Lots of fun!

OK so I haven't posted in a while. We have had a lot going on around here but whats new. Since school started I feel like I can't get anything done. Here are some things that are going on.

Since I posted last Jay and I celebrated our birthdays, we both had great days. For my birthday since it was on a Sat. we went and hung out at the creek with the Kovacs'. And for Jay's it was on a Thursday so he had to work. But after work he took the kids to bear hole to swim and then Becky was in town so she came over for dinner.

We also had Church in the park and a church picnic after because it was the 5Th Sunday (We always do something a little different for the 5Th Sunday service).

We have another exchange student with us. His name is Kichisuke he is 23 and from Japan. He will only be here for about 3 weeks. He is not going to school here but he is here on vacation. We are really enjoying having him hang out with our family. He will be here until the 19Th of Sept.

We also were able to do another family trip this time to the Russian River. My parents treated it like our birthday weekend so we didn't have to cook or anything it was very nice. We had a great time.

I had to put this picture on here we dog sat for some friends. This is how we found the dogs asleep. Best Buds, So cute!

Church Picnic

A time of Worship and sharing what God has been doing.

The Jr highers and High schoolers cooked the hot dogs for us.

Three legged race.

Kishisuke - our exchange studentKichisuke brought these kimonos for us from Japan they are very beautiful.

The Russian River

Nature hike at the Russian River

Kichisuke's first time on a kayak

I can't believe how big he is getting.

We tubed and kayaked for about a mile down the river. There were some rapids which made it both fun and challenging. It was supposed to take us about 1 1/2 hours but it took us a bit longer. Breandan even went with us and he flipped twice in the kayak with Jay. What a trooper though.

Jadon trying out the kayak.

Ethan loved it now he wants to buy one!

Valor looked so grown up doing this. He loved it

Jay really wants to buy one (but he has for a while now)

Playing at the beach when we got back Breandan was a little tired!

Our camp site. It was very pretty but very hot!

Pre-school

Breandan started Pre-school yesterday!! His is in the 4 year old class the "Brave Bears" He has been wanting to go to school for 2 years now. It is so hard to hear all the fun things his brothers are doing. So we decided to let him go two times a week for three hours. We didn't go through this with the other boys because they always had each other to play with at home but with him being 4 years younger then Jadon he needed to have some playmates his age. And just with our luck he is one of only 4 boys in the class (that's just the way it worked out). Our school has a lot of girls!! But this is good i guess considering he doesn't have any sisters and so he doesn't get to see how the girls play. Oh and the pre school is on the same campus as his brothers so they are all together he loves that idea. They come by the room and say hi on their recess. So what is Mom going to do now that she has some free time you ask :-) On Tuesdays while he is there I will be working in all the other kids classes, doing things for the teacher, working with the kids etc. I like to stay very involved even at the Jr High level, even if it is just doing photo copies for the teachers. This works out good since they are all at the same school. Thursdays, well that is my day to have three hours totally to myself uncommitted to do what ever I want!!! Well or do laundry, clean the house etc. We will see what happens. My baby is getting so big :-(

Oh and the first morning Jay had to make a run to Walmart ( it is 24 hours) because we couldn't find Breandan's shoes anywhere. So the morning didn't go quite as planned. But we made it!! Tough first week of school trying to get back on a schedule.

First day of school
He was so ready for us to leave so he could go play!!
The "Brave Bears"
His teacher Mrs. Kerri

The first day of school.

Yes the boys started school today. Wow I have a preschooler and a Jr higher and two in between. Breandan actually starts on Thursday but he wanted to take pictures, unlike the rest where it is the dreaded first day of school pictures. At least Mom doesn't take pictures at school around their friends!! They all love school and were very excited to start. For those of you that don't know they go to a Charter school that we absolutely love and it is preschool to 8th grade so they all go together. There are 3 classes in each of the grades K-3rd and two in 4th-7th and one in 8th (that will be two classes next year). They use the ITI teaching method which is Integrated Thematic Instruction. It is very hands on and they go on at least one but most of the time many more field trips a month. For example they don't just learn about the gold rush they actually go pan for gold, They learn about agriculture and they go to a farm etc. Anyways we are excited about another school year!!

Valor in 7th grade
Ethan in 5th grade
Jadon in 3rd grade
I will post Breandan's picture on Thursday when he gets to go to school. He is so excited. He will go Tuesday and Thursday mornings for three hours.

Last day of Summer Vacation!!!

Well school starts tomorrow so today was officially the last day of summer vacation for us. Jay took the day off so we did a few things. First we had a school picnic, we got to talk to the kids teachers and to see friends that we didn't see over the summer and some that we did. Then we decided to take our tubes to the creek and just relax. We went to the creek off of Honey Run. It was a great way to end our summer vacation. Back to our busy schedule with school!! I can't believe we have a Jr. Higher!!!

After the Sleep Over

So after their friends went home and they wanted to "watch" the Olympics, this is how I found them. About 2:00pm. I don't think they "slept" much at the "sleep" over. "But Mom I'm not tired..."

Sleep Over

Well just a short post. We switched some kids with the Kovacs' last night. Valor spent the night with them and Jacob and Johnny spent the night over here. The kids (Ethan, Jacob, Jadon, Johnny, and Breandan) decided to spend the night on the trampoline. They had fun but they were pretty loud considering they kept sinking to the middle all night. They kept each other warm :-) though. They were up at first light so for Mom's sake maybe we won't do this very often.

Finally a Family Vacation

Well we finally got to go on a family trip this summer, even though summer is almost over!! Between baseball and visitors we have not been able to go anywhere this summer (but that's OK because we love baseball and visitors). We went only about 1 1/2 hours from here to Lake of the Springs it is a Thousand Trails campground. My parents have a membership so we went with them. The boys (5 because we have an exchange student with us) and I went up on Thursday morning and met my parents there. Jay had to work so he joined us Friday evening after work. We had a very busy and fun time let me list all we did. Paddle boat races, swim in the lake at the beach, air hockey, ping pong, miniature golf, family Bingo, pool swimming, tennis, kickball, water volleyball, sand castle building, Wii competition (yes even when camping), shuffle board, riding bikes, Jay rented a kayak, we all rented a canoe, fishing, card games, pool table, play ground. We were having so much fun but Jay had to teach on Sun. (I did to for Sunday school) so we went home on Sat night. Valor and Ethan stayed with Mema and Papa. We decided to go back Sunday afternoon and stay until Mon. night. Now we are home and very tired but we had a great time. Here are some pics.

We stayed in tents and my parents motor home. Guess who stayed where. That's right adults in the motor home kids in tents!!

Breandan got his first hole in one.

Breandan had fun on the playground

Paddle boat races. Jadon was on a winning team every time!

Just relaxing in the water. It was great.

All the dear on the baseball field.

My two sand castle builders

Jay kayaking

My two fisherman

Our canoe ride.