missing them

I am in Portland for the week for a very special and exciting wedding! (i'll write more about it soon!) When I asked buddy how the kids were he said "Isabella is sleeping with a picture of you" awh.

I have to admit, a week away, no kids, all to myself, its relaxing! I keep thinking, I need to make the kids dinner, or I need to check on Moses..but no...I dont :) But of course there is no place better than at home with the ones I love. (well, my parents house is a close 2nd) I found these pictures tonight and they made me smile and reminded me how very much I love those crazy kids and superman we call dad.

I didnt cry today

This is a miracle! I think I wanted to, or thought I should, but walking Bella to school for her first day of "real" school, meaning, all day, was a very happy thing! We met the teacher, she knew some friends, she was in familiar surroundings which made both of us feel good. And, it helped that she was SO over me taking her picture this morning. I think I may have actually embarrassed her, as demonstrated by the less than enthusiastic look on her face when I asked her to smile in front of the school. (I cant blame her!)




Its been a quiet morning in the house, I don't think Moses knew quite what to do with himself, but we managed.



Bella's favorite part of the day:

"We got to have lunch, and man was it loud in there. I sat next to a new friend but then someone took my place so I sat next to someone else. Do you know that when you eat at school you don't need money? I thought I had to have money but you just walk up to the lady and tell her what you want, its a miracle. I didn't want to hurt your feelings so I ate my sandwich and chips because I love sandwiches, and the smell of books....and I read your love note"

I love the feeling of a schedule again. Although summer was great and fun and I was sad to see it ending, the Fall brings apple crisps, cooler breezes and earlier bedtimes. We go from running in the sun and sprinklers to planning this years Halloween costume. Its great.

Back to school

Funny cute little girl. The look on her face sums up how I feel about summer ending and school starting, its just gotta happen. I am excited for her though. When I ask her what she is excited about 1st grade, she says "Everything". Like last year, I do find myself wondering if we have given her all the necessary skills she needs to have a smooth transition into a longer day, more homework and possibly (lilely) more social "issues". I know she is ready, and I know she will be fine. She is a smart, kind, thoughtful, funny little girl. I just dont know that I am ready..selfish, I know.






I have a question Mom.....






are we done yet? I'm ready to go!

Jaide's sneaky peeky

I absolutely love that my friends want me to take their family pictures! I always wonder if I "am doing a good enough job" Truth is, I learn with every new photo shoot, and I love love love it more and more every time. I can see myself getting better. But enough about me, this is Jaide. She is beautiful and so fun! We had a minor catastrophe with my camera equipment so we had to re shoot the night after we had spent 2 hours getting great shots! She was such a great sport. Sorry to keep you waiting guys!

should I?

Buddy was at his wits end last night and just ready to go home. I was taking forever shopping at the DI. I am so addicted to the deals there on name brand clothing. Anyway, I ventured out to the "yard" and found an incredible antique school desk! I snagged it and cant wait to take back to school pictures with it! But...school isnt here yet, and I still have more summer pictures.

I love this. so.much.

SUCH a great day!!

Its been a long time coming, 6 years to be exact and Buddy is finally done with school. He finished his last class, and hopefully his last school commute to Provo
today. Some may know, but we thought school was done about three weeks ago. Right when it was coming time to wrap up, it shouldn't have been a surprise, but a series of events made it so school was extended by 3 more weeks. It also meant a pretty hefty tuition bill that came as quite a surprise and was due just days before the last day of class. At that time, things were a little uncertain for me. I wasn't sure what to make of all of the things that in my opinion, were going terribly wrong and NOT according to my plan! Ha!

Well, I should have realized then like most things (thankfully) nothing really goes according to my plan, but that doesn't mean that its a bad thing. In looking back at that time today, we realize that it was the best thing that could have happened, and a consider it such a blessing that we were re-routed, so to speak.

No one gets through life with a few setbacks, but if we can learn from them as opposed to focusing on them, then we can truly succeed. I am so proud of Buddy. So happy for his choice to sacrifice sleep, sanity and sometimes his mind to provide a better life for his family. I think he will make an excellent nurse. Now, the day that we know is is officially an RN (hopefully 2 weeks from now) you will definitely be hearing our shouts of joy from here to China!! Yay Buddy, way to push through and make your goal a reality. You have one proud wife!



And of course, it goes without saying that we could not have made it through without the support of our family. We will forever be grateful!!!

lagoon

Wow! I know I am one of many in the blogging world to start lamenting about the end of summer. I am truthfully very excited and very sad. Excited because I know Isabella cant wait for 1st grade, yet sad because all day? I'll miss her little face around here during the day. For most of the summer, we have slept in until 10:00ish, read library books, played games, played in the sprinklers, not really having a daily plan. Now it will be back to schedules and early mornings. Which will have its good points too...I guess :) We went to Lagoon this year. It was better than last year in the fact that we actually had money to get the kids on more rides. Moses is going to be my roller coaster Buddy, he went on all the fast ones with me, while Bella stayed with Dad and watched. I would post the picture of me and Moses on the roller coaster, but, well, I dont like myself in it. So I'll just do this one. I have alot of catching up to do on our summer pictures!

girls

I took this one of my mom in mind, she wants a great picture of the girls and I just love this one!

bridal veil excursions

There was a month or so that we went to Bridal Veil falls every week while we were waiting for Buddy to get out of school. We stopped going when we heard on the news about the roaming bear that made the area his home for a while. Can you imagine playing there and seeing a bear? Oh that would freak me out. It wasnt threatening from what I understand, I am happy that they were able to get him higher in the mountains. It was so sad for a while, so many bears were being shot for roaming into campgrounds and such. I understand that you cant underestimate the power of a bear, but it made me sad to hear of so many being shot in such a short amount of time. Anyway, I digress, Bridal Veil will always be a fun place for us. The kids call it "Gods Wonders" I think thats beautiful.

Mike

My brother and niece visited this week, to say it was a fun week would be putting it mildly. Mike is So funny and just makes me happy to be around him. He makes me laugh all the time. And Brenna, that sweetheart, her and Bella are the same age and best friends, they were practically inseparable. Moses loves them and probley stayed up way to late most nights, without a nap, but he didn't want to miss out on the fun. One night, he wanted to go out to dinner, so we get there and he notices its cheaper to be 5 rather than 6. We get to the cashier and this is what happened....

Mike: 3 adults,2 5 year olds and a 2 year old.

Bella: No Uncle Mikey, Im 6

Mike: Ssh Bella, you are 5

Bella: (Looking at the cashier) I'm 6!

Mike: (in front of the cashier and in a regular voice) Shh, Mikey's trying to save a buck fifty, you can be 5 for a minute. (he then looks at the cashier, winks and smiles)

Yep, she got in as a 5 year old. Maybe you had to be there to fully appreciate the humor of the situation, but we were all laughing so hard, including the cashier. That's just what Mike does, he makes people laugh, and he's charming, so he can pretty much get what he wants. We loved their visit, thanks for coming, we miss you!!

birthday mail

Someone was looking for birthday mail...and he got it! Thank you Grandma C! :) Even as a 30 something year old, I still have a testimony of the power of a card in the mail making ones day, really, there is nothing better! Moses had a great birthday today, oh, he was a joy! I cant get over my baby being 3. He was so excited about everything and kept saying "happy birthday to Moses" Love Love LOVE him so much!!









Hopefully this is the year he decides to stop crapping in his pants.

the eve

We are on the eve of turning 3 tonight. The balloons are being blown, the cake has been ordered and the wrapping commences tonight over pizza and sierra mist. The terrible two's never really showed up, but boy are we feeling the terrible three's. Hopefully this tired monkey will wake up energized (nice) and ready for his big day tommorow!

cousins

We are so happy to have Mike and Brenna here this week! They are SO much fun! We spent 5 hours at the pirate pool yesterday...and 7 hours at Cherry Hill today. Needless to say, they are pooped!

caught ya!

We told him not to drink the hose water, but he cant resist that coldness on his lips. On hot days, who CAN resist? I remember drinking hose water, I didnt get sick. I dont think.

summer blogging

I was recently cleaning up our hard drive and found so many pictures of our summer that I never got around to posting. Most of my issues with blogging is that I dont always know what to say. Sometimes, I just really love a picture but I dont know what to say to go along with it. So to solve my blogging issues, and most importlently make sure our 2009 blog book is not incomplete, I thought I would post a picture a day for the remaing 2 weeks before school starts of our lovely summer together. I must say, its been a goodie.

And a classic Bella phrase was born again this morning, it made me SO happy, you dont even know. Buddy and Isabella

Lets get your shoes on, its time to go

Where are we going?

To a happy place

Happier than here? There is no place happier than our happy home!

Bella, you DONT EVEN KNOW how that makes a moms heart sing!! Another doosey is on my sidebar. She never dissapoints in the sass department.

sunshine

They bring their own sunshine everywhere they go. I have so much fun being their mom.

Isnt this cool?

We went to the beach last night because I wanted to practice backlighting. I dont know that I got my backlighting perfected, but I did get this cool shot, and it wasnt an accident, which makes me SO happy :) The only thing I wish was that her hair wasnt so crazy..but heh, what do you do, she's 6...and crazy. To put it in contrast, it was bright as day out when I took this. I just think its a cool shot. thankyouverymuch :)

patent pending

It was quiet in the house. As it should be at 11pm. I hear a movement coming from the kids room so I opened the bathroom door, with my camera in hand to see this.

I cant sleep mom, so I have a genious idea to put this shirt over my eyes to keep them closed.

As inventive as this may be, what I find amusing is that she was just sitting in the doorway staring at the back side of the door. No doubt another minute of that would have solicited a call to me, but knowing how I insist she does not get out of bed once she goes, she wasnt about to get herself a talking to...not for at least a minute anyway.

After a few minutes of musing over her creative approach, she took full advantage my my attention and put on a performance that would make even Sharpay look dull. We kissed goodnight..again..and she went to bed. I think she's asleep now. I think.

friends

When Teresa called and said she would be in town, it made my day! She is one of the most sweatest, gifted, kindest and got-it-together friends I know. She asked if I wouldnt mind taking a few family pictures for them, it was so fun to see them and be able to catch up a little. I love that some of my favorite people have reason to visit Utah so much so I can see them. Thanks for calling Teresa, It was SO good to see you :) I am on a huge black and white phase lately, Teresa, I will be sure to send you colored versions also!

This is my favorite of the day, ooh, I just love it, isnt she so sweet!?








LOVE this

Grandma Coleman

We had a great time in Seattle with Grandma! We havnt seen her for far too long and it was nice to be with her. Unforunatly, we had to cut our stay short because of school (another post altogether) but the few days we did have there were wonderful! I didnt get any photo's of us together, but I did get some at the airport. The kids were way excited to be there. We HEART Seattle and Grandma Coleman!

Davids baby

We were able to see my brother David on the way out of Seattle for a few minutes. He just got a new "baby" with his girlfriend Rosanna. Isnt frankie the cutest? I wanted to put him in my purse and take him home, he is one adorable little pug!! He asked if I would do a mini photo shoot with Frankie, how funny, of course I would, I never turn down the opportunity to get my camera out :)