Monday August 21

We had such a fun day today!

I got up this morning and went for a 6 mile run.

I made a quick run to the store for some snacks...

Then we loaded up, met up with the Morgan's and headed to the river!

We stopped and had a picnic to watch the eclipse in the park before heading up to the river.

We were not in total eclipse zone...but we were 99.4% and it was pretty darn cool.

Yes, it would have been so cool to see it totally covered......but we are still happy with the experience we had :)

The craziest thing that I didn't even think about was the drop in temperature!

It was crazy!

And the lighting became so eerie looking!

It was pretty darn cool and I think everyone enjoyed it.

We all headed up to the top of the river (all 12 of us in the Suburban).

The best part, there was almost no one on the river!

We had it to ourselves most of the time!

Pretty great.

We got a little short on time as we were nearing the end....Sydney had to be to a soccer game at 3:30 and Cassi and Avery had volleyball at 3:30.

When we finally got off the river, it was almost 3!!!!!

We rushed to get in the car to head up to pick up the suburban, but realized that Stacia's van key was in the suburban!!!!!

So Brent took the shuttle up and brought the suburban down.

So the girls all ended up being late for their activities...but that's okay.

It was worth all the fun :)

Dad finally got a chance to fix Madi's broken window!

Well, at least time to take it a part and order the needed part.

Madi tried to be helpful :)

Elsie was being creative this evening with her Dominos :)

I was impressed with her tower.

Sunday August 20

I love my Sunday's with my baby girl!!!!

Everly loves to sit with me for most of Sacrament meeting, and I just love her 💓

We all love her!!!!!

Elsie was a stinker about going to class today....again!

I even threatened that if she couldn't go to primary, then she couldn't go to school!!!!!

But in the end, it was the bribe of getting ice cream after PT on Tuesday that got her to go.

Stinker!!!!!

BUT....dad and Port told me that she helped TWO TIMES in sharing time today!

Dad recorded a little video of her singing with this fun little face cover :)

I took a screenshot of it.

We had a nice relaxing day today.

This evening we went and had some s'mores with the Halls.

It is always fun to get together...

After a couple meltdowns we figured it was time to go home.

Tomorrow is the big eclipse!

We have decided that tomorrow is the day we are gonna go float the river, since this is our only chance to do it this summer!

It's gonna be a fun time :)

They all decided that Mater needed a Sunday picture done each week too :)

Saturday August 19

Stated the day with an early morning run.

Then the kids and I headed to Mary Mac where Madi's friend, Kyler, was doing his Eagle scout project.

We repainted the states map on the asphalt, repainted the picnic tables and benches around the tree.

Then we moved the planter boxes....and all the dirt in them, to a different location.

He had a lot of helpers out there.

There were two shifts, Madi and I and Port went back for the second shift, which was just putting a second coat on the picnic tables.

It all turned out really nice.

The kids got cleaning done and books read.

Cassi and Elsie cooked some cupcakes.

Then when dad came home, we went on another date night :)

This time with Sherrie and Justin.

We tried out a new place, Habit, and it was super yummy!

Then got Ice cream at Freddie's.

Cassi watched the Hall kiddos and they were really good for her :)

We are very excited that dad is now done with his class!!!!!

I am ready to have him around more often!!!!!

Friday August 18

There wasn't a lot of running around today, just more volleyball back and forth.

I did get a lot of stuff done in the laundry room...sorting, washing, picking up, folding socks!

I also FINALLY went through the girls camp pictures.

I need to make a slideshow, soon......I need to find an easy way to make a slideshow!!!!

It is our back to camp night in a couple weeks, so I need to get going on that!

So those were two big things I have been meaning to get to!

The kiddos did get some jobs done around the house.

The little ones got their reading done....so they got to have some TV time too.

Port also went swimming at Eli's house.

This evening cannon came over.

Brent had another late night, but we decided it would be nice to get out.

I feel like I haven't even been able to see him or talk to him!!!!!

It was nice, we went to Johnny Carino's and then we got some dessert for us and the kids at Kneaders.

On the way home we took some leftovers to Madi at the snow cone shack for dinner.

We also made a Walmart trip, which seems to always be the case on date night :)

Whatever we do, it is just nice to spend time together 💓

Thursday August 17

Porter woke up the same time as Dad and I did.

I got him breakfast, Dad left and then I left to go running.

When I got back home, he was sound asleep on the couch :)

Silly boy.

Cassi had volleyball again today and then she had an hour in between before she had to go back to the school for some student council stuff.

Madi worked a few hours.

Port had Koy and Titan over.

Elsie got a lot of reading done today.

We have figured out that it takes her 10 minutes to suck through a dum dum sucker.

So I give her two suckers each time she reads.

Works out pretty great!

I need to find a treat that will work for Porter......

This evening was a little more chill.

Port did have his first football practice.

That was fun for him.

Cassi went swimming with her friend Laney.

And then dad moved the cows to the other pasture today too.

He has been so worn out with these classes this week!

Only two more days!

I have such a hard time with this schedule!!!!

I rely so much on having Brent around!

This 7am-7pm schedule is brutal!!!!!

Wednesday August 16

There was quite a bit of running back and forth with Cassi today.

She helped at the school for the 6th grade registration.

Then later on, she had volleyball again.

She finds out what team she is on tomorrow and she is a bit nervous....

But she has tried her best and we will see what happens.

Elsie had a fun little lunch date this afternoon.

Kyra wanted to take Elsie to lunch for her birthday, and today was the day.

Kyra really wanted to take her to Yogurtz grill.

It was a fun time :)

After we came home from that, I left again to get my broken tooth fixed.

It is just a temporary until the root canal gets fixed then the crown will gets fixed after that :(

It is all just a bummer!!!!!!

Expensive bummer!

Dang teeth!

Anyway, then this evening, we had all the youth here to play human Battleship.

I think it was fun, but also there are way too many kids to try and make happy.

The younger ones liked it, and the older ones kind of didn't have as much fun.

Then we filled water balloons and let them have at each other, then had donuts.

I think all in all, it was a good evening.

Tuesday August 15

Okay...I am getting so tired of all these packed full days!!!!!!

I just wanna stay home and do laundry and clean out a drawer every now and then :)

Ha ha ha....

Madi left this morning before daddy left.

It is Sydney's birthday and she went skydiving!!!!!

So Madi went to go and watch her.

She now really wants to skydive....good thing we have a few years to prepare for that :)

Dad spent another day teaching....this time up on the mountain.

He is gonna be so exhausted by the end of this week!

He already is after day two!

But he loves it too, so that is good.

I went to the gym.

Cassi had registration today....we walked around to her classes.

It's funny how the school doesn't seem as big as it was last year.....but I am sure it will grow in size again when Elsie goes there next year!!!!!

When I got home, Port was playing at Cannon's and Elsie had a play date with Sierra, so I took the chance to take Madi on her Mommy shopping date.

We had a lot of fun.

One on one time is the best!

When Dad came home this evening he finished making some volleyball net posts, with little hooks for the net :)

We are using them for our YW activity tomorrow.....I just love how handy he is with whatever needs to get done :)

He's pretty great.

Monday August 14

Well, the "getting to bed early" plan didn't last long!!!!!

Ha ha ha!

I went for my run, and to the gym this morning.

When I got home and ready, I went and picked Cassi up from Volleyball tryouts.

Then Elsie and I got to go to Mary Mac to meet her teacher!!!!!

Yay!

It was very fun.

And you wanna know what is funny???

Her teacher was showing her around.....and she said she had a little friend that was left in her room from the other teacher and wondered if Elsie wanted to meet it.

It was a stuffed BUFFALO!!!!!!

Now if that is not a sign that this is the class she is supposed to be in, I don't know what is!!!!!!

Her teacher seems very nice and I am excited to get to know her and work with her to give Elsie the best year possible!!!!

I also met Port's teacher, but Port wasn't with us :)

She seems great too!

After we got back home, I took Cassi out and we went school shopping.

We had a fun time together :)

I really do enjoy this one on one time with my kiddos!

Dad is teaching a class all week, so we get to see what it is like to have a regular dad job....and it stinks!!!!

He didn't get home until just before 7!

Ya, I don't like that!

Tonight we had a neighborhood birthday dinner at Bubbles house.

She made us her amazing french toast!

We are so lucky to have such amazing neighbors and so blessed to have these people in our lives!!!!!