The surprise!

I almost forgot the biggest event/surprise in September. Lowell surprised me for my birthday with a weekend away in Park City with no kids. (All arrangements made) I was so surprised and excited to know that we could be together doing whatever we wanted and also to enjoy a meal with no interruptions.
We were to go over Labor Day weekend but it seems that I was so excited I got myself sick. No really, I started throwing up Friday morning and didn't really feel better until Sunday night. We were both were bummed. It was terrible. Lowell called the hotel, babysitter (Aunt Cristie) to see if we could arrange it for the next weekend. It all worked out and we went then.
Thanks to all because it was a blast but especially to my wonderful husband!

I know it has been AWHILE!

It is amazing to me how helpless you can feel when your computer breaks down and is not available. I finally got it back and would like to catch everyone up on the events that have occurred this September.
For Austin, flag football has started and is in full swing. He practices or plays a game 4 nights a week. He has enjoyed it even though they have only won one game so far. This league is a whole new experience for these boys. He also keeps me running with scouts and piano lessons.
Halle has started clogging and truly loves it. She also is involved in soccer. She has made 3 or 4 goals a game.
Thank goodness that Jett is not involved in any activities because I feel like this month has come and gone with how busy we have been.
I was just called to be in the Young Women's as the Laurel advisor. It is so fun to be around these young girls and think back to my dating years (oh how I wouldn't go back) but also keeps me going 1-2 nights a week.
Lowell is busy with work with his boss leaving and all the budget cuts from the state. It sure makes life interesting but we are thankful that we have a job in this economy.
So there it is in a nutshell. Life on the fast track. Somedays I think I know this is only the beginning of feeling like the taxi driver but at the same time I love it!

Halle starts kindergarten

Do you think she is excited for kindergarten?!?!? Well she has been counting down the days for a week or so. We have picked out outfits over and over but she settled on the monkey shirt, monkey earrings, monkey clip, denim skirt and new flip-flops. She was adorable.
I was quickly informed that I should just leave her at the door and she would go in for herself. I think that made me sad more than anything. I immediately got butterflies and nervous for her because I wasn't there to help unload the backpack and help her along. Crazy mom, I know, admittance is the first step, right?!?! I know that this independence is a good thing and she informed me that she was glad I left her there. So after fighting my inner self I was glad that I did not go in. She loves her teacher and told me a list of details and things that she learned on the first day. All in all another great first day of school.

Start of School

Here is my little boy that is growing up too fast. Third grade started today and he had a hard time going to sleep and woke up early because he was so excited for school. I will take this excitement as long as I can because someday it will stop.

Austin's comment about the first day of third grade was , "It was WICKED AWESOME." To me that is a pretty good first day of school. He likes his teacher and loves that he has friends in his class.

I love you Austin and am so glad that you love to learn!

My Beautiful Girl

I remember when I was pregnant with Halle and her Dad wished for her to be a beautiful girl. Well I think that he got his wish. She is beautiful! Em wanted to do her hair all curly. It took her a little longer than she thought it would but look at how great she looks!

Visiting with Auntie Em and Carter

Auntie Em and Carter came to visit us this week for a last summer vacation before school life kicks in for all of us. We had a blast together. It was so good to get in a little sister one-on-one. We did a little of everything - shopping, boating, movies, playing and eating. I only really got pictures of the boating experiences but here are the highlights and funny things Carter said and did on the boat.

Carter decided he was the designated flagman! He did a fabulous job until the flag was used for his nap time shade. (see picture below) I think the boat completely did him in.

Here he is venturing out in the water with his Mom. He liked the whole boating thing a lot better when the motor was off.

Trains! Trains! and trains!

I never thought that I could raise two boys that liked trains so much. As a toddler Austin loved trains and now his little brother is fascinated with them as well. He loves to play with Thomas, watch trains go by on the tracks and watch Thomas DVD's (we all know how incredibly boring these are). Anyway, they both love it so we let them play and enjoy. Today, we went to a model railroad museum. It had a whole room full of trains, tracks and signals with grown up boys that loved to play with trains STILL. Jett loved it!

Watching the trains switch engines outside the museum building.

Austin still liking trains unless you asked him if he did.

Halle telling me that I need to get a picture of her too by the trains so here it is.

Jett knows what signals are and points them out as we pass them in town. He also lets me know that we are going over tracks and how many we just went over. I guess Pocatello is a great place to live with train lovers because it is an old train city.