Goodbye August, Hello SCHOOL!

We spent our last week of Summer at my mom's house.  We enjoyed the backyard, ice cream bars, and one last week without a bedtime.  We also lucked out, and overlapped with Hil and C.  Aside from spending one day at the hospital for Bronwyn's MRI, the week was pretty perfect.  I can't complain though.  Bronwyn was so brave, and we had the best MRI experience to date.  I felt strongly about going back to using IV sedation instead of putting her totally under.  It was a big risk since the IV sedation gave her horrible side effects several years ago.  But I followed my gut, and come to find out, they are using a new medication now!  3 hours later Bronwyn was completely back to normal.  It was amazing.

Todd and I were mean and left Ty with my mom while we took the girls to Lagoon.  Best. Decision. Ever.  It was great to not be outnumbered, and to not have to spend all of our time on the kiddie rides.  I keep thinking that someday I will be a selfless mother who is willing to sit and watch everyone's stroller, or ride the lame ride with the young kids...  But that hasn't happened yet!  I get to an amusement park and I want to PARTY!  I really lucked out because I teamed up with Magdalen, and she let me go on some pretty crazy rides!  I love that she lets me influence her so greatly, but it makes me worry a little bit about everyone else influencing her...  Bronwyn is the opposite!  I wish she would let me tell her what to do more, but I feel like she won't be as easily swayed by peer pressure.

As always, Todd was the sweetest dad on the planet.  It always melts my heart watching him with the kids.

Let's pretend that Hilary looks pregnant here.  I think she is 19 weeks in this shot.  HELLO!  I'd have to hate her if she wasn't my twin sister and best friend of all time.  So instead I will be happy for her... maybe.
PS... It's a GIRL!  And as always, I guessed wrong.

I took the girls to a hair salon for the first time ever for back to school hair cuts.  Yep, you read that right.  Up until several weeks ago their only haircuts had come from me!  Scary.  It was time to upgrade.  Magsy was brave and went for a cute A-Line cut.  I was worried she wouldn't like it, but she actually likes it way too much!  She is getting ALOT Of attention for being so darn cute!

Poor Bronwyn.  Long think hair, long skinny legs.  Life is rough when you're drop dead gorgeous.  Can you say mermaid hair?

My mom threw a princess party at her CURVES and totally spoiled the girls with these new dresses!  Halloween costumes: CHECK!

We also found some time to stuff our faces with my awesome cousin, Susie, who is going to BYU.  Love her!  We decided that she and I look way alike.  Long lost sisters!

When we got home from Utah, I had a whopping 48 hours to get ready for the first day of school.  The girls were a little nervous, but mostly excited.  Todd drove Bronwyn to school, so I felt a little left out.  Obviously not left out enough to load up the other two kids and make the journey though.... :)  But it was weird sending her off, not even knowing what her teacher looked like.

I can't believe I have two kids in school this year.  And I gotta say, it's awesome!  The girls love it, and I love having a couple hours a day to get things done around the house.  Then when they come home I can give them my undivided attention, and they are so excited to see eachother.

I couldn't resist peeking in on Bronwyn's class after I got Magdalen all settled in Kindergarten.  She was eating school lunch for the first time, and oh so excited.  I leaned against the stage with one of the moms I knew from last year.  We quickly realized we were the ONLY moms in the lunchroom...  Aren't we allowed to be helicopter moms on the first day of school?!

Connection to the Past

Ty is playing with the coolest toy EVER in this picture.  Do you remember those old Fisher Price record players?  So fun!  He loved it.  And I loved sitting in my grandma's basement with him, watching him enjoy the toys I loved so much as a kid.  It was so great to be in Canada and visit my mom's family.  The familiar environment, old toys, delicious food, and long time relationships of aunts and uncles made for one nostalgic trip for me!

Four generations of women (plus Ty!).  This trip inspired me to come closer to my roots, and my sister and I eagerly asked for many of my grandma's famous recipes.  She is the epitome of what I would hope to be, but could never measure up to in the food department.  Grows all her own produce, makes her own noodles, and puts a whole-foods meal on the table every night.  A-MA-ZING!

Aunt Nancy is so fond in my memories.  Always doing fun things with us, and keeping us busy in an adult gathering.  She is still as wonderful as ever, and my girls noticed right away.  Bronwyn quickly became her shadow.  It was like watching my childhood all over again.

Uncle John seems to get softer as the years go by.  I think he likes Ty more than any other kid, ever!  :)

We had Christmas in July before we left!  Char and John spoiled the kids with gifts from Mexico and from Canada.  We now can play hockey in our kitchen, and you bet we are playing often!

I have a special bond with this Uncle John.  A trip to Yellowstone with a meatloaf that didn't give up, and the worst (and only) ski experience of my life!  They both happened years ago, yet we reminisce and joke about them each time we are together.  It warms my heart to feel that those memories are just as fond to him as they are to me.

On our way home, we drove through Rexburg and did our obligatory walk through campus.  So many memories there.  I am always torn between the wonderful memories of studying there and meeting Todd.  But there is also so much sadness as it makes me miss my dad terribly.  Being back in Rexburg makes me feel like I can walk right back into the past.

Hilary and Todd are both immortalized on the walls on the music building with Todd's Director Award, and an article Hilary wrote for the Scroll (Ricks newspaper) is hanging on display.  But me, the one who actually went on to pursue music, NOTHING!  No recognition at all.  Whatever...  :)

Every chance we get we take a family picture in the practice room Todd proposed to me in.  Someday we won't be able to all fit in there!

We walked through the new building on campus, which is an amazing new conference center.  It is a beautiful art gallery, and the inside looks just like the conference center in SLC.  So beautiful.  I think it takes the entire campus to a whole new level.

We also met old friends for dinner at GRINGOS!  Still has the best salsa I've ever had.  But let's be honest, each time we go the service gets worse and worse.

We TOTALLY lucked out and ended up in town the same day as the Folk Dance Festival Parade.  One of my FAVORITE childhood memories.  I loved watching all the dancers, and always looked forward to it.  I loved shopping the street vendors with my mom, eating the food, the excitement in the air... all of it.  As I sat there with my family, waiting for the parade to start, hundreds of memories started pouring into my head.  I had SO many memories just on Main Street, Rexburg Idaho.  Where I had sat to watch numerous parades, participated in many parades in Drill Team and as Jr. Miss, where I sang the national anthem in front of the Court house, where I sang Christmas carols as the city tree was being lit, the dance studio I studied in, the restaurants I ate in, the store I bought my wedding dress in...  So much of my life happened on that very street.  And there I was, about to share one of my favorite memories with my own kids.  And suddenly that street would mean something to them too.  I was overcome, ecstatic.  But...

After waiting for an hour for the parade to start, and 5 minutes after it started, torrential rain and wind sent us running to the van.  The street was literally in chaos as napkins flew, raindrops fell, parents reached for children, and dancers ran for cover.  And instantly, it was all RUINED!  I was so disappointed.

I know that life goes on no matter how hard you try not to let it.  But the past still means so much to me.

(Hil and C getting ready to be awesome parents, moments before the storm hit!)

Canada Trip, Part One!

We spent last week in beautiful, Southern Alberta.  We were surrounded by nature, family, great food, and some much appreciated lower temps!  Our first stop was Idaho Falls, where we spent the night with a childhood friend of mine.  We were just 5 years old when we met in ballet class!  And now we have 6 kids between us.  We stayed up way too late, and had so much fun seeing her cute family!

These are just some silly pics of us taking a break from the long drive. 

 We found a small park in Montana to stretch our legs, and actually had a lot of fun!

We spent two nights in Waterton, and loved every minute of our time there!  

The kids were spoiled with binoculars, butterfly nets, duck calls, and fishing poles!  

We put them all to good use.  Thanks Uma!

Bronwyn was our master butterfly catcher, and caught 3 within about 5 minutes.

Magsy spent her time making wishes.  :)

Stopping at the Princess Store at the Prince of Wales Hotel.

Ty just had to be in the princess picture!

We rented these super bike carts, and sported them all around town.  

They are harder to operate than they look!  

We got a great workout, and it was a super fun way to look around.

Cardston, Alberta Temple

I just love Ty in this shot.  He kind of thought the temple grounds were a playground...

We had a great time at Fort McLeod.  My girls love learning, and I so love that about them.

It was fun to think about what life was like back when Alberta was being settled.  

We also loved watching the traditional horse performance, but none of my pictures turned out.

This picture of Hil got more comments on Facebook than any other picture I uploaded!  This in on our hike at "Buffalo Head Smashed In".  A place where Indians would run buffalo off of a mountain cliff so the buffalos would die, and the Indians could get what they needed from them.  It was a fun hike, even though by then the kids were pretty tired.  Plus, I just love seeing Hil's tiny baby bump in this pic!