Rianne's Baptism

This weekend Rianne got baptized.  We waited an extra month to do it so we could get a bit more organized after the big holidays and so that more family could make it out.

Rianne was tickled pink to be able to share her big day with her cousin, Talmage.  There is only a week difference between the two of them (Rianne being the oldest of the two of them).

It was a good day.  Rianne felt like the princess for the day.

She got a new dress complete with shoes and all the little "accessories" to make it special. 

She got her hair all dolled up (which actually made it through the WHOLE day, during the baptism itself and after!)

She had a lot of family supporting her.  Lots of family there to celebrate her big day.  Lots of congratulations and a few gifts and cards to remember her day by.

And by the day's end, with bellies full of pizza, we all called it a successful day...

... and remind her of how proud we are of her.

tooth number 4

The weirdest thing happened last night.

I was on facebook, reading a status update of cousin Marla and reading the drama that entales a seven year old and loosing her third tooth. It wasn't more than just a few seconds later that Rianne came upstairs and told me she couldn't sleep cause her front tooth was bothering her.

Her best buddies have been loosing teeth all over the place. One of her besties in particular lost his tooth at school yesterday prompting Rianne to think that she really needs to loose these three teeth of hers that have been loose for months and months.

I checked her tooth in question, and sure enough, it was pretty loose. In fact, it was a LOT looser than when i checked it that morning

(it IS becomeing a morning and evening ritual
as of lately!)

I proceeded to give it a bit of a yank but it never came out but got even looser. I told her to go check with her dad (who bascially rolled his eyes and told me this morning that i pawned her off on him...whatever!), who in turn sent her back to me. She really wanted it out, so we both took a deep breathe and i gave it a good pull. The kid has got an amazing threshold of pain! It bled and bled and bled and not once did she say anything.

So, she is now the proud owner of a toothless grin and a handful of change from the poor toothfairy. Seriously... the toothfairy should really be made aware of things like this ahead of time, espeically when Rianne makes the comment that the toothfairy brought 5 bucks for her friends tooth! Thankfully, she didn't say anything about how much she got (a whole $1.30 in coins)

...she must have gotten blinded by the pile of sparkly change sitting there for her!

I love this time of year.

The leaves start to change...

The weather starts to get a bit cooler...

Football season starts...

WHAT? I don't keep up on football?

Nope... i don't.

I could if i put a little effort into it.

But really, it's not on the top of my to-do list.

It's not even in the top 100... sorry.

BUT... it is that time of year when the little kids are invited by the highschool drill team, to do a half-time dance during one of the home football games.

Every year Rianne signs up. And every year it's been a kinda "hit-and-miss" sort of thing.

Last year was one of those kinda "miss" years.

Right after she signed up, she ended up with the flu and missed the whole week of practice and still wasn't feeling up to even going to see the girls dance.

This year happened to be a "hit" year.

We've spent every day after school for a week at practice for this one night of dance. Those few minutes of half time chaos.

Just one night of dance and i missed it.

It was all a miscomunication really and his intentions were good.

But i didn't get to see it, and that really bummed me out.

He said he took pictures, this is the only one that worked out naturally.

And... he had really good intentions. So, of course i forgive him.

But i missed it... and there will always be next year.

BTW... South Sevier won AGAIN!!! Undefeated BABY!

Really... i'm not keeping up on the football but isn't that just awesome all the same??!!!

what we did over summer vacation...

...and then some

Science Camp for Daylon

Visits to Capitol Reef

4th of July

another visit to Capitol Reef

Daylon's 11th Birthday

Pudge - May he rest in peace

day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 of our annual Fish Lake Reunion

and the 24th of July right in the middle of that

Daylon's Arrow of Light

Fremont Indian State Park

Back to school for Daylon and Rianne

garden goodness

Fremont Indian State Park again

and again

The New Harmony fire that darkened our skies for a few days

Western Governors UniversityWGU - I'm a college student again

Labor Day vacation

Sam's first day of school

and inbetween all of that, there was
family, more family, even more family, and even more family... and more and even and more

and inbetween all of that, we managed to have time for:

movie night

and pool time

WHEW! it's been a heck of a summer. I'm actually glad to have the school year back again.

First day of school

Today was the first day of school for Daylon and Rianne.
Daylon is going into the 6th grade... middle school.
Rianne is starting 2nd grade

Now i have kids in two different schools, which means:

*a whole new level of chaos in the morning to make sure each kid gets to school on time.

Rianne's school is a few blocks away ~ Daylon's is across town

*which also means that i won't be able to have Daylon and Rianne look out for each other

*they won't be walking to school together or walking home from school together

*two different time schedules all together (although it might make homework time easier?)

*and so many more i'm sure i'll find out about later

The kids are super excited, so i am too, and i get one on one time with Sam again... and me time during his naps! YAY!

Lets just hope that school goes smoothly this year and middle school isn't as scarey as people/parents tell me it is.

and just for fun because i saw it here: be different act normal

Daylon

Rianne

and because Sam couldn't be left out of the fun!

i love it when other people take pictures of my kids...

I love that Maria always has her camera with her when she comes down. She's always catching the kids when i just don't feel like taking pictures... and then i steal the pictures from her LOL.

My absolulte favorite one she took of Rianne this weekend.

I just love that crinkled up nose when she smiles.

...and she's got the cutest belly laugh (when she's not faking it)

Sam finding a mud hole
...and taking advantage of it.

Love Love Love this close-up of him.
He's totally in his element.Wanting to give his dad some loves but dad not wanting to get muddy LOL

No pictures of Daylon but he's been kinda hormonal lately.
I guess he's just at that age right now... sigh

bittersweet

(beginning of the school year: August 19, 2008 and the ending of the school year: May 29, 2009)

Another school year has come to a close. I'm having a hard time believing that nine months have already come and gone.

Daylon has graduated from 5th grade and is now on his way up to middle school.

Rianne passed 1st grade with flying colors and is going to 2nd grade.

Both are a bit sad to be moving on, especially Rianne. She loved her teacher so much. Daylon loved the fact that they were able to do so much more this year in school than years past. Both are a bit worried about what the next year has in store. However, we are lucky enough to live in such a small town that I'm sure we'll be seeing lots of friends during the summer to keep things busy for them.

Now... if i can just keep the teasing at bay this summer.

Grow Blossom Bloom DANCE!

Elite Street Dance Company

Rianne - Jazz and Lyrical Ballet

Daylon - Boys and Girls Hip Hop

Rianne - Mini Hip Hop Girls

Thursday marked the end of dance season around here. 9 months of weekly practices came down to this. And it turned out GREAT! I'm bummed that i didn't get to see much of the other dances since Rianne had so many costume changes, but what i did see was really good. I guess it should have been really good, the older girls have taken 1st place in so many compitions lately this year.

Here are a few more pictures of the evening:

Rianne - Lyrical Ballet

"Freeze"

Rianne - Mini Hip Hop Girls*

"Can't Touch This"

Daylon - Boys and Girls Hip Hop

"Wall to Wall"

Rianne - Jazz

"Let's Dance"

Rianne - Mini Hip Hop Girls*

"Funky Cold Medina"

*(These four cute little girls got the award for the being the shakeist... those girls can move their stuff! It was GREAT!)