Second Day of School

I know what you are all thinking...Awesome outfit Cassi!!! But if any of you don't know Cassi, I think this outfit should sum her up nicely!

Today Madi rode the bus instead of me taking her...which I did yesterday...and Cassi loves to go out and wait with her. I told Cassi she had to get dressed though...so she did...so cute!
Oh crazy Cass!!!
Madi getting on the bus...I thought she would turn and wave...but I think she was glad to get away from Cassi and me!
A little later, Cassi is taking her 'biggest sister at home' responsibilities very seriously...I thought she was very sweet cuddling with Elsie.

First Day of School

First day of 2nd Grade for Madi Bell!

I don't know about anyone else, but I always remember being so scared for the first day of school...well, Madi is nothing like that. She was so excited! I was a wake this morning and I heard frantic footsteps upstairs...so I go and check and it was Madi making her bed. I asked her how she slept and she said in a rushed voice, "Good, but I woke up late." I told her to calm down, she didn't sleep late. She wanted to wake up at 7:00, so when she woke up and saw that the clock said 7:03, she mistook that for 7:30...but she was fine after that....but believe me, she would have had enough time if she woke up at 7:30! So funny!

She had plenty of time once she was ready, so she watched some cartoons for a little bit before we left for school.
Madi sitting at her desk...so cute!
After we went to her classroom, she said she wanted to go outside and wait in the line, so we went out...but then she remembered you NEEDED your backpack to hold your place in line, so we HAD to go back and get it. Then went outside and everyone was lined up anyway, so she stood in line. She has a ton of her friends in her class...it should be a good year! And her teacher seems very nice and I have heard great stuff about her!
This is the look I get when she is trying to tell me "Enough pictures already, MOM!"
Then I thought I would sneak in the school and get one last shot of her at her desk...well, after I took this picture she heard the shutter and turned around, so I flashed her an 'I love you' sign...well, whoops, she looked around to see if anyone saw...sorry Madi for being such an embarrassing Mom...I am sure it won't be as bad once Cassi starts school....I can stalk her...
Good luck Madi on your first day!!!

Madi's Birthday Sleepover

Usually Madi gets a great Birthday party. With her birthday in the summer it is always so easy to do a swim party or something. But this year...since I have been Mom of the year the last few months (sarcastic), I asked Madi if it would be okay to just invited a couple friends over and had a sleepover. She thought that would be just great. So she invited her two bestest friends Kara and Keva, and Cassi got to invite Aubree over, who is Kara's little sister...

The night started off with Pizza for dinner, then Dad popping in for a surprise visit from work. The girls thought that was pretty fun...he didn't get to stay long, but the girls liked it anyway! Then cake and presents...movie and bedtime...all the usual making of a birthday slumber party...but I cannot believe how much these girls TALK!!!



These girls were up late...it was actually about 9:00 when they headed up for bed...but by about 11:30 I had to keep telling them to stop talking and GO TO SLEEP!!!
I think they all had a fun time!

Idaho Fallen Firefighter Memorial

We drove home Sunday Morning because I had the opportunity to take pictures at the unveiling of the Idaho Fallen Firefighter Memorial here in Boise. It was a neat thing to be at. They had the bagpipes and everything. If you haven't heard 'Amazing Grace' played in bagpipes, you haven't heard anything. So powerful, so beautiful.

The sculpture is perfect and so amazing with the detail. What a neat thing to have so close to us. As you can guess, it was pretty emotional. They read off each name of every Idaho Firefighter who has died in the line of duty, placed a rose on the memorial and rang the 'Last Alarm'. Everyone who lives close by should visit it...it is along the greenbelt, right by the Boise Fire training tower. It is worth a visit.

Night of Day 3

After the Arielympics we headed out to a work party. The company that My Mom, and big sister Emily, and Brother-in-law Alberto work for puts on a pretty awesome work party. There was so much to do...so much to eat! It was great!!! The girls had a blast...thanks for letting everyone tag along!

After eating some very yummy Chinese food and getting our names printed in Chinese letters, we headed out to where the games were, and they got a ton of prizes. Then of course snow cones and Cotton candy, then pony rides...and SOOO much more! In the top picture you can see Elsie making the sign for Horse...she thought it was pretty neat.

Down the shark blow-up slide with Dad!
The girls wanted to climb the rock wall, so Dad got to hold the necklaces...isn't he a hottie!
Right before this picture..Madi yelled at me "Just take the picture." She felt a little unsteady I guess, and wanted to make sure I got my picture...before she fell, which she didn't...she did a good job.
And Cassi was a little monkey...scaling the wall like a pro!

Madi and Cassi wanted to get their hair spray-painted...and we didn't want Elsie to feel left out...

I think she would have been okay with being left out! Poor kid!

She got over it...playing with buckles again...the broken off buckle from her cousins stroller.
Brent had a little fun too...Elsie didn't like that either!
Then they boxed. I think it is safe to say that Madi won...but they had so much fun!

The First Annual Arielympics (still on Day 3)

Ariel, the baby of the family, had some games all planned...we dubbed them the Arielympics! I am pretty sure Ariel and only Ariel could get EVERYONE to participate! Good job Ariel...I believe Melodie and Rachel also helped a lot...

Anyway, she had lots of fun field day type activities planned and it was a lot of fun. Although, I did find out quickly just how much of my muscle I have lost...wow...

Here are some fun pictures...a lot, again...sorry

Mom got attacked by some little ones....so she wasn't gonna let them get away with that!
Then of course...Andy had to get attacked...we missed that kid!
Andy, getting attacked again...really, he brings it on himself!!!
I had to throw this one in of my brother-in-law Tom...love the leg, Tommy!!!
My cute Dad...I think he ripped the towel out of my Moms hands!
Ooooh...almost caught it!
Madi and I made a good team, if I do say so myself.
Um...my Mom really gets into this stuff...not only with CHEATING on all the other games...but almost throwing Lily along with the water balloon...just teasing Mom...Love you!!!
The balloon that Ariel and Melodie threw on this throw...HIT ME!!! Lucky for them I have cat-like reflexes...well, not really, but at least my camera didn't get wet.
This was the pass the egg game....which again, my Mother and her team CHEATED!
We really had so much fun though! Thanks for putting it all together!

Day 3- Irrigation etc...

After family pictures, it was time for irrigation. The kids had fun playing in the water, and I am sure they helped a little bit every-so-often.
The older kids thought it would be more fun to work on the club-house some more.
Cassi and Reagan taking a break during irrigation
After lunch, Elsie was SOOO tired!!! Brent had fun rocking her in the hammock. We all rested up for what was in store for the rest of the day!