AUGUST

RYAN RETURNS -The first Wednesday in August Ryan returned.  Everyone was really excited.  There was a great turnout at the airport of friends and family.  Susan and Trena also came with their kids.  Some of Jeff's family was there also.  John and Coleen drove over of course.  We were running behind, so when we got there I dropped Jed and the kids off and then went to park.  By the time I got the stroller with Dallin inside (even though I had been sprinting) Ryan was already there.  So I missed the first appearance and walking through the doors.  I was told though that it was pretty awesome.  Even before Ryan came through the doors, Tyler saw him and started walking forward to meet him.  He started crying and clapping when Ryan came through the doors.  Ryan gave Tyler a hug and Tyler wouldn't let go of him and just cried and cried.  Tresa had mentioned wondering what Tyler would be like - if he would remember Ryan initially or not.  Everyone said it was very very sweet and touching.  Then I guess Tresa couldn't take it anymore and ran up to Ryan for a hug.  Then Jeff came and the whole family welcomed Ryan with a giant bear hug. 

Samantha brought Mason over to see Dallin and Dallin just started cooing and getting so happy when he saw Mason.  It was really cute.  They jabbered back and forth for a few seconds.  Ryan looked great and seemed happy.  Two years can feel so fast almost like a dream when it's over!

My kids had all made Ryan a poster a few days prior.  I tried to get them to make a simple "welcome home" poster, but they all had their own vision.  Ava did a BOM and some things that made her think of India: flag, Taj Mahal, & snack charmers.  Kasen looked up all the big animals native to India and drew them on his poster.  He even drew blood dripping down the elephants leg where the jaguar had slashed it.  Kinsley had drawn her and Ryan and a cow - because she knew cows are sacred in India.  Ryan made such a big deal out of their posters.  It was really thoughtful of him and made all of my kids feel like a million bucks.

Trena went back the next morning, but Susan stayed for a couple of days.  G&G also stayed.  Mason is 2 months older than Dallin.  Dallin looked every bit as old as Mason.  He is going to be one tall boy I think!

For fun one afternoon we went swimming at the Meridian Pool.  The kids were actually in the middle of a swim session so we just stayed after lessons one day.  The kids had a great time.  I even got brave enough to do a backflip off the diving board!

We hung out quite a bit at the Ball house to chat with Ryan.  He told great stories and was so nice to all the kids.  They were all so mesmerized by everything he had and said.

FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST - Here's a cute picture of Dallin in his towel after a bath.  I love these types of towels for babies and a wonderful lady made it for me after he was born.  He is such a cutie!  Kasen started his last sports camp of the summer this week.  This summer he went to 4 out of 5.  I think the Peterson's thought we were weird! haha  Even though every single camp is the exact same, Kasen loves them so much.  He likes going and playing with other boys and he loves sports.  It is such a cheap activity for him to do that gets him out of the house and active that I have a hard time saying no.  Below is a picture one morning I dropped him off on basketball day.

Dallin is getting more expressive with his eyes lately.  I captured all these funny faces of him talking to me.  All of a sudden he heard Kinsley's voice and I'm sure you can tell which pictures those were.  I think he's still a little terrified when he sees her bouncy curls coming towards him at full speed.

There are so many cute moments of Dallin throughout the day.  I take so many pictures of him.  I just don't want to forget anything because it goes by so fast.

I can't remember why but one evening the kids really really needed to make forts in the bonus room.  Jed must have been out of town or something.  Then they wanted to sleep in them that night.  Ava is usually the instigator of such schemes and later when I went to check on them she had gotten up and moved to her bed leaving the other two in the fort. :)  Even though I hate the mess I know it can be cleaned up and they are only little for a short time.

3 MONTHS - Time is going so fast with this little guy.  When will I get my chance to slow down and enjoy it?!?!?!  Here he is on his 3 month bday.  He was talking and making all sorts of noises for us.  Oh man he is the best.

Dallin is still so incredibly happy.  We love hearing him coo and make noises.  He likes to growl and grunt a lot still.  It is really funny.  He is getting more excited when the kids come barrelling towards him instead of scared.  He especially loves Ava and she gets the biggest laughs and smiles out of him for sure.  He is still sleeping all night and eating lots of bottle.

RYAN REPORTS - About 10 days after Ryan got home, he spoke in church so all the Ericksons came back over to Boise for the weekend.  The kids had fun with cousins of course.  Saturday night Ryan gave a little devotional to everyone and we were able to ask all the questions we wanted.  He even dressed up in his very fancy Indian attire. 

In all the chaos and running around Kasen got hit in the mouth and had a big swollen lip for a few days.  Kinsley learned how to use lipstick thanks to Madeline & Morgan.

We had a few late nights staying up with everyone.  One night there was supposed to be some meteor shower or something.  Kirk spent a lot of time explaining to Ava what to look for and where.  That night Mallory, Ava, & Abbie stayed up really late to try and spot it.  They climbed on top of Jed's truck to get a clearer view.  I don't think they ever saw anything.  They kept saying beforehand how they were determined to stay out all night if they needed to, but after about 30-45 min they came creeping back in saying it got a little spooky outside. :)

Like usual there was lots of pictures of the baby boys together.  Mason was rolling back and forth from tummy to back.  Dallin isn't close to doing that yet, but he is holding his own staying the same size as his cousin.

MIDDLE WEEK - After everyone left we were down to our last week of summer!  It went by so fast.  The kids were excited to find out who their teachers were and get back into a routine.  Here are a few pictures of Dallin this week.  He is doing better in tummy time and getting stronger each day.  He seems to have hit another growth spurt and all of a sudden one day Kinsley was holding him and I thought, "Oh my goodness he is as big as she is!"  We still call him Little Bear because of his roly-poly little body.  My favorite is when he grabs his feet and rocks from side to side while growling. 

Sometimes I just say to my kids, "Hey I need a picture of you right now."  I will just look at them and realize they are looking so cute or grownup or whatever and need to capture it.  Here are a couple of those times.

I always feel like there are a million things to do.  It is almost a guilty feeling if I sit down for a few minutes and am not multitasking with something.  One day I just couldn't talk myself into getting up from the chair because Dallin had fallen asleep on me.  Kinsley was walking around the house taking pictures and took these of Dallin .  Then we took a picture together.  I'm glad I still get Kinsley home for half-day this next school year!

I was truly sad to see summer end this year.  As exhausting as having your kids home all day is, there is just something about feeling like the mother hen that has all her chicks gathered around her and tucked safely under her wing that I like.  Kinsley finished up her gymnastics and we did a few last minute things outside this week and enjoyed the end of summer break together.

END OF SILVERLEAF & STAR - At the very end of July our ward was split.  Now Silverleaf ward is only the area in Lochsa Falls & Silverleaf.  Everything north of Chinden was put into a brand new ward.  All the children and youth groups lost quite a few kids due to the split.  Kasen lost both of his scout leaders and Ava lost a few girls in Activity Days and some leaders as well.  These were the last activities the kids attended with the original Silverleaf ward before the split.  On August 1st I got called to meet with a member of the bishopric and was extended the calling of YW President.  At the meeting for the ward changes I had a strong feeling this was going to happen so I was somewhat prepared, but still totally overwhelmed.  Dallin was not even 3 months old yet.  In my setting apart, Bishop Peterson said a lot of wonderful things that brought peace to me.  Some that I remember are that my experiences in life have prepared me for this calling, that the greatest thing I can do for the girls is teach by example, that my life exemplifies exactly what these YW should and are striving for, that my Heavenly Father has full confidence in me and is proud of me, that this time in YW will be a blessing to me and my family now and throughout the rest of my life, that my family would be blessed because of my service, and that I would have an abundance of the Spirit to tell me exactly when and when not to say things.  I was very touched by this setting apart and am so grateful for the power of the priesthood to bestow keys and mantels.  Shortly after (like 1 wk) from the ward changes we attended another meeting in which we found out a new stake was being created - Meridian Linder Stake.  Our bishop was put in as the new Stake President.  He remained our bishop (for the next 6-8 wks) and also started building a stake from scratch.  It was a pretty crazy time! 

GRAIN HARVEST - We decided to take one last trip home before school started.  We went right in the middle of grain harvest so my parents were very busy.  Kasen wanted to roam anytime we were at the ranch house.  It feels pretty amazing to be out in the middle of nowhere so I totally get why!

We met Grandpa and he took us around in the combine.  Each kid got to drive all by themselves.  The kids thought that was pretty cool! They were almost done with harvest so I know my parents were both exhausted, but they made it really fun for the kids which was so nice of them.  My dad made each of them feel so special when it was their turn to drive the combine and my mom brought them goodies from the cheese factory.  They are great grandparents!

It really is amazing to me to stop and think about how the world has advanced in only the last 100 yrs.  To think that grain used to be harvested with sickles not that long ago and now there are huge combines that can cut 100s of acres in a few hours is remarkable.

Abby came up and stayed with us and of course brought Jaxon and the dogs.  Jordan was working with my dad so she was happy for the company.  It was a very nice couple of days we were able to stay.  Family really is the greatest blessing and times like this make it a little sad that we still live so far away.  Even though it is a lot closer than at other times in our lives, would it really be so bad for us to live in eastern Idaho??  Apparently that's not the way it's supposed to be - at least for now -

SCHOOL DAYS - And just like that it is back to school! This summer went by faster than any other and I totally thought we would have lots of days of just relaxing and calm.  Not so much.  A few days before school started the kids found out who their teachers were.  Here they are on the morning of the first day looking so cute!

Ava was by far the most nervous.  She couldn't hardly think about anything else.  She got a new teacher - Mr Spenner.  The only male teacher in the school.  She had two girls in the ward in her class and a lot of kids from her 3rd grade class in there.  She also noticed that all the GT kids were in Mr. Spenner's class too.  This made her fell a lot better.  Last year was such a hard year for her and Ms. Witty was a hard teacher that for the first time I think Ava was dreading school in a way.  Luckily it only took her a few days to realize that this year was going to be awesome and Mr. Spenner's teaching style was not anything like Ms. Witty.  She pretty much beamed the whole first two weeks of school and was back to her old Ava self of excitement for learning again.

Kasen was hoping to get a certain teacher and he didn't get her.  He also wanted to be in the same class as two of his friends: Drake & Eliana - which all three of them got different teachers.  So he was pretty bummed for a few days before school started.  However, like Ava, it only took him a couple of days to realize he got a great teacher and to make some new friends in his class.  He was really excited to pull out his Creek Cruisers necklace again and wear it on the first day!

This little princess was probably the most excited of anyone to head off to school.  We already knew all about Ms. Payte from Kasen having her and she was not worried one bit about making new friends.  She walked right in when I took her down (she has PM kindergarten) and gave me a quick hug and kiss and marched right into class.  I followed her in to take a picture at her desk and she said, "Umm mom you have to leave! It is learning time now."  :)

 END OF MONTH - Just a few last pictures taken at the end of August.  Kinsley teaching Dallin some gymnastics moves.  After so much attention from the kids I swear Dallin just tries to not make eye contact with them and ignore them hoping they will go away! haha

Kasen started football practice and Jed is coaching again.  They had to take Dallin one practice and when I stopped to pick him up I discovered that he was making good use of the football too (thanks to Jed).  Dallin really likes observing the outdoors and hates the ergo because he wants to be turned around.  I tried it one day and felt like a mother kangaroo.

Here is Kasen one morning ready for school to start.  He wanted to show me his muscles and was apparently quite proud of them!

Got a picture of 2 cute doctors in the house one day.  Dallin is seriously the most fun little boy. Just when I think he can't get any cuter he'll do something else and I just about die of cuteness overload.  He continues to suck on everything except a binky.  One day I even caught him with not just one finger, but three fingers in his mouth!  He has been sleeping fantastically in his Miracle blanket because it holds his arms down and he can't move.  Aside from being wrapped up in that though he is constantly moving.  When we hold him on our lap both his arms & legs are just moving in/out & up/down. We love him so much!