hallelujah!!!

Kindergarten has begun!!!! I never thought I would say that!! I thought I might shed a tear or two!!! But I was thrilled for Gage to start school!! He is smart, he is ready, I am ready!! He loves school, in fact, he says he wishes school was longer! He has been acting out so terribly this summer that I couldn't be happier for him to go!! I am so proud of him!! He even gets to ride the bus and he loves it!~

Gage getting on the bus!!

s
First day of kindergarten!!

Kennady how do you feel about Gage going to Kindergarten?:)

Jack turns 1!

My brother and his wife's son just turned one!! It is so hard to believe that just year ago they were able to adopt this handsome little boy!! What a great addition he is to the family!

mama said there'd be days like this....or did she??

We headed up to the lake again before Gage started school. I didn't take any pictures, because I didn't feel like it. I did take this self portrait though. I was on the boat without any kids. I didn't have to worry about any kids for about 5 minutes!!! It was pure heaven and I had to document it. After about 5 minutes my Dad threw me out on the tube and my relaxation ended. But I enjoyed it while it lasted.
A couple of weeks ago a friend who I admire very much posted a post on her blog. It was unusual for her in the fact that it was about the horrible week she had been having. How sometimes life is hard, raising kids is hard, overworked, and under appreciated. I was SO relived to read this post, not because she was having a bad day, but that she posted it!!! I read so many blogs and I think how do they do it all. Everyone takes there kids SOO many places, they have soooo many friends, everyone elses kids are behaving.....and so on. I think that we get such an unrealistic view into people's lives when we read their blogs, because everyone always posts the fun and exciting things in life!! Which is great, we should. But I also think it is OK to post the bad. Not only for support, but someone else may be going through the same thing. It is comforting to know others go through some of the same things as you. For me blogging is the only journal I keep anymore. And if my kids read this when they are older and parents, I don't want them to get an unrealistic idea of life. Being a parent is hard. I often think, how did my Mom do this and keep her calm and keep her house spotless and life was hunky dorey. But I bet it wasn't. But I don't remember that. Our parents parents probably grew up around the great depression, life was HARD. They wanted to give their kids the best life, but wasn't much. Our parents wanted to give us everything they could, and most likely gave us more than what their parents gave them. Our generation wants to give our kids even more, a better life. But are our kids going to feel the pressure to give more and more? I think it is important to let our kids when they get older know our struggles and pressures. Maybe they won't feel so much pressure to be "perfect".
I don't know if I made any sense to anyone. I think I am rambling.

Jeff told me I need to update my profile information. But I told him maybe I should wait....if I updated it right now it might say something like this...
I am a mother of three. Somedays I go crazy. I feel like I have lost myself. I don't know who I am anymore. I have a hard time taking care of three kids...but how do you admit that when no one else seems to struggle. My five year old is out of control. I have been diagnosed with severe post partum depression and anxiety. ?? Fun huh!? I am a neonatal nurse and I like my job. People often ask me if that is a hard job. OFten I think it is a whole lot easier than being home. I love life and adore my kids. I am doing the best I can and yet I have failed.

So maybe I will wait a few months to update my profile!:)

*July*

Ahhh, summer! July has been filled with the many activities that I love about summer. We have vacationed at Bear Lake at my parents cabin, we have gone swimming, we have done sparklers and celebrated the 4th of July and Pioneer day. We have played at splash parks and the beach at Oquirrh Lake. We have eaten more than enough popscicles and corn on the cob and watermelon. We have BBQ'd to our hearts content and run around in our swimsuits everyday. I love summer! Here are loads of pictures of this month. And they are in backwards order, but I don't have time to move them around!

This is the neighborhood breakfast and bike parade:





The 24th of July:
Started with a hike
decorated cookies
lunch at McDonalds
playing in the sprinklers
BBQ
and
Fireworks
Family watching fireworks
Kennady showing off her slim legs

The kids running in the sprinklers at Grandma's house


Gavin in the pool

Parker and Gavin catching potato bugs


The kids decorating cookies



In the morning we took the boys on a little hike. They all came home with bandaids.





Bear Lake:
SWIM time


Brooke


Grandpa and Kennady

Last year I had to ride with the kids on the tube, this year I got to fear for my life on the tube... no pics of me on tube, but I love the fear on Lacy's face in this pic....it is hillarious to hear her scream the whole time...I almost peeed my pants!!!

Tyler and Bradley on the tube...they talked too much smack before their ride....not smart


Brooke and Jackson first time at Bear Lake


Swimming:
We decided to go later at night so we coulde take Kennady and not worry about sunburns. She loved it!


This is how I found Gavin one day, minus the snow boots that he took off before I was able to take a picture!


Kennady:
My happy, beautiful girl



Swimming at the lake by our house with Jeff's family when they were in town




Gage and Kennady

I hope August is just as fun, even though Gage starts the big K next week!!!