School Days

Getting pictures for the record, Emma's so cute, and Audrey's a Hoot!

That backpack is huge on her!

Getting in the car (it's already nearly 90 degrees at 8 a.m.)

Tim walks Emma into the school and her classroom for her first day.

It's a big day for the Harpers, today was the first day of Kindergarten for Emma. She was so excited to go, she chose her favorte breakfast, M&M pancakes. She had her hair braided without complaining once, Audrey got dressed and hairstyled and we were out the door. It was a quiet day at home with just 2 kids again. Tim picked Emma up and when they got home she burst through the front door and said so exitedly, "I LOVED IT!!" Tim walked her into her class this morning and picked her up after school. Audrey was excited too, she knows Emma's teacher's name is Mrs. Dean. She had a fun day at home making messes with mom. Wow, life comes at you fast, and Emma is so excited for tomorrow. I love her enthusiasm for it all. I love being a mom. She is so nonchalant about it all. Here are some of her first day of school comments:
"We ate in the cafeteria, it was good, they had food there."
"There are two playgrounds in case one gets full, we can fill up the other one."
"I found 3 cousins in my class, I wasn't shy at all!" (she knew 3 kids in her class)
"I wore my shoes and socks ALL DAY!"
"There's even a nurse in my class, if I get sick, I'll be okay!"
Good luck to all those who get started or back to school in the next few weeks.

My Three Beauties!

It's not sooo hot.

Well, I think it may be a defense mechanism, but I really don't think this summer has been as hot as previous summers, nonetheless, I sure wish we could have spent a week at Mack's with the Mixes. I cried a little bit out loud, but mostly to myself. It is like a puzzle in my head... I try to think how do I get from here to there, right now, and forget that it isn't an event to get there, but a process, but it just didn't work out this summer. We watched our home movies set up there, and it will do. I think of my own memories growing up vacationing with my family and I want my kiddos to have that ache for family like I have when I think of playing in the river and playmill fudge and big springs and old faithful. The good thing is, I realized that childhood is fleeting, and whatever the sacrifices it is worth it. So, one day I will look back and miss where I'm at right now, but right now I miss where I'm not. I guess, now I just needed to get it off my chest, that it really sucks having missed the reunion at the cabin and reading blogs with pictures of kids growing up in the woods and my kids aren't there, or me or Tim. Who knows we might make it up there later, but the family there is what makes it. Okay, I'm done whining, hopefully someone can check on my tree on top of Sawtelle, and enjoy this picture I took of the cabin when I was in high school and tell me nothing has changed. I'll be okay till next summer when my sponsorship has come through and we are independently wealthy enought to go to the cabin and be.

Camping fun

We went camping for the 4th of July up at Fool Hollow campground, just outside of Showlow, AZ. The weather was beautiful, and we were lucky to get a spot at the campground. We were right on the lake and it was sunny and breezy and rainy and wonderful. We were glad to get out of the heat for the holiday weekend and relax. The kids got dirty with cousins and friends, catching fish, crawdads, bugs, and taking boat rides.