Back to School

So, it's that time of year again. Laine started school again on Monday, entering the second grade at Upland Terrace Elementary School. Her teacher, Mrs. Brinton, seemed very nice. She's already made some friends and we had one of them over Wednesday afternoon to play. Eve is starting Kindergarten tomorrow. She met with her teacher last week for a little consultation, she checked Eve's skills on things like recognizing colors, letters, and numbers. Since Eve's been reading for a few years now, I think she did ok. Here she is with her teacher:


While Eve was getting tested on counting the number of blocks on the table, James got to check out the classroom.

Then we grabbed Laine on her way out of her classroom and they all went to the playground for a little fun on the slides and monkey bars.

With Natalie back in school too, it's been a busy week for all of us.

Going to the temple and we're going to get married

About 22 years ago my mom brought home a bouncy baby boy. I was ten years older then this little bundle of joy and immediately took him under my wing. He gave us many scares during his life (the day he turned blue still lives in my memory as one of the worse days ever) and he has made us very proud (the Cottonwood game his senior year and his decisions regarding rugby and mission--just to name a few). He became my bud, my shadow. I took him everywhere and spoiled him just like an older sister should. There were trips to Lagoon, the bookstore, and the theater. He participated in things with my friends and really never left my side. He has always been my best bud.

Last week the little boy, who used to have me read to him or watch The Little Mermaid with him many times over, took a sweet young girl to the temple and married her for time and all eternity. We are so happy for them and the kids are excited to offically welcome Aunt McKaye to the family (after months of calling her soon-to-be-aunt McKaye). This marks the end for my parents. All four of their children are married, two of them this year.

It was a fun night and I had fun seeing faces that I hadn't seen in years (I am not sure if Christian had the same amount of fun as I did). Everyone was dressed to the nines and a good time was had by all. Don't believe me, here are the pictures to prove it.

Look sparkerlers! (This picture was taken moments before James thought he would test his parent's knowledge and touch the part that had burned down...guess what they were right, it does hurt.)

Bart being a goof ball with Adam (he stole the camera) getting ready for his big magazine cover.

Look what I found!

We tried very hard to get everyone to look at the camera for this picture. In five or six pictures it did not work.

The same goes for this one. In fact Boston just gave up, that is the top of his head.

See here James and Birdie wer having problems.

My brothers, they are two....special boys.

Wrestle Uncle Addy!!!!

The couple emerging from the temple.

Trouble? What do you mean? We're the most innocent boys around.

Waiting for Zach and McKaye to emerge.

All dressed up and ready to go.

The girls decided to have curly hair for the big day. It was kinda fun putting in the rollers for them.

The wedding dinner was at Gardner Village. They were getting ready to have a big beach party, we couldn't resist snapping our picture for this one.

Doggone days of summer

The end of summer is quickly rushing towards me. Soon instead of taking the kids on outings to fun and exotic places, or to go to the movies, or simply being at home taking care of them I will be in a classroom having fun with a whole new set of students.

I am going to miss being a home, it has been an amazing experience.

Nothing new has been going on here. We are just having a good time and getting ready for Zach's wedding this week. Just a week of cousin outings and family reunions (see pictures below). I also took the kids to school with me this week to help me get my room set up. They had a blast drawing and playing with my rolly chair. While I put up pictures and met with the Student Government officers.

Here are some pictures of the Pia family reunion:

Boston excited to have a yummy Thanksgiving dinner in August.

The family reunion was this year at Wheeler Farm. The rain kinda kept us from seeing everything but the kids did have fun trying to find every rooster/chicken that they could.

The happy couple in their lovely Tibetan scarves

My Great-Aunt ZeZe was in charge of the reunion this year. She had just visited Tibet and decided that the tradition of giving others a scarf as a welcome was a great idea. So she brought one home for all the adults. I thought it looked more like a prayer shawl on Christian though.

My aunt also got pony rides for the kids. I think that the kids rode at least five times. They loved it. Here is Eve on her first go.

James just giggled the whole ride.

And Laine was a pro!

Now from the children's museum cousin outings:

Boston and James decide that they'd rather sit in the back of the helicopter, than in the front. Just in case it did take off.

James played at the water area for at least 40 minutes. I had a hard time dragging him away to discover the rest of the museum.

And Laine became a champion wall climber. This is her fourth time up!

The kids loved the helicopter. They pretended they were Lifelight and played in both the copter and in the "mission control" area. They thought it was great they could talk to each other from the control tower to the helicopter via an intercom.

Eve had a fun time being the Doctor on board. She didn't want to relinquish that purple vest when it was time to move on.

Eve also had fun playing the happy postman, delivering mail to all the residents of town. Even the dog had a mail box.