Love this time of year!

Labor Day Weekend at the Property, hopefully next year, we will have a new trailer to stay overnight, not just for the day! But it's always a fun-filled, relaxing day!!

Taggert in the sand box with little cousin Libby, under the newly built fort.




Drexton going down the slippery slide, on the new fort built by Gpa, and most all the grandkids. Taggert was voted best Project Manager of the year, (guess he takes after his Dad). The highlight was when Brad surprised him one Friday, and checked him out of school to go help Gpa work on it.




Me and Drex cuddling as the sun goes down, waiting for s'mores.




My terrific mother, me, Addie, and Drexton popped in.




2 exciting looking teenage boys!




Beautiful Sunset looking West from our property.




Brad teaching Joe to ride the ATV up a steep, rocky hill.



Yes, I'm a Boob!

Drexton started Kindergarten this morning! The last of our 4 children. I thought I was ready. I knew he was, sort of, (little momma's boy sometimes), but intellectually, and socially, yes. We've been talking for several weeks that I'm not going to school with him this year. (As Addie put it, I retired!) He kept saying, "I know", but then has not gone to Primary by himself for a couple months. Last week I finally got him to go to Primary by bribing him he could do gymnastics, but only if he was a big boy and go to primary and school by himself. Then yesterday I had to substitute his primary class and I thought, "Oh, no! We may have just ruined what we've been trying to accomplish."
So last night, we set the school clothes out, set the alarm, he even put his backpack and shoes by the door. And he was up at 7a.m., dressed, and ready! Yay!!


Drexton's not too sure about going inside the classroom without me.




On our 2nd of 7 rotations, he started smiling.




By the end of the rotations, and found out how nice his teacher, Miss Mellor, and the aide who Taggert also had, Mrs. Kingery is, he said, "You can go now."

 The teacher asked all the parents to come to the classroom and help the kids find everything this morning, and I thought, "What is she thinking! I'm never gonna get out of there now." But then once I had to leave, and he was fine, (probably because he had 4 girls on his table and 1 boy), I was not! I had my adorable little nephew with me and thought that would take my mind off it, but it didn't. As I was putting him in the carseat I realized how fast these little kiddles grow up and I got a big lump in my throat, texted Brad, and the tears started rolling. Yes, I thought I had looked forward to this day when all my children were in school, but like I've said for 3 years now, can I just freeze them!?! Then I tell myself enjoy it now, next year's even worse, 1 in high school, the girlie in jr.high, a 4th grader, and the baby in 1st grade-ALL DAY!

Bronze for 2?

This cutey-patooty, helped carve, sand, painted it himself, and put together his own Pinewood Derby Car. He ended up taking 3rd, and got a Bronze Medal, (just like Logan-this summer). He was so excited about the medal!
I should've used his car for the Mother/Daughter Heels on Wheels race last night! Dang! Instead I attached one of Logans old cleats to his old car. Oh well, Addie & I still had fun, but I think we will leave the racing up to the boys from now on. Maybe her & I will stick to shopping & Yogurt Bliss.

Can you say "Soccer Mom" ?

Made these cupcakes for the team after practice one day, for our parents meeting. They were gone in about 2.3 seconds.

This kid has been smiling alot lately! Yeah!! Brad & I took 15 boys from the team down plus our own other 3 kids to the SUU Utah Summer Games for 4 days. We had a blast! They were so much fun all week and we had great support of the parents who met us down there. We made it a mini-vacation, doing a hike in Red Cliffe's Canyon and cliff diving, swimming, eating out every night, and we even got a movie in, and of course watched lots & lots of soccer.

When I say we took the team, I mean Brad seriously took the team down in a 15-passenger van, and I followed him in the truck with all the gear and bags. Our first stop at a Walmart and I came out to see the boys writing all this on my windows. They were so excited. I wish I got a pic of the van, they wrote all their names and #'s on it. We got home late Saturday, so it took a couple days for us to wash it off. But good thing, because it got Brad out of a speeding ticket the next week on the freeway on the way to his first day back to work for Mellor Eng. LOL!

My Sugar-Addie is 11!!!!

We call her Sugar, because she is so stinkin sweeet! She is constantly asking if there is anything else she can do for me, and loves playing with the little kids. She is always thinking of others, and leaving little notes for them. I can't believe she is 11, and going on to 6th grade! (Thank goodness they moved it back to Elementary School, I don't think I'm ready for another Jr.Higher.) Addie has just decided she might want to try soccer-again-but has been really dedicated at the piano. I never have to ask her if she is ready for lessons, and I love to hear her practice while I am cooking dinner. She has also come to the conclusion it's okay to be the only girl in the family, because she can do crafts, lunch, and shopping with mom all to herself. We love her soooo much!!

Shake that Groove Thing, shake that groove thing! YEAH, YEAH!!!

Taggert and Drexton have been taking dance only since January with Miss Corrinne. They were hoping it would be more hip hop, they love to groove to Usher, but this is a good start, and they had fun!

                                                                The Classic YMCA!

                         Peter Pan Lost Boys Theme Song. My favorite part is the leap frog! Just watch!

It's been an Eventful Month to say the least...

Disclaimer: Picture Overload!

Thank goodness this guy is not so little anymore to help with yard work.



And this one finds any event/excuse to pop popcorn.  This was when we were taking down the rest of tree, (thankfully before the microburst hit the next week).

And we are never sure what is going on in this little guys brain. Don't even ask about the glove.?.

This little princess is mastering her tricks on the tramp we've nearly had to shovel every other day.

All the Hooper grandkids, and Marshall, racing through the very traditional, mythotical Easter Scavenger Hunt.

Turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself. So easy the kids could help.

And this same growing teenager goes through my strawberry freezer jam like its powerade, so he got nominated to help this year. I can't tell, but I think he's snitching whole strawberries.

I hope we did enough, those pint jars are doubled behind them too!

And last, but not least, this baby FINALLY graduated preschool after 5 years!  Bittersweet for me, Addie asked if I was retiring, Drexton is more than ready to move on! I will definately miss being with him, my sister, my nephew, and all those cute preschoolers who put life into perspective everyday, but I know it is time for me to do other things and be home.