August 22-28, 2010: 1st Week of School

Yeah! School is starting. Xander and Rohan on their first day back.

And these are the two cute little faces that stayed home with Momma!

On the second day of school, Xander came home and said he wanted to ride his bike to school. This is the first year that he is old enough to do so and so he and his best friend Anthony decided to ride together. This was the first day they did, and it happened to be the hottest day of the summer, 110! I felt so bad when I saw their little red faces but they still loved every second of it!

We had pack meeting this week at the park and the boys helped set off a rocket. It's hard to tell but the big cloud in the middle of the picture is from the rocket just taking off. So fun! And I missed getting a picture of Budge climbing about 30 feet up in a tree to retrieve the rocket when it came down. In nice work clothes and all.

Here is Xander at pack meeting recieving his Bear patch. Good job Xander!

Well, because of the craziness my life has become, I have decided to cut out a few of my extra activities. One is scrapbook club, which I have been doing for 5 years now. These are my very good friends, Heidi, LaDonna, and Natalie at our last scrapbook club meeting. I'm going to miss those nights!

And because it was our last time for a while, I wanted to have a special dessert. So when I saw this cake at the store, I thought: "That reminds me of scrapbooking because it's so pretty!" and "Yeah! I don't have to make it myself!"

The other thing we did this week were the first soccer games of the season. Here is Rohan all dressed up and ready to go. Budge said that he was so excited when they got there, he never stopped moving. Even when he sat out for a quarter, he paced up and down the field. And he came home all excited to tell me about the tackle he made. Haha! Such a cute kid.

Here is Xander, all ready to go to his first game!

I love this action shot of Xander. I know it cuts him off a little but just look at the concentration on his face! He really has improved since last season and he was excited to get out there and play.

It's been a great first week! Now, if I can just get Jacque used to the new schedule, all will be well. But, so far, so good.

August 15-21, 2010: Last Week of Summer

Jacque and Budge are looking a little tired. She is actually chewing on his finger here. I hope that doesn't mean that she is teething. I'm not ready for that to happen yet.

This is our Family Home Evening activity. Xander gave the lesson about Jesus Christ. Then we talked about the new school year starting next week and the things we need to do to help each other in our family. So this game was supposed to teach cooperation. They laid on the floor in a line and then had to pass balls to each other without using their hands and drop them in the basket at the top of the line. They had to communicate with each other so they wouldn't drop the balls. We had a lot of laughs and I think it actually got the message across as well.

We also had our friends Debbie and Maia come to visit us this week. Jacque loved all of the attention and we loved visiting with them!

Jacque has started to try and grab toys with her hands. This is one of her successful attempts while we were waiting for the doctor at her well-baby visit.

One of our Back-To-School traditions is getting new shoes. Not a new concept but it is really the only new thing I buy them when school starts since the weather is too warm still for new fall clothes. So here is the new shoe line-up. Jaden is calling them his "school" shoes because he gets to start preschool this year!

And here is Xander with his new school haircut. I guess that means we are all set for school! Bring it on!

August 11-14, 2010: Dad's Home!

My very good friend, Joy, took pity on me and came to pick me up for a movie night after being home alone with Jacque for five days. Don't get me wrong. Jacque and I caught up on some much needed sleep many of those days but I was ready for some adult conversation by the end. So this is Jacque's first Girl's Night Out! So fun!

Budge had taken a few weeks off of work to travel and spend some time with the family. So when the boys got home, we decided to take advantage of the few remaining days of Dad's vacation and do some fun things together. We went to see Karate Kid and for many days afterward, the boys were doing Kung Fu moves.

Xander and Rohan also started soccer practice this week. Yeah!!!

Another activity we decided to try as a family was bowling. We ate lunch together there and then played a game.

And once again, Kung Fu... it's serious business.

Budge and I took turns holding the baby. She would fall asleep and then wake up when she was passed off to the next person. But for the most part, she stayed happy. She was just very sleepy by the time we finished.

Jaden cracked me up. He would set his ball at the top of the ramp and then step back to the line, run at the ball, and push it with all of his might. So cute!

Rohan was the one that I wanted to watch though. He would do this kamikaze zig-zag run and the ball would bounce back and forth between the bumpers, and he would get a strike! It was crazy! He did just as well as the rest of us who were actually trying to throw it straight. He is so funny!

And look at Xander's form! He has improved since our last game a couple of weeks ago. He is starting to get the hang of it and was very excited to score well!

We also had a visit from our favorite babysitter, Lauren! This was her first time meeting Jacque. Thanks for coming to see us Lolo!

August 8-10, 2010: Hollister Trip Cont.

Grandma Janell and Grandpa Mel with most of the grandkids.

Uncle Justin with a few nieces and nephew.

Xander with his paper airplane. This was the one thing that Jaden found important enough to tell me about on the phone. He even brought home his paper airplane to show me.

Budge with his niece Dylan while they were at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Jaden and the penguins. I love that sweet little face!

A beautiful picture of the jellyfish. What amazing creatures.

At the aquarium right now, they have a baby sea turtle exhibit. Anyone that knows me, knows my obsession with sea turtles. I was very sad to miss it. So the boys said they would take a picture of them for me.

Isn't that one of the most beautiful animals you have ever seen? Thanks boys for thinking of me!

August 1-7, 2010: Hollister Trip

I didn't take pictures of these until we got home from our Utah trip. But these are the sewing projects that my mom helped me with while we were there. This first one is a little minky blanket with different textures of ribbon around the sides. So cute and pretty easy!

This blanket is something that I saw in a local quilting store and thought I should be able to replicate. But when I found that to not be quite true, my sweet mom said she would help. It's the same minky on one side and silk on the backside with a silk ruffle. Challenging but the finished product is beautiful! Thanks Mom!

We were home for a few days before Budge and the boys left for a Tungate family reunion in Hollister. This was a walk we were taking the day before they left, on our way to visit my brother and his kids.

Budge at the family reunion. I just like the angle of this picture. You would never guess that he is the father of four rambunctious kids.

These pictures of Rohan are some of my very favorites! They are playing badminton but he looks like he is practicing his Kung Fu moves and using the racket as a weapon. When I asked him, he said he was playing the guitar. Gotta love boys!

Xander playing in the sand. This is a rare moment alone instead of with his two cousins Dea and Miciah.

Jaden with his Aunt Katie and cousin Felix on the swings. That boy could swing all day! It's a good thing Aunt Katie is so nice and willing to push him!

The little boy cousins hanging out on the blanket and eating together. I love Tank's Oscar the Grouch sweatshirt. I need one of those!

Budge explaining something very important... I'm sure. But what I love about this picture is the determined look on Felix's face as he reaches for the Pepsi. I know how you feel, buddy. I know how you feel.

This is classic. All of the siblings gathered around watching something on the iphone. Oh, technology...