Back to School

School started over a month ago at the beginning of August and I'm just getting to posting it,  journal keeping is a challenge for me.  Our little Gracie started school this year, she has really enjoyed it and has a great teacher.

I look at these pictures and just want to freeze time.  Stop growing little ones it goes by too fast.

  Arizona Summer Sunset

3 Months Old

Baby S is three months old today.  He is such a content baby (hopefully it lasts).  We're so glad he has joined our family, and his three other mommies are too.  Here is the progression of picture taking with him.

 

catching up Utah/Idaho

We had the chance to caravan with Lainey, her family, two aunts and Grandma (with the short hair) as Gracie likes to call her :) up to Utah and Idaho for a couple of weeks in July.  It was glorious to get out of the heat of Phoenix, and wonderful to spend time with family.  Lainey did such a great job posting about it here Lake Land I thought I would share hers. 

 Grandma and the girls at the SLC Childrens Museum.

our Heise hike

 hiking

 A beautiful day spent at Yellowstone

 So the weekend baby was blessed and his cousin was baptized everyone around here had the stomach flu.  Oddly it only effected the adults but took us out one by one.  Since no one was feeling up to pictures that day I dressed baby boy up in Idaho and took a few pics.

 Dad, Son, Grandson

 The two beauties in white

The amazing water slide at the ranch

summer swimming

I am beyond grateful my mom came to take care of us after I had baby. Among many things she did she helped me survive the first session of swim lessons.  Lainy also took the kids a couple of times which was awesome.  We had a great swim year!  Lyssie is swimming now as is Gracie and Letty is doing great too.  Our swim teacher teaches survival swimming, she doesn't mess around with weeks of blowing bubbles she gets right to the meat of it.  There were lots of tears at first but once Lyssie knew what to do she was off.  Lyssie loves the water and is fearless so I feel so much better knowing she has some swimming skills.  

 Lyssie making the jump

 Gracie and Letty

They MUST wear goggles :) heaven forbid water gets in your eyes

one day older and wiser too

Letty went and turned 9 on us this year.  I'm sad my camera was on a funny setting and most birthday pictures turned out weird.  Letty is fortunate to have her birthday next to a holiday so dad is around to play.   On the 4th  she and her cousins when to the summer movies in the morning followed by lunch at chick-fil-a, and then roller skating (nothing like a classic activity).  Later we had dinner with the Lakes and went to see the fireworks, nothing formal just found a spot we could see them.  The next day on her actual birthday we went to Olive Garden for dinner followed by dessert and fireworks with the Lakes.

Letty at 9 is such a big help especially with her siblings.  She always begs for me to leave her at home alone with her babysitting (haven't quite gotten to that point yet, although she would do fine).  She is enthusiastic and excited about life and learning.  She is a master crafter and activity planner.  She is amazing and I'm so glad she is in our family. Happy Birthday!

 Her dessert of choice, sherbert with sprite.

some sparkle shoes Gracie picked out along with a shirt

 4th of July cake the girls helped make

Baby announcement

Our little man

Our little guy joined us 8 days early on June 4th.  Weighing in at 9lbs 21.4" long.  He is doing great and seems like a happy baby, as long as I feed him all of the time :)  Welcome to the world son!

 almost 2 weeks old

 this little guys gets held a bunch by his loving and willing sisters

 in the hospital

 proud proud papa

So sweet