Spud Harvest

This is one of my favorite times of year. I love harvest. I love the smell, the dirt...all of it. And my kids are right there with me. We were pretty busy this time heading back and forth to Grandpa Kim's farm and "dad's farm". Eli worked for my cousin so we were all over the place. Tyler loved the treats and pop. Allie loved Daddy's big truck and Zach just loved everything. That kid would drive a digger today if we let him. The days are long but I love them. And I realized I get a lot more done around the house when Eli doesn't get home until midnight. My dad swears up and down that this is his last year and I actually believe him. Everyone kept asking me if I was sad riding around with him on the last day. It was just another harvest to me. It's all I've known my entire life. I think it will hit me more next year when I have no tractor to ride in but.....there is always the water truck Kimmer! I know as good as the next person how hard it is to keep a farmer away from the farm.

"I ride a horsey!"

Now before I start this post I just want to make it clear that we do not own a horse. We are never around horses. We don't know anything about them, except that they eat apples and sugar cubes and your hand if you don't pay attention. The closest I've come to horses was about 20 years ago (or more...) when my uncles horse stayed in our windbreak for the summer and I would fill a big bucket with water for it everyday and we would try to jump on its back to ride around. As far as I know, Eli has never even been on a horse. We have boys that play sports, catch bugs and get dirty but not around horses. And up until 3 weeks ago we had a little girl that loved babies, pink and pigtails. Then she woke up and I heard these words "I ride a horsey!" Ok, I thought...whatever. Then she said it again, and again, and again. For about 5 days I listened to this phrase over and over until it got to the point that I loaded the kids in the car, drove to my uncles where luckily a horse was standing by the fence. We got out, fed it some grass, pet its neck and got back in the car and came home. I was hoping it would calm her need for a horse...I was wrong. Suddenly she needed a horse, to watch a horse movie and still "ride a horsey!" Where did this come from????? My sister had a sick obsession with horses. She would only wear a dress if she could wear boots. She would only play with her cabbage patch dolls if they were dressed like cowgirls. She grew up and bought a horse. Is this where I'm headed? It is so far out of my league. Nevertheless it is so cute, and funny that she came up with her own little quirky thing that she LOVES. So for her birthday I got ahold of my sister's friend that has a pony and the rest is history.

Even though it was for her, the boys were digging the pony too...and the goats and the dead dog by the trailer that got shot in the face the day before for eating all the chickens. That is life on the farm and they thought it was so cool.
Oh boy! The horsey!

Don't let little Scooby fool you. She may be small but she is no lightweight. Just ask Eli's toes how they are still feeling after being trampled.

Our natural born little cowgirl. I thought she might panic when we tried to put her on the pony, but I was wrong. She practically dove to get on, and grabbed right onto the horn of the saddle like she had been doing it all her life. She sat up straight and took off. So cute. Guess what though...this morning I woke up and heard the words "I ride a horsey!"

Andrew and Britni......welcome to the family

After years of waiting it finally happened! Andrew and Britni got married last Friday. It was such a perfect day. We got to go to the temple with her Wednesday night and it was amazing. She was so cute and happy. It is so much fun to keep adding to the family. We have spent so much time with her over the last couple of years that she really does seem like a little sister. Friday was perfect. Their sealing was that morning and was amazing. President Clark (the temple president) was able to perform the sealing ceremony. I wish they would let you record it to remember everything they say. He was so funny, but so spiritual. Andrew and Britni couldn't stop smiling. The rest of the day was filled with food, family and fun, fun, fun. I've never had so much fun with a wedding. They did a carnival theme and it was better than going to the fair! We got to eat pulled pork and corn on the cob (just like at the fair) all night long. They had a balloon lady, kissing booths, candy and popcorn. The kids were in heaven and nowhere ready for bed when we got home that night. It was so much fun. Even Eli asked if we could get married again. There is so much more to do besides cake and flowers! Congratulations you two! We love you both so much and are excited to have you with us for the rest of forever!

The new couple
They didn't stop smiling all day

She was so pretty. When she came out I looked at Zach and said "isn't she pretty?" he looked back at me and said "no mom, she's beautiful."

Don't we look good???

Guess I got hitched twice that night. I'm just not sure which hubby is better looking.

My handsome boys. After pictures the lady started popping popcorn. All they wanted to do was eat candy and watch her...this is where they spent 90 % of the night.

Daddy and his little princess. It won't be long before we are dancing the night away at her wedding.

After a birthday party the night before and wedding parties all day, she'd finally had enough.

2 going on 20

Every day I find myself asking where the time has gone...today is even worse. Our little girl is two! I keep thinking it should be her first birthday, that there is no way she is that old and that it still feels like we just brought her home. Then I look at her, and listen to her and am reminded that she is in fact two.....only two, even though she thinks she is at least 16 or somewhere around there. This little princess is in the center of everyone's hearts. Thank goodness she is full of sweetness. She is my little helper and our little shadow. She loves her brothers and loves to get scared...when you jump out at her, not from hanging halloween decorations in stores...that is not ok, not at all. She can do anything we can do, just faster. She loves pink, babies, and horses (more on this in another post). She is such a big girl and so much fun. Happy, Happy Birthday Allie! We love you!

This is what I mean by 2 going on 20. She already is on the phone 24/7 trying to call her grandmas and grandpas. At least she isn't calling neighbor boys yet.


Blowing out the candles

Her horsey cake....more on this later

The "cheese" face. This is as good as it gets with her now. No normal pictures. Either no smile, or this face....I don't know which is better but at least she is smiling. Happy Birthday turkey!

Flag Football Time

Flag football was so much fun again this year. Zach is old enough to play and he loved every second of it. He already wants to grow up and play pro for the Broncos so they can win. Haha, maybe by then they'll be good again. We had a ton of fun watching them. Tyler gets better every year and Zach can keep right up. It is even more fun now because when we are home they get their flags and go "practice" in the back yard together. I love my little boys. They are best little buddies. Even though they don't realize it yet, they are starting to get competitive with each other. Right now it is still all fun and games, I just can't wait to see where it takes them.

First day of school

Another summer gone and another school year started. Tyler is excited this year and already thinks he's the big kid in school now that he is in 2nd grade. Zach was excited for kindergarten until he found out that he didn't have the same teacher Tyler had, then he didn't want to go anymore. Thank goodness for open house day. Once he met Mrs. Judy and the class turtle he was ready to go. I just can't believe he is old enough for school. He is so much bigger than I realize. They didn't even give me time to shed a tear that morning. They hopped on their bikes and left me in the dust. I got to the school right as the bell was ringing. Tyler was already on his way in and Zach had already lined up with his class. He stopped long enough for a a picture and went on his way.......pretty sure they don't need me anymore. They had it all figured out.

All ready to go

Meeting his teacher

The turtle...the coolest thing about kindergarten. All we had was a sandbox.

Last Days of Summer

Oh my goodness, I'm turning into the worst blogger. I figure the best way to play catch up at this point is just with a lot of pictures. We were so busy this summer, it just flew by. I'm pretty sure we only had 3 or 4 hot days, but we still tried packing in a lot of fun. To sum up the end to our summer break...enjoy!

We got to go to Utah for a baptism and stayed with my sister Becky. It was short and sweet but we had a lot of fun with family...shopping, eating, 3D movies and the very best....the kids got to camp out in a tent in the dining room! They loved it. We were just going to have Allie sleep with us but when she saw the boys camping out she wanted to be right there with them and she slept all night. The first night they were all just on the floor. This is what I woke up to the next morning. Good thing none of them move in their sleep! When they passed out they were all lined up side to side and their heads were all by Zach's.

Alexis is our little fish. In fact, I'm pretty sure she is more than that. As far as I can figure, she is convinced she is part mermaid. There is no fear of any body of water with this little girl. Even after we let her go in the deep end at Green Canyon and she sank with her mouth wide open. I just loved this picture and had to add it in. She would play in our pool all day. Somehow she found her snow hat and thought it looked better as a swimming cap and this is what she looked like the rest of the day.

What would summer in Rexburg be without days at the spray park. It still annoys me but the kids love it so much that I'm warming up to it.

This picture is so funny. Allie loves her brothers, and her and Tyler share a special bond. They understand each other so well. He is her hero. He couldn't wait to show her the slide and this is the first year she even cared to touch the water at the spray park. She got so excited for him as he came down. Then she went with him, but only once. She might be a fish, but only in bodies of water, not slides.
Our summer ended with a bang at the Celebrate Youth party in the park. I'd never gone before and I'm so glad we did. I can't believe how much there was to do. These doughnut beachball things were awesome. I wish they had them for grownups. It was so funny to watch the kids run around and bounce into each other.

They had a blast and it was so chaotic. I could have watched it all day.

While the big boys went off to the jump houses (side note...while Tyler and his best friend Daniel were in the jausting thing they smacked heads. Ty got the worst of it and it looked like he had a marble on his cheekbone. By the next day -first day of school- it was a black eye in full force that lasted 2 weeks) Allie hung around the kiddie things. Her favorite was fishing for ducks. She wouldn't look at me to save my life so this is the best shot I got.

Tyler on the rock wall. For a boy that's scared of heights he climbed right up and made it pretty far.

Zach couldn't wait to climb it and only made it about 3 feet. He was still brave though. I was so proud of both of them. It was a great summer overall. I just can't believe it's over.