1st day of school

Melissa, Brittany & Nicole have been looking forward to this day with excitement & nervousness. They like school & are ready to go back & learn, but going to a new school always makes them anxious. You'd think they were used to this--they've been to a new school pretty much every year since Melissa started Kindergarten. That's a lot of different schools over the past 6 years. They have always adjusted well & eventually found good friends. The hard part is leaving those good friends each year & wondering if they'll find a friend when the new school year starts up again. I try my best to be encouraging & positive that they will find a friend, but it doesn't always happen as quickly as they had hoped. My heart aches for them knowing they are walking around the playground with no one to talk to or play with, but I keep my fingers crossed that one of these days they'll get off the bus with a smile on their face & tell me about the new friend they have made. Friends make school so much more fun--I just hope each one of them can find someone that clicks with their personality & they can have great memory building experiences.

Melissa-5th grade, Brittany-3rd grade & Nicole-Kindergarten


















Nicole is lined up, ready for Kindergarten. Her teacher this year is Mrs. Decker & she seems to be great, so far. =)

I want my $10!!

All summer long, Jake has been trying to get Melissa & Brittany to learn to water ski. At the end of June, they both gave it a shot, but it was a tramatic experience & neither one has wanted to try again. We went to Bear Lake this last weekend, & we thought we'd try to talk them into trying to wake board (I did bribe them with $10 if they gave it a try--anything to help them along). Much to my surprise, they both said they would do it & out they went on the boat. I stayed back on shore with Brooke & waited for their return. When they got back, they both came running to me & told me I owed them $10. They showed me pictures on the camera, but it was hard to tell if it was really them so I said I had to see it for myself. They said "let's go" & off we went, again, on the boat. We got out far enough & Melissa was ready to jump in the water. First try, she was up & about 10 seconds later she was down. She tried again & same thing. It was really cute to see her up on the board. I told her that was good enough for me & then Brittany was ready for her turn. She, too, was up first try. They both had earned their $10. Now, I had never tried to wake board before & decided I neede to try since they were brave enough to do it. I got in the water & focusing on all the instructions I had been given I was ready to go. I got up each time I tried, but like my girls, I wasn't up for long. It was easy to pop out of the water, but the balancing part was a little tricky. It's different than skiis. We all went back to shore feeling very proud of ourselves & hoping we can try again before the season is over.



Melissa...

Brittany...

Becca...

Josh Groban Concert

Last night, Jake & I had a great date. We went to the Josh Groban concert. I have liked his music for a long time & was so excited when I found out he was coming to Boise. The concert was at the Idaho Center & it was packed. I always enjoy watching other people. It's funny to see how people will start screaming & jumping up & down--acting like they are about to pass out--when the celebrity comes out on stage. There were some young teenage girls in front of us & they could hardly breathe they were so excited. They seem to have a huge crush on Josh Groban. I'm sure I was never that way--haha. Anyway, it was a really good concert & I am so glad we went together.

Grammie & Grandpa come for a visit

Grammie & Grandpa (Jake's parents) came up to Boise & stayed with us for a while. It's always nice to have them here & are glad they came. We didn't do a whole lot of adventures, but we sure enjoyed spending time with them. We took Grammie to the Western Idaho Fair, we went shopping, to a movie & played lots of games--it's Allie's newest pasttime. Karen was kind enough to watch our kids so Jake & I could have a few dates--temple trip, dinner & a movie, and a concert. We all had fun & look forward to seeing them again this weekend at Bear Lake.

Kids are a great help!

As my kids get older, I am getting a better understanding why some people have big families. The older kids can be such a huge help with the younger kids. My kids love to help with Brooke & they usually do a great job. Melissa & Brittany are old enough to carry Brooke around, get her out of her crib, play with her, change her diapers and Nicole & Allie like to play with her & feed her. It's really nice when they enjoy doing these things & don't feel like it's a chore. Melissa is also getting closer in age to babysit, so I am really looking forward to having an in-house babysitter. I try not to ask them to do too much cause then I might like it too much & rely on them to do all the work. =) They are great to help out when asked & I am grateful for all the help they do give me. They can be a real lifesaver!!





Nicole loves to feed Brooke. She talks to her, makes funny noises & tries her best to clean her up as Brooke spits food onto her face.






Allie is more than willing to feed Brooke a bottle. However, sitting there for a while is not too entertaining for her. I give Allie the bottle, put Brooke on her lap, make sure they are both good & I am away from the couch for about 1 minute & Allie is calling me "Mom, I'm done. My feet are stuck." It would be nice if she stayed there longer, but at least she's willing to help for that one moment. It's a start.


Melissa is a trooper! She will change Brooke's diapers, sometimes without being asked. She likes to get Brooke dressed each morning & keeps Brooke from crying while going through the changing. She is very motherly & loves to be around little children. She is very good with them.

Western Idaho Fair

We took the kids down to the Western Idaho Fair. It's something I look forward to. It's really not that special, but just fun to go ride those expensive rides, eat the expensive, fatty foods & watch all the teenagers run around wild since they are free from their parents. It just must be something from my childhood memories that keeps me wanting to go each year. The kids have fun so I guess we'll keep going.


Melissa & Brittany like the wild, fast rides


Nicole & Jake ready to fly like Superman


Allie & Becca riding "Jumbo" the elephant


Melissa flying upside down--second row, 1st seat--Don't Fall Out!!


We each got a try at milking a cow--"pull & squeeze"


Grammie & Brooklyn taking a break from the hot sun


Snow cones tasted real good in the heat

"I Knew I'd Get the Ticket"

When we shipped our cars back from Europe, Jake decided to leave the Euro plate on the front of his Mini Cooper cause it looks better--and it does (I'm not showing his real plate cause who know who'll read this). He does have an Idaho plate on the back. I told Jake that I'll be the one that gets pulled over for having the wrong license plate on the car. Well, sure enough, Karen (Jake's Mom) & I went to Nampa to a home decor store. On our way home, a police car spun around, turned on his light & pulled me over. I knew right away it was for not having 2 Idaho plates on the car. I don't know how many times a police car has passed me in Boise & not one has pulled me over. The police officer seemed kind of "hickish" & seemed to not know what kind of plate was on the front by how he talked about it. He came across as kind of rude. He told me I could go to court or pay the fine--I'm definitely not going to court. Don't think I could win this one. The fine wasn't too bad, thank goodness!! Jake still doesn't want to change the plate--guess who'll get pulled over next time--ME!

Allie loves Brooke--too much?

Poor Brooke! Being #5 in a family of girls makes life for her a little crowded. Every time I turn around one of her sisters is down on the floor almost on top of her. They love her so much they just can't get close enough to her. Most of the time she is being smothered by Allie. I guess Allie has not comfort zone. Fortunately Brooke is my most easy-going child (so far) so she puts up with a lot before she gets mad. We'll see how long she can handle it before she starts to push back. Then maybe the girls will give her a little more space.

My girls love bugs!

This praying mantis was found in our garage & the girls could not resist looking at it & catching it. For some reason they have an interest in things of nature & enjoy learning as much as they can. Unfortunately, some of the bugs near our home have to become a pet for a while so my girls can watch them live. I know I don't have boys, but I still get bugs brought into my house--at least until I can't stand it anymore & have them release the bugs outside.

Brooke takes a bottle!!

For those of you who know our past with bottles know that this is a milestone for us. Our kids have not been good bottle takers & I was determined that Brooke would use a bottle. She took one when she was first born, but a couple of months later she decided she was done with the bottle and wanted nothing more to do with it. We tried several times since then, but had not luck. Today, she now takes one & willing takes it--twice a day. I did cheat a little & tried a trick my sister told me. I put a small drop of chocolate syrup in the formula to sweeten it a little more. She is now on day 4 & we've stopped putting the chocolate in & she takes it with no problems. Jake made the comment that Brooke must be the baby if she is getting chocolate in her drink. You would have never seen me do that with my first few children.

Night out at the zoo

We went to the zoo tonight as a family & had a fun time. The girls always like going there, even though it's a small zoo. The zoo had hot dogs & Maggie Moos ice cream--they had a little party after hours.


The girls trying to get a good view of the moose...














Allie interested in how the butterfly got onto Jake's back & even more curious if it will get off

"Princess Dooz Boutique"

The girls decided to "open up" their own hair salon. They got dressed up in dress up clothes, made signs, moved chairs around & got all the hair stuff they could find. They advertised to Jake & I so we went to the room & let them do our hair, massage our hands & feet & pretend to put nail polish on me. They were so cute about it & acted very professional about the whole thing.