1st day of Kindergarten

Can ya tell the girl was a little excited about starting school? Joel met us in the parking lot and we were too early. We went into the school to wait since the heat was unbearable and I went to find Keddi because I hadn't reminded her what her bus number was.

When we decided to go wait in the kindergarten play area, Shinara walked ahead of us. She wanted to go say hi to her teacher and then asked to go play on the playground. Her shoulders slumped when we told her we would like her to stay with us. We got to talking and she slowly slipped away. (Joel saw her inching away and we watched while talking but let her go.)
When the whistle blew, she gave us each a hug and kiss and then got in line. That took a while and as they waited she kept looking at us and waving. Her elation seemed to fade a bit and when I called to her to turn around for a picture when she was walking in, she moved a little as though her impulse was to break out of line for another hug. But she resisted and disappeared into class.

She enjoyed her first day and yesterday, she was ready to go at 10:00 and kept coming to tell me she was bored...she wanted to go now...what was taking so long.... The problem with that is that we were having a Presidency meeting!! When we were driving to school she asked if she could go by herself. So, I dropped her off in front, waited for her to get into the gate and then drove around to the side to wait until she actually went in to class. She waved when she got into the gate but paid no attention after that. She never noticed that I had not left. She was approached on the playground by a little girl and then a boy joined them. Then she played until the whistle blew.

1st Day of School outfits

Don't we look fabulous?

(The sun was bothering Keddi's eyes. ?!)

Last week of Summer

We start school on Monday. The girls have been shopping and they can't wait to start! Really! I think that everyone is kind of excited this time.
On Monday, we invited a friend of Shinara's over in the morning to play. Radley is thought of as "so cuuuute" by all of the girls. They spent most of their time playing video games. After dropping him off at home and taking care of a friends puppy, we went to the pool that afternoon.

On Tuesday Keddi invited a friend over in the morning and we went to a water park with Mandy and the kids around 12:30. We got some Subway sandwiches on our way and ate while we waited for them. The kids played in the water but also in the field on the other side of where we were sitting. We were there for hours and had fun. I enjoyed the time with Mandy, I always hate her month long visit home every summer!

On Wed. we went to Primm, Nevada with Jen Flinders and her kids for some shopping. (Outlet mall!) She goes every year and invited us to come along. The younger girls made some "new" friends and the older girls got some more clothes they didn't really need from their new favorite store Aeoropostale.

On Thurs. we went to the rec pool where they approached me and said that picture taking wasn't allowed. I hadn't been told that last year! And I was bummed because I didn't get pictures of all the kids. Mandy and her kids and our next door neighbor Chris came with us. Another several hours in the water and sun. Chris had a great nap.

Fri. afternoon was Kindergarten Orientation and we took Shinara to meet her teacher Mrs. Vega. She welcomed us back and introduced us to everyone who was in the room since this was our fourth time at her orientation. Shinara is too excited for school.

Today the 6th graders had an open house where we could buy all the things they would need, we could find where their classes would be and they could try out their lockers. That locker thing was tricky but Mardi eventually got it. She seems a little more interested in going to school this year than in years past.

So, we have 2 Jr. High students and 2 Elementary students this year. I will be busy volunteering during the afternoons. Should be interesting!

You go girl!

Shinara got a Barbie guitar for her birthday and I forgot that I caught her first performance on camera! Ya gotta love her "fan!"
(Blogger is having a hard time loading video clips so I am trying something new. Click on the title "You go girl!" and it will show you the video clip.)

Volkswagon Jetta

I've been wanting to get a better picture of the front of the car and that's why I haven't posted about it yet. Oh well, here it is.
It's manual, and Joel is a completely different driver in it!!! It's a darker color with a darker interior than we wanted for our very hot climate, but it has tinted windows and it makes a HUGE difference!

Mardi's work day with Joel

Mardi didn't get to go to work with Joel during the school year because Joel was recovering from surgery and wasn't going himself!! So, he took her this last Thursday. She helped him organize a file he needed for an arbitration on Friday and he was so glad not to have to spend the time on it himself.

As usual, I took pictures of them leaving. Theirs was a casual day (unlike Tersa who got to sit in on a deposition and therefore had to be a bit more dressed up.)

Mardi said she was exhausted when she got home and understood why dad was always tired after getting home. It's always nice when they recognize what you do!

The Olympics

I'm not much of a sports fan and neither is Joel. But I guess when it comes to the olympics, you don't have to be. We watched the four hours of opening ceremonies and every night Joel and Mardi watch a bit of olympic action. Phelps has been fun to watch and the race against the French team was particularly tense for Joel. When we visited the pool yesterday, Mardi was doing the backstroke accross the pool and had recruited Shinara to yell out to her when she was about to hit a wall. She told me last night that she had tried the butterfly also.
Last night we watched the women's gymnastics and felt dissappointment along with the team as they settled for silver. ...Seriously?!?! They won silver! I hope that still feels like quite the accomplishment to those girls, their coaches and all those who sacrificed in their behalf!!

Holy hail Batman!!

Twice in one year and once in August no less!!! Mardi went to the fifth grade dance yesterday afternoon. When it was time to pick her up (naturally) a storm that had been brewing all day hit. It was heavy rain that lasted for about 10-15 min. (not good for us. FLASH FLOODING!) There were also strong winds that would blow rain across my windshield in sheets of water, making my wipers useless. School is not far from our house but it certainly took longer to get there. I had to keep stopping because I could not see. Before we got to the school,...Hail!! As we headed home we passed through some collected water that made me worried to go through. That's what happens to ground that isn't quite sure what to do with water.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Gotta love it right? This is what we looked like 14 years ago.
Moving on. We had a great evening together which really started with us going to the temple to do sealings. I enjoyed being there 14 years after our sealing and thinking about the people we were there for and hearing again the wording of the ordinance. Fabulous. As we were walking out, Joel said he wanted to see the new patio area that has benches and a water fountain so we walked out there. I commented on liking the sound of the water and he said it was pretty. "But not as pretty as this..." and he pulled out and opened a ring box with a beautiful solitaire diamond ring in it. He says that if I can keep from losing this for a few years, we will talk new setting. (I thought about my lost ring today and cried again.) He had sent me a bouquet with some of the flowers from my wedding bouquet (tradition) earlier today. And we ended up at our favorite sushi place for dinner.
What did Joel get? Surprise and a kiss from me, a card and a skillet that is designed to be used on the grill. Oh, and I did some deep cleaning. (No, he appreciates that kind of thing!) Lame I know, and it isn't that anniversaries are all about the wife, it's just that I give him too many opportunities for good gift ideas. (lost wedding rings.) I sure love him though!! Rest assured.

Tis the season

I typically get the family portraits done in July so as to avoid Christmas rush. Plus, the girls have a bit of a tan and it keeps us from looking too terribly washed out! (Yep, they all have tans believe it or not!)