First Day of School 2018-2019

August 22nd was Adalyn and Jensen's first day of school in Utah.  We were excited for the first day of school to come around so that we could just get it over with.  haha!  They had quite a few nerves (myself included) leading up to the big day and we were all a little relieved when the "first" day was actually over.  Luckily everything turned out well and it was probably our smoothest "first day of school" yet.  

Adalyn started 2nd Grade and is in Ms. Pederson's class.  Jensen started Kindergarten.  He is in PM kindergarten with Mrs. Strawn.  They both like their teachers and are settling into their classes.  Before the first day of school I like to take each of them on a little mom date with me.  We buy any supplies that they need for school and then I buy them one new outfit for the first day (we do the rest of their winter clothes shopping when it gets closer to cold weather).  Boys and girls personalities are so different when it comes to shopping.  Adalyn was so picky (she refuses to wear anything with long sleeves) and knew exactly what she wanted to buy.  She also tried to talk me into multiple outfits.  Jensen on the other hand just kept trying to talk me into buying him a new nerf gun instead of a new outfit.  haha!  In the end he was nice and let me pick out his new clothes and was super cute and excited to wear them.  He can be such a sweet boy when he wants to be. :)

We are trying to get our schedule all figured out and how we want to make everything work for the school year.  McKay's work schedule is much more flexible now and it is nice to have his help in the mornings.  The first few weeks I drove the kids back and forth from school each day while they figured out where everything was and where our new house was.  Now that they are more familiar with the area they are able to be more independent.  Currently our basic schedule is McKay is in charge of breakfast with the kids, then he leaves for work, then I send Addie off to school, then I drive Jensen to kindergarten after lunch, then Addie and Jensen ride home from school on their bikes together, and then McKay usually makes it home from work around 5.  That seems to be the basic schedule that is working for us.  We will see how it evolves over the year.  

Now I am left at home with 4 kids in the morning and 3 kids in the afternoon.  We actually really miss having Adalyn home with us all day since she is such a big helper with the other 4 kids. 

 

But it is great to see them learning and enjoying their friends.  Excited for another year of learning.  

  

Rockwell's Blessing

Rockwell was blessed by McKay on August 12th.  The day of his blessing was his and my first time attending our new ward.  Our new ward has been so welcoming and we appreciate all their love and service to our family.  The ward is huge yet the leaders manage everything so well and really try to make each family feel welcome.  There have also been lots of new babies born.  The week before Rockwell's blessing, which was the official fast Sunday there were 3 other baby boy's blessed.  He will have lots of little buddies to run around with.

Our families came to help us celebrate his special day and to help us break in the new house.  From my family we had Corinne and Stu with Solomon as well as my parents and Grandma Fry.  McKay had his parents, his Grandma Pace and several of his brothers and sisters and their families.  We love having cousins and family around.  Of course I had wished that we had more done/set up in the new house before everyone came to see it, but we just ran out of time.  So I told everyone to call this the "before" of the house and someday when they come again (maybe for a future baby blessing ;) they can see the "after".  Although we don't plan to do anything dramatic with the house anytime soon.

After sacrament meeting we came back to our house and grilled hamburgers and hotdogs.  This was our first baby blessing that has been in the summer time and it was nice to be able to spread out outside and use our backyard.

Rockwell is such a sweet blessing in our lives.  He is such a happy chill baby.  He was blessed with a positive attitude, a happy countenance that will bless the lives of those around him, an enthusiasm for life, a keen mind, and lots of love from his siblings and family.   I am so grateful for the calm and gentle spirit that each of my babies have brought into our house.  They have each been so sweet and SUCH good as babies.  The first year has always been such a gift that I adore as a mother.  Also I loved his blessing outfit.  McKay actually helped pick this one out and he looked so handsome with it on.

 

Miss Addie's 7th Birthday

Adalyn turned 7 on August 10th.  Aren't birthdays with kids so fun?!  They get SO excited for weeks and months ahead.  And then they think the games and balloons are so magical.

At the beginning of the year we told Addie that she could have a friend party for her 7th birthday.  This was before we knew that we would be moving.  When the time came to plan her party we really wanted to keep our promise to her and let her invite friends for the party, but we didn't know too many people in our new neighborhood.  Luckily we had made a few friends and we invited all of their siblings as well to help make it a party.  :)

Addie wanted a fairy party, but since the majority of the party guests were boys we decided to just turn it into a "magical" party instead of focusing on fairy's, sparkles, and wings.  We had her party the evening before her actual birthday on August 9th.

For the activities we made glitter sensory bottles that were a huge hit.  Then we played candy tag where the kids chased McKay around the yard and when they tagged him he would throw out candy to them.  Kind of a cheat version of a pinata.  The last activity was a water balloon fight followed by dinner and ice cream.  For dinner we had mini hotdogs (little smokies), tater tots, and Cheetos.  The kids loved the food.

Addie loved her party and we were happy to celebrate her special day with her.

On her actual birthday we were able to go up the canyon with my family.  My parents and Mykelti and Draesen were camping that weekend up American Fork Canyon.  They invited us and Corinne and Stu up for dinner Friday night which also happened to be Addie's birthday.  We had dutch oven dinner and then cake and ice cream after.  Grandma gave Addie a play sewing machine that Addie had been DYING to have and she was thrilled.  The adults played spike ball and the mommies and grandma watched the toddlers. 

Happy Birthday to our oldest little lady!  7 feels big to me and I am reminded that our time with kids at home goes fast and we need to make the most of it.  I swear just became a mom yesterday and here you are at 7 years old. 

Things that Addie loves at seven:

Dress ups
Play shoes
Make-up
Music
Magnolia
Puppies
Riding her bike
Snuggling with Mommy and Daddy
Watching Barbie movies
Friends
Playing house
Painting nails
Pizza
Ice cream
Putting on Dance shows for Mom and Dad
Math/numbers

Currently she is doing a singing class and hopes to get back into swimming in a few months.  We recently started reading the Book of Mormon with her in preparation for her baptism next year.  I love how much reading the Book of Mormon is improving her reading skills.  She loves the one on one time that she gets with mom while we read.  win win! 


 



     

1 Month Old- Rockwell

On August 8, 2018 Rockwell turned one month old. 

He slept a few nights that first month with a few good 7 hour stretches which I was grateful for.  

He weighed 8 lbs 3 oz at his two week appointment and he met his (our) new Dr. 

 He out grew newborn diapers and newborn clothes around 5 weeks old.

He is a great nurser and has not tried a bottle yet (something tells me he isn't going to like it).  

By one month old I feel like he has traveled all over Utah.  He has already been to a few parks, Ikea, Target, Chick-flia, cousins house, Grandma's House, our new house... you know the important places.  lol  Life just doesn't slow down for too long with 5 kids.

No one dropped him that first month which is an accomplishment in my book.  Although he has been kicked a few times on accident by little sibling feet.  

By the end of the month the older kids were finally starting to remember his name and call him "Rockwell" instead of just "the Baby".  

Happy to have you in the family Rockwell! 

P.S. the blanket that we are taking Rockwell's monthly photos on is a quilt that my mom made him and gave to him when he was born.  We are so grateful for her amazing talent!  

  

Rockwell's Newborn Photo Shoot

Sweet Embrace Photography did a fantastic job taking photos of our family.  We were all sweating by the end of the family photos after trying to get the kids to sit still, but when I look at their cute smiles it is definitely worth it to me.

The kids ages at the time of these photos was Adalyn: 6.5 years, Jensen: 5.5 years, Declin: 3.5 years, Magnolia: 1.5 years, and Rockwell: 10 days old

  

I love how you can see the red tint to his hair in some of the pictures and how well he was already making eye contact.  Love these photos and can't believe how fast he is growing!