Back to School 2013

I am a total slacker.  School started and so did my crazy.  We start after Labor Day every year, around here.

 Truman started 3rd grade with Mrs. Blunt.

 Elleree is in Kindergarten with Mrs. Walters.  

Does anyone else hate half day Kindergarten?  It breaks up my whole day I have 2 hours before I pick Elleree up, then 2 hours until I have to pick Dillon up.  My whole day is in 2 hour increments.  I get doing something and oh it's time to pick up whoever.  Sorry had to vent there for a minute.

 Dillon is in 5th grade with Mrs VanOstran.  

Same teacher he had last year. That is how they do there Gifted and Talented program.  They have the same teacher for two years, heaven help us.

 All ready to go.

Beckett was mad he wasn't getting his picture taken so, here is one with them all.  Happy School year everyone!!

Truman's a New Man

 So Truman was finally baptized! Only my parents showed up to the diner before the baptizm so we didn't think anyone would show up for the actual event.  We were wrong.

 We got to the building and Erin (my cousins wife) was already there with her little girls.  Then Roberta and Gordon showed up.  Then Heath and Emilee and Dakota came.  Then my friend Jana came.  Then I realized that my other friend Shawnee was already there.  

It was wonderful to see everyone come and support Truman.  

I felt bad because no one in Jason's family was able to come.  You can't be two places at once, and his brother and sister in-law were blessing their new baby on the same weekend.  The blessing was in Wyoming and so everyone went to welcome/see the new baby.  They all made sure they were at his birthday, so it was okay, but we missed them.  So now Truman is a new man.

Truman Turns Eight!

Truman has hit the big oh eight.

With that, it means he gets a party.  I am a mean mom and only allow my kids a birthday party when they are 8, 12,  and 16 maybe 18 we'll see.

Truman chose to have a water party.  After much deliberating I finally bought this huge water slide. We also had the pool, and a slip n' slide and sprinkler under the trampoline.  

For the first few hours no one showed up so I was really stressed that he wouldn't have anyone at his party.  Some times summer birthdays are hard that way, because you don't have school to invite the friends like you normally would.

About two hours into it people started trickling in.  I was happy and so was Truman. 

Later we had a party just for family.  He had an ice cream cake which always makes it easier for me.

My parents where not able to make it my mom came earlier in the week and stayed with the kids for four days so she was ready to go home.

Most of Jason's siblings and their familys were there.  My aunt Kit and Uncle Kent came.  It was nice to see them all.  Truman was spoiled by everyone!

He got scripture and a case from my parents and sister because that is a tradition in our family.  He is going to be baptized.

Here is his awesome baptizem announcement.  My sister is sooo great.  Once again she took the pictures and came up with this really cute announcement.  How lucky am I.....?

I am so happy and grateful for Mr. Truman.  He is such a special kid.  He is very friendly and not shy at all.  I like to say that he has never met a stranger.  Truman loves attention, even negative.  He can be kind and sweet.  He loves video games Mine-craft and Skylanders are his favorite right now.  Money is his favorite thing.  I can't believe how big he is now, and how small he used to be.  We love you little man! 

Redfish 2013

Redfish is always awesome and this year totally rocked!!

We played in the sand with each other.  Okay maybe I didn't, but other people did.

This picture is a prime example of the difference between Allison's girls and mine. Elleree never had a chance with me as her mom.

Beckett often did some solitary playing, when he wasn't following Eli around to hit him.

Rylie was very patient and caught a couple of chipmunks.  She and Travis had big plans, but it didn't work out.

The kids all skied a ton.  I get so proud when I see them get up, they are better than I ever was at their age.

They seem to enjoy it more than I did too.  I hope it will turn into a life sport for them.  It has treated me well.

Allison got a couple pictures of me skiing.

I defiantly have a good side.

She got some of Jason too.

It helps to see yourself and what you are doing wrong.

The kids tubed, and sometimes I am sad that I am getting so old and lazy that my willingness to go tubing dwindles each year.

We were there the same time as our childhood friends the Huffakers.  We used to go every year to Redfish with them.  Now they all have families of their own, it was good to see them and catch up.  It brought back so many memories.

The girls had a dancing party in the boat.

Truman, and few of my other kids threw tantrums.

Beckett was his usual monster self.  I just love this picture because it has Elleree's butt in the background.  My mom says she is just like me!

These are some of my awesome cousins Darcie, Douglas and Travis.  I am closer to these guys than I am to some of my siblings.  I love them!

These two are the little twin cousins.  They were born only 10 days apart and have always been silly.

We did some napping.

We did some people/kid/water watching.  We always like to just sit relax and see what there is to see.  Don't be jealous of my hat.  I call it my sexy, so that when I put it on I can say "I got my sexy on".

On the way home we stopped to get pictures with the cousins.

We also stopped because we got a flat tire on the boat.  Thank goodness Allison was behind us and called to tell us to stop.  She said she thought at first we were running over stuff, then she realized it was coming from us.  She saved us from having to get a new rim, just barely.  

It was a good trip.  I can't wait until next year!

Smashing in Friends

There are things that I try to do every year with friends.  This last month I was crazy lucky to get to see a ton of them and spend time with them.  

 Every year my friend Jamie and I try to go to Ross Park with the kids.  She and I met in college and have been friends for almost 14 year now.  When she said that and I couldn't believe it had been that long, but it has been.

Another friend Lori got to come up for a whole weekend with her little boys.  I never got any pictures, but they were super cute and I have missed them so much.  She is a friend I met in Idaho Falls when we lived there and used to try to keep me sane.

 I got to go shopping with my friend Katie.  We decided last year we were going to make a girls trip shopping every year.  So we do some mad spending and have a great time doing it.  Katie is the only friend that I keep in touch with from high school.

I also got to spend two days with my new freinds Jana and Dara.  Dara moved to Arizona and now to Texas.  I met them both in Twin. We decided to go visit her in Utah while she was on a stop over from moving.  I am super glad that they like hanging with me.

 

I realize how blessed I am to have such great friends that are will to come see me.  Thanks guys and I really miss you a ton!

Vaden Reunion 2013

My dad's family is great!  Every year they try to have a family reunion with all of his siblings.  There are eight of them all together so it is difficult to get all of them there with all of their families. I think it is harder now that my grandma has passed away, but they still try.  I always try to make it if I can.  I am super lucky to have such an awesome family.  I am close to my aunts and they are all the bees knees!  

 Unfortunately the only pictures I got were ones of the kids on the four wheelers. The one below is of my uncle he is always so patient with my kids.  We did way more than just ride four wheelers though.  I brought the boat down, so we played at the beach and on the boat.

 We made cool crafts, like doodle bags and wooden flamingos.  We had wonderful meals, well the ones I was not in charge of bringing things for.  I kind of forgot the hamburger patties for hamburgers one night.

We talked and laughed.  It is just nice to see everyone.  Often that is the only time I do see them, so it is wonderful.  I am so glad my aunts are willing to put forth the time and energy to put them together.  I am grateful for such a fabulous family!

Allison with Kids in Tow

Have I told you that I hate the fact that my sister moved so far away?  Well if I have not let me do so now.  It hasn't really been that long since I saw Allison last, only four months, but I had not seen her kids in almost a year.  This last month she came to visit for almost a month and it was a crazy busy month.  

 I picked them up at the Salt Lake airport, so we had to take advantage of being in the area.  They don't get to see this anymore.

 We went to temple square and got a tour of the Conference center which was very interesting.

 Ivan and Dakota were able to come with us, which made it even more fun.  We got home late that night after going out to dinner with them.

 Then we had a day to play and for the cousins to get to know each other again.  In Beckett's case that meant hitting Eli every chance he got.

We then went to my dad's family reunion.

I didn't get too many pictures, I was too busy having fun.  The kids loved riding the four wheelers. 

After the reunion, Allison then went to her in-laws.

She stayed with them for only a week, then back with us again.  Allison went to Redfish which was a blast as always.

Then she came home with me and we got to hang out for another day. 

 We did a little stamping of metal, I had pictures but then I deleted them, I suck.

 The kids played on my new awesome slide.  Then that night I had to take them to the airport.  I hate saying good bye.

 These guys don't get to see each other very often anymore and it makes me sad.  I remember when we both lived in Idaho Falls and they saw each other almost everyday. 

Even without seeing each other that often they are still very close for cousin, and for that I am grateful!