Cooper's first day of 1st grade!

I can't believe Cooper is old enough for 1st grade!

Last Tuesday was supposed to be Cooper's first day, but since we went with Randall on a work trip to Oregon, he missed the first two days and didn't start until Thursday, August 25th.

His teacher is Mrs. Goodman
He'll tell you he doesn't like school, but he really does. He's a quick learner and does really well in school.
He has a large class (I think there are 29 kids in his class! Compare that to the class underneath him- only 15 kids.)

They changed the bus routes this year, and I have to say- I don't really like them that much. Last year the bus came super early in the morning- 6:40 am. So, I just took Cooper to school every morning. Then he rode the bus home. He was the 2nd stop in the afternoon, so he was only on the bus for about 10 minutes.

Now, the bus comes at 7:20 am, but he rides a different but in the afternoon and doesn't get home until 5:10 pm! Crazy! So, I'm trying to get him up and ready so he can ride the bus in the mornings, but I'll probably end up driving him in on the days Carson has preschool. And there is no way I'm letting him ride the bus for that long in the afternoon, so I'll be picking him up from school as well. So, on days that Carson has preschool, this is what my day looks like:

7:55 am: Drop boys off at school
11:50 am: Pick Carson up from preschool
3:50 pm: Pick Cooper up from school

I don't know how I'm going to get anything done this school year!

A trip to Grandma's

While Randall was in China for work, the kids and I ventured over to stay with my mom and dad. The kids had fun playing with cousins and aunt Shalani, and it made the time pass quickly. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures, because Randall took my little camera with him, and I forgot to take our other camera.

Some fun things we did while we were there:
Visited my friend Emily and her kids
Went to the zoo for cousin Abby's birthday
Played with all the Raymond cousins at Jera's house
Went to the Terreton fair parade and Abby's birthday party
Picked raspberries at Great-grandma Wilcox's house and met her "new pet"- 'Henny Penny'
Ok. I have to explain that last one. My grandma is 90 years old, and she looks amazing! She still gets out and about, takes care of her garden, etc. Anyway, a chicken randomly took up residence at her house. She says she doesn't like it 'cause it makes a mess in her garage, but she lets it follow her around the yard and calls for it, "Come here Henny Penny." It's pretty funny. She has been adamate that she doesn't want a dog or cat to keep her company, so everyone teases her that she has a pet chicken now.

While we were picking raspberries Cooper said, "Mom, these raspberries need to shave, because they have whiskers." I couldn't stop laughing!

Anyway, we had a fun week and I'm glad we were able to see so many of our family and friends during our visit!

My husband, the world traveler

Randall had an opportunity to go to China for work. Of course, this work trip just happened to fall on our anniversary. This is the 4th year in a row that Randall has been out of town for our anniversary, so every year that we have lived here. Don't worry, though... I'm saving up for something big!!!

It was a great opportunity of Randall. He learned a lot about the Chinese culture and was able to do a bit of sight-seeing as well. And, he was totally spoiled. He was able to take the corporate jet from Boise to San Francisco, then he flew first-class on a non-stop flight from San Francisco to Beijing. Totally the way to travel, if you ask me. (Not that I would really know...)

Randall's hotel room

My kids' gifts from China

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A typical dinner meeting

Remember the olympics?  Here's the Bird's Nest!

A Chinese Dairy

I think they need some updated farm equipment

The Great Wall.  And that is smog making the picture blury.  Randall said it was smoggy everywhere!  So much pollution that there was only one day that he was able to see the sun.

6 months!!!

Today Ashlin is 6 months old. I have no idea where the past 6 months went, but one thing is certain... my baby girl is growing up. I'm not sure I like it!

She has 2 bottom teeth now. She smiles, giggles, rolls over, makes the cutest little noises, constantly sticks her tongue out and rubs it on her new little teeth. She shakes her head, sleeps through the night most nights, won't take a bottle anymore- (yep- she is very spoiled), but she is the happiest most content baby ever! Randall had some meetings in San Diego last weekend and we took Ashlin with us. She was the star of the conference. She was so cheerful and easy going- aside from everyone wanting to be near the adorable baby girl, you wouldn't have known she was even there most of the time. She even slept for most of the time on all 4 of our flights. When we were getting ready for take-off on one of our flights, she started smiling and bouncing up and down when they revved up the plane engines. It was so funny and cute!

Today is also Randall's birthday. He is 33 today! Unfortunately we didn't get to spend it with him, but we're going to celebrate it this weekend. Randall is the best husband and father, and I am so grateful to be married to such a wonderful man. He works so hard to provide for our family, and he always puts forth his best effort in everything he does. The kids all adore him and literally fight over whose turn it is to go with him for some one-on-one time.
Happy Birthday Randall!!! We love you.

Look who has her first tooth!!!

For weeks now Ashlin has been chewing on her fingers incessantly. She has also developed a fondness of sticking her little tongue out--- it's pretty darn cute!

Well, last night I checked for a bottom tooth again, and lo and behold, there it was! I can't believe my little 5 1/2 month old baby girl has her first tooth. Now here's to hoping she's not a biter like her older brother Cooper was. So far he has been the only one to really bite me while nursing, and I certainly hope he was the last!

Pretty little girls!!!

My friend Trina took these pics for me about a month ago.  I feel really bad that Ashlin was 4 1/2 months old before I had any professional photos taken of her.  But Ashlin is adorable!  And so is Lainee.  I'm not sure they look that much alike other than they have the same cheeks, and they make a lot of the same facial expressions.  One thing is for sure... I sure do love my little girls!

And of course, we just HAD to have "pretty toes" for the picture! Whenever Lainee puts sandals on she inspects her toes, and if they're not painted pretty pink she yells, "My toes are not pretty, mommy! We have to fix my toes!"

Fun in the Sun

Our friend Heather came to Boise to visit her parents, so we met her at a fun park and let the kids play. What a fun day!