First day of school 2012

Now that the kids have been in school about 2 weeks I should probably post some back to school pictures so it doesn't end up being the 100th day of school before I do it. This year both girls seemed really grown up to me. Cami was so excited for school, especially after meeting her new teacher. She and her teacher are kindred spirits. Cam's teacher is gentle and soft spoken and a serious reader. She has an attention for detail and is super organized. On back to school night she  remembered all the little details of her pre-school year home visit and asked specif questions about they things they talked about. I was really impressed with her and I feel like Cami's needs will be met.

Taryn also seems to like her teacher. Grandma Rice knew Taryn's teacher back in the day so Taryn thinks she is cool. Also Taryn's teacher really emphasizes neat hand writing and neat work which are two of Taryn's biggest strengths so I think Taryn will gain confidence this year and feel successful. Taryn all ready is improving her reading and she works really hard. I think her teacher will have high expectations for her class and Taryn thrives with that. 

I think it will be a great year! 

Cami good to go...several hours early....

Taryn good to go and feeling a little sassy...also a few hours early.

The close up-PS Cami gets her braces off in a month and she can't wait! Her braces weren't necessarily to straighten her teeth-she needed a few teeth pulled forward so the gums would form around them properly and she could avoid gum grafts...BUT her teeth did end up being really straight and I love her beautiful smile!

The whole gang-holding mostly still-all ready to get the school show on the road.

Taryn is still small for her age and she nearly didn't make it to her class line with all her supplies...I love my little fancy Nancy ruffly puffely girl!

Dance baby Dance

Ever since last spring's dance recital Jocelyn has been doing pirouettes around the house. She has begged to wear her "ballerinas" several times a week (Taryn's old outfits that now fit her). So it looks like we have another dancer in the family. Sometimes I wonder how a nice girl like me ended up with such girly girls...But then I look at their cute little faces and I feel lucky I did. 

She had her first day of dance class ("too much fun" a combo class for exposure to dance) and she LOVED it. Several little girls were out in the hall crying and she just walked past, didn't look back, and had a blast! At the end of every class they have a tea party with the parents and she got a huge kick out of pouring real water out of the toy tea set and she enjoyed her gold fishes and some of her friends gold fishes....Anyway it was definitely a success and I think dancing will help her pass some time while she misses Cami and Taryn at school. Not having them around is going to be a little rough for her.

THE Fort and anchor memories

So I don't remember if I ever posted the article anywhere on anchor memories but building forts on the bunk bed is one of mine. (as are red licorice and windmills...our back yard...mom always making good food...canyon vista swimming pool...byu football...scavenger hunts for breakfast on the 4th of July...sneaking a peak at the Christmas presents through the Jesus picture in the hallway...weeding the garden...the smell of soccer...to name a few)... 

Anchor memories are the memories that you make as a child when the whole world is right and life doesn't get any better. They are the kind of memories that you look back on and say wow I had a pretty cool childhood and wow my family kicked bum. They are the kind of memory that you can look back on when your life seriously stinks and nothing is going you way and it helps you get off the pity party train and back on the it's all good train. Anyway that is the basic idea. I realized that this is the time for my kids to be forming memories like that and I want them to have plenty to call on when the going gets rough for them.

Rebekah and I spent hours pinning blankets to our ceiling creating awesome forts. I don't ever remember my mom getting annoyed with the mess. I remember lots of planning and building and fun. Rebekah and I liked each other more inside a fort. Now looking back the idea makes me cringe just a little...the thought of the mess you can't get rid of for a few days because they worked so hard to build it and you know they had so much fun that they will beg to do it again soon. It is the kind of thing I normally say no way to because once you give in you can't go back-they will always remember it and always want to do it again. And tacks and pins in the ceiling? Wow my mom was really patient!

A few weeks ago Cami came to me and wanted to build a fort in her room. I had an inward groan but tried to put on a nice face and said," Cami I promise before school starts you can build one in your room for a few days." I half hoped she would forget but last week she asked for it again and remembering my promise and my  anchor memory I said OK and I even helped by suggesting a good way to secure the sheet without pinning it to the ceiling.

 It was so exciting that all three girls got to sleep in it the first night and Cami and Taryn got to sleep in it two more nights before it came down. They also spent every waking hour reading, chatting, planning, and giggling inside. I was really glad I allowed them the memory and I really hope next time I am flexible enough to allow it again-I mean they are only kids once and the opportunity to be so free is very fleeting... 

This is the fort of memories-I helped them later make the roof tighter so no one asphyxiated in their sleep...

Three girls who I hope remember their sleep over in the fort for a long time...I love these girls more than I love a clean house for sure!

Game Night...keeping the tradition alive...

Last week for family game night the girls wanted face painting BAD and Creed was in the mood to tolerate it...They each chose their favorite thing out of a book we have-it has step by step instructions so I can try to do things beyond my creative scope. So here's to face painting and cookies. Hopefully despite all the normal wear and tear a family has they will remember that every Thursday night we had fun.

Sitting...sharing the love

Creed started sitting about a month ago and he is getting really steady now. At first when we tried to help him practice he just kept getting distracted by all the attention and then falling towards whoever was making the loudest cheering section OR whoever hugged/loved on him the most.... Now he can stay up for much longer even with distractions so I think he is probably one of my more coordinated babies...(There are always plenty of distractions that could unbalance him.)

And just as a side note-yes he really is this smiley like 95% of the time...He is a good good boy.

One of his practice sessions...like I said he's pretty coordinated to stay up with all this going on...

Rice family reunion-posted a month late...

The Rice family had an awesome reunion this year. It was definitely action packed. I think Jocelyn and Creed were ready to disown us because of lack of naps/sleep by the end of the week but they really were good sports. 

On the fourth of July we had the annual tradition of a scavenger hunt breakfast thanks to Rebekah, Pez, and the presidents of the united states who were featured as pez dispensers/clues. We then went to the park for the local carnival. The kids LOVED the ginormo slide and I was nervous Jocelyn was going to break her neck. We ate lunch at our house (cafe rio salads) then hung out and did slip n slides and crafts thanks to Sarah and her mad skills. The rice family bingo and personalized kid cups were a BIG hit with my kids. For dinner we roasted hot dogs over the Thompson cousins fire pit and then did our own family games thanks to the Joneses. By the time fireworks started it had been a super action packed day. Luckily Cami survived the LOUDness.

The next day we spent on the lake boating and playing in the sand. When we got home we went to jumping jacks and then had a family talent show. The kids sang the same song my mom made Rebekah and I sing at a ward talent show when we were little. Grandma Rice was crying by the end of the first line so it was a success. 

Friday we took family pictures and went hiking at Kannara Falls. It was an awesome hike and I was really impressed with how good the younger hikers did. We also went to Tuacahn to see Aladdin which was awesome.

Saturday we got to spend the day in Pine Valley for a Jennings family reunion which of course was a blast as well. We rode horses, played games, chased chickens, had a watermelon eating contest, and skits. The food was great and it is always so pleasant up in the mountains with trees...It also was super fun to see all of my cousins and their kids and catch up with those that we haven't seen in years in some cases. Basically it was just a really busy, really great week. We did miss my brother Matthew and his family but it was great that all of the other siblings were able to make it. Hopefully we'll do it again before 8 more years pass...

Here are some pictures in random order of random things...and right now I am too lazy to rearrange.