We love this kid!

Gunnar is pure entertainment all day long.

He is such a character, and we think he has a good shot at a career in music...

Pause the music on the right and enjoy :)

Ashton's First Day of Kindergarten!

Thursday, August 26 2010

Well we survived it...
The big first day that had always seemed so far off in the distance, but snuck up on us so fast...

Are you really in kindergarten Ashton?

I'm glad I got all those cute pictures of him the other day, because on this day he was feeling nervous and didn't want anything to do with looking, let alone smiling at my camera. Here's Lars giving him a pep talk...

Then Aunt Kelli got a few pictures of all of us before it was time to eat lunch and go.

He requested home-made macaroni and cheese :)

The first day was pretty easy. Lars and I got to go with him and it was just an hour.

We spent the first half helping Ashton do a little scavenger hunt...

...finding his name on lots of things around the classroom...

...his backpack hook (lucky #11 :)...the table he'll be sitting at that happens to be his favorite color green :) etc...

Then his teacher talked to all of the kids for a few minutes...

...and got them started on a worksheet while she spent the rest of the time talking to the parents.

So not really a real first day, but I think it made him feel a lot better that we got to stay with him and it made day 2 a little easier.
He was still nervous to go on Friday, but Gunnar and I walked him in and once his buddies showed up, he was fine. He gave me a hug and a kiss and waved goodbye.

I'm glad he wasn't scared anymore, but I of course felt a little sad that this day was finally here and I had to walk away and leave him there hoping he would remember his manners, wishing I could be a fly on the wall to see how the first day went, and just praying he would be okay.

Just like after I dropped him off at his first day of preschool, I cried a little when I got to the car.

Come on...he's still my baby :)

The time is flying by...

Back to School night...

We had our very first back to school night on Wednesday night. We ran into Ashton's teacher, Mrs. Coburn, walking down the hall, so he got to meet her and we got a quick picture with her before she got bombarded......then we went in and checked out his classroom.

So far I am really impressed with both his teacher and his fun classroom!

Watch out Kindergarten!

In two more short days my baby starts Kindergarten...

I really just can't believe it!

He and I got up and got ready for the day and out of the house by a little before 9:00 to

go have a little photoshoot with his new backpack,

and get a few school supplies.

It was a fun morning and I love some of the pictures I got of him.

You are SO cute Ashton, and growing up so fast!

Thanks for being a good sport (mostly)... ...and spending the morning with me.

I loved it!

Here are some of my faves...

(warning: picture overload~!)

Another campout...

The weekend before last Lars took the boys camping. We were all maybe going to go, but he and Ashton decided to first take the trailer up and look for a spot, then call us and we'd head up to meet them. At some point I decided that I really was not motivated to camp (it was the day vacation bible school ended), so I figured Gunnar, Kelli and I would just drive up for dinner and stay awhile then come home and sleep in our own cozy beds. So after Gunnar and I took a nap, we got ready and headed to the grocery store. On the way Lars called and said they were still (3 hours later!) driving around looking for a camp spot. At this point it's raining pretty hard. So he said they were going to go one more place and look, then call us back. I'm thinking oh well, they'll probably just come home and maybe pop the trailer up in the driveway and camp there...darn :) And we won't even have to go up there.

No such luck.

About a half hour later, he called and said they'd found a spot. Not a nice one, but good enough...so I tried to say "okay well, let us know how it goes...see you tomorrow." But that didn't fly. They wanted pizza delivered, so Kelli and I loaded up Gunnar and stopped off for pizza and headed up to find them. At this point it's almost 8:00. We found them without any problem and it was a pretty crappy spot, but the boys didn't care. Camping is camping to them. So after we ate our pizza... I talked Lars into letting Gunnar stay with them. I hadn't brought anything for him but diapers, so he just put on some of Ashton's clothes to sleep in and was so happy he got to stay and camp with the boys!Love this face :)Bye Mommy! And I was so happy at the idea of actually sleeping in on Saturday morning!!! And it was so nice...I did till 9:00! Then Kelli and I went for a nice long peaceful walk, got ready for the day and headed back up the canyon with taco time and smoothies for lunch.

The boys slept well...at least the little ones. Daddy, not so much. Sorry hun...thanks again for taking them both! And just think, now you know it's possible!!

We went for a short hike......then let the boys play in the river for a little while,...then packed up and headed home.

My happiness...

Congratulations Grandpa Harry!

Last Monday Kelli and the boys and I made a quick trip to Evanston to go to a banquet for my stepdad Harry that night. For most of his adult life he has been working towards a goal of becoming the Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge of the state of Wyoming. (hope I said that right)

Anyway last August, he finally became the Grand Master and just completed his year in that position. So Monday night he was having his last big hurrah as Master, a family banquet, and he invited us to come. Other Grand Masters from lots of other states attended, and it turned out really nice.

We are so proud of you Grandpa Harry for following your dream and accomplishing your goals!

His sister Bunnie was also able to come with her little girl Evani...

Glad we could come support you on your big night :)

p.s. I think it meant a lot to him that we were all there, he got a little emotional during his speach :)