Back to school pictures

Here are some photos I took of the kids right before school started:

Being a typical guy, Brian only took a couple pictures while he was on his trip to NY. 

Here is the view from his hotel room. It was the same hotel we stayed in last time we were there and ironically was the same room just one floor below. 

One of the hotel elevators:

The UN had been meeting all week and he came upon the Italian Prime Minister arriving at the Italian Embassy:

This is the only photo of the nearly completed Freedom Tower. Part of a metal beam. It must have once been part of the original World Trade Center.

And of course the Wall Street Bull. Well, his ribs. 

He also did some running while there. He went on a 13 miler from Times Square all the way down and across the Brooklyn bridge then back again, then the next day around the whole Central Park. He said they were the most fun runs he has ever done.

Our sprinklers are almost done! They just have to put the heads on and test it out and we are good to go. Friday night we had tickets to the BYU Hawaii game. Mom and dad were here and Kim and Carl came up with some kids we we had a big tailgate party in the parking lot before the game. Brian's dad and Dave and Ty joined us as well. ESPN was there recording and apparently we made tv! Dad really knows how to show his BYU spirit:

Some cheerleaders even visited us

August and September

These past 2 months have been filled with yard work, indoor work, soccer, and school.

We decided to move Shelby and Graci downstairs and turn their room  upstairs into the baby room. This is what the basement room used to look like: 

It was a workout/storage room. After 2 months of little by little work, this is what it looks like now:

It turned out darling!

I have their beds moved in, but we have a bit more work like installing doorknobs and a bit of caulking. It makes for a great room for kids to share with 2 closets and it is bigger than the other rooms. Surprisingly, they do really well sleeping down there. 

Rian started 5th grade this year, Kenni 3rd, and Graci 1st!

Shelby is my little buddy here at home and we do everything together. 

Here is the first day of school:

When they got home that day I asked them all how it went. Graci said "This was the worst day of my life. All I did was work and color" It was so cute to see her sad face when she said it. First grade is a tough adjustment. She is doing a lot better now. However, picture day was also "the worst day of her life".

The 3 oldest are cloggers now! They have been wanting to take lessons for 2 years so we finally signed them up. They love it!

We have sure kept busy with soccer at least 3 times a week, homework, piano, and clogging. 

I was asked to take team pictures of some Nebo United soccer teams. Rian's of course, was one of them. 

Kenni and Graci have been playing city league as well. Brian has been not only coaching on Rians team, but Kennis too. Her team is undefeated and Graci has only lost one game herself. we have had 3 games plus practices a week, all September long. It has been a lot of fun. This is the last week for Kenni and Graci but Rian plays through October and possibly December if she decides to do indoor. 

Brian is in NYC and Baltimore this week. He just left today. I am sad that I am not with him in "Our City". I am 36 weeks now. Well, in 2 days I will be. I told this baby (still nameless) that he has to wait till his dad comes home from his trip then he is welcome to come anytime. He likes to kick my ribs. Just like his big sisters did. Oh, and he gets the hiccups at least twice a day. 

We went on our ward camp out a few weeks ago to the Old Pinery. Had I known the restrooms were out of commission due to some well problem, I might have re-thought spending the night. It was fun though just glad it was one night only. Labor day weekend we did the usual-Payson Onion Days parade then a lunch with the Ewells at a park then ice cream at the Red Barn. 

We were finally able to do some more yard work and get ready for a sprinkling system this week. Not sure if we will be doing grass this fall or spring, but I sure can't wait to be mud free. 

We have been working hard on finishing little odds and ends inside the house as well like the basement bathroom and all the basement window sills. It is pretty much all done! Except for the speaker wires still sticking out of the walls. 

One Sunday morning we woke up and there was a lot of mist hanging around. So I took a picture.

July

We finally got our trampoline in a hole in the ground! It was about a 2 week process but we did it. Thanks to some friends who lent us their backhoe. It will be even nicer when we eventually get grass around it. The kids love to go out when the sprinklers are on. 

With a new baby on the way, Brian and I decided to get a new, much more practical set of wheels......

A Harley!!!! Well, ok. in our dreams anyway. We had an Elmer Family reunion and Brian's cousin has one and he lets us take it for a spin whenever we go over. It is one of the funnest things to ride and I must say, we sure look good on it. Maybe one day when our kids are all gone we can get one and don our leather pants and hit route 66. 

We began our 4th of July celebrations with an awesome ride up Payson canyon to Lizard Lake. It is rather dried up this time of year, but still very pretty. Just 6 of us went. Brian, Rian, Kenni, me, and of course Missy and Roxy. 

Stopping for a lunch break......

Rian turned 10 this month! She woke up to some breakfast in bed and we had family over later to celebrate. She got some new bedding, her birthday doll, money,  and art supplies so she can paint for us all. 

Heading to Olivia's baptism.....

This is the snake Graci about stepped on that I killed. Looking back, I probably shouldn't have killed it, just taken it to the orchard or something. It was a Sunday afternoon, Brian was gone to meetings, the girls were freaked out, and I don't necessarily want snakes slithering around my driveway plus I had no idea what kind it was or if it was poisonous or what. I didn't enjoy killing it that is for sure. Especially since it took so long and I felt bad that it was hurting and I was trying my hardest to get it out of its misery. 

The 24th of July we headed to Zion National Park for our Bi Annual Ewell family reunion. We had a ton of fun. We stayed in a way nice house in great subdivision in Mt. Carmel, just East of  the park. 

On Wednesday Brian, Dave, Zach, Seth, Ryan, and Jeff got up early and met up with Carl and his friend mike and they did a 10 mile hike through Orderville Canyon that finished off at the narrows. The rest of us were lucky enough to be there to meet them the same time they came out of the canyon. 

The kids loved the river and it was so refreshing after some long hikes. 

The next day we spent at the house doing crafts, tie dyeing, games, hot tubbing, etc. 

Friday we went back into the park and we all (with the exception of Brian's dad and mom because she got really sick) hiked the Angels Landing trail. Some of the guys went clear to the scary top while the rest of us stopped at Scouts Lookout. It was plenty high for me. 

Kenni made it to the top before us. Notice the ledge that drops off into oblivion behind her? I was nervous the whole time up there with all those little kids running around. 

They are far away but here are the guys coming down from the tippity top. 

After one more hike and a yummy ice cream cone from the lodge, we headed back to the house and left Saturday. We went straight to mom and dads, Brian took a nap while mom and the girls and I went to Tai Pan to get some of the deals since the St. George store is closing. Kim and Carl came over for dinner and we watched the Olympics. This morning we went to church then headed home with Kim's kids while they go on trek this week. 

Now on to school registration!