Back to School for Brett

Brett's first day of preschool the buses weren't running for some reason so I dropped him off and picked him up. I usually take pictures of him on his first day by the front door but with the bus not picking him up then I forgot, but I remembered that I had my IPhone with me so I took pictures of him coming out of the school out to the car.
Brett was happy to be back in school too. This is his third year of preschool because he missed the kindergarten cut off by three weeks. But that is just fine because his group of friends will go to kindergarten with him and then he will be one of the oldest in his grade. I believe that will help him and then he will also be one of the first to drive in his grade.
Some of you are probably thinking, busing for preschool? Well, yes, he is getting services from the district mainly in speech so if the child qualifies for services then they qualify for busing.
He is now in the older group so he goes in the afternoon. He loves preschool and his friends there.

The Start of Another School Year

Aug. 24, 2010 - Trey's first day of school. I don't think he knew why he was being woke up so early (thus the expression on his face in the picture) but when he started going up on the lift of the school bus a great big grin came on his face. He knew he was going back to school. That first week the reports back from the teacher was that he was so happy and gitty, busting up with laughter all the time. He had waiting all summer for this moment!

Potty Success!

The Sunday we got back from the George Family Reunion (August 1) we tried a second time to put Ellie in big girl underwear and out of her diapers. This time it was a success! A couple of weeks before when we did this she did good for a few days then started fighting putting the underwear on so I didn't push it and put her back in diapers. Yes, I know experts would say that is a big no no but I am a firm believer that EVERY child is different.
So from early August on she has been out of diapers and doing great. Yes there has been an accident here and there but what kid doesn't?!
She has also been wearing her underwear at night and not pull ups.
Yeah, now I only have one kid in diapers and not 3 or 2!!!!!!!!!!!

George Family Reunion 2010

Last weekend of July, it's time for the Bert and Bonnie George Family Reunion.
This year we went to Cub River Ranch, just outside of Preston, ID. We had never been to this location before, but I enjoyed it and the facilities were good.
We had a good amount of activity time and then just free/relax time. I really enjoyed myself and my family did too.
Thanks to mom and dad, you put on a wonderful reunion!


Kids singing a primary song at the start of the variety show.


Ellie with cousin Emily in the swimming pool.

Here we are, the George clan!

See you in Seattle in 2012!

24th of July

Pioneer Day came on a Saturday this year. Trey and Brett (and me) were in the parade with the 16th ward primary kids. Brett rode on the float and I held Trey on my lap in the rhino that was pulling the float. Both Trey and Brett had a good time. Paul and Ellie watched the parade then came and got us at the end of the parade route.
We then met up with Grandma Marshall and cousins Chase, Sammie and Jessie at the park for games and activities and of coarse, food!
Naps were in order for us all when we got home. Mid afternoon the Willson's came. Zeke, Maddux, Brett and Ellie sure did enjoy playing together. Paul made a fun water sprayer out of PVC pipe and hooks up to the hose or sprinkling system. They had fun playing in that.
We hosted our annual dinner and fireworks show that night. We sure missed a lot of people but we now it can't work for everyone to come very year.
Paul made some wonderful smoked pork, coleslaw, smoked almonds, etc. for dinner. Good stuff!
The fireworks where really great this year. I'm including a clip, this clip is great so you can imagine how amazing the rest of the show was.
Hope you all can make it next year!

Quick Trip to NYC

So my wonderful husband made arrangements for me to come out to NYC to meet him. He was already there for business and his meeting on Friday got canceled so he flew me out Thursday and we spend Thursday evening through Saturday late afternoon in the city. It was a quick trip, but just the break I needed.
Paul, you're the BEST! I love you.

This is the view coming away from Ellis Island looking toward NYC.

Paul in the Registry Room. After visas, green cards, etc. started going through US embassies the use of Ellis island came to an end. The buildings and grounds where left abandoned and in ruins for many decades. The main building was restored and Ellis Island opened to tourists in 1990.

The Registry Room is beautiful.

You can see Lady Liberty through the one side of the Registry Room doors and windows.

NYC

For the many times that Paul and I have been to New York City we have never been out to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island together. Riding the ferry was nice to have the breeze from the open waters instead of the stifling heat and humidity of the city. (NYC was in a heat wave plus more than normal high humidity.)

We did not go up in the base or the Statue (they reopened the statue just over a year ago), long lines. But it was amazing just to walk around it and be next to it.
WE LOVE NEW YORK CITY!

Empire State Building at dusk.

Swim Lessons

Brett had swim lessons in July and he loved it (again) and did well. Here is a picture of him underwater.

Ellie and I had a mom and tot swim group and though she was a bit hesitant at first but she soon loved the water and didn't mind going under a few times. She needs to work on keeping her mouth closed as you can tell in the picture.

Big work day in the Marshall yard

It was a big Saturday for us on June 26th. That morning we went to Trey's tball game then came home and got to work digging up the yard. Dad came up with his wonderful tracker and loaded the truck up a couple of times with yard waste that has accumulated over the years. Paul took it down to the local recycle center.
Dad took out the dead stump of the globe willow that split into 3 sections last year. And he dug 5 big holes for the 5 trees we were planting. We can not thank Dad enough for being willing to come up and help us. There is no way we could have gotten so much done with out him and there is no way we were digging the holes for those big trees with shovels! Thanks Dad!

Paul surveying the damage to the sprinkle pipes and wires that were damaged when the tree stump came out. There was no way around it!

Brett was such a wonderful boy and let us do our work. He was so antsy to get on that tractor. At the end Grandpa took him out in the weed patch and let Brett go to town. He did wonderful and he learned how to operate the backhoe by watching Grandpa all afternoon.

Brett was in heaven and Grandpa and Dad were proud of their boy.

Trey's Tball

June was filled with Trey's Tball games. We always have a great time and it was great this year to have both sets of grandparents be able to see a game or two.
Trey had a great season as a Cub. He loved running the bases and smiled often coming around third headed for home.
This is such a great program for these kids and their families. Brett is awesome and loves to be Trey's Buddy. He even got his own official buddy shirt this year.

My handsome dudes!

Hey batter, batter!

Running the bases.

Trey's Birthday outing

Do to scheduling we had to do Trey's Birthday outing a week after his birthday, which was fine with him because it was a beautiful day outside.

Paul and I took the kids to the Thanksgiving Point Children's Garden. We had never been there before even though we have been to the big garden many times.

This is a great little place where there is so much for the kids to see and do.

Brett and Ellie checking out the lighthouse.

Trey between two water squirters at the splash pad.

Happy 8th Birthday Trey!

Once again, June 10th rolled around and before I knew it I have a 8 year old!

Trey is the light of our lives. Even though 8 years ago many hopes and dreams for our first baby were crushed, we have come to realize that Trey has given us much more than we could have ever hoped for.

Yummy Turkey Dinner!

A baseball cake for my baseball playing boy!

Their Back!

The killdeer birds are back. It took the longest time for us to spot the nest.
On Monday we were finally weeding the playground area and we were prepared to be squawked at and swooped at by the daddy bird.
As I was weeding the momma bird wouldn't get up off the nest which was weird and I told Paul that the eggs must be close to hatching or she would be up off the nest trying to draw attention away from the nest. I weeded all around and didn't get any closer than like 6 or 7 feet. I was almost done when she finally had had enough and got up and squawking at me.
So we left her alone for the rest of the morning. In the evening the eggs had hatched and the chicks were learning to try to walk, then the next day by the afternoon they were all gone, shells and everything.

Look right in the middle of the picture and you will see two chicks and one egg.


Whoa, we are in trouble now.