School starts!

Today was the first day of school. Taneal started second grade and Camie started kindergarten. Taneal was very apprehensive and positive she was going to cry as soon as I left her. Camie was so excited. She claimed she was "scrappy" (her new term learned from her cousin Tyler, a combination of scared and happy). I don't think Camie was at all scared. She was so excited she walked straight to her room and only kissed me goodbye because I called her back. She even wanted to ride the bus. Taneal ended up doing great without any tears this morning, although we had them a lot last week. I guess the difference is first born vs. middle child? They will love school. The teachers are great, the school seems great, and I think this year will be a great success.

Spencer LOVES Danielle

As Danielle crashed on the floor asleep in the middle of the living room, Spencer decided she was fair game. He sat on her, lied down on her, and kissed on her and she slept through the whole of it. After I got pictures, I rescued her to the couch so she could get some real, uninterrupted sleep.

Rachel gets married

Rachel married Jeremy on Friday, August 17th in the Salt Lake City Temple. Evan flew in with Troy and Becky and I stayed home with the children. I have not yet met Jeremy, but have only heard wonderful things about him. Rachel married into a wonderful family and will have absolutely beautiful children. I heard Jeremy's sisters are absolutely gorgeous, so Rachel will fit right in! Congratulation to the new couple!

This is a picture of Rachel and all her sisters: Trina, Reyna, Rachel, Jeremy, and Nancy

Back-to-school tea party

Audrey invited Taneal, Camie, and Danielle to a back-to-school tea party and requested they wear "fun dress-ups". Of course they HAD to wear make-up and have their hair done. I had a lot of fun getting them ready. They are such beautiful girls. It was strange to see them in make-up and with their hair done up. They looked too grown-up! I'm glad Taneal is still years away from make-up.

Audrey lives close!

Taneal, Camie and Danielle are so excited to have Audrey living so near. I think we live closer to family here in Texas then we ever did when we lived by a bunch of family in Utah. our subdivisions are next to each other. As a bird flies, we are probably about a mile from Troy and Becky. However, I live at the back of my subdivision and so do Troy and Becky, so the drive is about 10 minutes. We have been able to get together with Audrey several time a week since we moved here.

















The pictures here are of a tea party that Taneal and Camie planned when we were still in Katy to have with Audrey right after we moved.

Danielle turns three

Danielle's birthday was July 29th and she was very set on having her birthday in our new house. So, to acheive this, we delayed having her birthday until the following Sunday. We moved into our house on Saturday, August 4th and celebrated her special day on Sunday. Becky prepared Danielle's favorite meal, spaghetti and meatballs. We ate dinner at Becky's house because we were still in boxes. I managed to find my cake pans and decorating supplies so I could decorate Danielle the birthday cake she had been talking about. Fortunately she was please with the cake. It was my first time baking in my new gas oven.

Danielle really was excited to turn three. She even learned how to say "three" correctly. She understood that once she was three she had to eat the crust on her sandwiches. She could no longer even have a sippy cup once in a while. She was a BIG GIRL and that was serious. I loved how serious she was. The day after her celebrated birthday, she ate the crust on her sandwich all on her own and has not asked for a sippy cup since!

The move!

I must have really talked up our new house because the kids loved helping me label boxes and getting thier things packed up. Spencer was even in the spirit of decorating the boxes. I was glad to see their excitement because the move was accross town and we would be leaving our friends behind.

I was amazed at how many boxes it took to pack my house. I didn't feel like we had a lot of things, but I was suprised. I didn't start packing until about a week before the move, and I was busy. I had basically everything packed up as the moving truck arrived. Towards the end Spencer starting having a hard time, he knew something was going on.

I made some great friends in Katy. Tuesday before the move, Sam, one of my yound women, showed up at my house. I had just got home form swimming and Evan kept calling telling me to get ready because the home teachers were coming over. He got home and I was still in my swimsuit. He practically made me get into the shower. A few minutes later Sam showed up and said she was here to "steal" me. I made sure it was alright if I missed the Home Teachers and he smiled and said to go ahead. Later on I realized the Home Teachers weren't coming, Evan was just in on the plan. Sam drove me to Chipolte's where nine women and friends from the ward were there waiting for a suprise going away dinner. I have made such wonderful friends and it was so sad to say good-bye. I will miss them all.

Several of my friends helped with the move. Kelley Ann brought dinner over, and it was SOOOO good. The day of the move Debbie watched ALL my children and Sarah cooked dinner for us and volunteered her husband to go help move boxes. Troy, Evan's brother, came and helped, ALOT! He stayed until we were done packing, which was late, and then drove with us to our new house, let us stay the night at their house, and spent the entire next day unloading and hanging blinds. His two boys spent the whole day moving boxes also. Becky, Troy's wife, watched all four children the entire day while I drove back over to Katy and cleaned the house. She had dinner for us that night. Their whole family was such a great help.
















You can tell the move really wore Danielle out. She fell asleep on the couch!