The last month in review...

I won't apologize for my lack of recent blogging. We've been busy. Enough said. But thought I'd do a generic update and cover some of the major moments of the past 4 weeks.

So here we go...

We decided long ago (got the idea from some wonderful friends- the Winn's) that we would have the kids go on their "first date" with a parent. Larry takes the girls and I can someday take the boy. The whole purpose of this event is to teach our children what is expected of them and what they should expect from their date. We want our daughters to know that a boy should open the door for them, not eat until they both have their food, supply good conversation, be polite, etc. So Larry asked Payton out to lunch on Saturday. They went to Mr. Jalepeno together. Unfortunately, Larry has been under the weather and they had to cut the date short. But they'll finish it another time. Oh ya, the stipulation with dating (other than group dates only) is they can't go on a regular date until the Daddy/Daughter date has occurred. Now we just have to be prepared for the phone to start ringing....

Porter had to get into the picture, too.

The official Daddy/Daughter Date.

Last week I was able to purchase large amounts of food through our ward at great prices. So I took the plunge and learned to can. I was definitely a first-timer so I greatly appreciate my mother-in-law, ReNae, spending her Thursday here teaching me the ropes. We were able to can 12 bottles of peaches and 9 bottles of plum jelly (Thanks Gina and Tony, for the delicious plums!). We couldn't have done it all without Owen there, too. Porter got to play all afternoon with Grandpa and I think they both loved it! The next day, I canned all alone- 22 bottles of homemade salsa! Yum! I had bought so many onion and peppers, that I was able to share them with others- thanks for taking some ladies! But I decided on Tuesday to attempt to can some peppers and the tomatoes from our garden. Now I have a dozen of those , too. I am excited to eat the fruits of our labors all winter long!

We have had an unnaturally warm September. We decided to scrap all the house projects on the 12th and go boating. Payton has more pics on her camera so I'll have to add those later. But Riley and Sydney both skied all over the place! This was their summer to learn! Porter and I got to tube - he really enjoyed it and we even got several Ole's! Payton tubed with her sisters, as well. We had a great day in the sunshine- no better way to say good-bye to summer than a day on the lake with the family!

Porter has found a new play place. Since Larry has had his tools set up and the cars parked outside on the driveway, the garage has become Porter's new building site. He has confiscated all of Larry's wood scraps and creates towers and buildings, ramps and trails all over the place. I love it- he's such a boy (even with the pink Barbie car in hand)!

The first day of school came so quickly. Each of the girls were excited to go back and see all their friends again. This year was the latest we ever started, though. The Tuesday after Labor Day, September 8th, was their first day back.

Payton is a Junior.

Riley is an 8th grader.

Sydney started 7th grade.

Our Maisyn is a big 3rd grader this year!

Porter had his first olive experience. It's amazing to me that kids just know that they fit on the ends of their fingers!



On August 28, our Relief Society held it's 3rd annual Mother/Daughter campout. So we set our tent up in the Mitchell's yard and enjoyed an evening around the campfire. Some of the girls lead us in some fun camp songs. There were s'mores for all. It just happened to be the rainiest night of the entire summer, but we survived. Larry was waiting to hear the garage open as he listened to the rain hit the roof. But we persevered. We got very wet, slept very little, but we stuck it out. There was a yummy little breakfast provided and we headed home to dry out. Can't wait for next year!

So that is our month in review. So much has happened, as usual, and not everything makes it to blog status. But it's been fun to look over even these few pictures and smile. Thanks for sharing the memories with us!