Lately....

Cole had four football games on Saturday.  He had a couple really good tackles.  They played in the rain and mud.  Stupid white pants!!

School starts this next week.  We are ready.  Everyone had their back to school dates with Shawn and I, and back to school shopping is done.

I went with Ethan last week to Middle School Orientation.  It was so funny.  I'm pretty sure Ethan is going to get lost...several times :)

Liv and Isa made cookies last week in the easy back oven.  I'm pretty sure they made them completely wrong, but they didn't care and ate them anyways.

We hosted a back to school party for a mothers group that I belong to.  It was a little bit cold, but the kids didn't mind and jumped right tin the pool.

Oliver

I think I have officially lost my mind.  We bought a dog yesterday!  The kids (and Shawn) have been begging me for years.  I survived the first night and the kids are in heaven.  It's cute to watch them mother this little puppy of ours.  It's a boy and he is a French Bulldog.

Meet Season

It's officially that time of year again.....meet season.  Liv had her first meet on Saturday morning.  She  is competing up one level from last year, with new routines  She did a great job.

Kayaking and Soccer

Cole went kayaking this week with his scout group.  It was cold and windy, but the boys didn't seem to mind.

Ethan had his first soccer tournament this season on Saturday.  He has a new coach and there are several new kids on his team, which had been a bit of an adjustment.  But they ended up taking 3rd place.

a few random pictures from my phone

Liv waiting to pick up the boys from golf lessons.

Cole getting all his football gear.  He has struggled learning how to run with all the gear, but I think he has finally figured it out.

Cole getting his saxophone for 5th grade band.  Not looking forward to "practice time" at home.

A few more pictures my dad emailed me from the Wedding weekend!!

Dancing in the rain!

Football nights.  Liv and her friend, who both have brothers on the team.

Liv has been taking swim lessons from one of the Young Women in our ward who is on the high school swim team.  Liv loves swimming with Gwen every Friday afternoon.  I'm mad I didn't get a picture of them together before we finished this past week.  

Liv also finished her tennis lessons last week and did a great job.  

We've had crazy midwest summer weather.  Which means big storms.  A house in our neighborhood recently was hit with lightening and burnt to the ground.  It was crazy.  We have also had many tornado warnings.  Tornado sirens at night = family sleepovers in my bed.  Boo for family sleepovers.  Too crowded!!  And this pictures was taken after Ethan left.

Last time volunteering with Salvation Army

"Book Overs".  This is what the kids call it when they stay up late every night reading books.  I found Cole one morning surrounded by books, which is a good things because he normally hates reading.

Football Season

Today was the first official day of football season for Cole.  He had three scrimmage games all morning long.  It was humid and hot, but everyone had fun.

Cole is playing cornerback on defense, and wide receiver on offense.  He does not like wearing a helmet at all!  There are 45 kids on the team, so it is crazy.   Football is completely different than soccer and we are adjusting, but it has been fun so far.

High Dive

I took the kids swimming tonight and Liv went off the high dive for the first time!!  

She was so proud of herself.

The Wedding

On the last night of our vacation we celebrated the wedding of my brother and his new wife.  

It was a beautiful evening!

The boys even busted out a little dance for everyone at the end of the reception.

We finished the weekend with one last late night swim!