5 Years in a Blink of an Eye...

  It happened, Austyn turned "5". She thinks that being 5 years old is the coolest thing. Where do I even begin with her Birthday post?! I'll start off with her Birthday morning. Jordan and I crate papered her door and put balloons behind it so when she opened her door the balloons would fall on her and she would have to break through the paper. It was so cute. She didn't want to take the paper down, so we crawled under it all day. 

She requested waffles, eggs, and sausage for her Birthday breakfast. So we decorated her chair and ate off of Birthday plates. We tried to make it fun and special. 

After breakfast we stopped by the coffee shop for hot chocolates before school. She got to take treats to school to celebrate there as well. After school I let her choose wherever she wanted to go for lunch. Of course she chose "Old MacDonalds". From there we did naps and she asked if Quade could sleep with her and I obliged (they did sleep). Soccer practice was next and we finished the night off with dinner at Abby's. It was a wonderful Birthday, I had a blast and it wasnt even my Birthday. I made a point to make it a "yes" day. Try not to tell her "no" about anything unreasonable. It definitely brought to my attention how much I tell the kids "no". Maybe I'll work on that a bit😁

Her Birthday gift from my parents. She loved her Wedding dress. 

Right now Austyn is playing soccer. She is doing so much better than I had expected. She had her first game and did amazing. She got knocked down numerous times and jumped right up and kept going. She is really enjoying it. I love it when she is interested in something. 

She also had been dying to do ballet. So for her Birthday we got her dance classes and the whole outfit (there is a lot to a full fledged ballet outfit). She was so excited about it. I'm not sure I've ever seen her that excited. And then she cried the whole class. I don't know what there is to cry about ballet, but apparently she found a reason to cry. She hated it. So we returned the ballet stuff and now we are into soccer. 

My kind of girl! We recently sold her pony. And she was very very happy about that. Since the fiasco at the 4th of July parade she has been terrified of Chocolate Chip. So we decided to stop torturing her and let Chocolate Chip go to a family that would enjoy her. It was a sad day for me, but I'm glad she is being used. She was too good of a pony to waste away in our pasture. Maybe someday she will like to ride. Kindergarten is a hit! Austyn thinks that having her own desk at school and her own school supplies is the coolest thing since sliced bread. She totally takes after me. I got more excited to get her school supplies than she did. There are 13 kids in her class and we are good family friends with most of them. It's going to be a great year for her. 

I can't wait to she how far she's come at the end of the year. Right now Austyn is into anything and everything girly, makeup, hair, nail polish, dress up, purses. I am impressed sometimes with her knowledge at her age. She will tell me how she wants her hair in the mornings and it will be something I've never done before and it looks so cute. She definitely didn't get that from watching me. She is so kind and thoughtful. She will help me out with Quade without me asking. Example: Quade won't eat (surprise surprise, right?), and she takes a bite of her food and tells him how yummy it is. Then magically he eats. She amazes me. I could go on for days about the amazing things she does. 

We are so lucky to have such an amazing, sweet, and caring daughter. I look forward to having a very close relationship with her and watching her experience life. I hope she lets me be a huge part of it. 

  

Fall Has Arrive . . .

  My my my, I'm quite overdo for a new post. I bet some of you are getting a bit impatient with me. So sorry 😁 Just busy wrapping summer up I guess. I left off with pictures of my darling children and husband during the Fesival this summer. They had a blast dressing up and dancing for those quick few days. I have to say I'm still blown away at how well Mr. Quade did through the whole thing. He danced twice a day and did perfectly. We were all so impressed. I don't know where that came from. I told Jordan that maybe dancing is his calling. Jordan did not like the thought of that. 

  We left the Festival and went on our horse camping trip with Jordan's whole family. So much fun! Weather was perfect, water was too cold for me, and the company was amazing. Can't wait for next year! 

Aunt Jessica making her famous and most delicious pie with the nieces and nephews

  We came home for a few days to restock the trailer and then we were off to the annual crab trip with Jordan's fire department. We stayed for 6 days this time and still could have stayed longer. Truely best camping place ever. Besides the fact that there was a fire ban during our stay and the Yellowjackets were bad. It was a major bummer. 

  We also made one last day trip of the summer up to the zoo. It was so fun. The kids loved everything and it was another perfect day in the books. 

Kids on the train at the zoo

  Austyn started kindergarten this year. She is going to a private Christian school in Junction City for this year and then move her back to Territorial next year. She is loving the new school and her teacher. I am so excited for her to have this great opportunity with this amazing teacher. I can't wait to see what she learns this year. She is signed up for soccer this fall. She has been dying to do ballet so we got her dance classes and the whole outfit for her Birthday! She's going to be so excited!! And she is also excited that we sold her pony. Sounds funny, I know, but she was terrified of her and had no interest in her at all. I couldn't stand watching her waste away, when I knew another little kid could be enjoying her. So we found a good home for her and everyone is happy. 

Austyn and Quade decided it would be a good idea to try Muttin Bustin. They loved it. 

First day of Kindergarten. 

  Quade has become quite the little story teller chatter box these days. She is nonstop talking and telling his tall tales of hunting. He is absolutely amazing. The most entertaining child I've ever been around. He is continuing to get better about controlling himself. He's pretty easy to talk out of his little tantrums now too. He still has his days, but so does everyone else. I will continue to thank him for teaching me patience. He has changed me so much as a mother and person all in good ways. I'm beginning to appreciate his really really really really rough stage. Like my Mom always says, "something good always comes out of something bad".

Quade getting ready to ride his wild sheep

  Jordan had the opportunity to hike the South Sisters with a few fire department friends. He went up the night before and stayed in a tent and then hiked all the next day. He loves stuff like that. They didn't luck out on the weather though, it was too cloudy to see anything when they got to the top. But he still enjoyed it. More recently, he injured his back at work and has been completely down and out for a week now. I've been having to put his socks on and off and pants too. He had an MRI and we will know the results on Monday. He has felt some relief from taking Prednisone for the inflammation in his back. But he's been absolutely miserable. We hope for continued relief and a good MRI reading. Cross your fingers. 

  Nothing new with me. I'm just getting ready for the Holidays! I love this time of year. I've got my Fall decorations out. And looking forward to letting the kids get a pumpkin everytime we go to Lone Pine. By the end of Fall our place is overflowing with pumpkins. I love it! Can't believe summer is over. It felt like a long summer (in a good way). But I'm ready for some cooler weather for sure. The kids are getting so big and changing by the minute. Every year gets better and better during the Holidays. The Christmas magic is so fun with the kids right now. I've started making Halloween costumes already and I finally learned after three years to NOT get the glittery tulle for Austyns costume. She is going to be a Witch this year and Quade will be a Firefighter. Pretty simple this year. Like always I'm off and on with exercising. But I guess some is better than none. Right? 

  Hope everyone had an amazing summer like us and continue to have a great Fall!!!!!!!!!!!!!