School Has Started!

This week Emma started 1st Grade and Ella started her 2nd of 3 years of pre-school. It has been an emotional week for us all (except for Ella, who was just "dying" to go to pre-school). It has been hard for mom to have Emma gone all day. I miss having her around. Emma is still trying to get used to school lunch and being at school all day. She loves her teachers and having 2 recesses. I've learned that life never stays the same!

Ella and her boyfriend, Boston. They got married the other day.

Emma and her friend showed up in the same outfit.

No Time to Blog

It is crazy how fast time goes by without thinking about blogging. Hailey keeps reminding me that it has been a long time since I've updated my blog. This has been the strangest, hardest, most exhausting summer. Summer is my most favorite time of year, but for some reason I just want it to end and for a new season to come. Chris and I have been just fine, but others around us have had the most trying summers. From Sam being diagnosed with leukemia, my sister Meg having several collapsed lungs and surger, my brother David having surgery on his kidneys, my other brother moving to California, it has flipped our lives upside down. My mom kept saying, nothing else could possibly happen this summer, and then it does! I think we have jinxed ourselves. The thing I've learned from this summer is first, it is family that helps us get through anything; it is the way Heavenly Father reaches out and strengthens us. I've also learned that it is the small and simple things that makes life sweet, and might be the only sweet things to enjoy. I have had a few "sweet moments" the last month that have kept me going. Here they are:

Nothing makes me happier than kids dressing up. These kids always put a smaile on my face.

My dad being with Kate. He is magic with kids.

Another sweet day was one we got to leave the city and drive up Farmington Canyon with our little family. We had such a great time eating subways, making a fire, roasting marshmellows, and just talking. It was one of our favorite memories this summer.
Chris tried to teach Emma how to build a fire.

Emma and Ella are best buddies. Some day they will realize just how lucky they are to have each other.
Pickles are such a blessing. Kate was so fussy this day because of her teeth. The pickle did the trick to sooth her. I've never been so grateful for a pickle!

We went to the county fair. The only thing Ella wanted to do is ride this really fun baby train. You would of thought she had died and gone to heaven!

It was fun to be able to have their cousin, Ethan come with us to the fair. My girls had to dress up like cowgirls. They spent all day finding a cowgirl outfit, even if it meant wearing cowboy boot 2 sizes too small.

Some of our sweetest days are when Emma and I get to go be with Sam. Sam loves Emma. She just sits and plays with him for hours. I think he kind of has a crush on her. It makes Emma feel good.

We went with all our favorite friends for a sleepover at the cabin. They got to make hats, play outside, watch shoes, and of course, not sleep.