My excuse...

For not being consistent in blogging lately, is that I have been very busy. Life is crazyand I have had to embrace the crazy to make it through each day I am blessed with.  The kids are all liking school and doing very well.  Fall sports are starting up and Aubrie had her first soccer game this past Saturday. We had a busy weekend but enjoyed every minute of it. On Friday we drove halfway to Gallup to get Aubrie's dear friend Brooklyn for the night. We met her mom and her in Newcomb which is about an hour Southwest from Farmington, literally the reservation. There was a gas station that is there and both days we were there my girls found a cute dog laying outside of the store, obviously abandoned. It was so sad. My girls wanted to take it home so bad.

 

                                                             Aubrie and Brooklyn

I am so glad Aubrie has such sweet, good friends. It was hard for her when Brooklyn moved to Gallup at the end of the summer. They were in the same primary class at church and it was just cool to see Aubrie have a friend who shares our same beliefs and love of the gospel. I sure hope that the King's move back someday.

After our rendevous to the rez, Mitch and I took a date night and on Sunday we enjoyed church and the sabbath day with a nice walk at Berg Park in the evening. We came across this really old tree that had fallen over. So glad we got to spend some time enjoying the beautiful weather we have been having. Fall is in the air.

I forgot to add that Mitch got a new calling in church on Sunday, he is now the ward executive secretary. Which means he is the bishop's secretary. Cool huh. He seems nervous but excited for the change. I know he will do good no matter where he is called to serve.

Birthday Girl

Aubrie Quinn turned 9 years old yesterday! Time is truly flying by. As a mother, I couldnt be more prouder of this child. Aubrie is such a sweet person. She is thoughtful and loving and the most helpful child I have. She is such an awesome example to me and to those around her. She is always thinking of others and never expects anything from doing something nice for someone, she does it because she wants to and because she loves them. The perfect example! I love her smile and the way she can make me feel happy with just looking at her. Aubrie has three things she loves...soccer, dance, and crafts. She likes making bracelets, necklaces, duct tape flowers are her new crafty thing and coloring. She likes to help me in the kitchen cook dinner or baking. She likes to ride her skateboard and bike and go to the park.  Last night we had a birthday dinner for her and she chose grilled salmon, salad, homemade mac and cheese and cheesy bread that my Mom makes to eat. The cake she chose was a chocolate peanut butter cake that I made her, topped with chopped Reese's all over it. I let her have her first sleepover on Friday night with a few of her closest friends. They slept outside in the tent and watched a movie on the outside wall with a projector. I think she had a really good birthday. I am so happy that Aubrie was born but more blessed that she was born to me.

 

Study Group

Everyday after school, Aubrie has been getting Brynley and helping her practice sight words and math facts. Its so cute to see them working together and doing something productive. She takes her sisters education very seriously:)

Pre- Scooter

Today Carly had her first day of preschool at Casa Montessori, where Aubs and Brynley also went. We love it ther and think they do such an amazing job with the kids. Carly calls herself a "Prescooter". Another cute thing she said was last week we pulled up to the school and she got all excited and said "Oh, Brynley's school?" And I said, "No, its Carly's school now." She responded with an a sweet "Oh, Thank you!" She says "Oh" alot, something I love. I also love this little munchkin so much, it was a little sad to see her sitting in the circle singing songs and waving to Mitch and I as we dropped her off this morning. 

She also cut her bangs by herself and I havent had a chance to fix them yet because I cant seem to find a good pair of scissors in this house! I wonder why.

This was the first picture I took of her, she picks her nose alot. This habit I dont enjoy.

First Day of School 2012

The Lybrook Crew; An 8th grader, 3rd grader, kindergartner and a preschooler. Life is good to me.

                       

Kindergarten #3

This sweet girl had her first day of kindergarten today! I can hardly believe that Bryn is old enough for it but she is and she was so excited for her first day of school. I had to stay for the parent meeting in her class and while I was there I just watched out cute she was. She has a friend from church in her class, Ivie and so she was so happy to see that they were both sitting at the same table. She came over to me when it was time for the students to get a tour of the school and kissed me goodbye and told me she loved me. Today I left a piece of my heart at Northeast Elementary school.  Bittersweet.

This past week...

I am so sad that this was our last full week of summer! I have no idea where it all went but I know we enjoyed so much of it together. This past week we lived it up and stayed up late and enjoyed the Connie Mack World Series. For years we put our names in to draw for tickets to have as our own. I go to the rec center twice a week for Zumba and would put my name in four times each time I went since April, add that all up and it was over 50 times I put in the lottery. Mitch went down there one time for some baseball business and while he was there put each of our kids' names in once. Guess who won the lottery when they drew names a few weeks ago?? Miss Carly Jane! Our girl who loves baseball. I thought it was so neat that her name was drawn. She loves to go to Caleb's baseball games and to Connie Mack season games when we would go, so it was only fitting that she should have won. We got four tickets and got some right behind home plate!  We enjoyed them all week long as we watched the games.  They are ours every year as long as we pay the fee which surprisingly isnt very much. So happy!  The Southern California Renegrades beat the returning champions Midland Redskins in the championship game.

 We live so close to the fields we would walk down each night to watch the games. This picture creeps me out, my girls look like little gremlins.

Caleb got the opportunity to be a ball boy for the series and got in to each game for free and got free food when we was working the games. He met some cool baseball players and loved every minute of it.

 The girls rode the float for the dance studio on the first day of the series. They looked so cute in their recital costumes as they rode down main street.

The County fair was also this past week, so we took the kids out twice since Mitch's work gives us free passes, meal tickets and ride tickets. Carly loved the animals, the pigs and bunnies were her favorites. She kept sneaking her little hands through the cages to pet the bunnies. Here she is picking her nose next to the pigs. Cute little piggy:)

Brynley and Carly wanted to ride the ponies. They were both so cute to watch and wave to.

    

Inside one of the buildings there were alot of vendors and some cool activites for the kids to do.

 
                                       Mitch and Caleb were hogging the baseball throw radar.

Carly was loving the foam blocks. She was making some cool buildings.

The kid's love thw carnival side of the fair. Their favorite ride is the fun slide.

I crack up when I look at this picture! Caleb looks terrified, Mitch looks sick and Aubrie is just her happy little self.

All in all fun was had by us all. Now we have to wait for another year to go again.

13

13 years ago marks the day our baby boy was born! It was by far the most definable moment in my life. A moment in which I will hold dearly to my heart; A moment in which my life was forever changed...for the better. I know I speak for both Mitch and I when I say there isnt anything better than welcoming this amazing little soul into our hearts and lives that day.  Caleb you have brought this family together and have made us better people because you are in it. I dont know what is more special than to be able to say that about him.Caleb has been such a blessing from the moment of his birth to now. Being able to be a part of his life, my life has been blessed.

Caleb you are now a teenager. I have a hard time saying that word but in alot of ways you have already shown such maturity that age doesnt matter. You are such a responsible young man already. I am simply amazed by so many of the qualities you have been given by our Heavenly Father to help guide you in this life. You show leadership, trust, honesty and such love. Your compassion for others and sensitivity will teach you charity.Your bright soul and intellingent mind will help you make decisions that will help you in your future. Your funny humor and love to laugh will keep you real. I see how smart you are and I hope that you use it to your best ability to one day take care of a family. I love that you wear your heart on your sleeve. I am grateful for your testimony of the gospel and pray that it will be a beacon to you and that you will someday serve a mission and change lives like it has for our little family. I believe in your dreams and I know you will accomplish anything you put your mind to. Thank you for being such a great student and taking your studies seriously. I am so proud of you. I have enjoyed watching you play baseball and succeed at something you are passionate about. You are a worthy priesthood holder and I know you will be a great example to your sisters and to your friends. I am crying now just thinking of what an amazing person you are.I am truly so blessed to be your mama. And I know that Dad feels the same way about being your father. I pray that you will stay true to who you are and who I know you have the potential to become. This is my prayer for you.

Now if only I can get you to stop growing up so fast!