8th Grade

Todd is an official 8th grader today.  I think the shock of having to get up so early is going to take some getting used to, but I think he's ready to be back in school.  I sat with him on the couch as he waited for his friends to come pick him up, trying SO HARD not to let the dam of tears break.  I'm sure he probably heard my voice crack a time or two as we talked, but I managed to hold back the tears until he was out the door and I was sitting alone on the couch watching him walk down the sidewalk.  He wasn't the least bit nervous, so why is it that I was the one with butterflies in my stomach?

I love the sleepy face that he has in this picture.  His body was completely protesting to being awake so early....and it was actually a bit nippy outside.  We both went inside shivering.  HOLY COW.....fall is just around the corner!!

A New School Year

Last night.......

School supplies.........check.

Boys' FIRST DAY outfits chosen and laid out......check.

Emily's FIRST DAY outfit chosen.......Uuuuhhh, HOLD ON........

SO many cute outfits to chose from that she couldn't decide what to wear.

Outfit #2......

Outfit #3......

Although she had a hard time deciding what outfit to debut the first day of 6th grade in, I think taking the pictures helped.  It was fun to sit on her bed and watch her mix and match her new school clothes.  We had some great mommy/daughter bonding time laughing, giggling and talking.  I can't believe my little girl is turning into a beautiful young woman!  I seriously wish I could just freeze time.  And I guess, in my own way, that's exactly what I'm doing with every picture I take!!

This morning........

Their first day of the 2010-2011 school year!!

Landon, 1st grade

Dylan, 4th grade

Emmy, 6th grade

Off my precious babies go to sprout, in SIZE and KNOWLEDGE, for another year.  And, yes, I cried, just like I do EVERY year.  

Todd has another week and a half before I send him off to the dungeons of 8th grade, when I'll get to cry all over again.  And I will, I promise you that!

The Star Dome

Chris' magnum opus, as he calls it, is coming along nicely!!  The drywall is all done and the sound system is in.  The acoustics are AMAZING and music sounds AWESOME in that dome!!!  It's trippy to sit in there and talk.  The sound bounces all around you and you're not sure what direction it's coming from.  Everything sounds like it's in stereo.  It's pretty cool.  He's currently trying to figure out how he's going to build the star projector.  He's made several prototypes, but none of them are to his liking, so he continues to brainstorm and engineer by trial and error.  His determination is inspiring.  It really is.  Seriously, how lucky can one woman be to have such an AWESOME husband who is the BEST DADDY ever!!!  The kids will remember this FOREVER.  I just can't wait to sit in there as a family and have all kinds of fun.  Until then, I absolutely ADORE watching Chris let the kids help him in every way possible.  He is teaching them so much and shaping their future and they're not even aware of it.  They're having too much fun helping daddy build our very own STAR DOME!!!!!

Adorable

I tease my little sister that she's a grandma of SIX all the time, but she just boasts the title!  And who wouldn't with these ADORABLE children for grandbabies?

Not a bad shot (and the only one of all of them looking up AND sitting still) for 6 teeny tiny kids 6 and under!

Isabel and Elsie

I LOVE this picture because I have one of me and my sister just like it.  (I was the one crying).  Chloee was wearing her princess smile, but Halle was having none of it.

Chandler and Rhyder (and Buzz Lightyear)

The Pattersons

My Aunt Tami and I grew up like sisters and best friends.   She's my mom's baby sister (there's 20 years and four brothers in between them), so we're only 3 years apart in age.  I thought my world had come to an end when she moved to Claifornia with her parents when she was 18.  Here we are 20 years later and she's FINALLY moved back home with her family.  I'm so happy to have her back.  We have had so much fun in the couple of months that she's been home.

With most of the family in town for her son's mission farewell, she asked me if I'd take an updated family picture.  Although all of her children and their families couldn't be here, she figured this was her best chance to have as many of them in the picture as possible.  So, without further ado, my beloved family.......

Cory's missionary shoot is tonight, so I'll post those a little later.

15 Years!!

It's hard to believe how fast 15 years can fly by!!  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Chris!  I love you.

Just in case you don't already know, you can click on the picture to enlarge it so you can read the poster better.

And just a little ditty about my P.S. note.....

Anyone who knows me really well knows how much it HATE Chris' long hair.  He, for whatever reason, has always wanted a ponytail. (GAG)  Well, now that he's got/had one, he says his days of long hair are numbered.  We'll see.  I won't believe it until I see it.  I tell him all the time that he has beautiful, thick, GIRL hair that naturally flips up at the end (I won't even mention how much more the gray shows).  And now I have proof!  He's purposely being cheesy in them because he knows I'm making fun of his girly hair. =)

I still love him as much as ever, but I'll be CELEBRATING the day he chops it all off!!!!!!!  Men just aren't meant to have long hair.  =)