Our New Pet!!

Today I was outside working on the house, as usual, when I spotted this little guy. Layton was so excited!! We found a box to put him, gathered some leaves so he would think he was at "his house", and water. We then went inside to get Jack from his nap to show him. He was so cute, he just giggled when he saw the turtle and immediatly tried to grab him. It was fun to watch the boys with their little turtle. We will probably let him go this afternoon, but we've got to wait and show Sydney when she gets home from school.

Riding the bus!!

So today Syndey rode the bus to school for the first time. I have been stressing over this for a while now. I know I really need to calm down, but I really enjoy dropping her off and picking her up. She has been asking me everyday since school started to ride the bus. On Sunday night I had a horrible dream about a terrible thing that happened on her bus ride. I told Syd I was too worried for her to ride the bus. She told me I can be brave. All day on Monday I thought about Syd's comment, and realized this would be a good thing for her. I needed to let go and let her gain more confidence and do this. So I talked to the bus driver yesterday when I picked Sydney up from school and she caught the bus this morning. She was excited but still a little nervous,as was I. I wrote her bus number on her hand, and we talked to a friend in her class that will ride the same bus she can buddy up with. I was so proud of her and me, and I cannot wait until the bus drops her off today to hear all about it!!

This past week has surely been a whirlwind of emotions. On Saturday morning, August 23, we received a phone call that Tylers' brother Scott's fiance Mandy was killed in a tragic plane crash the previous night. Our hearts were broken as we imagined what Scott must be feeling. We never met Mandy, but because Scott loved her, we loved her too. We immeditaly packed up and headed out to be with our family. Visiting with Scott brought so much comfort to our hearts. Although it was very effident his poor heart was broken, his has stood as such a wonderful example to me of unwaivering faith.
Going to her funeral was so special too. I loved hearing the stories of Mandy, because we never met her, it was easy though to see why Scott fell in love with her. She was not only Miss Hurricane but she was also a member of the FFA and raised a cow. Really how cool is that!! Her sister spoke of how she would go out and rest her head on her cow and talk to her. I really loved that story. In Scott talk at her funeral he spoke of one of the quotes she had written in her journal, "Life is too short to sit around". As simple as that is it really taught me something, especially when you consider Mandy. Life is short, too short to miss opportunities to serve each other, to procrastinate doing what is right, too short to be selfish.
As this past week we have felt so much saddness for this last, I also feel so grateful for what I have also learned. I feel my faith and testimony of our Heavenly Fathers' plan has increased, I have an increased desire to do and be better, I have learned alot from Scott and Mandy.

What I think about Kindergarten !

Thanks to a great idea from Syndey's cute aunt Jenny, Sydney told me what to write so you cold all hear from her about her school experience. She even picked out the picture for this post.


My day went good at kindergarten, and there was a book called Miss Bindergarten got ready for Kindergarten. I met a friend named Jacey, she is a girl. That was today, on Monday. She has hair as long as mine so we are almost twins. She told Hana she has a twin sister. Me, Charlee, Alexis,and Hana, and Jacey are the Cheetah Girls. I do centers and I play at recess. I did schoolwork on Monday. I drew a camel and a dog and I drew a tiger. I had a rest at Kindergarten and I sleeped at Kindergarten and I went to PE (after Sydney's first day she said this was called EP) , and I ate home lunch at school. I get home at 3 and my mom picks me up. Then I just go home and that's all.

Layton's Shadow!!

It is so fun to watch my two boys together. It is defiantely different with Syd gone all day, and it has been so fun to see the change with the boys already. Jackson follows Layton around doing whatever he is doing. Layton likes to pretend to be a dog quite often at our house and now Jackson does it too!! It is soo Cute watching the little guy crawl around and stick out his tongue and pant. One thing that hasn't changed is how Jackson LOVES to tackle his big brother, and Layton still screams every time. I know I'm terrible but I can't help but laugh. Layton has always loved playing ball and Jackson likes to join right in. Notice though we still have a sisters influence, Jackson is doing a slam dunk in high heels.

My Little Girl is Growing Up

Today was Syd's 1st day of Kindergarten. This day has come so fast and my heart is overwhelmed with emotions today. First of all I am heartbroken. Kindergarten is all day here, which breaks my heart to have my little girl gone all day. It just seems so long.
Secondly, I feel so blessed! I feel so blessed to have the gospel in my life. Not only does it give me perspective on days like this,to know that letting go and letting Syd make choices on her own and learn is an important eternal lesson, but I am so grateful for the direction the gospel has given me in teaching her what she needs to know to enter the world without me. I know I have not been perfect and there are things I would do differently, but I gave her the best I could. I am also grateful this day for the peace I have felt sending Syd to school. I am grateful to know that this is right for her and she will be okay.
Thirdly I am happy for the time I can take with my boys, and the time they will have together to play.

Last Day of Swimming Lessons

I hestitated to put Syd in swimming lessons. I was worried because she started out this summer and all of her life really terrified of getting her face in the water. It was always a battle washing her hair because she was so worried about water getting in her eyes. However all that has changed! My first clue that this was going to be great was after her first day she decided she now wants to be a swim teacher when she grows up. It must have been pretty darn good, because for the past year Sydney wanted to grow up to be a store person, not the person that works in the store but the person that buys things. Anyway, she now swims underwater, will hold her breath underwater,and learned to float, and do the front and back stroke. All in just 2 weeks of swim lessons. She now loves the water!!