My visit to the South

The last two years in October my Mom and I have gone to visit Mary. This year we got to go to Louisiana, it was my fist time visiting the South. We went to visit Cam at the beautiful hotel where he worked I got a little side tracked for a few minutes. I went into the casino for 10 minutes and walked out with $40.00. I love the nickle slots, it is a good thing that we don't live closer to a casino. I love the time that I get to spend with my Mary, Cam and Hudson.

After visiting their town for a few days we headed to New Orleans for a day. On the way there we stopped and a very red-neck restaurant on a bayou for lunch. We got chance to try fried cat fish, crab cakes, and fried frog legs. The fist night we got there we walked down to Bourbon Street. We had just gotten there when the heavens opened up and it started to rain like I have never seen rain before! We had to walk back to the hotel without an umbrella. We went to dinner and nearly floated away down the road, it was so crazy!!!

The next day we went to the French Quarters, and the Garden District. They were both so pretty! We had to eat a famous Bisque and it was delicious! I was amazed to see beads still stuck in trees from Marti Grass 6 months earlier.

We also went and found a cemetery there, it was quite strange to see the graves that are above ground because of them being above sea level. While we were there we figured we should drive around and see some of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was amazing to see some of the destruction that seemed so fresh, and then jut next door houses that seem untouched or that had already fixed up there homes. It was a great trip and am glad that I was able to see that part of the world. Mary and Cam moved shortly after my visit , so I am looking forward to visiting them next wherever they live the next time I get to go visit.

Fall Soccer

This year Mason was old enough to start playing city soccer. He cried the day I signed him up. He did not want to play and that he would not play. Well his first game came and he was hooked! Watching 5 year olds play soccer can be a little frustrating, but so much fun!!!! He is a great little soccer player and can't wait for Spring soccer to start.

Kayla decided to hang up her dancing shoes for soccer cleats last year as well. She joined the All-Stars competitive team. It was a new experience for her, but she caught on quickly! She was the smallest player on her team, but very quick! She was one of the only girls who had not played on the team before, and I was so proud of her hard work and determination. She is getting ready for the new season to start next month.

I guess you could say I am now officaly a soccer Mom. It is a bit tiering getting the kids to and from all their practices and games, but so worth every minute of it. I enjoyed watching the girls dance, but for me watching the spoting events are so much fun!!! Maddi is also playing fast pitch softball and just got done playing her first season of Basketball. I will get some of those pictures posted one of these days as well.

Marlie's Major Messes

Well all of you who have had a toddler know that they can make messes faster than you can clean them up. I also learned the hard way that putting a 20 month old in th car for 5 minutes to keep them safe from wild lambs, can turn into a 2 hour adventure. Luckily the Officers were nice enough to not take me to jail for child neglect, but then even drove to Dave's work to get the extra set of keys for me. As you can tell Marlie even had my cell phone in the car with her. She thought it was pretty fun at first to tear apart my car while we all watched, but as it got darker she got a little concerned. It was definitely a night to remember.

Not long after the great lock down, I left her with my Dad so I could color my Mom's hair. She was being a little,too quiet so he went to find her, this is what he found. No, this is not Gene Simmons from KISS. Just Marlie playing with Mommy's mascara. What a crazy girl!!!!

You think I would learn not to leave her alone for more than 1 second alone, but I always want to think that she is playing with her babies like a good girl. This is what I find more than not.... A HUGE MESS!!!!! The top picture is Marlie painting her toe nails, then the next two pictures are really gross, but I had to make the best out of a "POOPY" situations. (Sorry if it make you sick!) Then the last pictures are Marlie doing her hair and using a lot of hair wax!!!

I would love to say that these are the only messes that she has made, but not so lucky. Thank goodness she is so stinking cute!!!!

Back to School

Yes I know school is 2/3 's over, but finally her are the pictures.

McKayla started 6th grade this year and entered into the Intermediate School. I was a little nervous for her, but she adjusted very well. She even let me walk her into school and take a picture of her. I am sure that won't last long. She opened her locker on the first try. She has had some big assignments to do this year like the Mesopotamian project, World Fair, and the Science Fair. She has worked really hard and they have all turned out so nice.

Maddi started the 3rd grade and was so excited because she got the teacher she really wanted. She also had a few of her very best friends in her class. She is learning her multiplication and passing off her times tests.

Mason started Kindergarten this year and I think It was harder on Me than it was him. He got an Awesome teacher and loves everyday of school. He only goes a half day, I miss his big hugs while he is gone. He is learning to read and write and is learning so much!!

Fair time again!

(I know this is 6 months late, but I still need to do it!!)

This is the 3rd year that McKayla has raised a lamb for the fair. It is always one of those things that half way through we wonder what we have gotten ourselves into, but it always ends up being a good experience and we are glad when it is done.

Here are some pictures of the kids racking, washing ,and walking their lambs. They spend many hours in the heat getting their lambs ready for the big day.

McKayla did a great job and her hard work paid off. She got 1st place (Star Choice in her wight group.) Then she got to got the final round with the top 50 to compete for grand champion. (There were over 300 lambs total this year in the fair.) She hung in there for a long time and ended up getting 6th place over all, we were all so excited and proud!!!! Next year Maddi gets to raise one ,so we will have 2!!!

Maddi's 9th Birthday, Family reunion, and Photo Shoot

On August 15th was Maddi's 9th Birthday. This year we were actually at a the Williams family reunion in Idaho. I made her a sign and Dave's cousin brought some balloons. Aunt Tammy and Uncle Dave got everything set up for us so when Maddi woke up and opened the trailer door, she could see the sign and balloons. We sent Maddi on a scavenger hunt to find her present. When she opened up her new pink i-pod she was so excited. It was fun being able to spend her birthday with family that we have never celebrated a Birthday with before.


The grounds for the reunions were beautiful! It was acres of green grass, a ball field, a covered Bowery, and lots of space to ride bikes.
We had a yummy dutch oven dinner and played lots of games. It was actually a really cold weekend for August and woke up to frost, but it was a lot of fun! Marile loved playing with her little cousin Deegan. They are only 10 days apart and get along really well. It is always so much fun to spent time with Dave's extended family! We look forward to the reunion every year. Dave's Grandpa Williams had a stroke 2 years ago, he is doing pretty good and we are so happy that he is still able to come camping with us!

We had some fun playing on the swings and other cool toys that were there. We got some cool pictures of us all jumping off of the swings. I thought I did pretty good, but the kids informed me that walking off the swing is not the same as jumping.

While Dave and I were packing up the trailer the kids took the camera to take some pictures. We were so surprised when we got home and started looking at the pictures that they took. I guess Mason wanted the girls to do a photo shoot of himself. He posed himself and I think it is hilarious! I love the serious looks, and the side views. We were absolutely cracking up when we saw the picture of his eye with the mit over his face!!! Actually a pretty cool picture!!! I just had to put these on here!

Summer Swimming

Kayla and Maddi took swimming lessons 5 years ago, but I have never put Mason in lessons. I decided this summer to sign them all up for lessons. The girls loved refreshing their skills and learning to dive. When we went to Bear lake they liked to practice everything they had learned.

Mason has always been a little afraid of the water. He didn't even want to swim in the big pool until he was 4. He has never liked getting is face wet, so I was a little afraid of how lessons would go. The first day he got right in the pool and when his teacher asked him to put his head under water he did! (I was thinking, this is going to be great!) He jumped out of the pool and would not go back in. Dave and I tried bribing him with anything we could think of, nothing worked! Another teacher got him into the pool and he screamed the whole time! The next day he cried while he was in the pool, but then every day he got a little more comfortable with the water. By the last lesson (they only had 9) he was jumping in and putting his face under. He learned to tread water and actually can swim! I am so proud of him and for overcoming his fear! When we went to Bear Lake we could not keep him out of the water!

Marlie was a little too young for lessons (I didn't want to get into a swimsuit with her everyday), but we will put her in lessons next summer! She was a very good little sister and watched ever day from the bleacher and cheered everyone on. When we went to Bear Lake she enjoyed splashing, sun tanning, and she even tried putting her head under water!!