wide) slip-n-slide amongst other water activities, hung around our campsite and laughed until our sides hurt (seariously, my muscles hurt!), and to top it off on the last night we had Kenneth Cope come to our Stake Center. It was awesome! If you don't know him, Kenneth Cope is a famous LDS singer/songwriter. AMAZING. So inspirational! We loved it! Josh got to go to that part with me - what a good little date! Amongst all the fun, we had the opprotunity to hear the youth testify of Jesus Christ and His gospel. The youth today continue to amaze me. We hear of so many teenagers doing so many crazy things, yet there are so many doing good things. It was a great weekend. To top it all off (a brag moment coming....), Josh had the house clean and all in one piece, the kids were happy, and he even went grocery shopping! Wow!
Moving on....I can finally go get my copy of "Breaking Dawn" tomorrow! Yeah!