Back 2 School

I wasn't ready for them to go back, but it had to happen. School started Monday the 30th, for us. It was a cold and rainy day. It just confirmed my fears that once school starts, winter is around the corner.McKay is in 7th grade which means the start of middle school. It made me feel a little bit older.

Kirsten is in 3rd and gets to be the big sister in elementary.

Cruz started Kindergarten. He had waited so long for this. The main important thing was they came home with the smiles they left with.

Kirsten's Number 8

(I'm behind on blogging but I've got to move on. I'll have to come back to the Kerksiek fun and vacation later)

Happy Birthday to Kirsten! (8 on August 20th)
Kirsten had a great birthday and I think she got everything she wanted....plus a little more.
And she had her favorite Texas Chocolate Sheet cake! Kirsten gets baptized this coming Saturday, September 4th, at 10 a.m. We would love all that can make it to come.
Now with all the kids in bed, backpacks packed, clothes laid out, it's off to school in the morning....

Y is for Youth

Wednesday night plans were hiking the Y.

We made it to the top....with all the children.
McKay was inseparable from Aspen anytime they were together.
Jacob took the middle two on an adventure on the white-wash.
Cruz made it to the top and realized how high up he was. He is terrified of heights. Even being on my shoulders is too much for him. So he sat down and waited "patiently" by me until it was time to hike back before it got too dark.

Everyone made it down too.

Pictures are courtesy of Betsy as she is an awesome photographer!

Blogging Vacation

Time to get back to real life.
We spent a week in Utah.
Then a week with Betsy and her family at our house.
And now a week is left before school starts.
I hope it's a LONG week.
So here is a recap of the past two weeks.

We went down to Utah for a week of Kerksiek fun. We left late on the 10th and on Wednesday morning (11th) we started off the first day going boating with McKay's grandparents. It was a first for all of my kids except McKay. It was a little windy and the water was a little choppy but it was loads of fun! I am 0-1 with the sunglasses. You would think that going to the beach so many times would have taught me something.

Bump, Set, Spike

These are my "volleyball boyfriends," some of them, at least that is what Jacob calls them.Volleyball has always been a passion of mine. This past Saturday, Adam, John and I entered a 3 on 3 co-ed tournament in Rexburg with the proceeds going towards Rett Syndrome.
In the tournament play, we went undefeated. It was fun and I'd do it all again even though it took everything I had....and then some.....and I paid for it even more on Sunday.
So as I sit here and endure the pain, I think of what the reward was.
Entry fee: $15 a person
First place in our division: $100 gift certificate to EACH of us for Nike shoes.

Getting Back To Being That Guy You Met All Those Years Ago

Dear Amy,

Thanks for taking off for the day to play in a tournament in Rexburg. So while you are enjoying yourself you have given me and the kids the perfect little window to finish our little surprise. Hopefully you did not look at the bank records too closely this week and it is still a surprise.

In the past year I have pretty much neglected you. I did not plan anything for you for Christmas. You were probably not too surprised when I forgot to get you a birthday present. I continued the trend when I skimped out for Mother's Day as well. In fact in general I know that I am not a very good gift giver. Yet somehow you looked past all of that provided me with a wonderful birthday this year.

I know that you have wanted a piano for a long time. I know that you really enjoy playing and that at times you are somewhat frustrated plunking away at our little electric keyboard. So just to come clean, on Tuesday when you thought I was at work, I had really gone to Utah to pick up an old piano that I had bought at an auction. I know, I buy lots of junk, but that's me. I spent the week tearing it apart and refurbishing it. I am surprised that I didn't get caught. It is not the greatest but all the same I hope that you enjoy it for the years to come. I love you.

Love,

Jacob

Continuation of the vision

We finally got around to putting the other two lockers in and rearranging the bedrooms.
Lesson learned: Don't be too stubborn and move it by yourself. Your back will be in pain for at least a week.
Although, they do look pretty good and the kids love them!

Open to suggestions

This is my kitchen.
I'm looking for a new color. I'm tired of orange.
It needs to match the light blue in the living room. It doesn't have to match the green chairs at the bar necessary because I can replace them from IKEA somewhat cheaply.

Any suggestions, ideas or anything?