Back to School & Empty Nest

So I know I am not really an empty nester, but what do you call a mother who has all four of her kids in school? Lucky? Free? Happy!! I really am excited to do whatever I plan to do with all this time on my hands! I can get my hair done, go to the grocery store, clean my house during the day and it will stay clean. The list is endless! And I don't have to miss my kids because I will volunteer in their classrooms each week!

The kids rode the bus this morning to give Lauren the full effect, but we will be driving them from now on since they have to combine the high school and elementary kids together on the bus.

Lauren is so excited! She didn't cry or act nervous in her class at all! That has to do in large part that her best friend Cora Clare is in her kindergarten class with her!

 We will see how long this little seating arrangement lasts!

Ressa in her 3rd grade class and her own desk! I didn't go in the boys' classroom because they would be too embarassed.

Week 5: Bluff Fort, Utah

By this point of the trip, being away from home for 5 weeks, I was ready to be home. But I was so glad we stopped in Bluff, Utah to see Grandpa & Grandma Rowley. We arrived on a Friday night and they put us up in a nice sized bunk house for a couple nights. We woke up Saturday and Grandma bought each of the kids a gift from the gift shop there at the Bluff Fort Museum. They have been serving a mission there for three months already and have really been enjoying what they are doing there!

It was too hot to do anything around there so we did alot of driving around San Juan County to see the sights. First we went to the San Juan River, then to the Goosnecks, followed by the Natural Bridges National Monument, and then drove up to Elk Mountain. We had such a great time!

We hiked down below the viewing area at the Goosenecks and Chad found this hat and hiked down to fetch it. I had lost my sunglasses so I was glad to have it to shade me during our hike. Plus, it matched my shirt perfectly! Score!

we climbed down three of these ladders to get to the bottom

Here is a large toad!

Week 3-4: The Grandperrins

I know you can't tell by this next picture, but I found out the week before that I have adult Mono. I know it's crazy, right? Well, I tried to take it easy during my visit to my parents at Badger Lake. I was there with the kids for three weeks after Chad flew back home to work. I did alittle tubing and swimming, but I did rest.  I only jumped of a little 20 ft cliff once. Here is Chad in excellent form!

 

We took a short trip over to Kennewick to see Derrick and Amy and their house. It was my first time there and we had a nice afternoon! Lauren LOVED her big cousin, K Tyler!

Every morning the girls got up and picked raspberries for Grandma. Nate and Carrie joined us for a few days and that was fun!

Carson insisted on buying a 1000 piece puzzle, finished the border and then had nothing left to do with it. I put the rest together myself!

I like this little restaurant on the lake next to my parent's lake. Good food and atmosphere!

We took another trip up to Clayne and Kelli's for a day and the kids had a blast on the trampoline. Mom and I ran over to the temple and back. Had a nice visit with my brother as he drove me around Spokane and showed me St Georges and other places that have changed so much!

Drove to Moses Lake to visit the Perrins Family during their family reunion. It was a short visit but it was good to see everyone!