School Started Today!

 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!!!!!! Zenock is in 2nd grade, Gideon in preschool, Ammon in 4th grade. They are so excited.

Gideon insisted on having a lunch box lunch like his brothers. On the way to take them to school he put it in his backpack and took it with him. When it was lunchtime he asked for a sandwich in a bag and a juice box put inside the lunchbox so he could have a picnic on the floor. After lunch he gets to go to preschool and ride the bus home. Hurray for a regular daily routine again!!!

Playing and goats... and an update on the puking morning sickness

 These two kids loved playing on the swings. Ayla could sit in the baby seat and be pushed all day. Gid is on the teeter totter thingy having a good time.

 One reason Ayla was always covered in dirt, she couldn't stop throwing it!

 Goats graze behind the yard. Kids loved throwing fallen apples to them to eat. Ayla got licked a few times by a goat and loved it. Every time she was done throwing and apple she would run to another tree to find more while shouting ME, ME! I think she was saying it was still her turn to feed them, or she was doing it by herself. I can't be sure.

And that concludes Idaho pictures. I was finally starting to feel better from morning sickness, only being really plagued for a little while in the afternoons. It was SO NICE to not be confined to the couch or my bed anymore!!!! And since coming home I have gotten even better! As long as I keep eating something every few hours, the nausea stays away and I can be a normal mom again. The kids are loving that I can help them with stuff, and I know Brady is happy to have his wife back. I have also had the energy to get back to making crafts!!!! I am working on some decorations for Halloween to teach at my next craft class in a few weeks. I was able to break in my new sander and work table from my parents. The jigsaw is next :) Friday night I sat at my sewing table and made a pillow case for a kid's birthday party and mended some things for Brady. I realized that I have not only missed crafting in the last 2 months, but sewing as well. I love using my talents in those areas. It provides a great deal of satisfaction for me, not to mention how nice it is to be busy and have productive things to do.

Craft night is coming again!

 These two projects are what I have been working on the last few days. I love how they turned out! I am teaching these crafts for my class in Sept. I love crafting, and I am so happy to finally feel back to normal so I can do this.

IDAHO!!

 They went outside and played in the dirt almost every day before they would eat breakfast or get dressed. All 4 of them loved playing outside, especially Ayla. I don't know how many times I had to wash dirt off her body and scrub out of her hair, but she was happy and having a blast.

 Ammon LOVES driving the lawn mower. He doesn't weigh enough yet to engage the blade for mowing, but perhaps next year he can be Grandpa's helper and mow the lawn for him.

 After watching Ammon have a ride, Gideon was begging for one. And when he was done, Ayla was INSISTING she also have a turn. They all loved "helping" Grandpa mow the lawn.

 And what's a trip to Grandpa Deitz's house without some riding of the four wheeler?

 Or "helping" Abby give her dog a bath?

 Photo opp for Ayla's 2 year old portrait....she's adorable!

 The ZOO!!! One of my favorite things to do with the kids when we visit.

 This guy was rawring like crazy.

4th of July Party

 We went swimming and had a delicious BBQ at a friend's house. It was the first 4th holiday that Brady wasn't working, which was awesome! We loved having him home all day. After the swimming and the eating and the swimming some more, we enjoyed fireworks at Brady's sister's house. We all had a good time and were very thankful to do something out of the house.

 She loved swimming with Ryan and the rest of the kids.

Snazzy new shirts the kids made.

Craft classes I held in June and July

 We put masking tape on canvas any way the boys wanted. Then painted it and took the tape off to reveal the cool design.

 Yes, Gideon did most of the painting by himself. I helped with the tape.

4th of July shirts we made with sponges and fabric paint. Three of these are the Hedden's kids. They all did such a good job doing their own shirts. I did the white one for Ayla to match a cute skirt Brady picked out for her.

Increasing vocabulary

Gideon was in special ed preschool to do speech therapy after he turned 3. Since school let out for the summer he has significantly increased his vocabulary. He says lots of things now from colors to "red cross" because Brady and I have both gone there this week, and he even says Zenock's name. It sounds like geegick.

Ayla has started speech therapy in our home a couple of times a month. Her vocabulary is at 25 words right now. For her age, she should be at 50 and speaking in 2 word sentences. We have the same therapists who came with Gideon which is awesome. Back then Ayla participated more with them than Gideon so I think she will do really well.

Ayla's new shirt

So, I have known for two weeks....been nauseous that long as well....and already had to go get some fluids from the ER Friday. This is the surprise:

Talent show

For the primary talent show tomorrow, Zenock wanted to do swimming tricks. Today we went over to Brady's mom's house to film his tricks so he can show them on the tv at church. He was doing pretty good. I even filmed Ayla doing her talent, jumping in the pool. We sure love swimming in the summer here!
Ammon is spinning a ball on his finger for his talent. It's pretty cool....and I totally can't do that.

First Craft Night with Ayla's Attic

During my first night as hostess for Ayla's Attic craft night, I had 4 moms and 3 daughters (including my MOM, she's on the right with my little sister, Kalina) attend. I taught them how to take boring pieces of 2x4 and paint them into cute firecracker decorations. The daughters also put some vinyl on a 16x16 tile for their Dad's for Father's Day. The tile says, "To the world you are a Dad, to your family you are the world." We ALL had such a good time, and I am really, really excited to do it again next month. Thanks ladies for coming!!!!

 Brady's Father's Day present. LOVE IT!

This cute 14 inch wreath is what we are making for the July craft night. It's a straw wreath with paper umbrellas pushing into it. I decided after I took the picture that it's not full enough, so I will be adding more umbrellas....as soon as I remember to take it off my door :)

This is an 8x10 sign I have wanted to make for YEARS!!! I really hope the UPS man, mailman, and the silly neighbor kids will quit ringing the bell and knocking so dang loud when I have 2 kids taking naps every afternoon!

Shark Reef and Nature Center with Idaho family

 My parents came to visit with my youngest sister, and they brought a surprise! Drake, my nephew came with them too. Saturday we went to the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. Everyone loved it! Above is a Komodo Dragon.

 Petting sting rays and horseshoe crabs.

 In front of the really cool shipwreck.

 One of my favorites, the sea turtles!

 Brady was at work, so this is our family pic. For some reason I didn't take any pictures of my sister or my parents......sorry guys!!!

 Fun at the Clark County Wetlands Nature Center. We went here to kill a little more time before lunch after we were done at the Reef. Kids love this place.

 Gideon was really wanting to show Grandpa the animal poop display. He kept saying EW YUCK!

 Some puzzles in the hands-on section

 He was walking around the snake's tail in a circle.

Family portrait at the Shark Reef. Scary!!!

Swimming at home

 Christa and Ronny got this pool for the kids Christmas and birthdays this year....which is awesome! The kids totally love it, as seen by the video below :) It's just the right size for our tiny back patio, and we made a water slide!

She hopped in the pool before I could change her clothes. She even has shoes on. When she was done and I took her regular diaper off, I had never seen or held a diaper THAT full before. It must have been about 4-5 pounds. Oh wow!!