Happy Birthday Jace!

Yay! Jace turns 4 today!

We hope that your day is as great as you are.

We still love you to pieces.

Happy Birthday bud!

Music Makers....Come Join Us!

Okay...so summer is winding down and fall is right around the corner. Although I hate to see summer go, I must say I'm exited for the schedule of fall and looking forward to all of our activities starting back up.

One of these activities is Music Makers. It's a play group that I've been involved in with my kids ever since we moved back to Idaho (so nearly 2 years- yikes doesn't seem that long!) Anyway, I wanted to tell you all about it & also extend an invitation to anyone who is interested in joining us.

We are going to meet every Monday from 10-11 a.m. this year. We meet at the new church right off County Line road- about 2 miles from The Loft. (By the Pepperridge subdivision-I think that's what it's called.)

So what exactly is Music Makers? Well, it's an organized playgroup that incorporates lots of different activities, rhymes, fingerplays, music, etc. There are essentially 6 different rotations- Welcome Time, Singing Time, Circle Time, Marching Time, Movement Time and Story Time. We go from room to room for each station. Once a month we also end with a treat. There are different mom leaders that organize and lead the different stations. Each month there is a new theme, so it's a fun way to introduce your kids to lots of different ideas/themes. September's theme will be all about animals.

It is seriously lots of fun for kids. It's structured well & it's a good way for your kids to get involved, meet new friends and my favorite part- something to do through these dreaded winters!

Anyone is invited! It's completely free. Don't worry if you feel like you can't sing or whatever- you don't need to know how. It's just something fun for you & the kids to do together. It's a very relaxed atmosphere with lots of nice moms. It will start after Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 8 and goes through April. All you need to bring is a puppet for your children for welcome time and any kind of musical instrument for Marching Time (even rattles work great!). Babies, toddlers and pre-school age children all enjoy it- so bring all the kids!

Let me know if you have any questions. I know some of you live close & thought you might be interested in coming. Hope to see you on Sept. 8!

Home again, home again.....

Jiggidy Jig! Okay anyone else feel that summer blogging is way more scarce than otherwise? Geez- I can hardly find a spare minute these days.

So...we've been gone again and now we're back. Which basically means that I'm just more behind than ever. Unpacking, laundry, tolerating my way neglected house and trying to catch back up is the story of my life once again.

We just enjoyed a week of fun at Bear Lake. This is the second year that Justin got to go do an audit there & we get the benefit of going to play around. I guess you could call it one of those work/pleasure trips.

Bear Lake is so pretty- I love all the blue water. Also love it here because it's so low-key. We had a condo pretty much right off the lake and then it has both an indoor and outdoor pool, so you don't have to go far for some fun. Makes it easy travel with the kids.

We spent the week with the Crapo family (one of Jus's co-worker's family). We had a great time! When Jus & Wes were at work, Mandi, I and the kids played all day. It was great because our kids are similar ages, so despite a few melt downs on the trip down and a couple of tiffs between Jace & Kalli, all was well. It was fun to make new friends and have someone to hang out with. This picture of Rylee cracks me up- what a babe!

It was also the Bear Lake County fair last week, so we got to take part in some good 'ol fair fun- such as the Demolition Derby! Jace was scared to death at first- he didn't get all the destruction. Afterwards, however, he couldn't quit talking about it. He made up his mind that he wanted to turn Justin's "noisy" car (as Jace refers to it as, although Jus still insists that it's a pretty nice car- What? An 88 Acura with 200+ thousand miles on it?) into a demo derby car & have him and Jus be race car drivers. He has literally spent the last few days sitting in Justin's car in the garage pretending to be in the derby. He has also made several requests for a speed racer helmet that he saw at Walmart. So all in all the derby was great- other than Fat Albert that sat in front of us on one of those bleacher chairs that pretty much took up his entire seat plus our entire leg room, beside the fact that he had an "odor". The picture doesn't even do justice.

We also went to the parade, which is hands down the biggest candy giving parade I've ever been to. It's so funny too because it goes up the main street on the right hand side, then turns around at the stoplight and comes back down the same parade route, only on the left hand side the second time. Classic. We got some major loot.

I feel like much of our summer has been on the go, but it's been a good one. I can't believe that school is already starting and such. It slips by way too fast.

In other news, Justin has also pretty much completed our yard/landscape project that has kept him occupied all summer. Must say I'm very proud of all his hard work- he has definitely been putting in a lot of "sweat" equity. No kidding that a yard is a ton of work- he did our whole sprinkler system, raked, tilled, welded & pounded metal trim, planted trees, barked all of our beds and we got hydro-seed today! I can't wait for our grass to come up! Can't say how sick of dirt I am around the house. Plus all the dirty shoes, clothes, garage, etc. Oh well, better than snow.

Garage Sale!

I'm having my first-ever garage sale on Saturday, Aug. 9 from 8-3 at my house. My sisters and I are putting it on. Expect furniture, clothes, books, toys, games, home decor, etc., etc.

I live in the Willow Brook subdivision- about 2 miles north of Rexburg Motor Sports off of 12th West. If you're looking for some bargains come on by!