Labor Day weekend

For Labor Day this year we planned on taking the kids down to Monroe to visit Ryan's parents and stay...here are the pictures from Labor Day weekend...I just saw this post was still in edit mode so I thought I would post the pictures...sorry! Better late than never!

The fruits of our labor

The end of August and first part of September we have been busy with our canning/bottling our vegetables this year. We really got the bug and started with our lemon cucumbers and making canning them into dill pickles. Then we bought some corn and tomatoes from a GREAT farmers market here in town and did some frozen corn cut off the cob and bottled 21 quarts of tomatoes. Thanks to my mom I was able to get the final 7 quarts done since Sydnee was miserable with an ear infection and we had been at the doctors and then to the store to get a prescription that day and she came over and did them for me! What a wonderful mom! Finally we did 3 batches of homemade salsa from his aunt Cher's recipe. Yummy stuff! Ryan and I tag teamed the salsa...the last batch Ryan was cutting up the onions (which made us cry they were so strong!) and I was taking all the peppers and de-seeding them. I couldn't believe after I was done for a whole day afterward I had three fingers around the nail-bed that burned! I was in so much pain! Apparently when you de-seed spicy peppers you are supposed to use gloves to prevent burns. I have definitely learned my lesson! We only planted tomatoes, cayenne peppers and lemon cucumbers in our garden this year but you can bet that next year we will have a much larger and better garden!

Salsa and tomatoes behind...only some of the ones we did.

and our cute little Sydnee is the last fruit of our labor from this year...okay really I just had to put a picture of her in this post to make you and me smile!

July 24th

For our 24th of July this year we went down to Monroe where Ryan's parents have bought a house for when they retire. They plan on fixing it up in the next few years before my MIL retires and they move there for good. We got to see all of Ryan's family and spend some good times with them! The kids loved the parade and all the candy they got, pulling down the ugly wallpaper at Gma and Gpa's new house, and playing with cousins all weekend. It was a great weekend!

Thumb sucker

Here are some pictures of our July 2010. Sydnee has taken a liking to her thumb...at this point I wasn't sure if this was a fluke or something but as of now (September 2010) she is still sucking on her right thumb whenever she doesn't have a binky. My older brother Wade sucked his right thumb as a baby so maybe it runs in the family??? Crazy I know! But if it makes her happy and then I will deal with breaking the habit later.

4th of July

This year for our 4th of July (actually the 3rd) Ryan was out of town on a fire so our wonderful neighbors the Black's invited me and the kids to go to the West Jordan parade with them and then later that evening we went to a BBQ with them as well. It was a fun day even though Ryan wasn't there...he was down in Arizona on one of their big fires this year. We definitely missed him but still had a great holiday!

My little boy...

is now growing up...officially I guess. He started Kindergarten today. Wow! He was so excited to go this morning he was ready way early and kept asking me to take him to school. Finally it was time to go and luckily Ryan didn't work today (Friday) so he kept the girls in the car while I walked Nathan to his area. He held my hand REALLY tight (it got tighter as we got closer) and he was totally fine while we stood there listening to his teacher talk to the parents. I got some pictures of him while he was fine and then when the teacher told them it was time to line up and give us hugs he started crying...which in turn made me cry because I was NOT prepared for him to even be sad! He has been so excited about this that I really didn't expect him to cry. So I gave him lots of hugs and kisses and put him in the line. He just kept on crying silently so I went over and introduced him to the little boy in front of him and the little girl behind him...he still was crying! He asked for a kleenex from his backpack so I got it out and then backed away with tears in my eyes...he walked into his classroom still crying. I think he was the only one crying that I saw but that's okay. It just goes to show that he really does have a sensitive side and he is my baby boy!
When I got back to the car I got in and started to cry to Ryan about how Nate had made me cry because he was crying! Ryan then told me that I baby him too much...but come on, he can be so sweet and he is definitely a momma's boy! Ryan couldn't believe that Nate was crying either...It's hard to believe that he is really big enough to go to Kindergarten but I know he is going to LOVE it! Hopefully next Tuesday we don't have to go through this crying again because when he is sad it makes me sad. I know you will do great! I love you, Natey!

School begins...

...at least for Rylee it has begun. On Tuesday she started preschool with Nate's old preschool teacher. Nate had such a great experience with Miss Becky that I definitely wanted Rylee to go to her as well. She has some great friends that are going with her so she loves that. She was a little quiet as we walked into school but she didn't have any issues. I warned her teacher "just in case" that she has/does pass out...I sure hope she grows out of that this year...but who knows! She is very strong willed.

Her comment to me after school was "my teacher put something in my backpack, mom." She is just too cute! We love you Rylee girl and know you will do great! Here she is ready to go on her big day!

Denial...Enough said.

In July I had to take Nate and Rylee in to their pediatrician for both of their well check ups. They are both doing really well and Dr. Schmidt said Nathan is ready for Kindergarten that starts in a month! Agh! I am having some serious denial over having a child start kindergarten and the commitment it is going to take from me. Seriously...I need to prepare myself mentally for this one. The kids were pretty good...as good as they can be while waiting for the doctor to come in. We have such a great pediatrician! :)

Sweet Smiles

Here are some more pictures to catch up! Sydnee started smiling a long time ago but we have got some of the cutest grins from her on camera now!


When Morgan was here we went to grandma and grandpa C's house to swim with the neighbor girls from across the street! Morgan loved playing with these girls while she was here. We love having awesome neighbors!!


Rylee going off the diving board at least 20 times I'm sure.


Left to right: Nathan (at bottom), Abby, Autumn, Brynn (above), Kallie, Morgan and Rylee
Left to Right: Miri (Trista's little girl 3mo. older than Syd), Sydnee, and Max (Mikaila's little guy 2 weeks older than Syd). Whenever we get together there are lots of kids and babies! This was one day at Heather's house while the older kids were outside the babies were inside chillin' on the floor. :)