School has officially started! I can't believe I have TWO kids in school! Jaxon is in first grade and Violet is in preschool.
"The Spooky Wheels on the Bus"
Violet absolutely loves her preschool and her teachers. She still can't speak much English other than "hi", "bye", and "come on!" but I know she'll catch on quickly. And it doesn't prevent her from having lots of fun in the class.
I don't think his favorite book has changed from last year...
This school year has been one we've really been looking forward to ever since we found out Jaxon was accepted into a nearby elementary's Chinese Immersion program. It's not our boundary school, but we knew that Jaxon needed to be challenged more than the typical first grader so we decided to apply.
I've been so impressed with the program so far. The Chinese teacher doesn't speak any English to the students- she'll even speak to the parents in Chinese if there is a student present. It should be a great experience for Jaxon.
Treated ourselves to some ice cream from the Creamery to celebrate the occasion. :)
This handsome boy turned 7 on Friday. He was so lucky to celebrate it over two days!
We had the actual cake, ice cream, presents on Saturday, but on on Friday after school he packed to go on a special camping trip with Travis (his special "one-on-one with dad" we've started this year). Jaxon LOVES camping. We presented him with his first camping knife and then they were off for a fun over-nighter up the canyon.
Can't believe how much this- I want to say "little" boy is growing, but now it's at the point where that doesn't sound right! He's not so little anymore. Sniff...sniff... We love Jaxon's unique dynamic to our family. He is such a bright, curious kid with a mind that is always ticking...He's a big help to mom and dad, and a wonderful older brother who loves to play with his sisters.
The trip to Idaho was the big finale of the summer, but we still had a couple weeks of August to enjoy before Jaxon and Violet started school (yes, Violet too! *sniff). I asked the kids if there was anything else they had wanted to do this summer that they hadn't had a chance to do yet. Jaxon said there was ONE thing left. A sleepover at Mamie's house. I asked my mom if it would be possible and she said send him over!
My parents made it much more than just a sleepover. They had pizza, watched "Buscando a Nemo", went out for snow cones, made cookies... He was definitely spoiled.
My mom sent me this picture. Lucky kid!
I was feeling pretty good that Jaxon had finished everything on his summer bucket list. Until he said, "Mom, can we PLEASE have Britain and Laykin over for a sleepover before school starts?" So I asked Sessely if it would be possible to squeeze a sleepover in on a weekday (because the one weekend left of summer was already busy). So glad it worked out!
Dinner and a movie
Somehow ended up in the same bed...
And then we had to use a coupon for the Discovery Museum we got back in April which was going to expire by the end of the month.
In a helicopter
There was really only one thing left to do before school started, and that was berry picking at McBriar's farm! We were so lucky to find so many blackberries this year. We had fun canning blackberry syrup.
And would you know it, the VERY, VERY last day of summer vacation the kids ended up with a fever and cold! So they spent their last day of freedom on the couch. I was scared Jaxon wouldn't be well enough to go to his first day of school, but luckily he pulled through. It was definitely a crazy summer, but as the kids get older I feel more of an urge to make sure they make memories and have fun. I feel we did that this summer. :)
We ended summer with a bang this year. Every other year we like to go to this particular cabin in Cascade, Idaho. To say the kids love it would be an understatement- they absolutely adore it. After the first couple of days Travis and I were saying that they'd probably prefer the cabin over Disneyland.
The first day we unpacked and just relaxed around the cabin. We bought a new hammock just for the trip and it was a big hit!
Ginger just loved the squirrels and chipmunks which are everywhere.
We actually saw a family of deer visit our cabin a couple mornings! A doe and two fawn would come by and eat around the cabin. The third morning we were there, Travis and I awoke to sounds coming from our window. We opened the curtain and the entire family was RIGHT THERE eating at some vines growing up the cabin! It was amazing!
You can't see it, but the doe and her fawns are down by those rocks.
Day two consisted of more relaxing/playing around the cabin and then down to the lake to cool off! We got a small inflatable boat to tow someone/supplies when we went kayaking, but alas, we couldn't take the kayaks this time (we couldn't fit them along with all our other stuff), but we did bring the little boat!
On Wednesday we went up to beautiful Ponderosa State Park and had a fun family hike. Where did this little chubby boy go?
2014
2018
A usual highlight of these hikes is picking huckleberries along the way to use in our pancakes the next morning, but this year we were so surprised to find a record number of them! Violet was eating them by the handful.
That night after a delicious dutch oven lasagna by Travis, we had s'mores around the fire pit.
The next day the kids helped Travis make our traditional huckleberry pancakes. So good!
In go the huckleberries!
Delicious!
Then it was another day of outside play and an afternoon at the lake. Can't get enough of it. Before, however, the kids found Finding Nemo ("Buscando a Nemo") downstairs and asked to watch it during Ginger's nap. It's now their new favorite movie (Christmas idea!).
Travis cuddling with Violet and catching some Zzzzs...
At the lake I couldn't figure out why Ginger was so upset. Then I realized it was because I forgot to put a swim diaper on her! I was going to do it once we got to the lake and I totally forgot. The poor thing felt so uncomfortable with this GIGANTIC wet diaper hanging off of her. "Terrible mother" moment right there.
I'm so sorry, Ginger!
Unfortunately, Friday came too fast and we had to leave. However, that was not the end of the trip! We planned on stopping for the night at Lava Hot Springs (at a some-what shady place, but it's was just to lay our heads) and go tubing on the river the next day! Oh my goodness...SO.MUCH.FUN!!!
I was hesitant to let Ginger go, so we originally planned on Travis and I switching off with the older kids. But after Travis went the first time he felt certain that even Ginger could handle it, so we tried it! She was a little indifferent to the experience but it was so fun to share a huge tube as a family. I'm so sad I didn't get pictures of it. But next time we will!
We went down about 4x's before the kids started to get tired. We had lunch at their local restaurant that's famous for their scones. After that we had planned on going to the local pool, but we decided we were all too tired and decided to call it a day and head home. But not before stopping by the local playground.
It's a horse made from a tire!
We had an amazing trip! It was certainly the highlight of the summer and I know the kids will always remember the memories they make here!
If I could give July a theme this summer, it would be "family". We've spent so much quality time together that it really strengthened relationships within our immediate family and extended family.
We celebrated the 4th in our usual fashion, hot air balloons and doughnuts, followed by a very American barbecue lunch we threw for our ward friends.
That evening we joined the Talbots for fireworks and treats. We were so tired by the end of the day, the thought of staying up till dark was too much. Luckily our kids were also too tired and only wanted to see the daytime fireworks (parachutes and tanks) anyway. Yes!
We've really enjoyed time with cousins this summer. Britain and Jaxon and Laykin and Violet just love being together. Language barrier or not, they just LOVE playing together.
My Mamita passed away the first of the month, which was very bittersweet. She was pretty frail and had suffered a lot of ailments (90 years old), so we at least had the comfort that she was no longer suffering and that she had lived a very long life. She was one of the first pioneers of the LDS church in Mexico, and we are so grateful for her sacrifice to join the church and serve a mission even when her family shunned her for it. It's really amazing the effect her decision had in all our lives.
We made the decision to drive to LA for the funeral. Travis said we would regret it if we didn't. It was 108 degrees in the middle of a scorching heat wave, but I still don't regret it.
More cousin time.
Jaxon had Bright Ideas Summer Camp through the Alpine School District gifted program. He loved it so much, he's still talking about it and playing with the things they concocted weeks later.
No time in between a birthday party and Lego club for Free Slurpee Day? I don't think so!
Violet has really caught a reading bug these last few months. This summer we've let the kids pretty much read themselves to sleep. I don't care how late it makes them stay up (usually no later than 9), I figure summer is the only time of year where reading is more important than sleeping. Besides, they can always sleep in. And if they sleep in, guess who else is sleeping in? Win-win!!
We've enjoyed a couple fun birthday parties...
And Ginger has demonstrated the same animal-loving characteristics as her sister.
Playing piano together
We splurged and got this swing for the front tree. Best summer toy ever!
More cousin time, this time up the canyon with the Anderson cousins. The kids got to float little wooden boats and held them by a string.
These two are always in cahoots with each other...
And guess who decided that she needed a haircut? Violet's first ever haircut, and she did it herself. Apparently it was Jaxon's idea. Like I said, in cahoots with each other.
And that sums of part 2 of 3 of our adventurous summer! Part 3 is the big finale!
