1st Grade!!

Today was the day! Our little girl started 1st grade. All day school, lunch in the cafeteria every day with the big kids, three recesses a day. These are all reasons why I have been having mini panic attacks for the last few weeks. I worry too much and worry about every little thing that could go wrong, I'm working on that. But she LOVED it! We went to back-to-school night last night and she was running here and there greeting her friends she made in kindergarten last year. She was so excited for school to start. So this morning we woke up bright and EARLY (such a change from the summer) and she had a big pancake breakfast. Then we got her ready for the day at headed for the school. I was nervous, she was not. She walked right into that classroom and didn't look back. She's so brave! We are amazed at how much she has grown up in the last year. She's confident and willing to try anything. It was a long day without her, it's so strange to be home with just Cole all day! We are going to have some serious bonding time. And it will be nice to work while Allie's at school and be finished by the time she gets home. But I miss her a lot, and I know Cole does too. He was so excited to see her when we went to pick her up. Here are the few pictures I got of her at the beginning of school, she didn't want to take many pictures, she just wanted to start class!

Like I said, it was an early morning so poor Cole got dragged out of bed and went to school in his jammies.Her new desk, ready to go!This is right when she came out of class, Cole was seriously so happy to see her. He loves his big sister and cannot get enough of her! Great job Allie!!

Now that summer is coming to an end...

It's August! And the last time I posted was in May, that's a little sad. Here I thought life would calm down after Allie got out of school and it DID NOT. It got much more crazy and busy. We have had a blast of a summer. I can't believe it's coming to an end. Allie starts 1st grade in 2 weeks! She is so excited and that makes me not so freaked out about it. I'm not sure what I'll do while she's gone all day everyday. Cole keeps us busy. He army crawls everywhere and is into everything! I often wonder if he will even crawl on his hands and knees, he seems to do just fine on his tummy. He has his two bottom teeth and his two top teeth are just about to break through. Teething has not been too bad, I hope it stays that way! He's still a mini Ryan. People tell us they have never seen a baby that looks more like his dad. It's pretty cute.

Life has changed for us a bit. Ryan got a new job working at Hill air force base. Not only did he start a new full-time job, but he also started school! So he is gone from way before any of us wake up until right about the time the kids are going to bed. It makes for some long days without dad but we are so excited that this is all happening. We are very grateful!

Are you ready for the longest post ever? Here are the things I caught on camera during our summer of 2011...

First of all, Allie graduated from kindergarten!

We love Mrs. Brooks and will miss her as a teacher The theme for our summer was definitely swimming. We swam constantly!

Cole loves the water! This makes Ryan very happy ;)

Allie is no longer scared to dunk her head, she's come a long way this summer. Hopefully by next summer we can lose the floaties.



Family date to Taggart's Grill

We all got passes to Lagoon this year and they have been so worth it! We go at least once a week and the kids love it! (ok so do the adults)

Allie started gymnastics in June and wants to continue through the school year.

For 4th of July we headed down to Provo for the Freedom parade. We had never been to it before and it was great!
Cole is always interested in eating more than anything else!

We set up our chairs right in front of my Bro-in-law Joe's restaurant and when it got a little too hot outside, we sat inside the restaurant and still had a great view!
Festive family
Cousins!

We did the summer movie program and went to a movie every week with friends

Allie likes to pretend she's Ryan

We couldn't miss the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo! We go with my family every year.

Allie's favorite part of the whole night, the motocross show...it never disappoints!

Cole has a new love and it's name is iPad 2. This was my birthday present in June but for some reason the kids like to think it's theirs!

We left the kids with aunt Kim while we went out for some fun and Cole rode his first horse! Kim said he really liked it until the horse turned his head and looked right at him. And then Cole started screaming and that was the end of that!

Allie spent a week in Southern California with her dad and the whole Avondet family! They went to Disneyland one day and she LOVED it. This girl goes on more vacations than anyone I know!

So these next two pictures go together. While Allie was in California with her dad, she wanted me to send her a picture of Cole everyday. So one day I sent her this picture of him looking a little crazy....

...and they sent me this one back. She is trying to make the same face as Cole and is doing a very good job if you ask me! I love my crazy kids.

We spent the week in Park City last week with my family. It was so much fun and it ended way too fast! Charlie and Cole were reunited, they are so cute together. They weigh almost exactly the same and there are 3 1/2 months between them! We can't wait until Bets and Steve make the move out to Utah and these two can cause some trouble together!

Cousins waiting in line for the zipline!

Allie's always wanted to try one of these. Worth the $8? I'm still debating that.

Gotta love naps by the pool

Cole loves his grandma :)

Emma and Ryan on the Alpine Coaster
Our crazy family...minus a few who couldn't make it. Thanks Steve for making our family reunion shirts!!

This picture cracks us up. Cole can be so dramatic!

What a summer, we hope you had a fabulous one too!!

April

Here is a recap of our month since I obviously cannot find time to regularly update our blog! Easter fell on a beautiful day, we even got to have an egg hunt outside without getting all wet.
Here are a few attempts at an Easter photo of the kids. Allie can step up to the plate most times.
Cole has a little more trouble.
We just could not pull it together on this particular day!
Allie had her gymnastics recital. They were all sooo cute. We love her teacher and she can't wait to start again in the fall. Here we are on our way into the recital. And Cole has redeemed himself in the picture-taking category!

Our little gymnast!
Allie and Blaine. Allie was determined to hold all her treats at once.

With the end of the school year fast approaching, the kindergartners at North Ogden Elementary put on a program for the school and parents. They each had a speaking part and they sang all of the songs they've learned over the year. Allie wasn't a bit nervous and sounded so good! I can't believe this school year is over in 2 weeks and we will have a 1st grader next year! I can't think about it too much. I think I'm much more nervous for her to be at school all day long than she is.
Cole went to cheer his big sister on ;)
Allie also lost her first tooth! She was so excited. She laughed and cried, I don't think she knew how to react. She was so excited, but she was also bleeding, so her emotions were all over the place! It was too funny.
If you come to our house you will most likely find Cole in this. He loves his jumperoo and goes WILD in it.
We went to IKEA a couple weeks ago and bought the best highchair ever made. Allie had the same one when she was little but we got rid of it so Cole got a new one. He loves it.
He started eating oatmeal and baby food when he turned 5 months old and loves it! For now it's just for breakfast and dinner. It's fun to see him learning new things. I think he realizes that when you put him in his highchair, he's gonna get food. He's becoming a little person who can communicate in little ways and I love it!
I wish I had the time to sit and hold him like this all day but it's just too hard when there is more than one kid! I love these moments.
We went to the nursery today and got all of our seeds to plant our garden. I seriously cannot wait. As soon as this rain lets up!