++Haircuts by Stephanie++

I've always wanted to cut my boys' hair myself. You need to understand, though, that I can't even make a straight part to put pigtails on my daughter. And don't even think about trimming bangs- scary. The other problem? Buzz cuts don't necessarily "compliment" the size and shape of my boys' little skulls. But I finally did it. I cut my boys' hair for the first time- BY MYSELF! Of course with the trickery of positioning and bad photography you can't see all of the mess-ups but I think they look pretty darn cute!

We like Riley's short.

We like Grayson's long.

So that's two, count 'em two, different styles of haircuts. How impressed are you with me?

~Is he 4 or 14?~

Riley was telling me all about a new friend he met at school. Grayson couldn't help but interrupt to ask him, "Is she hot?"
My reaction: "What?!?"

{TTFN- to Bryce and to summer}

We were able to end our summer with more visit from Bryce. At the risk of putting my parents to tears by posting never-before-seen pictures of him (they miss him lots), I wanted to share a couple of pictures.

Trip to the beach

Raspberry and apple picking

I may be infringing on some copyright laws because I stole this picture from my sister-in-law's blog (sorry, Holly, I should have gotten written consent) but justified it because these are my three little (okay, younger) brothers, and my nephew. Aren't they handsome? I must say that I am so proud to be their big (okay, older) sister. Not only are they handsome but they are all smart, fun, sweet, wonderful men. I truly feel blessed to be a part of their lives. Bryce went into the MTC on September 15th and is going to be a terrific missionary! We miss him lots but wouldn't want him to be anywhere else.

sChOoL dAyS

School is once again in session. I had to send my baby off to preschool! (I know, now what? A lot of staring at the wall on my part, NOT.) They are all loving it, which is such a relief. Especially since last year was filled with so much "new". This year they had the anticipation of going back to a familiar school and seeing their friends again. And they love their new teachers. Yea!

This was Grayson's chosen pose for the first day of school. Keep in mind this was after a half an hour of out-right refusal to any and all pictures. The first day of school, he clung to me and his teacher had to literally peel him off of me. Then the tears flowed and the wailing started, and that wasn't even from me! The second day he ran right up to his teacher and was excited. By the third day he told me to stay in the van. He was going to school by himself! Now, what to do with the 6 hours a week I have to myself...

She's Nine!

For a few precious years of a little girls life there is an understood "No Boys Allowed" when it comes to the party scene. When they're little they want the boys there because they still like boys. When they get older they want them there because they again like boys. But as a parent, I for one, am treasuring the in-between years.

This was one of those years.

Marissa, Eryn, Jessica, Savannah, Carrie, and Taylor (in front)

Picture a little blurry (they wouldn't hold still very long!)

Pizza, cupcakes, karaoke, doing fingernails, dancing, playing games that involved bubblegum and candy, and just acting like crazy girls. It was fun, and lets face it, what boy in their right mind would have wanted to be there? Even her brothers took a leave of absence and headed for Dallin's house.

We went to the Rainforest Cafe for dinner that night, just as our little family. Grayson honed right in on Savannah's dessert and, being the sweet and generous person that she is, she let him.

We love you Savannah! You bring us so much joy!

10 Years Together!!

It is now official! Richard and I have been married for 10 years. (To put that in perspective that's 1/3 of my life!) The kids and I were in Utah so I left a couple of days before them (thanks to my mom and brothers who later flew out with the kids) and came home to go with Rich to Kennebunkport, Maine for a little anniversary get-away. Richard is the romantic one and planned the whole thing. It is an amazing place! We stayed at the greatest little Bed & Breakfast and went to a nice fancy dinner, complete with Maine Lobster. He made me a video of pictures of our first 10 years, got me a digital photo frame, some beautiful jewelry, and even special-ordered personalized M&M's! My man sure does know me! It was so nice to just be the two of us again, especially after being separated for two weeks!
At the Nubble Light House, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country. So we had to have our turn, of course!

We've had our ups and downs and I would not trade our life together for anything! I love you, Rich! You truly are the perfect man for me!

We're baaack!

After over a month of traveling, we are home again. Four days after we returned home from our Orlando trip, the kids and I headed to Utah for a visit with family and friends. It was a lot of fun and so good to see everyone. We went to Lagoon with Richard's side of the family (if anyone has some good pictures I would love to have a copy, the ones I got aren't that great), went to the Spanish Fork rodeo, and did lots of other fun things. Below are pictures of some of the other stuff that we did.

Hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa's

Grayson and Papa on the swing.

Aaron and Cory-the question I have is "Whose purse is that?"

Playing Rockband

Swimming with the cousins The boys

The girls, oh and Bryce (not a girl).

The Carnival

Papa and Riley on the Ferris Wheel.

Nana and Savannah.

Grayson, Bowen, Grant, and Riley. We are true "carnies"!

The Cabin

Grayson, Isaac, Clarke, London, and Bryce going out on the paddle boat at the cabin.

Bryce with all of his neices and nephews at the cabin. Man, we'll miss him when he leaves on his mission! Who will watch all of the kids for us?

In Grandma Betsy's trailer doing puzzles and playing games. We lost Idaho in the state puzzle though. Sorry, Grandma!

Savannah with two of her "greats", my grandmas. Grandma Simmons on the left and Grandma Tholl on the right. And they're both so young that in another 15 years or so we can do a 5 generation photo! One of the benefits of being the oldest child of the oldest child of the oldest child in the family!

The Lake

When we went boating the boys spent so much time in the tube there were a couple of times I thought they might have fallen asleep out there! Sorry about the sun in yours eyes, Gray!

Savannah loved boating. She was, however, not as thrilled with tubing. She was all gung-ho to go until her graceful mother tried to get on the tube and "unstabilized" it for a second. After that she was convinced that her life was going to come to an end right there in that tube on Utah Lake. But I know I heard her giggle a couple of times. She did have fun, whether she believes it or not.

The temple

One of the hightlights of the trip for me was going to the temple with Bryce.

Okay, now that it's taken me all day to do this blog post I will have to continue later with more updates...