A Rainy Night

Darron is gone caribou hunting, and we are tired of the rain! So, instead of sitting indoors (again), we ventured out to enjoy a night of splashing in the puddles!

And although it doesn't look like everyone was having fun, we actually were! Parker got a little irritated at having to wear big brothers rain coat, but once we filled his tray with rocks to throw, he was a happy camper....rain and all!

And those puddles didn't stand a chance to these giggly children in their rain boots!

Armed and Dangerous!

Oh yeah! I'm officially armed and dangerous!

Last weekend, two of my girlfriends and I took a women's only Defensive Handgun class. We spent four hours Friday night in a lecture and about 9 hours on Saturday at the gun range learning to shoot.

I had the opportunity to shoot my father-in-law's .45 1911 Kimber. I was so excited about this class, but super nervous and I had NEVER shot a gun before! Like....NEVER.

However, Darron has enough guns and ammo to supply a small army and I have always thought about how stupid I would feel if I couldn't protect my own family when we have such a large supply! :) So....off to class I went.

And....I LOVED it! I walked away from this class feeling empowered and capable of protecting myself and my family. I learned the correct, tactical way of handling a gun, aiming, shooting, correcting jams, etc. And I learned practical tips on staying safe.

And to top it off, I was with two great friends that I had a blast learning and laughing with!

AND.....I even impressed one of the instructors with my shooting abilities! :)

So, will I be "packing heat" from now on with my own .380 handgun that Darron bought me for Christmas? Let's just say, you don't want to mess with me! :)

Welcome to Kindergarten!

I can't believe my "baby" boy is starting school! You don't really realize how little they still are until you send them away to be on their own in a big school for the first time! Luckily, Preston is going to Grace Christian School and they had the option for half-day kindergarten, so that's what we chose. So, he goes to school from 11:45-2:45 every day. He wishes he went all day, but I figured starting next year he would go to school all day for the next twelve years....so I might as well hold him close for as long as I can!

The pictures are out of order, but this is how we celebrated a successful first day....an icee and popcorn at Target! :)

Preston and his best bed/cousin Max are in the same class. They also went to Preschool together. These boys are unseperable. Thankfully, they are good boys, even together, so the teacher enjoys having them! And they tend to be helpers too! I love these boys!
Preston was so excited before I took him to school. He had his back pack on and ready to go, giving Parker boy a little loving and assuring him he would be back after school.

And here is my big boy, all smiles, ready to embrace the first day!
He wasn't nervous at all! I'm so proud of him!

Payton was excited to get to walk Preston into his class. She wanted to be in his pictures. They are so silly together....when they're not fighting!

I am so thankful God led us in the direction of Grace Christian School. I NEVER intended to put my kids in a private school, after all, I'm a public school teacher! But God speaks to those who listen, and sometimes he SHOUTS to make sure He is heard! :) And I'm so thankful I finally heard Him!

Preston is loving school. He gets to see several of our good friends who teach at the school, as well as his cousin Brookelynn throughout the day. He comes home smiling and excited every day. Parker naps while Pres is in school, and that leaves Payton and I to have a few hours of alone time together. It's the perfect situaion for all of us!

Cheers to a great start to a great school year!

Family Fun in the Sun

What a beautiful Sunday! Payton and I got up early and headed downtown to cheer on our close friend Marquel, who was running in her very first half marathon. We had a great time meeting up with Marquel's family and a couple of other girlfriends. It was so fun to watch Marquel and cheer for her. And any time alone with just this little sweet thing makes for a great time!

After church and an afternoon nap, we loaded up the bikes and headed to the Campbell Creek Trail system. Darron pulled Payton and Parker in the trailer and Preston pedaled hard on his bike with training wheels to keep up. The trail is BEAUTIFUL and goes all along the creek and through the woods.

After biking for awhile, we stopped at Take lake to throw some rocks into the water. Parker LOVES throwing anything, so throwing rocks and making a splash was the perfect break for him!

I am so thankful for my family, sunny days, and living in such a beautiful state!

Welcome to the Family!

Meet Spikey and Fireball. Our new bearded dragons. I'm still in disbelief that I have reptiles living in my house....and that I've been forced to hold them. I am NOT a reptile fan....at.all!! But, thanks to a sweet bearded dragon named Sunny, we now are proud bearded dragon owners.

Sunny came to stay with us for two weeks while his family was on vacation in Italy. I should have known what that lead to. Darron and Preston immediatly fell in love, so two days before Sunny was scheduled to reunite with his own family, Darron and Preston were rescuing this pair of dragons from a neglegtful home.

Payton quickly took to holding the bearded dragons too. She likes to hold the little girl, and with the help of her cousin Brookelynn, they came up with the name Fireball.

And this is a perfect picture of Payton: in a princess nightgown, all girly, holding a bearded dragon!

Darron cracks me up. He gets worried about the bearded dragons is takes great care of them. He loves holding them and teaching them to "perch" on his shoulder.

This alone, makes it worthwhile to be a bearded dragon owner. Have you ever seen anything cuter than this little girl and her "beard of dragon"?!!