Beginning of School Year

Olivia's first day of school was on the 19th-Ella's Birthday. It seemed so early this year and I wasn't ready to send her back. Well, in a way I was, but it still felt so much like summer and not time for going to school. The first two weeks were full of short days and no homework, so that helped out a lot.

 

I have to make her pose for the camera.

2nd Grade!!

I walked in with her on her first day and that turned out not to be smart since it made her more sad about having to leave me and go into class. She, of course, was fine once she got in there and found her friends. But note to self: don't do that again.

 

~Ella's First Day of Kindergarten~

 

Ella's first day of school was a week after Liv's, since she is in Kindergarten. She started the 26th and had early-out's too for her first week. For half-day Kindergarten that means being in school for 2 hours a day. Let's say it's a transition period for them since it wasn't time for much else.

 

She was so excited to go! She wanted to use her backpack in the days prior and finally got to and she wanted to take a lunch with her too but was okay with finding out that half-day Kindergarteners don't have lunch at school.

She looked smaller to me this day. She is so young for this next step but so ready for it to begin. God bless our little ones.

Me and the boys walked in with Ella on her first day. The teachers were pretty flexible and understanding of all the parents who wanted to document this fun day in their lives.
She's showing us her cubby.

This is her seat on her first day. I hope she meets nice kids.

I know she's outgoing so I don't worry about her meeting new kids and having fun.

I wanted to catch her while she didn't know to see her interactions at first.

Day 2. Ashton wanted to be like her and have a backpack too. Too bad the only one I could find for him at the time was a purple Dora one. But he doesn't care.

Hey cute girl!

She loves everything about school so far. She made this crown, saying 'school is cool' and she told me it's blue for her favorite color and purple for mine. Sweetie.

Birthday Week

 

Olivia's 7th Birthday

 Olivia wanted a Wild Kratts Birthday. There was a lot that could be done with it but we were going a little simpler this year and did piñatas, cakes or cupcakes and presents. We made all the piñatas and cakes and it was fun.

Ella's 5th Birthday

 Ella wanted a Frozen-themed Birthday this year and it only really amounted to the piñata being that way. I think my simplicity came from having school start in the middle of their birthdays. Actually, it started on Ella's birthday this year, the 19th. Being as she started Kindergarten, she started a week later but Liv started on Ella's bday.

We liked the pull-string style this year. It was a lot more fun and a lot more effective.

 

Ashton's 3rd Birthday

I couldn't get this to go the right direction but wanted to show the firetruck piñata that Livvy and I put together for Ashton's big day. I'm not sure he loved it as much as Liv and I did.

July 16-August 14

July 16th. Love these cheeks. Can we say kissable?

 July 26th. Look who thinks he's playing with the big kids on the Wii...



He's using the Wii remote, if you can see that closely.

July 30th. Ella wanted a couple pictures taken of herself so I obliged. :)

 

July 19th. We went to the horse exhibit at the U of U natural history museum. It was a cool exhibit. The even did a cute thing for member families involving horse activities, horse cookies and flavored lemonade. We all had a good time.

 

July 30th. Olivia's primary teachers were awesome and so dependable. I wish they could all be that way. They grew fond of the kids as well and had a little splash-time with the kids at the splash park to say good-bye before moving away. That's one of the disadvatages of living in a college town. People move in and out so quickly. But you meet some pretty cool people along the way.

looks like fun to get so drenched.

 

Aug 2nd.

We found Dallin "helping" us a lot to unload the dishes. Too bad we were trying to LOAD them.

He is such a big helper with many things.

 Swim lessons over the summer. Olivia and Ella did lessons from Aug. 3rd - 13th Mon thru Thursdays. They did so well this year! They both were eager to get good at it and passed the levels.

This is Livvy and her class and teacher here. She was loving every minute of lessons this year. She loved the time that the teacher was even busy working with the other kids, as she took advantage of practicing the things she was learning.

Ella loved swim lessons. I remember her teacher's name is Dallin. She was a cute "Dolphin"

Ella is getting her turn to practice swimming with her teacher.

Aug. 14th. We were enjoying being outside. I just got a picture of this little guy.