Preschool for Audrey

Miss Audrey all ready for her first day of preschool.

 The day finally arrive for my baby to start school (sniff, sniff). It has been a day I've been dreading for some time now. I actually prepare myself for it by making Danny take the day off. He did a good job and comforting me and distracting me on this momentous day for me- not Audrey.

She is such a stinkin cutie. She's getting so big!

 She was super-duper excited to start school. She walked in so confidently, barely put her stuff away, gave me a small hug and wanted to head off and play. I am so glad that she's not being apprehensive about school, in fact she even sat so still for me to do her hair with no complaining. And anyone that knows this girl and the struggles we have over hair knows that is a big deal. So, we got her all taken care of and let her head of to play.

Best friends, Hazel and Audrey ready to make some trouble together. 

She headed over to the kitchen area and found Melissa and Hazel. That's when my tears started forming. We barely got this picture. Got one big hug and headed out alone. Danny and I left with no kids in tow. I have had a kid with me for so long now. It's been almost 11 years since I've not had a kid behind me in the car. I honestly don't know what it's like. It's been a hard thing for me to accept and come to terms with. I've been struggling. This is a new chapter in my life and it's rather overwhelming to accept and daunting to discover who I am as a person again. So, yes, there have been many tears shed over this moment happening.

All ready to learn something!

I am so happy that my baby girl is so ready to be going to school. That does make it easier for me to accept this change in my life. After she was home, I asked her if it was a long day and she responded, "It wasn't so long. Just a little long." So I think she felt like it went by fast. Then later I asked her if she missed me and her reply, "I only missed you a little." Although that makes me sad, it only helps to solidify the fact that she's ready and where she needs to be at this time. So, that helps this sad mom know that it's ok because she's happy.

Utah trip 2014 part 1

I figured it was time that I added some of the many pictures that I have of our fun times in  Utah. There is  a lot of pictures and most are really cute ones. I decided that I'd just post a bunch of them. There are like 100 of our camping trip alone. So, I'll start with our Browne Lake days.

  To begin with, I got a shot of each of the grandkids at some point in time up there. They are just candid cute shots of each of them.

Nathan 

Josh

Colton

Sophie

Audrey

Wiatt

Ruby

Gracee

Bridger

Brooks

Hudson

Pop, Aaron and Jason cooking up some grub for all of us. 

Some of us enjoying the good grub. We for sure ate way good the whole time. Everyone made some delicious meals! We all end up waddling away from the table each meal. 

I loved this cute shot of Ruby getting ready to go for a ride on the 4wheeler. Man, that 4wheeler saw some miles this trip. All the kids LOVED taking a ride on it. We need a few more grandma and grandpa. (one for each family)

 Audrey petting Missy. She loved having Missy and Maggie around to pet and play with. What she wouldn't give for a dog. 

Keeping the kids caged with a movie in the car while others of us shoot guns.

This is "Danny's Range" He found it a day earlier and got it set up for us to come out and shoot. I think majority of the group actually shot a few times.

A picture of me shooting. It proves that I was actually on this trip.

Danny showing off his skills.

My three guys with their own bb gun and their own range. They look all hot and sweaty. I think this would look awesome enlarged in black and white or even sepia. 

The range master giving grandma some tips to shoot a rifle.

What is camping without the kids hanging out with their cousins. 

Audrey was such a grandma's girl up there. And not just up there up the whole Utah trip. She even abandoned me for grandma, which is crazy because of how attached she is to me. 

Yes we took a walk down this run-off dam while the family fished. The lake was really low and well, the fishing kind of poor. 

Second picture as proof that I was there. We were standing where there should be water, the middle of a river.

The sunset and scenery was so beautiful at this time of day, and I wanted a beautiful girl in the shot too. 

I really liked this wooden fence for a picture. Some of us walked back to camp from the lake so we stopped for a picture.

This is at our camp site. This was the kids very own range for their bb gun and my air soft pistol. Tilisa is helping Mr Wiatt with a gun. All the kids enjoyed shooting. 

Ahh, grandpa is surrounded by a group of grandkids, always. 

Can anyone argue that these two are spitting images of each other?

Audrey all over grandpa. Nate playing cards with grandma. Pretty much a typical camping trip for our family.

These are our family camping shirts. So easy and fun to make. We all chose an animal. Dan-donkey, Jen-owl, Nate-dragon, Josh-two bear claws, Colton-wolf howling at the moon and Audry has butterflies.

We surprised grandma and grandpa with one. Grandpa got fish and grandma got a cat. (Sorry your eyes are closed mom)

Grandma bought all the kids a water gun and they loved it. And it worked out perfectly since we had a stream right in our campground. 

All the kids got into it, even the little ones. The big kids were enjoying spraying each other. 

Eventually things turned south for grandma. And she began getting attacked. Colton literally chased her all over the campground trying to spray her. It was hilarious. He even lost a sandal at some point during the chase but left it because he was determined to get her. And let me tell you, where he lost it was full of old pine needles and poky sticks, it had to hurt but he was full of adrenaline. 

And the water fight continues on. Uncle Aaron is  hiding out in the outhouse. He knows the kids were out there waiting for him. Honestly they were being quiet and waiting him out. He'd slyly open the door and they'd wait for him to emerge. After several attempts at sneakily opening the door, he finally burst out, leaving the kids standing there. But they soon pursued him. 

Daddy leading his boys to a good fishing spot

Ahh, look at that beautiful smile. Such a happy girl. This shot made me think of how big she is getting, babyhood long gone, and now toddler years have disappeared, leaving me with a little girl now. 

Dirt, dirt and more dirt. Camping was not complete without kids covered in dirt.

The girls table doing their craft. Grandma bought the girls some beads and string to make necklaces and bracelets. The girls really enjoyed it. Thanks grandma. 

Two things to take notice of here. First she is showing off her jewelery and secondly, look at those hands. That was everyday, all day long occurrence. 

The boys craft table. Excavating for dinosaurs

Colton is showing off his dinosaur. Pretty cool. And each boy got one. 

Josh cocking his bbgun. And Danny helping Grandma with the air soft pistol. 

Aaron helping Ruby shoot the bb gun. Little Ruby became instant buddies with Uncle Danny because he helped her shoot the bb gun many times and took her on the 4wheeler. She really enjoyed the shooting. What can we say, we start them young.