School is back in session...

...and let me tell you...it is awfully quiet - too quiet - at my house today! I couldn't wait for the past few days to go by so that I could finally send my kids back to school. I love having them home and we've had a great summer, but the time comes when it is just time to get back into a routine. This morning, Cole and I walked them to school, settled them in their classes and walked home. The closer I got to home, the more "odd" I started feeling. Yes, I am thrilled to be home with just one baby for the first time is 6 years. I can't wait to be able to clean my house and have it actually stay clean for a few hours. I also can't wait to run errands with one child. But on the other hand, it means that my babies are growing up and that...brings out a bag full of mixed emotions! I eagerly zipped through my chores this morning and now, here I am, all my chores done in record time, Allison asleep, and an awfully quiet and lonely house! I hope my kids are having a great day at school, but I also hope they know how much their mommy loves them and that I wouldn't ever wish away the lazy, crazy days I get to spend with them.





Thank heavens these 3 all have each other! My heart always aches for Kaitlin because she has to go to class all by herself! Haha - even though that is what most of the other kids have to do! It just seems like the boys have it so easy since they always have each other!

My princess and my cougars
They got to pick their outfits for the first day of school and of course, the boys wanted to wear their BYU shirts. Kaitlin chose the "dress that had the matching necklace" so she could wear the "purple sparkly shoes!"

Hard to believe they are all already so grown-up! I keep telling Cole it's time to start having another one! (lol...just because I posted that he is going to be even more stubborn about it!)
Of course, on the other hand, this is sure a nice phase for them to all be at!

Man, I love these guys!

Our first stop once we got to school was Mr. Warden's class - Kaitlin's new home for the year! The class is clear around on the "big kid" wing which is weird, but she doesn't seem to mind. I had hoped she would at least be close to the boys' classroom, but really, I guess it doesn't matter. She loves Mr. Warden! He is allergic to milk just like her, so right away, she felt like she had an ally! It was harder than I thought it would be to leave her this morning (harder for me, not for her). She has grown into an amazing little girl and truthfully, I'm really going to miss her all day long!

Our next stop - Mrs. Decker's classroom...deep sigh of relief! I love Mrs. Decker. She was Kaitlin's first grade teacher and is an amazing woman. We have grown to know and love her family so much. Her husband was my little sister's bishop. He runs the marathon and also competed in the Ironman competition. They have wonderful kids, all older, and she went back to school to be a teacher when the youngest was 12ish. She is one of the kindest, sweetest women you could ever hope to have teach your kids. She was simply amazing with Kaitlin and I 2 years ago. I had so much fun being her room mom that year and the boys always came with me to help, so they got to know her really well too. She runs a very organized classroom and always has "themes" for her lesson plans. She puts so much into her job and loves the kids just like a mom or a grandma. I never had to worry about Kaitlin being well taken care of and I am not in the least bit worried now, either. I just love her - can you tell!
Brock and Brandon both ran right in, found their spots and got to work! They weren't in the least bit worried! Haha! I love those two munchkins!

Our Own Little Piece of Heaven

On Wednesday, Cole and I wanted to do one last fun family thing before the kids went back to school. We decided to head up to Zions National Park and take advantage of our season pass! There is just something about Zions that I love. I can't explain it, but whenever we head up there, I get a nervous anticipation and excitement! I just love it! I'm pretty sure we all do! After making our traditional stop at the The Market in Toquerville for drinks and treats, we were on our way! We decided to hike the Overlook trail first since we hadn't done it in a while. The construction on the road made it a slow journey, but it was well worth the wait!

After our long and hot hike, we decided to head into the canyon and hike some of the smaller trails and play some Frisbee in the grass by the lodge. As we were walking up to one of the shuttle stops, we could hear kids laughing and screaming. We walked down to the river, since at this point, we were all super hot and thirsty! We found the most amazing thing...our own little slick rock! We all (the kids and I, anyway!) jumped in, clothes and all, and boy oh boy was it refreshing! We ended up staying right there and playing for a few hours before we finally called it a day. It was such an amazing adventure. I love water, especially rivers and lakes and to be able to just walk up to this one and let my kids enjoy it just like I used to when I was a kid was just incredible. It felt like the perfect ending to a wonderful summer. The best part was that even Cole, very near to the end, decided to get his feet wet! Well then, he tried to walk down the rock...and yep, he slipped right onto his bum! So, all in all, we even had our own little miracle take place and Cole ended up in the water too!

Our "Rooster Valley" Reunion

Every year for the last 6 or so years, all the Roundy family brothers have set aside this tournament, the Rooster Valley Classic, to come back to Richfield and play softball together. It has turned into a weekend that I look forward to all year long. Over the years, the boys have married and moved and so this is the one weekend where we are all back together again! It's always an adventure getting 5 boys and their wives and kids all in one place. Thankfully, their mom and dad have now finished their basement, so now instead of 1300 sq ft and one bathroom, we have 2600 sq ft and 2 bathrooms! That makes a huge difference with that many daughter-in-laws! This year, the kids and I headed up with Amy a day earlier than Cole. Uncle Lance and pregnant Aunt Shanna(yay!) led us in quite the adventure floating down a canal! We even got grandma and grandpa to do it, which was a huge feat since grandma is scared of water and doesn't even know how to swim. It was so much fun to have the whole family do something all together and not have the women at home while the boys golf, etc;) I'm sure we were quite the sight - 8 kids, 5 women, and Doug, Lance and Brooks all floating down together! It was a great time and a tradition that I'm sure will continue year after year! There is always yummy food and tons of games and of course...tons of softball!

The girls, minus Jodi Lynn.

All in all, they took 4th! They had fun playing together and we had fun watching, so it was another successful Rooster Valley reunion! Until next year....when hopefully Susann will have central air!

A Trip to Quail Creek

We have been blessed with an amazing home teacher. I love the way he comes every month and stays for just under a half hour. But mostly, I love the way that he always comes prepared with a story for the kids. They really look forward to him and can't wait to hear what story he's going to tell next. So a last month, he mentioned that he wanted to take our family out to the lake. Sure...I thought! They have 2 young kids and he owns his own business and it's busy; I understand that. Good intentions aside, I didn't really think that we would actually ever go to the lake with them. Well, boy was I wrong. The very next month, he showed up and said, "Let's go to the lake on Wednesday!" So off we went... and we had a blast!
Seriously, look at the sky and this view! It was AMAZING! Quail has always been one of my favorite lakes. I love how quaint and quiet it is and I love the closed in feeling. There were only a few boats out on the water the entire 4 hours that we were there. It was absolutely perfect!

They remembered that "THUMBS UP" was the sign for FASTER!

After a few trips around the lake, the raft sprung a leak! It almost folded up in half with them in it!

So then it was on to the knee board to see if the kids could do it. I was pretty pessimistic, but was proven wrong! All three of our kids got up right away and they just kept going on and on forever!

We had Cole get in the water to help the kids get started and stay there in case they fell so they wouldn't be scared. He stayed for one kid and then hopped in the boat...he just wasn't needed - they all did so great!

Brock was the first one to try it - my fearless kiddo! He got right up and had a blast! Check out that smile!

Then it was Brandon's turn!

Then Kater! She had a harder time getting up since she is all legs!

But once she got up, she was just as great as the boys!

Then the second time around, Brock had to up the ante and go hands-free! So of course...

...after Brock had done it with no hands, of course Brandon had to try - no competition there...lol!

And then Kaitlin had to prove she could do it too!