First Day of Kindergarten!

Is it really true? Is my first little baby boy honestly going away from me??? Seriously, it's breaking my heart! I can't believe he's starting to become MORE independent!  If it were my choice I would wait another few years to ever say goodbye to him. (Caleb agrees with me too!)

But with a smile like this, this kid is ready and really excited to leave home and go to school. 

Jacob has been THRILLED to start school. He laid out his school clothes for days and each day he would ask..."How many more days till I get to go to school?"

 

Cars 2 back pack...He loved it because a lunch box totally velcros to the front. I don't think it can get any cooler than that!! 

A little brother who is going to miss his big brother. When Caleb woke up from his nap this afternoon while Jake was at school he said, "Mom when will Jake be home from school...I miss him already!" It really was so sweet. He wasn't too thrilled that he no longer had a play buddy to entertain him. Lucky kid, he totally got to hang with me!

Before school started we met together with Jake's cousins who also started kindergarten for the first time today! Kennady would have been in this picture but she starts school on traditional school year instead of year round like these boys!

Here go Jake and Isaac to their bus stop. On the first day we let them take the same bus stop. They are so excited because they will ride the same bus to school with him, but ride home a different bus with Alayna. (More adorable pictures of that to come soon!)

Walking to the bus stop.

One sad mommy. I should have not smiled but put my tear face on here. 

Totally excited...except he was a little reserved and nervous I'm sure...He didn't really want to eat lunch, and was a little quiet, nervous. I can't imagine how secretly nervous he was, but overall he realized he would have SO much fun...and that is exactly what he had...SO MUCH FUN!

Yeah, baby, a bus! He told me, "Mom, I've waited 5 years to ride one of these!" 

Goodbye our little boys! I guess I have to allow Jake to grow up and become more independent. Let's just say it breaks my heart to say goodbye...but I guess for his good I will be happy and super excited he can learn, grow and become a more independent little boy!

1st Day of 2nd Grade

Miss Alayna is growing up! I have a 2nd grader. Unreal. It seems like this little beauty is just blossoming before our eyes. She really is so thrilled to be in 2nd grade. I love how excited she is about school, each and every day. She is thrilled to be on the same track as her cousins again. I think off track time is going to be a great success this year! It's been fun I looked back on all these pictures from Preschool on up till now. It's amazing how similar she looks but this year she just looks like she's maturing. Oh, she's a beautiful girl. Honestly, how lucky our we to have had such a pretty-all-girly-girl-girl in our family? Here's to 2nd grade!

Check out how she's changed and grown over the past few years....Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade.

(It's funny, I think she looks older in her Kindergarten pictures than she does in her first grade ones!)

On the first day of school she was lucky enough to have her cousins sleep over. Their parents were out of town and so we were able to send them off and meet their teachers! It was really FUN to have them with us.

She sure LOVES her cousins! Conner (5th), Olivia (4th), Miss Alayna (1st)

School - 24th of July - Fillmore

This Sunday Jared took the opportunity to give the three little monkies fathers blessings in preparation for the new school year. This was a wonderful "pinch" me moment. Honestly, I have three kids leaving the home, and going out there to stand on their own. So thankful for Jared to be willing to teach and use the Priesthood to bless our family.  I cried through them all. They were so sweet and the Spirit was strong. I am so thankful for these "pinch" me moments. We are living life, setting examples and I love my childrens acceptance and desire for them.

Benjamin trying out the car for the first time.

His cute little man face.

 Look at all that hair! He's honestly so adorable.

Caleb welcoming him to being a BIG boy and riding in his car! If you look closely you can see Calebs face, he's honestly so EXCITED Ben can play with his toys! I love Ben's face, like "Why are you screaming at me?"

First Annual 24th of July Fillmore Fun Family Reunion.

We did a lot of swimming...

 

Oh, how we love this happy face.

And this one too.

And this silly one.

And these too.

And these guys too.

This is the story of Alayna's life...nervousness and anxiety about everything! Oh, if she can learn to relax a little and enjoy life experiences! We tried to have her go off this small diving board...she would stand for it. So I showed her how to do it.

Looking nervous, but it was really a small one. But still fun.

Ahhh. I did it.

Here I am treading water in 11 feet water...a litter scary. I'm just waiting for Alayna to brave up and go.

Nope it required Aunt Shany to help toss her gently in.

Then there was Jake. Yes this is Jake. Diving into the pool with all the excitement life has to offer. He started off first by having me catch him. Then me on the side while he swam to me at the edge of the pool, to doing this...tricks all on his own. He is outstanding and so brave!

More fun to come...

First Grade Here We Come!

Well, it's official. Jared and I have our very first 1st Grader. Unreal. I can't believe honestly that we've been married long enough to have a child grow up and now leave us for 8 hours each day. Besides the fact that she is going to have the BEST time of her life, we are going to miss her here at home. Last night Alayna was BOUNCING off the walls with excitement that she was able to go back to school. She was thrilled to be a BIG kid and go to school ALL DAY LONG just like her cousins. It would be much harder for me if she was feeling uncomfortable about being gone all day, but she seems to love this idea. It's Jake now, that is super sad she's gone clear till almost dinner time.

Look how much she has grown over the past two years...She really is such a darling girl!
Preschool Pictures
Kindergarten Pictures

She was DONE taking pictures. She wanted to just go to the bus!

I'm going to keep taking pictures of her with her GIANT back pack and see how many years it takes for her to grown into it. She was super excited that this year she actually got to pack a lunch! It will be fun to see how much she eats. Alayna is known for being the absolute slowest eater in the world! So her sandwich, two carrots, 5 grapes just might do her in! I told her to bring it back home so I could see how much she could actually eat. Oh, I can hardly wait to have her return home and tell me ALL about her day. (Oh, yes we forgot to get her school shoes. So we are breaking the rules on the first day of school and sending her in flip flops! Opps...Target here we come!)

Here is her darling friend Eliza that lives around the corner from us. They were both so excited to have each other on the bus. Sadly, this year all the kids were put on different tracks, so they won't be in the same class, but they will have each other at recess and the bus. Let's all pray for her that she keeps up this excitement and we won't have too many hard mornings getting her out the door on time. Here's to first grade!