SIX

Madalyn turned SIX yesterday. She is growing up so fast.

We took cupcakes into her class on Tuesday, it was fun to see her with all her classmates. Madalyn made the cupcakes Monday night, she decorated all 26 of them by herself. They have a large class.

This year we did a horse cake. It was a big hit, she loved the green hay and the river running through it. This year we decided not to do anything too big. She is having a friend over on Friday and Grandma Jenks came for dinner last night. Madalyn was ok with that until we got ready for the cake. She wanted to know why everyone was not coming to her birthday party then she started crying and said it was not a true birthday unless everyone was there to sing and have cake. I felt really bad, she is such a social person she really wanted everyone there. All last week she asked all my family if they were coming to her party, and she wanted to call Hadley to make sure they were coming. She would not let us eat the cake until everyone could come over. It took us awhile to get her to stop crying. So her cake is in our freezer.

She did blow out the candles.

For her birthday she got: PJ's, Ariel costume, leapster 2 and game, shin guards for soccer, paints.

She was very excited to get the leapster 2.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADALYN!!!!! WE LOVE YOU AND HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT DAY.

“I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk’s lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor’s children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone’s garden. I want to be there with children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.” Marjorie Pay Hinckley

I just love this quote from sister Hinckley, she is just amazing.

Poor Natalie

I'm such a bad MOM!!!! Natalie has always had ear problems, she had tubes put in a year and a half ago, well they fell out this July. That was a good thing cause they are only suppose to stay in 10-12 months when they are that young and growing so fast. Anyway, about a week ago she started feeling not so good and puss came out of her ear a few times. I would ask her if her ear hurt and sometimes she said yes and other times she acted like nothing was wrong. So Thursday after another great and successful fishing trip she was just screaming saying she wanted to go to the doctor, so I took her in and they told me she had a really bad ear infection and that the ear drum had ruptured. I just felt so bad, I just began crying. I hate knowing that I should have taken her in a long time ago. She also has to have surgery next month on her thumb, she has trigger finger. That girl really knows how to rack up the medical bills.
Madalyn started soccer this last week. It will be really fun to watch, I'm sure we will all get some good laughs. She is loving school, and thinks her teacher is the coolest. It is fun to see her starting to read. I'm staying busy with my kids life, and Garrett's busy hunting and fishing.

Salmon Fishing

Today I went fishing with a John McDonald he is a paramedic from work on my shift. I had a great time as we caught 4 salmon within about 2 hours. We ended up with five salmon but we had to work a little harder for the last one. The biggest salmon was 37 pounds the others were 27,20,18, and 12 pounds. Hopefully next time I can take the family and we can actually catch a salmon. I want Jilayne to catch one, she would really love it and the girls would go crazy over a fish that big.

Morgan thought that it was really cool that the fish was taller and bigger than her.

Now we get to eat salmon.

A new Beginning

I guess the day finally came, Madalyn has started school. Today was a big day for her, she was not scared at all. I got up at 6:00 this morning to make pancakes (her favorite) for breakfast. Man was that hard for me to wake up that early, as I was doing that I got thinking I'm just beginning this early morning routine school stuff. I still have so many more years to go. Madalyn gets on the bus at 7:15 and school starts at 8:00. She goes to Kindergarten all day and everyday.

She looked so grown up as she was walking out the door to go on the bus. I got a little teary eyed but not bad at all. I thought I would have a hard time, she was so happy to start this new step in life. How could I be sad for her. My kids are growing up so fast. When Madie was a baby I hoped this day would come as fast as possible but now it is here I wish she would stop growing up so fast. She is such a good girl, always wanting to CTR and make her parents proud.

I think this is her new favorite color. When we went school shopping that color was all she wanted to buy. I love that color on her, she looks very cute.

My three princess, all standing by Madalyn on her first day of school. Natalie didn't like the idea of being at home with mom for 2 hours while Morgan went to school. She cried as we left Morgan as school, saying" Nana big girl I go to school" after we got home she did alright with just mom but we were both ready to go get Morgan so she had someone to play with.

Madalyn your dad and I are very happy with you. You have become a great leader and friend to everyone you are around. We love you and are excited for this new beginning.

Finally

Morgan started preschool today, she was so excited to FINALLY get to go. Natalie thinks that she is big enough to go to school also.

Morgan is ALL GIRL she picked out her outfit today. Ever since we went school shopping and she got this new dress she has always said that is what she is going to wear the first day of school.

Morgan is excited to meet new friends. She doesn't know anyone in her class yet. It is a good thing she is not scared to make new friends. She thought she was really special last night when Garrett gave the girls father's blessings before they started school.

Morgan with her teacher Mrs. Gray.

The Last week in August we took the kids to the fair. We were not planning on going but they really wanted to see the animals.

The kids highlight of the fair is riding the horses. They just love that part. We didn't do the fair rides this year because we has just been to Disneyland in June.

Levi's Baptism

We went to see Levi's baptism this past weekend in Nyssa Or. It was great to see family.
The men enjoying some basketball time. Garrett was also able to go deer hunting with Brent and Austin.

The kids really enjoyed all of their toys.

New Calling

On Sunday I received a new calling at church.....I'm now the 1st Counselor in the Primary. I'm really excited about this, it will keep me very busy. I am a little stressed out right now I'm in charge of the Primary program which is in October, and it is not written yet. I have to have it done in a few weeks so the kids can start to learn their parts. If anyone has any ideas that would be great. Thanks

Camping with Grandpa & Grandma

We have been wanting to go camping all summer and now we finally got our chance to go. It was not as long as we would have liked but with Garrett's work schedule and other events it worked out ok. We went to Scootney about 30 minutes from our house, we needed some place close.

The park was really nice, we were really happy with the area. We got out there around 3:30pm which as alot later than we had planned on going but Chad and Jande's house got broken into over night so we went out to help them clean up the mess.

We were so happy that Sarah and Grandpa and Grandma McGary were able to come camping with us. It is always nice spending time with the family. Mary was also able to come down and eat dinner with us. We enjoyed boating during the day. I forgot to take my camera out on the boat :( After some time in the water we ate dinner, played around for awhile and then went to bed. The kids did great. This was our first real camping trip.

Sarah and the girls. They always have a great time when Sarah is around. We will miss her when she goes next year to school. Sarah was giving Madalyn some good advice about Kindergarten, like where to sit on the bus, what clothes to wear, what things to ask. It was really funny, but Madalyn was listening to every word she said.

Grandma helping the girls blow up some toys to play with.

Madalyn is exploring some great bike paths. It was a great idea to take the bikes. We really enjoyed our SHORT over night camping trip.