Another school year begins!

The kids started school near the end of August. I can't believe summer is already OVER!! Crazy how fast that flew by...but happy to be back into a routine! Kali is now in 2nd grade and Zach is in 3rd. I can't believe how fast they are growing up! These two can be the best of friends some days and other days the worst of friends... Hopefully they will always love each other as much as they look like they do in these pics :)

Madelyn started Preschool as well and she is loving it so much! She loves her new teacher Mrs. Wright and she is excited to go to Preschool three days a week. Although, Lilly is missing her big sister those mornings, it is a nice little break for mom to get some things done with just one little tag-along!

Yes that is a pink and purple streak in Madelyn's hair. She and Kali had their hair cut the day before by my good friend Ali and she decided to make it a little fun for the girls. Luckily it was only temporary and washed right out!!

Texas Trip- (part 2)

 (Continued from previous post)-On Thursday we got the awesome news that Tyson and Valerie and their kiddos were going to come join in on the fun for a few days. They drove in on Friday night from Biloxi, MS when Kelli and Shaun were driving back from Destin. It couldn't have worked out more perfect!! Mema and Grandpa were headed to Kat and Sam's new place in Tennessee on Sunday so it all worked out. We packed up Saturday morning at Mema's house and headed to the other side of Houston to play at Kelli and Shaun's for the next week of our trip. I was SOOO excited that Tyson and Val were there too and so happy that all our kids got to be together. They had a BLAST! It was a little nuts with 10 kids and 6 adults all in one house(poor Kelli) for a few days but it was also TOTALLY worth EVERY MINUTE!!! Thanks Kelli and Shaun for hosting all of the craziness!! 

 Sweet Natalia with the BEST BIG Brown eyes you will ever see!!! Love her!

 Beautiful red-heads Kyndra and Alexa! Love these girls and their red hair!

 And these were taken with Uncle Tyson's cool camera lens. It was so fun playing with this cute little guy as my model. Andric is Nikoli's little clone... Such a cutie! LOVE HIM!! and miss him already!!

 Little Studs. Nikolai and Zach were so happy to have each other!

 Kelli and I squeezed in a little GNO of course! I just have to say I am SO grateful for this sister and all she did for us while we stayed...not to mention it was totally last minute and now she is taking care of Mark while he still works in Houston for a couple months. You are the BEST Kelli!! Love you so much!!

 And on the road back to Cali...this little girl was not our favorite traveler. She did very little sleeping like the above pic. And somehow always got what she wanted...milkshakes and all...probably just to keep her quiet...

 We made a fun stop in Phoenix on our way home to see my long lost BYU roommate and bestie Heidi!! We hung out at Heidi's for the afternoon and the kids had a great time swimming and playing while Heidi and I visited. It was so great to see her and Joseph and their adorable family as well as their new home they had just moved into the week before all after just having a new baby #4!!! Heidi has been busy!!  We ate pizza and then hit the road again for a few more hours til we stopped for the night in SoCal. It was SO great to see Heidi! Miss you already girl!!!

Texas Roadtrip!!! (part 1)

 

Mark took a new job offer the first week in August. We felt this was an answer to many prayers and felt great about accepting the job.  The catch was that he has to work in Houston, Texas first to train and until they can have California open and ready for him to take the regional position- which could take 6-8 weeks...or more.  SO, we took the opportunity of two weeks left until school started and wanting to spend some time together after not seeing much of Mark all summer long, and we packed up and hit the road for a long 30+ hour roadtrip to Texas! It couldn't have worked out more perfect!! Mark finally has a steady job and me and the kids got to spend lots of time with my family!  

It worked out that Aunt Kelli and Uncle Shaun had a trip planned to Destin that first week so we stayed with Mema and Grandpa for a week.  The kids and I were able to visit and meet up with two of my best friends growing up, Amy and Becca, and it was so great to see them and their cute kiddos. We went swimming lots and spent lots of time just relaxing at Mema's while Grandpa and Mark worked. On Grandpa's day off we decided to do something fun and head to the Children's Museum of Houston and it was a BLAST!!! There was more than enough for the kids to see and do! We could have spent a week there! (These pics were taken with my phone so not the best quality)

 Grandpa helping Kali build her rocket. Wish I was better at that kind of stuff. But so happy to have Grandpa along to help!

 Lilly's favorite part was playing with the water...or IN the water! She got a little wet. Actually a lot wet.

 Lilly was watching Grandpa mow the lawn.

 WE LOVE YOU MEMA & GRANDPA!! Thanks for another fun filled week!!!!

Lots more pics to come from the second half of our Texas trip!!