KENZIE THE FISH

Now many of you know that Mackenzie is the biggest fish in the world, so we put her in swim team. So over the summer we followed Kenzie and her swim team around the valley to swim meet after swim meet. After the regular season the Country Club Swim teams have their championships. Kenzie had swam so will over the season that she was able to go and swim 4 events. At the start of the championships there is a field of 32 swimmers and our Kenzie ended up with 11th place in the 25 meter freestyle for her age group and received 2 other medals for her leg in 2 relay teams.
Kenzie was also awarded the top points award for girls 8 and under from out Swim club. We are so proud of all her accomplishments this summer.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

And so it begins, with the end of summer rolling along school is off to a full start. Riley is in the 5th grade this year and Kenzie is in the 3rd. The best part of school is the school bus, at least that is Eli's favorite thing about school. He loves to wait on the steps and watch for the bus to come in the morning and again we wait for the kids to come home.

VIVA LAS VEGAS

Between swim team and the start of football season, we had to find some time to take a family trip. So we jumped in the car and scooted on down to Las Vegas, were we stayed and the Planet Hollywood Westgate towers. Lots of sunshine and plenty of minutes spent at the pool, it was a relaxing time. The kids had a blast at the pool, it had a shallow shelf all the way around so it was great for Eli and for the kids jumping off the edge. In our hotel room they had the biggest tub, which makes for a great family picture.

LAZY DAYS OF SUMMER

Who ever said that summer was lazy and boring, not me! Seems like it is never ending at our house, from swim meets to the pool, night games, jeep rides and just playing with friends and cousins. Our days of summer have been full and fun. The kids in our neighborhood have discovered night games and the best one of all kick the can, you can't tell me that the best sound on a warm dark night is not the sound of a tin can being kicked and kids laughing and screaming. Love summer and our great friends.

Another favorite of mine is making cookies and cake, now the best part of that is licking the beaters when you are done. Kenzie and Eli discovered that just the other day and I was loving it to death!!

Playing catch in the backyard has become a new found fun for Riley and Coy, they have enjoyed the shade and the cooler nights to practice their throws, even if a few tend to get away and roll down the street.

By the end of the day we are just beat, just take a look at Eli on the couch. Nothing on but his diaper, don't you wish we could all do that and be able to pull it off as cute.

WE HAVE A FISH ON OUR HANDS!!

We have a fish on our hands and no it doesn't live in a bowl, it sleeps in my basement and her name is KENZIE!!

Kenzie has always loved to swim, even from when she was a baby. She would jump in the water with out a care in the world. My Mom told me last year that I need to get Kenzie on a swim team, so I heeded her advice and signed her up at our gym. She first started out in the winter do swim a couple days a week, and Coy and I still had not witnessed her swim the length of the pool. So the team had a mock swim meet, and to our amazement she swam the length of the pool and was pretty good.

So summer swim team rolls around and her coaches keep telling us that she is really good, so her first "real" swim meet comes up and low and behold she takes first and second in all her heats!!

We are so proud of Kenzie and are truly amazed at her swimming talent, watch out Michael Phelps.

ST. PATRICKS DAY

Mackenzie was lucky enough to go to her Aunt Cami's house last night and build a leprechaun trap. Now many of you know Mackenzie and Ellie and should not be surprised that they would try to catch a leprechaun, and they were both successful and received gold coins and chocolate. We love St. Patricks day at our house because that means we can wish Cami a Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELI!

Can you believe that it has been a year, I can't! It just seem like yesterday that I was still in denial over this whole situation. Never the less we are so happy that Eli is here with us, he is so much fun and the kids love him to death. We celebrated Eli's first birthday with our fun family!! It was so much fun to get together, Eli loved the cake until he realized that he could not get it off of his hands. He is all over the place these days, walking from room to room and climbing the stairs up and down. The other day I was folding clothes and I heard him talking and I look over and there he was standing on a little chair, waiting for someone to look at him and react. He keeps us on our toes.