It's Behind the Glovebox

So, I have to renew these tabs on my van.
And I have to renew them before the end of the month.
And I can't drive my van to the hospital without these tabs being current.
And I'd like to go to the hospital and have this baby soon, like now.
And it turns out that I can't renew them at all - H has to do it.

So, I am getting all of the paperwork ready for him so all he has to do is take it in and get it done. I go out to the van to get our registration (at 11:30 at night in the rain). And I can't find it. Our glovebox is FULL of papers and expired registrations, but no new one. Unlike my usual self, I stay calm. I search everywhere twice and think of all the places in the last year that I've taken my van and apparently not had the registration. Still calm, I'm staring at the empty glovebox and I absolutely know that the registration has slipped behind it. I have no idea what to do next. I slip my fingers over the back and can't feel anything. I sit and stare. Then I pull the sides in, pop the glovebox out, and my registration is innocently staring back at me. Seriously.

I stand all amazed.

First Day of School

The kids start school really late here - after Labor Day, and it was not hard at all for me to say goodbye to summer. The kids might have felt differently. But they were still excited for the first day of school.

L had a hard time waking up for the first day. All summer long they woke up early, until our trip to California. They had a hard time adjusting back to our time zone. So, she went to school slightly wet from her shower. She started 4th grade at a brand new school this year in the gifted and talented program. It is going to be a lot of work, but well worth it. I know she'll do amazingly well.

W started 1st grade and the most memorable thing for him was that they didn't have to take a nap. He said his teacher was the nicest in the whole world for not making them rest. A new friend moved in down the street from us, too, and so he is really looking forward to a fun year.

M had to wait a whole week to start preschool, and she could hardly contain her excitement.

She's very proud of her new backpack and that she gets to go to school just like the big kids. I love that her backpack is almost as big as her!

Four Years Old

I cannot believe that M turned 4 this September. Time seems to be slipping away.

She was so excited to finally have her turn. She loved all of her presents.

And as soon as H and I could get them out of the boxes, the kids got right down to playing with them, especially the walking mechanical dog that W picked out for her. (And which H is still slightly afraid of!).

California Wedding

At the end of August, we flew out to visit H's family and to attend his youngest brother's wedding. It was so fun to see everyone, many of whom we hadn't seen in years.

They were married in the Oakland Temple with a beautiful outdoor reception at a friend's home. I didn't get a picture of the happy couple, but at least I got our beautiful new sister with L.

And the groomsmen during the ring ceremony.

The kids had fun running around and playing with all of the family.

And who doesn't love a tree house at a wedding?

I'm so grateful we could go and catch up with everyone. My only regret is that the trip was so short.

Water Parks

In July, we bought season tickets to the water parks near our house.

We live in between 2 of them and the passes were good for both.

The kids loved being outside in the pool and it helped me feel like they were getting a "real summer."

I'm afraid I haven't been up to much sightseeing or running around due to my growing belly.

Not to mention that it was so ridiculously HOT, making outdoor excursions uncomfortable at best.

But, armed with bottles of sunscreen, (NO sunburns, I'm very proud of that) the water parks were perfect in the heat.

L turns 9!

L celebrated her 9th birthday this July. We kept it low key with just a family party. H took her out on a Daddy/Daughter date to "Alice in Wonderland." Then they came home for cake and ice cream.

She loved the presents she got.

Afterwards, I took her out to the store and let her pick 3 outfits of her own choosing. She felt very grown up when she got to buy a shirt out of the Junior's section.

And now she can write about it in her own journal. Happy Birthday, Baby!

Myrtle Beach

The kids and I started out this summer with a 2 week trip to Myrtle Beach with my family. It was ridiculously fun. The kids were AMAZING in the water. W was absolutely fearless, jumping in the waves, belly boarding, and getting knocked around.

L would go out way past the breakers with my family and stay out there just floating in the waves.

M wasn't so thrilled at first. She didn't love the hot sand and when it gave her blisters on her feet with her flip flops she almost decided that was enough of the beach.

With a lot of piggy back rides, blister patches, and different shoes, we could get her there.

Then she wasn't too sure of the waves. But, again, with a lot of hand holding and jumping around, she finally came around and by the last few days, she would run around on her own.

We made sure to visit Medieval Times...

...where I admittedly had a thing for the Green Knight. (But only when he was on his horse, he was just so cocky and arrogant. I Loved It!)

We got up and caught the sunrise one morning. M wasn't invited, but I either piggy backed her along, or stayed home.

Thankfully there were other willing arms to carry her because she was still in her "I hate the sand" mood.

We caught the fireworks for the 4th of July.

Actually, we saw them twice. The first time was at "Boardwalk at the Beach" before my cousin and her family had to fly home.

The second time was on the 4th at the beach over the water. They were delayed by an hour due to an accident and we were afraid that they had been cancelled. Thankfully the weather was beautiful and cool, and we spent time in the water until it got dark. My aunt brought glow sticks for the kids which entertained them once they couldn't be in the water anymore. It was nice to just sit and relax and the fireworks were well worth it once they started.

One of my favorite things that we did was Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede. I saw a billboard for it and got it in my head that I had to go. Thank goodness I'm stubborn! Not everyone was up for it, just my mom, my sister, and one of her daughters. My kids didn't have a choice.

I know they don't look excited, but this was while they were still waiting in line. Believe me, the smiles didn't stop once we got in and it started. And to "top it off" we girls all wore our beautiful homemade garlands.

The preshow was an amazing juggler. He was balancing some things on his chin - a chair, a child's piano. W informed me that he wasn't impressed. Then the man balanced a 10 foot ladder on his chin. W turned to me and exclaimed "Now I'm impressed!" We were front row center for the show and it was worth every penny. Another memorable moment from W - I asked him on the way out if he'd had a good time. He said he loved every part of it except the woman with the huge blond hair. There were several women with huge blond wigs, so I asked which one. "That one!" he yells, and points to a giant picture of Dolly Parton on the wall. Apparently, he wasn't into her star-spangled pre-recorded medley. Oh well, to each his own. And the memories keep coming - we still use our "boot mugs" all the time.

Another of the best parts of the trip - the down time. Mostly, we just relaxed, played games, giggled a lot, and visited. It was wonderful.