We Love October and Touch a Truck

We love Arizona.  Especially once October hits.

I've felt a little guilty about our beautiful weather when my family and friends in South Dakota have been absolutely miserable; literally ear deep in snow, with no power for days on end.

We are so happy to be able to play outside all day, every day.

Jessa especially.  She gets so mad when I bring her inside for any reason.

And then a couple of weekends ago, the city sponsored a "Touch a Truck" event where you could climb in, on and around all sorts of different trucks.

 The boys even got to blow a few horns while they were pretending to drive away.

Not only are we enjoying beautiful weather again, but you'll also notice that David is in quite a few of these photos.  It is SO nice to have him back!!

Rain. And Smurfs.

 I know I've mentioned before that Kehlton loves going door knocking with David.  He begs to go and does so almost every single day.  Last night they stopped at a random house and after chatting with the lady, she asked if Kehlton could have a toy.  David said that a small toy would be fine.  The lady then proceeds to come out with an entire display case of Smurfs Happy Meal toys.  As you can see, all three children enjoyed Kehlton's spoils immensely.  Today, I keep finding little Smurfs hiding all over my house.

The last few days, we have been blessed with a LOT of rain.  It's been heavenly!!  Kehlton has enjoyed it too; every day he's out there playing in it for several hours at a time.  He always comes in soaking wet and caked in mud.

Who doesn't love riding their scooter in the rain?!?

Jessa Update

This little girl is something else.

She has EVERYone in this house wrapped around her finger; 

just about as tight as humanly possible.

I don't think David can honestly say anymore that having a girl is no different than the boys.  And it doesn't hurt that Jessa absolutely loves and adores her daddy...

She's all about funny facial expressions and cheesy grins right now.

(I don't know if she's just figuring out she can move her face or what, 

but she's got some good ones!)

And, she now has a tooth and a half on top to match her set on the bottom.

She's also mastered waving, clapping and nodding and/or shaking her head this month.

 And as of late, she always has a shoe or two in her tiny little hand.  She knows right where to find her shoes, and as soon as I put them away, she goes right back to pull them out.

I know I've said it a gazillion times before, but we sure love our little Jessa girl!!  

She is still the happiest, easiest, sweetest little thing.

Kehlton's First Day of School

I'm a little late, but here are the photos of Kehlton's first day of school!

He started on August 12.

He's in Ms. Mellisa's morning class with only 8 other students.

Every morning, his little friend Preston comes to the house (Preston's mom picks up Brychan to take him to school with her two oldest boys) and they ride the school bus together.

Kehlton is LOVING school!!

Just Because...

I love everything about this photo.

1st Day of Kindergarten

Oh my heart.

I have been crying about this day, literally for years.

(Dumb, I know).

I had to fight my hardest to make it home in time to see Brychan off for his first day of Kindergarten.

(Technically I was supposed to be in the hospital still today)

I'm very grateful for doctors who were sympathetic to my pleas!!

(Kehlton starts school on Monday, but still had to get his backpack ready today)

Bug was really excited about going to school today, although it was a much bigger deal for me than for him.

I got up early to make him chocolate chip waffles for breakfast.

He just wanted Captain Crunch.

I wanted him to wear his nice, new shorts.

He refused and just wanted to wear his old soccer shorts.

However, I put my foot down when it came to photos.

That wasn't an option!!

I had planned on doing some cute little photos with signs showing that it was his first day of school and who his teacher is and what he wanted to be when he grew up, but being in the hospital for 3 days kind of messed up those plans.

But. His teacher is Mr. Fish.

And today is his first day of Kinder.

And I have no clue what he wants to be when he grows up.  I'll ask him when he gets home.

Butterfly Wonderland

In Phoenix, we have a new "museum" called Butterfly Wonderland.

We have been waiting patiently for Daddy to be done with work so we could make this our first family trip in what seems like ages.  The boys were SO excited when they found out that it was going to be a family outing; one that even Daddy was coming to!

Amazing does not even begin to describe this place.  You start with a 3D movie about the monarch migration, which the boys just loved.  And then you move into the "Emerging Room" where they have hundreds of chrysalis' and cocoons in different stages so you can see the butterflies and moths in all different stages (there were actually a few emerging from their cocoons while we were there).

But the biggest part of the tour was the rainforest.  It was huge and hot and sticky and steamy.  

And I could have stayed in there all day long.

Thousands of butterflies everywhere.

This one made itself comfy on David's arm for quite awhile.  We tried so hard to get him to open his wings for a photo; the top of his wings were a gorgeous, shimmering bright, bright blue.

 Kehlton could not get enough, and tried his hardest to get a butterfly to land on him.

Brychan didn't care for it at all.  He was totally freaked out that the butterflies were going to land on him.

Yay for having Daddy home!!

(Brychan's face shows you exactly how he felt about the rainforest room.  He loved everything else, though!)

Love those little toofers!!

The Emerging Room