First Day of First Grade

It seems like I was just blogging about the last day of school and here we are ready to start the new school year. Pierce was so excited for the first day he could hardly stand it. He woke up at 5:45 and crawled in bed with us and talked about what he was going to do at school today. Then we got up and picked out a new outfit and he did his hair. He looked so handsome. After saying good bye to a teary eyed daddy and taking a few pics by the front door we headed out. We made it to school a little early to beat the crowds but still had to stand in line forever. Finally we found his spot in line for Ms. Piranio's class. We were happy to see that he has a few friends from last year in his new class: Nolan, Bailey and Amy.

It was a good day until around noon when I got a call from the school nurse. Pierce had thrown up at school all over himself. I don't know if he was sick or if it was nerves. It could have been cuz he was playing like crazy at recess in hundred degree weather right after eating. Anyways, he was really bummed out about having to leave early on the first day. If nothing else it was memorable start to the year.

Getting himself ready!

Outside our front door ready to go!

Waiting in line with Ms. Piranio

The fastest trip to Idaho... Ever!

We just made a whirlwind trip to Idaho for Clint's family reunion and his brother Ben's wedding reception. We left late Thursday night and made it to Vegas around 11pm. All three kids were wide awake and were super excited to be staying in a "hotelo" Cole and Pierce were yelling and jumping across and off the beds while we were trying to get Cooper to sleep. Finally we put them both in time out and threatened not to sleep with them (Andrea with Cole and Clint with Pierce). Pierce got right in bed and shut up. But Cole lost it. Major Meltdown! Screaming and crying it seemed like forever. We were having the hardest time deciding what to do with her. On one hand we don't want to give in and on the other we didn't want to get kicked out of the hotel! Finally I had had enough and told her that the hotel people would come and take her away if she didn't be quiet and go to sleep. This only brought on more screaming and tears. What a night. We should have just kept driving.


We made it to Idaho the next day in time to take showers and head up to Great Grandma Johnson's to kick off the family reunion with a delicious dutch oven dinner made by Kurrtis and Suzan. After a few minutes of visiting with everyone we headed to Brent and Cathy's to help get ready for the reception. Ben and Kymmy got married in Mexico earlier this month and we're super excited to have Kymmy in the family! It was a really nice evening and we had so much fun eating ice-cream cones and visiting. Clint really enjoyed catching up with friends and neighbors that he hasn't seen in 12-15 years.
The next morning we headed to Pocatello to Ross Park for some rock climbing and a picnic with the whole family. It was so great to visit and catch up with everyone. The rock climbing was a big hit with the kids. Pierce was a monkey and climbed right up the rock face. Cole was a little unsure but tried anyways. Tyler, Makenzie and Emily did great (Lindsey chickened out). Dylan shocked us all and climbed up 3-4 different routes (I think he just had back surgery 2 days ago too!).
After lunch we took the kids out to Arbon to visit with my parents. As soon as we got there we had to clean the car. Cooper spilled some milk and I thought I got it out...but now our car reeks like sour milk! We took everything out and scrubbed and washed the carpet with vinegar. I don't know if we got it though since now everything just smells like vinegar. Just as soon as we got the car put back together, a huge storm hit us. I have never seen anything like this. Heavy rain and huge hail stones coming at us sideways in the serious strong wind. It was crazy. As amazing as the storm was to watch, it was so sad to think about what damage all the hail and wind was doing to all the wheat which will be ready to harvest soon. At my parents house it ripped all the leaves and unripe cherries off her trees. They were almost bare. The kids did great during the storm which I was worried they'd be scared. Wiley the dog was terrified and Pierce sat by him, petting him and saying,"It will be okay Wiley. Nothing is going to hurt you. Unless there's a big tornado that sucks you up and spins you around and you might get hit by a car that got sucked up too." (So Funny). Here's Pierce playing in the mud after the storm blew through.


We left my parents' house around 7 to go back to Inkom so the kids could have a slumber party with their cousins. Cole and Emily spend some time feeding the horses apples and playing outside. Pierce ran around like a maniac (You'd think he never saw wide open spaces and grass before) and played Nintendo DS with Dylan. Later we took a big family picture and then played a very competitive game of Capture the Flag. Just when the game was getting good...Cathy got out the sparklers for the kids. It was short lived though when Cole stepped on one in her bare feet and blistered the bottom of it. After some serious tears and a lot of cold water the kids all spread their blankets out on the living room floor and watched "Where the Wild Things Are"



The next morning (Sunday), Clint and I loaded up the car and kissed the kids good bye and left for Arizona. Cooper will be staying with Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Moustache, who have turned their living room into a giant playpen for Cooper to practice his walking in and Pierce and Cole are starting off the week with Grandma Cathy and Papa. It was so hard to leave them and the whole way home I just felt like we were missing something since it was so quiet in the car. We are so lucky that our parents are willing to let them stay the week. I'm going to miss them like crazy but am excited about everything that I'm going to get done. We took our time on the way home taking the scenic route and enjoying the cool weather in the mountains and the green grass and trees from all the rain.

Cooper's First Birthday

We just had a small family party for Coopers first birthday. He wasn't quite sure about the cupcake and the sprinkles. For a kid who puts everything he can find in his mouth including bugs, I thought he would go crazy with the cupcakes. Once he figured out what it was, He went for it.

Some of the things Cooper does at age one:

He weighs 22.5 pounds
He has four teeth
He stands unassisted for 10-15 seconds
He crawls on his hands and feet (not knees) at turbo speed
He crawls up the stairs and is so proud of himself
He claps and gives five
He gives big open mouth kisses
He says Nigh Nigh
He shakes his head no emphatically when he is done with dinner or doesn't want something
He loves to eat everything in sight (today he ate an earwig and screamed when I tried to get it out of his mouth)
He is a water baby. He loves the bath, the toilet, the water park and loves our pool. He will splash with both hands like crazy and laugh the whole time

Maybe he really does love his sister!?!

Sometimes Pierce surprises us. Most of the time he beats up his sister pinching and hitting her when he thinks we're not looking but when we were at the Sesame Street Playground we sent Pierce and Cole to wait in line for the bouncy house and told Pierce to take care of his sister. Clint went back to check on them and got this picture.

Later in the day Cole had found 2 quarters and was carring them everywhere. Mommy told Cole to put them in her wallet so they wouldn't get lost and Cole didn't want to. And what do you think happened...Not even 10 minutes later she realized they were lost. So Pierce reached into his pocket and gave her one of his dimes (which he only had three).

The day before at Disneyland, Cole dropped her candy and most of it spilled. She was of course devistated and cried and cried so Pierce (without any prompting from us) gave her some of his. It was a microscopic amount but it's the thought that counts right?

These are the moments that make it all worth it. We are so proud of Pierce for being such a good big brother.

Lake Pleasant

Boating at Lake Pleasant with
Dan and Jamie White

This week has been rough. We found out Clint's job is changing and will come with a pay decrease. All week we've been stressed trying to figure out how we were going to make it all work. So, it was a really nice break from worring to go out on Dan and Jamie's boat and not think about everything for a day.

The kids had an absolute blast. They loved every second of being on the boat. Pierce and Cole sat up front with Taylor and screamed and laughed as the wind and water hit them in the face. They swam and jumped off the back of the boat and had Clint throw them up in the air into the water.

Dan taught them both how to knee board and they were pretty proud of themselves. Cole thought she was pretty hot stuff out there. Pierce caught on quickly and was able to get on his knees and balance right away and rode a long way around the lake.

Cooper did great hanging out. He played and ate and slept. We decided to let him put his feet in the water but he was crying for more so we let him swim around and splash with all of us. He threw a big fit when he had to get out!

We ate lunch on the boat and fed the ducks who came right up to us and then went home sore and sunburned and took really long naps!

I think it's been at least 3 years since I've skied. It took a few tries to get the feel of it again. By the time I found my groove I was too tired to do anything more.

For Clint it's been 7 years since he's skied. I was really worried about his back but he did okay out there and had a good time.

Water Babies!

Summer is here in Arizona and it's hot!!! Here's how we've been keeping cool...

Jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler at Dan and Jamie's house

Eating otter pops with our friends Taylor and Parker

Going to the WaterPark with our friends

Pierce and Cole on the Rainbow Racers

Pierce won!!! But only because he's the only one who could push off by himself so he was first one down.

Swimming almost daily in our backyard pool

The Water Baby

My wannabe swimsuit model!



The first summer we moved to Phoenix we thought we might die from heat exhaustion! But someone told us no matter how hot it gets...you don't have to shovel or scrape it! How right they are. Now that we've been here almost four years we have become evidence of evolution and have learned to adapt to our surroundings. Now the heat doesn't really bother us as we go from one air conditioned place to the next. As a bonus there is so much fun stuff to do here. We live five minutes from Wet n Wild water park and have season passes. We bought movie theater passes and we go to a kids movie once a week. We have our pool which we use daily and we have some really fun friends to hang out with.

Pierce's Last Day of Kindergarten

I can't believe it's here--the last day of kindergarten. I swear we just started! I cried a little on the first day realizing how big he has gotten but I really got sad when I realized how fast the year went. Pierce has changed a lot this year. He lost 4 teeth, made a lot of friends, learned new stories and songs, learned to read and can write numbers 1-50(he might be able to do more I just haven't made him try), He can write sentences and full stories with first, then and last. He has learned to be polite and respectful and to listen when someone else is talking. I am very proud of how big he has gotten and how much he has learned. Here's a look back on the year.

His Very First Day in Ms. Karsten's Class

School Party--Fall Festival

Field Trip to the Wild Life World Zoo

Drawing of a Monster

Showing Norterra Canyon Pirate Pride

Science-Apple Tasting Day