Let the vacation begin...

...I have known for a year now that we would be making the big trek out west to my parents home for Thanksgiving.  But for whatever reason, I waited until the last week to get ready.  NOT the best way to start the trip, but hey it works out for us all in the end.

20 hours in the car...
only stopping for gas...
driving straight through the night...
making it in time to see our friends football game...
Cafe Rio..

worth it.

Our many friends here have made the lack of sleep bearable.

Currently we are on day two and enjoying time as a family and seeing some of our friends here in Las Vegas.

The view from our room.

The boys are ready to play on the beach, who knew Vegas had a beach.

Sitting outside by one of the many water fountains.

So far the highlights of the trip have been friends and watching my children enjoy being together.  Tomorrow it is more friends and a date for Nate the Great.

Yes he has been waiting for this date for a long time.

...Peytonism: something always sounds better if you put "resort" at the end of it.

bed resort, bath resort, school resort... he may be on to something.

My favorite day at church...

...Once a year the children in Primary (children's church), present the program for our Sunday services.   It is my favorite meeting of the year. 
There are many reasons why, but the main reason is because to hear the testimony of a child through scripture and song of our Savior, Jesus Christ makes for a very powerful and uplifting church service.

Of course I cried a few times throughout the meeting. 

I love to see my children sing, and I always have one who does a little entertaining as well.

It is usually Cam, and he did so again.

Not sure if the  the highlight of his entertaining was him doing the "walking down the stairs" and slowly disappearing below, or watching him do the robot. 

We smiled, clenched our teeth, and mouthed SING!!!

Eventually he stopped looking in our direction. 

He did sing...eventually.

Marra and Peyton smiled, and between the three of them (Cam included), it was a wonderful meeting.

To watch my children testify of Christ and to feel their testimonies is truly priceless.

I love my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is my elder brother, and I am forever grateful for his atoning sacrifice for me, and all others on this earth.  I know that I am blessed. I know that it is through Him that I too can live with Him and Heavenly Father again. I know that I am a child of God. There is nothing more that I want for my children then for them to know the same. 

To witness this program every year gives me hope that I am on the right track.

Next year I will remember to bring tissue.

Wow it has been a while...

...I would love to say I have moved mountains in my absence, but no, I have kept up mostly with my family. 

Big things happening here, well big for our family.

Steve and I are officially the BIG 4-0. I know, I can't believe it either.  My hair has been telling me how old I am for YEARS,  (thank you Grandma O). 
40 has not been too bad.  I did have a small breakdown, but that may be due to the fact that my oldest set up a time to take his SAT. 
40 is reminding me that my children are growing up, and my parents are getting older, and life is not slowing down at all. 

Nate is an official driver.  I know CRAZY!!!! He can now drive without a parent in the car, he can drive to dances alone. Now here's to hoping he can get a job to drive to, to pay for this lovely insurance we get to pay for.

Mase made the singing group at school "Limelight".  It still amazes me how much he love to sing, or is it entertain?  He also made the 8th grade basketball team.  Let the basketball season begin.

Cam at Halloween, he was cleaner in this picture.

Cam survived three days at 5th grade camp.  Alright I will be honest, he LOVED it.  I missed him sooo much.  So I survived him being at camp for three days.  Now he is ready for more basketball.










Peyton earned his orange belt in karate!!! He has been working so long and hard to move up.  He had to break a board with his hand, and did it.  I cried, my kids do that to me. 

Marra is loving ballet and tap. I cry there too.

Steve is coaching basketball again, with four boys he will be doing it for years.  He is a great coach, and the boys love him and learn so much through him.

I just finished report cards and am starting parent teacher conferences.  I LOVE it.  I have the best class. Teaching is fun and the kids seem to be learning.  I hope they are learning, we are having a lot of fun. 

I am now helping out in cub scouts.  Scouts are always busy, I pray I can keep up.

Our family is planning on heading to St. George for thanksgiving. The Casper's are having a reunion. It  has been years since all of my siblings have been together.  It will be so fun.

Now all I need to do is think of talent to share at the reunion?

That,  and all the other stuff I still need to get done.

Week one...

...of life as a wife, mother, and kindergarten teacher was pretty good.

I still have a few kinks to work out.
Mostly on being a mom.
Nate tells me I'm only fun when other people are around.
I told him I'm just not at my best between 6 and 8 in the morning.
I need to work on that.

I need to work on a lot of things, but MOM will have to be at the top of my list.
Well, that is kids come 2nd to the hubby of course.
He always comes first.

Kindergarten is a down further on my list, I think it is almost easier.
Most of the work is done for me, I just do what the book tells me.

Where is the "how to be an awesome mom book"?
At least the cousins think I'm awesome, (funny how they are not around at 6 am).

I will work on it.
I promise.
I wonder how I would act if everyone just did everything I needed done without me asking them to do so?

I would be an awesome mom for sure.

Until then I will try harder.
Maybe I will actually make a hot breakfast for them every morning.
Laugh when their rooms are a mess.
Happily pick up all the clothes left on the bathroom floor.
Sing while wiping up yet another spill.

Who am I kidding.
I'm going to try and count to 10 before reminding them of all of the above.
It's a start.

Now on to week two, minus the yelling mom.

I'm sure the pioneers NEVER yell at their kids.  

It's the First Day of School...

...at least for four of them.
Marra and I start next week.
More about that later, and a snap shot on how we spent our summer vacation.

Peyton is ready for the 3rd grade and pretty sure he can ace those TAKS tests he has been hearing about from all of his brothers.

Cameron is King of the school in the 5th grade. Basketball is front and center in his mind, lets hope his teacher is ready for the energy about to enter her room.

Mase is also King of the school in the 8th grade.  Ready for another year of basketball and early morning practices.  We tried to get him to play football as well, but he is not going for it.  

Nate is a junior. I know, crazy he had to grow. Is enjoying the dating thing, but wishes it was a little cheaper.  He has started to be a little more creative and managed a date for free. That is mom and dad already had the food at home, but free to him.

The gang ready to go.

Marra the loan wolf at home.

Until next week when she too is in school.

It is soooo quiet here at home.  Marra is playing with her dollhouse, and the only other sound is that of the fan.  What is a mom to do? Dishes? Laundry? Vacuum? no, I think I will read a book.  I can do the rest any time.

That and get ready for my kindergarten class that starts next week.  One book shouldn't hurt.

It's hard...

... to let a weekend like this end.  

A weekend to remember.

A special day for brothers.

A proud moment for parents.

Nate baptized Peyton

Family all together.

Both grandma's

Cousins 

Food, family and friends

Swimming in hopes of staying cool

It is truly a blessing to have family and friends who support us on our journey through life.  Even better when they celebrate with us.

We are melting...

...it seems only yesterday that we were complaining about the "Big Freeze" here in the great state of Texas.
No one wanted to go outside, after all who owns a coat in Texas.
Ice was everywhere.
We even managed to get a little ice on the inside of our house.

Ice would be nice...

We do have AC, can't wait for that bill.

We have pools to play in.

We even have Popsicles, you have to eat them inside, they melt too fast if you open the door.

We have to leave the windows shut, air is getting a little stale.

We don't have rain.

Oh how we need the rain...

My flowers are dead,
the grass is mostly dead,
and the cars need a scrub.

So while I continue to pray for rain I thought I would catch y'all up on the happenings in this part of our world.

We have some cows,

Enjoyed time in Houston with cousins enjoying the Blue Bell ice cream factory.

 Played the wii (again), with cousins.

Could not resist a couple foam wigs to be entertained by.

Or is it the kids that entertain?

Quality magic show, or was it comedy?

Tin foil boats.  

A big blue blob, no play dough, homemade.  

Why spend the money to watch the real stuff dry out.

An eight-year-old's birthday.

Favorite gift, cash.

A 16th birthday.

Favorite gift, the privilege to date.

A water relay..

and finally a dunking booth.

It's hot and humid, but by next summer we will be used to it.  Right?

Up next? 

A Baptism.

Way to go Peyters,

and a family road trip.

Stay tuned and see where we end up.