O.K. I know that I have been awful this summer at keeping up with my blog. I don't have that great of an excuse, except that we were busy and having fun. So now that it is turning into Fall (yeah for Fall weather)! I thought I would give you all a summer in review. The biggest project we took on this summer was landscaping our yard. We had a ton of overgrown trees and bushes in our yard and we decided to tear them all out. We figured since we were hiring someone that it would be an easy job. We were sorely mistaken! It was a constant battle to get them to do what we wanted. I was nervous to leave my house when they were here because whenever I did I would come ba
ck and they had done something wrong. I was not making friends in the neighborhood because I had a massive dirt pile on my driveway that was blowing into everyone's yards and on their cars. Once the trees were down we realized how bad our existing fence was and decided to replace it. So that meant I had to get permission from three of our neighbors who shared the fence with us. I was told by the landscapers the fence would be down for
a couple of days. Well, a week and half later I was getting to know my neighbors really well and realizing that fences have their advantages! Once we got the yard all cleared out we put in a new playground for the kids. It has swings, a slide, playhouse, monkey bars, fireman's pole, and a trapeze bar. We'll do anything to get the kids to go outside and play. Now that the weather is cooler we are getting all sorts of kids from the neighborhood playing on it. The kids love it and Byron and I are glad the whole experience it over!
Aside from that, here is a list of things we did this summer.
13 concerts (including a music festival in Jackson Hole, Wyoming)
4 trips: Las Vegas, canoeing down the Green River, Jackson Hole, and a weekend in Park City
1 family reunion
2 summer school classes for the boys
8 Tee-ball games for Max
Endless swimming and piano lessons
And probably other things that I have already forgotten about!
Now we are back into the swing of things with school. Zac is loving his teacher and Max just started his first day of Kindergarten. When I asked how it was he said, "Not fun, we didn't practice our numbers and letters. And the teacher kept yelling at me." I asked why she was yelling at him and he said, "Because I wasn't listening to her and I kept messing around." Yep that will do it. This could be an interesting year for him!
eady for the New Year. Our Christmas had just the right amount of fun, family, and relaxation. The boys have loved being out of school, and I have loved not having a schedule. Santa came out in force this year and we have only had two toys that didn't make it through the weekend. One of the top toys was the dart gun game we bought. It comes equipped with six guns, 50 darts, Velcro vests, and eye protection. Needless to say pretty much everyone who has come through the house has gotten in on the fun. We ended up the Christmas week with a little sledding fun. Byron and his brother Austin helped to make a ramp that the kids could go off. There was contests to see who could get the most air. Yet, I think in the end it should have been a contest to see who had the most sore bum. It was a lot of fun. I hope your holiday was great and we wish you all a Happy New Year!
Zac high fivin' one of the coaches!
m The Pirates of the Caribbean) decided to kibosh the traditional trick-or-treat and instead said,"Hello Poppet". Zac had his first official trick-or-treating with only friends. He and a few of his friends hit several houses I think more than once. We gave him my cell phone so he could call us if there was a problem. I'm not sure what he was more excited for, the candy or the cell. At one point he ran into us and told us he had been trying to call us but the phone wasn't working. When I went to figure it out he suddenly realized that he had been cal
ling my phone number not Byron's. It's the little things that make the difference. I wonder how I ever managed to trick-or-treat safely without a cell phone.
rthday party. He wants a Halloween costume party. He also has informed me that he wants it at night about a thousand times. So I am wondering if all of you out there could give me some ideas of things I could do at the party. Max loves scary things, but I know that some of the little guys coming may not like it as much. So I am trying to think of things that 
might fall somewhere in the middle. So please chime in and let me hear your ideas!
ck and they had done something wrong. I was not making friends in the neighborhood because I had a massive dirt pile on my driveway that was blowing into everyone's yards and on their cars. Once the trees were down we realized how bad our existing fence was and decided to replace it. So that meant I had to get permission from three of our neighbors who shared the fence with us. I was told by the landscapers the fence would be down for 
a couple of days. Well, a week and half later I was getting to know my neighbors really well and realizing that fences have their advantages! Once we got the yard all cleared out we put in a new playground for the kids. It has swings, a slide, playhouse, monkey bars, fireman's pole, and a trapeze bar. We'll do anything to get the kids to go outside and play. Now that the weather is cooler we are getting all sorts of kids from the neighborhood playing on it. The kids love it and Byron and I are glad the whole experience it over!
