Feeling Sheepish

OK, don't listen to anything I say.  I totally caved.  I saw someone blog about personalized labels for school supplies and got giddy.  Oh!!... new school supplies are one of my favorite things about fall!  So we went and bought pencil boxes with crayons, pencils w/grippers, scissors, glue.  I even bought 2 new backpacks!! Ughhh, I'm so embarassed.  (MissC still was fine with her old backpack, bless her heart)  An hour after we got home we got a letter in the mail from MissC''s school teachers that said very clearly, "Do not bring any pencil boxes, pencils, crayons etc.  Bring only a backpack to school.  I'm such an idiot.  And even worse...We had Old Navy money left over from birthdays and decided to go pick up something new for the kids to wear on their first day....
....and new school shoes.

First Day of School 2010

Aren't they bright and beautiful?  I love the first day of school!

County Fair, Last Summer Hoorah

Funny things about The Fair:  Not only Gman, but MissC let that hairy tarantula and a scorpion crawl around in their hands.  LittleC went around waving and saying"hi" to all the hens.  MissL rode the pony without any help (very exciting).  And LittleC rode his first pony, well I take that back.  I think he's ridden Jesse.

Boys Book Club

Little Britches was one of the best books ever.  Filled with so many amazing life lessons that you want your boys (or girls) to learn.  A true story of a young boy who moved to Colorado with his family to try and make it as ranchers.  He has to take on a lot of responsibility at the young age of 8.  It's sooo great!  Gman loved it too, it's filled with exciting adventures.  Even Harry Potter got set aside for this book.  I did the book party a little different this time.  Since I sometimes get frustrated with the lack of involvement of some of the boys.  I have 10 or 11 boys in the club and usually get 2 or 3 to read the book.  Most don't even pick it up.  I decided to reward the ones who read this time.  3 boys besides Gman atleast attempted to read the book.  Unfortunately 2 were out of town, so I sent G and one buddy to the rodeo (there's lots of trick riding and cowboys in the book) with TY for the book party.

Summer Birthdays

Happy Birthday Kiddos!!

Back to School Prep

 I have been preparing for school in a different way this year.  We haven't bought any school supplies or any school clothes (other than birthday shopping from Grandma).  As much as I LOVE school supplies, and I do love school supplies.  It seems like they never really need them.  You go to "back to school" night and find out it's not the stuff you bought that they need.  And they have plenty of clothes to wear.  I haven't even bought the annual new backpack.  There's great backpacks here at home already, just pick one.  But...with the kids getting older and more involved in activities, I have been preparing by getting myself organized.  I gathered up all their old school projects and papers I planned on saving from multiple stacks and stashes here and there, and organized each child's into binders and boxes.  I cleaned out the crawl space (HUGE project) so I had somewhere to put these organized items, and because it had exploded and we probably wouldn't have a Christmas this year if I didn't...who knows where the Christmas tree is.  I recycled handy file envelopes to keep track of all the soccer, dance, piano, scouts, preschool, volunteering, etc.  I similarly organized bills, insurance, bla bla bla.  I am working on a new budget, and there's the storage/craft room, pantry, closets all calling my name.  I may not make it before school, but I'm getting there.  Papers are going to be my downfall, and remembering where I'm supposed to be and with whom/what has definitely stopped happening.  I can no longer rely on my own brain power.  If I don't get organized this could be a really bad year.  So...I feel like I'm nesting.  It's fun.  Of course, organizing is one thing, staying organized is a whole different story.  

It's A Jungle Out There!

Yurtin' It

Have you ever stayed in a yurt?  Kind of a cross between tent and cabin.  We rented 3 this weekend and went with my family to East Canyon Reservoir.  We had such a nice time, and not staying in a tent was a pleasant change.  It's the best night's sleep my kids (and therefore I) have ever had while camping.  I also rented a canoe, and my dad brought up a raft.  So, we played in the water quite a bit, Gman and MissL fished with Grandpa, we played some games, dodged a downpour, ate good food and had a great time.  I will definitely do the yurt thing again.  One lightning strike nearly took us all out, but watching this powerful storm was actually one of my favorite things.  Watching LittleC was another.  He was so happy the whole trip.  At this age, it is expected to have a few meltdowns, or bad moments and he didn't have any, he enjoyed every minute.

Annual Zoo Expedition

Raccoons

We are having coon trouble.  A whole family has been stealing cat food out of the shed by reaching their little paws through the gap between the threshold and the bottom of the door, then scratching a hole in the bag.  They've also knocked over and broken pots, dug holes in the garden, uprooting plants.  And you hear them at night, screaching and growling.  So Sunday night we set two traps.  Monday morning....nothing.  Monday night, I heard the trap spring closed.  I knew we had caught a racoon.  In the morning, TY went out to check.  He came back holding up 3 fingers.  We had caught 2 in one trap, and 1 in the other!  We also caught one last night too.  4 in 3 nights!  There is kind of a friendly competition right now among the neighbors to see who can catch more racoons.  We won.  Try and beat 3 in a night.