Another exciting week...

Life in our household is still crazy busy as usual. Chad defended a few weeks ago and will graduate here in December. He has taken a PT evening teaching position at TCC. We are hopeful that he will find something more permanent soon. But in the meantime are grateful for what we have. I am still working weekends and stay busy running kids around during the week.

I cannot believe that the kids are in their third week of school already. Both Savannah and Payton are doing so well at adjusting back into a routine. Payton started today at Miss Becki’s preschool. He only had a half hour in between schools but did a great job considering that he went all day. I could tell that he was exhausted by the end of the day. I am so pleased to how the school year has started.

Payton has his 18 month scans on Thursday. Where does the time go in between? It seems like we were just at Cook’s for his 15 month scans. I always feel a lot of anxiety the week of his scans. It’s also a time that I can’t help but sit back and reflect on what our little guy went through. Even though 18 months have come and gone there isn’t a day that goes by that I feel such gratitude to have our little boy with us. He has been a true blessing to our family and he keeps us laughing and smiling every day with all the cute things that he says. Payton’s scans are at 6 a.m., but I am grateful for that since it will make it easier on him since he cannot eat or drink anything prior. Hopefully this week will soon pass and I can start to feel some relief. I wish I could say that this gets easier every 3 months but it just doesn’t.

September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month

September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month....please take a moment to pray for those children currently battling this dreaded disease....for those in remission to forever be cancer-free, and for the families and friends of those children ...who have battled and won the ultimate victory over cancer by making their way to Heaven....much too soon.

First week of school...

It is such a delight driving Payton to school every day. Payton talks so cute and it just thrills me spending that time with him. This was our conversation this morning.

Payton “Can I be Batman when I grow up?”

Me “Sure you can, Payton, if you want to”

Payton “Do you think that Dad wants to be Spider Man when he grows up?”

Me Chuckling

Payton “I think that I’ll ask him when I get home”

Me “Ok buddy you do that”

Payton “Mom, what are you going to do when you get home, while I’m at school?” “Are you going to go home and clean the house?”

Me “Yes, I think that I’ll go home and clean the house”

Payton “Are you going to go home and fix me dinner, what are you going to fix me?”

Me “Sure I’ll fix you dinner buddy, what would you like?”

Payton “I think that I’ll have hot noodles for dinner.”

I thoroughly love the little boy that Payton is becoming. I cannot believe what a complete 360 turnaround he has done over the past month; he is such a different thoughtful, helpful little boy. Payton is always offering to help do the laundry or empty the dishwasher. Pre-K has been an absolute blessing for him and he loves it. Payton’s class was split since it was too big. His new teacher is Mrs. Robertson and he thoroughly loves her. It has been a wonderful week. Savannah has also had a great week and really likes her teacher as well. I’ve been amazed at how well the kids have done this week, Payton heads to bed at 7:30 which is a real switch from the summer. I’m so excited that we had such a great week and the kids have adjusted so well to the new time.

Back to school...

Wow, it’s hard to believe summer is over and the kids are heading back to school. We had such a great summer. Payton is starting Pre-K today his teachers name is Mrs. Reynard. We found out that he qualified for Pre K because of his previous health problems. He will go daily Monday through Friday from 8-11 and then will attend our neighbor Miss Becki’s Preschool on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 11:30-2:30. We think this will be good for Payton to help him get ready for full day Kindergarten next year. Payton was so excited this morning and could hardly eat his breakfast because he was so anxious to go. I made Payton get a quick picture and as you can see he’s not thrilled about holding still he was ready to go. Savannah started 3rd Grade this year her teacher is Mrs. Lovelace. Savannah did really well this morning. I was worried about her being stressed out since usually on the first day she is but she surprised me. I took Savannah and Chad took Payton. Boy it is sure quiet this morning around the house. I have mixed but good feelings. I remember wondering when Payton was going through treatment if I would ever see him recover and get the chance to go to school. My heart feels so full of gratitude and love for my two kids.

Raspberry picking with Grandpa

We arrived back to my parents from the cabin today. Grandpa noticed that he had Raspberries ready to be picked in his Garden. Payton spent 40 minutes outside helping Grandpa pick them. Payton commented “These are the best berries I have ever seen”. Payton told Grandpa “When Grandma sees these berries, she is going to be so, so happy.” Payton asked Grandma to make him a Raspberry “Smoodie.” Payton loves to make “smoodies” with his dad at home.

Savannah and Payton spent the afternoon putting tattoos on themselves and on Grandpa. Payton thinks that Grandpa looks like a real pirate with his tattoo. It was a wonderful evening spending it outside with Jennifer and her sweet family. We are really going to miss everyone and have had such a great time spending quality time together.

Bear Lake Fun

We spent our Saturday sleeping in and recovering from our Wild Wild West Adventure. In the afternoon we went to the Lake and the kids thoroughly loved playing in the sand and the water. The kids buried each other in the sand and collected sea shells. I really wish we could go to the cabin and the lake more often being here really makes me miss it.

Day 5 and our final day of our Wild Wild West Adventure

We are all sad to leave the cabin today. After packing up the cars Grandpa and Grandma filled a Cowboy Boot Piñata with treats and the kids took turns trying to break it open Grandpa and Grandma gave each of the kids a Yellowstone Book to help remember their Adventure called The Eye of the Grizzly signed by the author Mike Graf. The kids enjoyed looking at the books during our drive to Jackson. They also gave each of the kids a Wild West Plaque and Cowboy Hat Souvenir to hang in each kid’s room to help them remember their Wild Wild West Adventure. We drove to Jackson and my Dad treated us to a wonderful dinner at Bubba’s. We are off to our Cabin in Bear Lake for a couple of days.

Savannah commented that her favorite thing to see in Yellowstone was seeing Old Faithful and The Morning Glory Pool. Savannah especially loved the smell of the stinky geysers. Savannah’s favorite thing we did with the Wild Wild West was lassoing the rope, shooting Bow and Arrows, Indian Hair Dress and Face Painting.

Payton commented that his favorite thing to see in Yellowstone was seeing the Buffalo’s Bum, visiting the Discovery center; seeing the bears and wolves. Payton’s favorite thing about The Wild Wild West was his gun and dressing up like a cowboy.