Macie's 7th

Last year we had to miss Macie's birthday because we were in Arkansas house-hunting. This year we had to miss it because we couldn't figure a way to get back to CA. I was dreading it, but it ended up being a great day: it was stake conference so I didn't have to deal with primary from 1-4, and we were all together since Spencer didn't have high council responsibilities.

We knew we couldn't buy her balloons on a Sunday, but we also knew that helium latex balloons only stay up for about 12 hours. So we did those on Saturday. Sadie still doesn't really understand what we are doing, but she loves balloons and was more than happy to send some up.

On Sunday morning the texts started pouring in - some friends who aren't even on Facebook and have never lived by me sent me sweet messages telling me they were thinking of us. We had stake conference, which was a huge blessing. We came home and we took some pictures with the tree we planted for Macie last week. Oh I love it - it is still tiny but the leaves are red and I can't wait to see how this looks on her birthday in the future. Sadie took a nap (!!) and some friends stopped by with cookies, and with flowers and other gifts. It was a great day, and a great way to remember Macie.

I pulled out the scrapbook for that year and Sadie has been glued to it. She always stops on the pages with Macie and asks me where she is and where her (baby blessing) dress is. I don't know if she is getting it yet but at least she is starting to.

Seven! She would be 7 and I can't believe what we are missing out on by not having her here. Tanner is so drawn to 6-7 year old girls and I can see why...I'm sure they would be best friends.

(Dear CA friends who continue to bless us)

the end of volleyball

Our season is over (phew!) Oh it was fun and exciting, and nail biting a few times but it took up 4 days a week and I spent countless hours practicing with Emma. I'm glad for a 2 month break from sports before it all gets crazy again (with THREE kids in basketball).

The Wildcats finished off the season not so great. They peaked mid-season and won a few games, but lost the last several. Saturday was the playoffs. We were seeded to play at noon, 5:00, and 7:30. I knew we were playing at noon, but we were playing a team who had beat us handily twice, and figured we would be out. If we somehow made it to the 5:00 game, that would be our demise. Surely.

Well, our girls played AMAZING. The first match (remember, this team had easily beat us twice) was 25-15. We beat them in the second match as well. I got to that game and lots of Emma's teammates had purple hair. She told me she thought I would be mad so she didn't do it. I love that girl. But I told her to do it.

When I showed up at 5, her hair was purple. :) They played so awesome again and WON! Suddenly I was not going to stake conference that night, because her last game was at 7:30. Somehow they had made the finals! They were against the #1 team and normally I would have said they stood no chance, but stranger things have (had) happened.

We killed them in the first match. They barely beat us in the second. The last was a nail biter. Our girls got nervous and made too many mistakes and it ended 16-11. Most of our girls cried, but we were all so happy they had made it as far as they did.

What a fun season. I love watching volleyball. We have talked about Emma trying out for club, but aren't sure we can commit to something like that. We will keep talking about it for next year.
(Don't ask why the walls look SO BAD in this gym. Gross.)

 (purple hair^^^)

volleyball

On a whim, we signed Emma up for volleyball. At the 11th hour (they were shutting down registration in 30 minutes). Her friend was going to be playing and her mom called me to see if we were interested. Funny enough, the friend dropped out after a week but Emma is still going...

Emma is tall. She is athletic. She has a lot going for her that I never did. She just is good at sports. And oh MAN is she competitive (that came from her dad). So, while it was a rough start because she had no idea how to play (and Spencer and I weren't very good helpers with this particular sport) she jumped right in.

We have some rough/sad/emotional times because the coaches give her more feedback and constructive criticism than anyone else on the team...times ten. We have determined this is because she has the most potential. We bought her a volleyball and are helping as much as we can. {That's not a lot.}

When she plays, she looks pretty amazing. I have wondered a few times already if she has a future in this sport. High school maybe? I wouldn't be surprised. And I am definitely proud of her for trying something new. These tall people need to play those tall-person sports!

labor day visitors

I have had a few people say to me, "You always have visitors here!" I guess the fact that people keep saying it sorta makes it true, but I always wonder what on earth they are talking about. I want visitors every week of the year! And I don't feel like we get nearly enough people in our little spot of heaven here in Arkansas.

Anyway...one of my dearest and sweetest friends, Danielle, got a great deal on flights from PHX to Tulsa and decided to come see me! And bring her cute little Isabelle, who I haven't seen since they moved from Fremont 18 months ago. So it was a huge treat. About a month ago Tyson and Kristina asked if they could come during the time Danielle was here. We decided we have plenty of space, so we packed everyone in and packed all the activities in!

Danielle arrived first. It is an almost 2 hour drive to Tulsa but it really is quite pleasant. Straight, not on a highway, very few cars to see, lots of green, lots of NUTHIN. The drive back to Bentonville was wonderful - I could talk to Danielle all day. And we sure did a lot of talking.... I was so glad she was there that evening as I had to go see Spencer get set apart to his calling on the high council, and my kids love Danielle almost as much as I do, so they were pleased as punch.

The next day the kids had to go to school (some of them quite begrudgingly). Danielle and Isabelle and Sadie and I explored Crystal Bridges and the trails, and then did the splash pad before lunch. Sadie finally actually PLAYED. I think it helps her to have a little person and to not always BE the little person. It was adorable. And it was hot!

That night, LATE, Tyson and Kristina arrived, but we didn't see them till the next morning. We left around 8 am (let the kids play hookie from school) for Branson and Silver Dollar City. Oh man it was HOT but it was so fun and we loved it. Spencer got to come for almost the whole time too (left early to take Emma back for volleyball). Good times. We love that place.

On Saturday it was GAME DAY (first game of the season for BYU) but we had the morning so we played outside and then went to Tanyard Creek to play in the waterfalls. It was shady and the water felt great.

We came home for lunch and then started the BYU game. Our wonderful neighbor with the waterslide and pool told us to come swim so we took over their pool in the afternoon and then BBQ'd that night while we finished watching the game.

On Monday we went to the splash park again and Tyson and Kristina had to leave from there. We love having them come!

Danielle had to leave on Tuesday so we drove to Tulsa again (another wonderful drive with lots of chatting) but neither of our girls napped (grrr!). The drive home was sad for me. But I'm so so so glad I got to spend that time with Danielle and Isabelle - she is one person I admire and love to pieces. She is one of the best! (I can't tell you how mad I am that I didn't get a picture of Danielle and Tanner, and one of me and her as well! Darn.)

back to school (aka, mom's worst day of the year)

Oh man we had a rough back to school this year. Tanner going from very part time preschool to FULL DAY kindergarten and riding the bus home was probably the hardest adjustment of the week. He has to be out the door at 7 a.m.

But let me back up. Emma and Tyler's bus comes around 6:35. They are both at the middle school about 1.5 miles away, so that's a definite plus. Tyler LOVES school and thinks his teachers are the greatest ever. Emma likes it too, and likes not being the new kid anymore. She also gets to start viola this year.

Spencer was traveling all week so I had to wake up Sadie and drive Tanner to school with a grumpy, sleepy kid in the back (well, two of them actually). The traffic was a nightmare (!!) and we were late. No parking anywhere. Sadie had no shoes and a full diaper from the night before. It was crazy. Luckily, Tanner was being brave and smiled as I had to leave.

Oh how I missed him all day!! I couldn't wait for his bus at 3. The big kids got home first and we waited...and waited...and waited. He finally got home at 4! He was exhausted and sweaty and was pretty sure that was the longest day of his life and he never again wanted to go to school. Lots and lots of tears have followed since then.

In a nutshell, the big kids are happy, and the little kids aren't so much. He feels like he is missing out and the adjustment is so hard. Sadie misses him. Here's to only 175 more days in the school year!

summer wrap-up

Tomorrow is our last day of summer, and then we are officially back to school. This year Tanner goes, which is devastating to me on so many levels. I'm also losing Emma and Tyler back to the bus and public school schedule. So, Sadie and I will have to live it up all by ourselves.

 Emma is starting viola in 6th grade so we went and bought a (nice) used one.

 One more time at the splash park... in a couple months it will be an ice skating rink.

 A friend playdate with the sprinkler on the trampoline.

 ^^Trying to teach Tyler how to ski (not successful yet).

 ^^My most graceful (ha!) fall yet. At least I'm smiling!

 Wrapping up boating season. Boo! At least the kids have had lots of time on the lake this year.

 Tyler turned 10 and we celebrated by going to see "Minions" (because it was raining).

 Sadie sat still and watched almost the whole movie!

The cake sorta fell apart but it still tasted amazing. Love this big 10 year old 5th grader!

On to the school year! :(