Saturday September 12

We are in the middle of watching the BSU vs BYU game right now.

But I wanted to get this done.....cause I'm sure it will be a late night!

This morning everyone slept in....until about 8ish.

I took Cassi running with me this morning.

That was fun.

She's got it.

She is her biggest obstacle!

She's got speed and she's got good form.

She just has to believe that she can push through!

We did three miles and she was awesome.

Every time we sprinted she went ahead of me.

Impressive!

I hope it will help improve her time next meet to have the boost that she had from today.

She needs that confidence!

When we were gone, Dad had gone to Legacy Feed where they were having some screaming deal on propane refills :)

Port cleaned his room, because I said no playing with the boys until it was clean!

And Madi watched Elsie while she painted some of the deck.

When we got back home, Madi and I went and got started on her desk.

We got it all sanded down.

And we got it painted.

The top still needs finished sanding and we are staining the top a brownish grey to look like the old barn wood she has on her wall.

It was fun working with her and I hope we get it finished soon.

I also painted the cabinets that we are putting in the kitchen built-in.

Dad worked on the Suburban breaks today.

It had a squeak the other day, and he wanted to check it out.

He ended up replacing the hub wheel assembly on it.

Man oh man....I love that he can do anything :)

So that took all day.

Cassi and Elsie played and got some cleaning done.

Port got to hang with the boys for a bit and he helped Dad out too and he also helped Madi and I with some sanding.

About 4, Cassi's friend Kiali came over.

The XC coach wanted the kids to run 4-5 miles over the weekend.

Well, Kiali wanted to run with Cass :)

Cassi said she ran, but would love to run more.

So Kiali came over, and the got a good 2 mile run in.

Good job Cass!!!!

Kaili stayed for dinner.

We made pizza.

Then we ended the night with some popcorn and the game :)

Friday September 11

Dad and I worked on the build in thing we are putting in the kitchen.

He is not overly excited about it....but I know it will be awesome and I know he is gonna love it once we get it in :)

We also had to do some more patching with the fence because those dang goats will find any way they can to get out!

Grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side (of the fence) with these goats!!!!!

Port got to go to a friends house after school for a birthday party.

Madi left early with her friends to the football game.

Cassi wanted to go with her friends, and Dad really wanted to go too.

So we all went.

It was red, white and blue theme for it being September 11, Patriots Day.

Port was still at the party, but I came and got him at about half time.

Dad was wanting his boy there pretty bad :)

They had a fun time watching together and Dad explaining stuff to him.

Elsie was not a happy camper the first part.

Too noisy!

But when I went to pick Port up from the Edwards (where he got dropped off after the party) Vern offered her earphones.

Brilliant!

Elsie loved the rest of the night :)

Cassi got to cheer with the cheerleader and she thought that was pretty fun.

Madi was with her friends the whole time....she is SOOOO boring ;)

It was a fun night for us all.

The Mavs won and it was a good game.

Dad and I couldn't believe how big these kids are!!!!!!

One was 6'5" and 350 lbs!!!!

Wowza!

Thursday September 10

I went and ate lunch at school today with the kiddos.

They think it is pretty fun when I go :)

Sounds like Elsie had a good morning, but a rough afternoon.

I know she is getting worn out....but what do I do?

Bad days aren't happening every day, so that is good.

I am thinking of making a sticker chart kind of thing.....do you think that is a good thing?

She gets a sticker for each day she does good, morning and afternoon.

Then in the end she earns something?

I know we have done stuff like that in the past and it works okay, but I want something long lasting!!!!!!

Anyway.

After school, I took Port to get a present for his friends bday party tomorrow.

Then I dropped him off and had to run to pick up the XC carpool.

Today was their team pictures.

So she took her uniform.

Well, I guess he wouldn't let the kids run in their uniform.

So after the pictures, the kids who didn't bring a change of clothes just sat outside.

Dumb.

Oh well.

So when I dropped Cassi off at home, I had Madi make some dinner for the kids (mac and cheese) while I ran to the Mary Mac open house.

I am excited about Port's teacher.

She's really got her stuff together and he has already learned so much in these few weeks of school.

I need to sit down and talk with Elsie's teacher one on one about what I want to happen.

But he is doing a good job and for now I want her to settle in and then we can start trying to make little changes.

So I got home about 7.

The kids were playing so nicely outside, and the little ones had their homework done.

And then I went inside and my whole kitchen was trashed!

The one I spent all morning cleaning!

Why do we even try to clean???

Anyway.....

It was a tossup, let them enjoy time that they aren't fighting.....or make them clean the mess.

I cleaned it and let them have their fun.

But I did let them know that I don't want them to just leave the stuff out like that anymore.

They were tossing the football around in the front yard, and Elsie was kicking a volleyball around the yard like a soccer ball :)

Port was playing at the boys house.

So I just cleaned the kitchen.

Oh well.

Such is the life :)

Her face was too good not to post  :)

Wednesday September 9

I got some cleaning on the house done today.

Laundry from the trip, etc.....

Elsie went to class pretty good.

I did stay for about 10 minutes, but then left and all was good.

She said she had a really good day.

Today was picture day, so they were excited about that.

But the best part is they get to eat lunch in the classrooms because the photo stuff is set up in the lunchroom.

Always a highlight :)

I also did my grocery shopping and made some zucchini bread for the kids after school.

I also made some to take to my YW group tonight.

Vern brought the little kids home to Madi because Cassi had a XC meet today.

It was a hard one!

Coming off the long weekend, eating not so good, not drinking good.

And it was HOT today!

Cass kept getting shin splints and didn't quite make the time she did last week.

But I told her it's no big deal.

You just keep trying :)

We will be more careful about drinking water next week, and maybe stretch better.

She enjoys being with her friends, but I definitely think that it is harder than she expected.

And there are some fast kids on the team!

The girl who got first got just over 8 minutes!

For a mile and a half!!!!!!

Crazy!!!!!

But I don't want Cass to get discouraged!

This is her first year, she is still trying to figure out what will work best.

I know she will improve and do great :)

As soon as the meet was over, we ran home and got changed and then I took Cassi and Elsie to Activity Days.

I stayed with Elsie because she didn't want to go if I was leaving.

I want her to get in the habit of going, because I know she will love it!

I will help the nest two times because one of the leaders is getting surgery and needs a sub, so I volunteered.

Hopefully I can get Elsie to see that it is FUN!!!!!

Well, then we came home, I made dinner quick and then before you know it, Madi and I were off to YW.

This is our first time without Madi with us :(

We did a service project.

We cleaned the nursery toys and also did some organizing of folders for the primary.

It was a good night.

While we were gone, Cassi got Elsie and Porter to do their homework!

Rock on!

I hurried and got them to bed, then Cassi and Madi  finished their homework.

Oh man......homework makes me so mad!

They are gone all day at school, and then the time we are left with them at home, they are stuck doing homework!!!!!!

Finish time:

14:56

Tuesday September 8

You know how the day after your trip, the kiddos are always overtired?

Well, ya, that is how today went.

Actually everyone was pretty good today, except Elsie bug.

I let her sleep as long as possible.

She was so excited to go to school to tell all her friends about her trip to Wyoming.

Then about 2 minutes before we left, nothing was going on, we were just getting lunches in bags and stuff....

She starts crying and saying she didn't want to go.

Dad tried to get her happy and excited about going to school.

I printed a picture of her and the Buffalo's from yesterday, when we stopped to say bye to the Buffalo's.

She got a little bit happier.

Got to school and she wouldn't let me leave.

I even went in when they pulled her in for Friendship circle.'I probably should have left then, but I didn't want Elsie to throw a fit.

So I sat and listened to their little circle time stuff.

When they started doing work, I asked Ms. Dynka if I should just leave, and she said that would be best.

Elsie was not happy that I left, but I didn't hear crying.

After school she told me that she got better, but that she had a rough afternoon.

After school we had Joanne come over.

She worked so good, and then like a light switch, she shut down.

Would not do a thing!

So ya, it was a rough day.

Hopefully we got her in bed early enough tonight for her to get a good nights sleep.

Port and the boys played as soon as they got home from school.

They have so much fun.

They are pretty good kids too, messy, but good.

They are very creative too.

Justin stopped by to bring some pots he borrowed over, and he brought his boys.

It was fun to watch the whole clan of boys together!

I can just see the trouble (and broken things) that the future brings!!!!!

*****

Oh, and dad took me this evening to get a dresser type thing that we will reinvent and use in the butlers pantry area. 

He wasn't super excited about getting it (we got it from someone on craigslist), but I think he will be happy about it once we get it put in and together :)

Whenever that is.......

Monday September 7 (add LOTS of pictures!)

Oh, we finally made it home!

What a fun day we had!

We woke up and got ready then headed to town to grab a place for the parade.

We left grandma and Gramps there with the kiddos and ran to McD for some breakfast to bring back.

The kids had so much fun at the parade!

There was so much candy thrown around, it was awesome for the kiddos!

Port ran around and got so much candy.

Gramps told me later that he watched him and he would grab some, and for each time he got some, he would run and give some to Elsie too :)

Makes my heart happy!

He actually ended up with a ton of candy, so maybe Elsie didn't get some EVERY time he did....but it was so sweet of him to do that :)

After the parade we met at the park by the church for a picnic.....

We actually left before the picnic started.

Port was part of a demolition derby with the power wheels cars.

It was so much fun to watch!

He was so serious!

The look on his face....oh my goodness!

I could not stop laughing!

He meant business!!!!!

He did a really good job :)

The little kiddos got awesome trophies which he thinks pretty much has to be solid gold....of course!

But that was a lot of fun and he can;t wait to do it next year!

Thanks Dussy Boy!

Then we went to the picnic and enjoyed time with family.

Not everyone was there.....but we sure had a lot of people.

And we always have a fun time together!

After that, we made a quick trip back to the fairgrounds so that Elsie could see Lexi.

Lex had gone to Rendezvous and found a buffalo bank and little velvet buffalo that she just HAD to get for Elsie.

Such a sweet girlie :)

Elsie was super excited about it!

Then Port and Cassi went into some gerbil ball things, and they had a blast doing that.

Then we went back to Grams and Gramps house to get packed up.

Of course we made a stop to see the Buffalo's before we headed home.

We made pretty good time to get home.

I sure hope the kiddos aren't too tired for school tomorrow!

When did they stop falling sleep in the car????????

Oh well, they went right to bed as soon as we got home.

Good to be safe at home, but it sure was a fun weekend!

Pictures to come.....

Come on Dussy Boy, you want me to get sleep don't you?????

Sunday September 6 (more pictures)

We all tried to sleep in today.

I didn't get much sleep.

Cassi has been over tired that last little while.

When she gets over tired.....she does goofy sleepwalking stuff!

Last night about 2ish, I heard her call for me and I went in the room and she is standing on top of the cot she was sleeping on, trying to climb the wall!!!!!

It was the craziest thing!

Well, I took the little pad off the cot and just laid that o the ground.

I didn't want her getting herself hurt if she did that again!

Well, a couple hours later I heard her saying some pretty weird stuff in there.

I went in to hear her saying all kinds of gibberish......sleep talking!

Madi sat up and said 'She's been talking in her sleep'.

So I got her up off the floor, which she was clear across the room from where her pad was.....

So I started to get her back in bed and she was walking all drunk like....and heading for the door.

I grabbed her shoulders and laid her down in bed.

Then I turned to Elsie, to get her back to sleep....cause the sleep talking woke her up too....

Then Cassi starts whining about her feet and how she can't feel them.

She must have been curled up weird beforehand and had her feet fall asleep.

That's why she was walking weird, and now they were tingling.

So I rubbed her feet until she was back 'asleep'.

Crazy!!!!!!

Anyway......needless to say, I did not get much rest!

We woke up and just hung out before we all started taking showers and getting ready for church.

We went to sacrament meeting with Grandma and Grandpa.

It was a great meeting and I am glad we went.

It was testimony meeting, and I enjoyed every one of them!

The spirit was very strong.

I really love going to church and getting that spiritual lift :)

After church we got changed and headed out to Nancy's house for dinner.

So yummy!!!!!

We had a lot of fun playing outside and talking, and playing games.

It was a great evening.

Saturday September 5

We made it to Evanston!

It wasn't too bad of a drive.

When we left Boise it was in the 50's and raining!

We got here and it was 73!

Not bad!

We hung out for a little bit with grams and gramps and then we met up with Nancy and the girls at the rodeo.

The kids were very excited about going to the rodeo!

And it was a really fun night.....

Even though it turned really cold!

Elsie was so excited about the whole opening thing with all the Rodeo princesses on horses.

It was a really fun night and I am so glad we got to go with Nance and the girlies :)

More family fun planned for tomorrow!

But first....we sleep in!!!!!

Friday September 4

Today Elsie was over at This Little Miggy

She was the special needs spotlight for today.

Go and give it a read :)

*****

Heather invited us over for a swim after school today.

Cassi already had plans to hang out with Kaili.

So she missed out :(

We had swam and had dinner together.

We had to leave about 5:45 so we could go and pick Cassi up, because she had a babysitting job this evening.

So we got her picked up and then sent her off again.

She was very excited to babysit.

The people she is babysitting for went to the BSU vs UW game tonight, so she will be home really late.

But that't okay....I'm up watching the game anyway :)

My football buddy's all gave up on me though!

Elsie has been so excited about the game.

I had the pre-game stuff on and she kept asking when it would start, and she would yell at Madi to come watch the pre-game with her.

When I would go out of the room during a commercial, she would be sure to tell me when it came back on.

And she kept yelling 'Go, Broncos, Go!"

Then once the game started, after each play she would ask, "Did we win?"

Port had a lot of fun watching too.

He kept yelling at the announcers on the TV, "The thing is, the white guys aren't gonna win!"

(Meaning the guys in the white uniforms ;)

They both tried hard to make it to the end of the game.....

Madi zonked out almost as soon as the game started!

I am trying to get everything ready to head to Wyoming tomorrow.

We are excited for our little short weekend get together :)

Thursday September 3

Today was a whirlwind of a day.

It started out really nice and lazy.

I didn't have to follow Elsie in to class today, I was giving Vern a ride home and she agreed to let me just go and she went in to class.

Awesome!!!!

Baby steps!

Then I was a little lazy.

I got home and did some laundry, some cleaning....

Before I knew it, I needed to shower and have lunch so I could pick Cassi up in time for hers and my dentist appointment.

All is good, no cavities on both of us :)

Always a happy day when that happens!

By the time I dropped her back off at school and got home it was past 3!!!!!

Madi came home and then I left again so I could make it to Meridian Middle for Cassi's XC meet.

This was their very first meet.

I was worried about how she would do with her burned off spots......

We tripled up band-aids to make it nice and soft.

She did great.

I am not sure of the finish time because I wasn't in ear shot when they called it out.

But she will find out tomorrow for me.

She struggled a bit, but still made good time.

And I told her not to stress, because now she can have a goal to beat that time next time, then again and again :)

After that, I took her and her friend Kaili to Dutch Bros for some frozen hot cocoa.

Cassi has been talking non-stop about Dutch Bros, which she has never been.....

So I told her we would go after the meet for a treat.

The we went to drop Kaili off, but then decided to take her with us because she was going to the football game tonight, and so was Cassi.

Kind of a big one....Mountain View vs. Rocky Mountain......where all Madi's old friends, from before we moved, go.

So we got home, they all had a quick bite to eat before we headed back out to take Madi, Cassi and Kaili to the game.

When I dropped them off, Vern called and said they were going to Zumberries, and invited us to come.

I told her I was right next to it at the school, so we met them there.

It was nice to sit and take a break for a bit!

After that, the little kids and I went to Walmart for a few things.

Then home and BED!!!!!!

No I am just waiting for the big girls to get dropped off.

Then I can go to bed!!!!!

Finish time:

14:38 (we think)