First Day of School

This was an epic start of the school year for our family. David went to middle school...which brings so many thoughts to me like...where did the time go...how did he grow up so fast...will he be okay in middle school...etc. But he did great, and I promise I only cried a little when the kids left, although the house was way too quiet! We started off the day with our tradition of giving the kids schultuttes a German tradition. They are filled with candy and school supplies. The kids love it and kept asking when they would get them. This year they got them the morning of the first day. Bella who can't remember the name and calls them tooters. The kids were all prepped for school, bags packed, fathers blessings given so the morning went very smoothly for us.

Isabella with her tooter

David, 6th grade...middle school

Live long and prosper

Mom quit taking pictures and let me go...

Savannah, sweet & quiet...4th grade Ms. Boyle

Isabella, our wild child...1st Grade Ms. DeVet

Ben wanted to go to school so badly, he was all ready. The minute the bus doors closed and he realized he wasn't getting on he burst into tears. He misses Bella so much when she is gone all day!

Making cookies for an afterschool treat

The resident chunk, aren't those cheeks to die for! The after school report was that the teachers are wonderful, David loves band & choir his electives this term and everyone was happy.

Grandpa

10 days before Emily was born we lost my wonderful grandfather. I haven't blogged about it because my emotions were out of control and even though they are still pretty tender I wanted to share how much I love grandpa and how blessed I am by his life and example. I have always felt very close to my grandparents, and still miss my grandmother dearly even though she has been gone for over 2 years. To me they are examples of people who did their very best to love their family and live their faith. I am comforted knowing they are together again, and that their marriage is an eternal one. And I am thankful that I have their example to follow as I live my own life.

Love you grandpa!

Blessings

Emily is such a blessing to us

We gathered most of our family together to bless her on August 1

The blanket was made by Dave when we had David and we've used it with all of our babies for their blessing

I bought the bonnet in Brugge Belgium in 2007 knowing we wanted to have more children. Ben got to use the booties I bought and Emily the bonnet.

Of course the girls want to get in on the picture action

This picture really makes me mad, David is making that face in all 7 of the pictures we took! What a stinker.

Dave's parents visiting us

While I recovered...

And held baby for hours on end, Davehiked to the top of this ...

With this cutie pie

And these cuties (Emma & Maddie)

And uncle Rick & little Rick and Brian & Brayden. A group of 5 dads and their 11/12 year olds hiked to the summit of Mt. St. Helens together and had a wonderful time. We are so proud of these kids, they made it to the very top a feat that even some of the teachers quorum (14,15 year olds) in our ward could not do.

A view of the crater and lava bubble

One of the slopes they slid down (glisading) to make the climb down go faster. Dave SHREDDED his pants

Brayden made it back down!

I am so proud of my boys!
They were all tuckered out for the drive home!!

Emily

Emily Keller
9 lbs 7 oz 23 inches long
July 14, 2010

9 months in production, much morning sickness, tiredness and laboring. And deliberating over her name. But she is finally here, our Emily girl. She looks just like Bella did...not quite as fat but just as long!

Olympic Peninsula

For memorial day weekend we decided to take a trip to the Olympic peninsula and do some short hikes in the national forest. It was a rainy grey weekend, but we got lucky and didn't get soaked. We even had beautiful sunshine for our drive home and stop in Olympia. The Peninsula is very beautiful, and there was so much to do. We started at Rialto Beach

Then we headed to the Hall of Mosses to hike

Of course we had to stop in Forks and get our picture with "bella's" truck

The girls really wanted to buy a honk if you love vampires sticker...next time!

Sol Duc Falls

We played in the snow at the top of hurricane ridge

This is just one of the many animals we saw as we were driving. This is about 2 ft from our car.

Last we stopped in Olympia to see the capital and drive around to where Dave lived in Jr High and High School. Our month of may has been pretty eventful. Mr Destructive struck again, shattering the glass in the french doors of Dave's office. Well one of the french doors. So my life has consisted of lots of mess cleanup lately. Today is the last full day of school for the kids, and 5th grade graduation. I am looking forward to summer, the relaxing of schedules and having the kids around more often.