springdellgirl

September is Wrap Up

So far I haven't documented much about all the things that have been going on around here lately. Everything is such a blur...so much activity cram packed into our days and nights. I fall into bed each night exhausted.

So here's what we have been up to...

Kameron has been doing tons of this... He is right in the center in the Under Armour shirt.

This year Kameron is again on two cross-country teams. He runs for a city team and for his elementary school. He has practice four days a week with his elementary school and two days a week for his city team. Most days he will do double practices. He has meets every Saturday for the city team and he has about three meets total...counting the all-city meet for his elementary school team. He enjoys running and it keeps him busy and in great shape so I am all for it. Plus, the meets are a lot of fun to watch and cheer for.

Looking good

Kam doesn't really seem to prefer either track or cross-country more than the other. He likes different things about both. He is REALLY looking forward to Middle School next year where he will get to do hurdles. He loves hurdles and the elementary school aged kids don't get to do them. He is a great team mate and leader and a very steady runner. I think that is why he loves to run relays during track season. He is a great motivator to the younger kids and is always a team captain at his school. We are trying to instill in him a killer instinct to win but he just isn't that kind of person...yet. He always places well and constantly improves his time. He truly finds accomplishment in competing against himself. He has done great this year!!

Post Meet Grin

Now this one needs to tone down her killer instinct...Ironically we are trying to help her to be more of a team player.

Reilly has been super busy this year with her high school dance team. They have practice about three mornings a week before school and then a couple practices during the week after school...especially if it is a game week. They also just had a huge fundraiser that completely took over our lives. Who plans that for the second week of school? It was craziness. Now that that is over Football Season is in full swing. Several people have asked me how Reilly is enjoying being on the team this year. I will quote her: "I love the fame and glory...just not all the practices". See what we are dealing with?

At the heinous fundraiser with her very supportive little sisters and cousins

Haylee, Hannah and Grace

These two spend a lot of time cheering their big brother and sister on at their various activities.

This one asks me about 100 times a day if we can go to a "play park"...her word for park. She just isn't satisfied with the backyard anymore. Darn it. Luckily all of Kameron's meets take place at parks so she can get her fix. :)

This picture just makes me laugh.

We managed to squeeze in a trip to Greenbluff and got the very last of the peaches and the first of the apples.

Tyler and I were stoked to get the first squash of the season too. The old farmer was telling us about all these different varieties that were "good eatin''. We both love roasted squash. The bluish gray one was particularly tasty. The kids were unenthused.

Doesn't Bryn look thrilled? Yum...Squash. Not.

We've really enjoyed spending time with cousins this month. It seems like we got more time together than usual...and it doesn't hurt that some extra cousins have moved to town. The more the merrier!!

Cousins!!

We did have a scary day last Friday. My mom's husband Ken had a heart attack and had to been taken by ambulance to the hospital. He had a stent put in and spent some time in the Cardiac ICU. He is doing great though. This picture is of the little girls waiting for him to walk to the family waiting room in the ICU. They were very worried.

Ken feeling much better with Elle, Bryn and Ailey

FYI...should you ever be in the ICU it probably isn't the best idea to have Kelley and I as your bedside guests for the day. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard and had to contain it in a LONG TIME!! (This was obviously when Ken was out of the woods.) You need to be very quiet up in the ICU (understandably) but what can you do when you get the giggles and the snickers and the uncontainable snorts? We were reprimanded sharply by the male ICU nurse to no avail. When you are told there is no laughing it is impossible not to laugh. This went on all day people. Not cool. That nurse was not a fan.

Also, should you need some jewelry, home decor, holiday decorations or perfume hospital gift shops are the bomb. Sacred Heart where Kelley works is the best...her house is decorated a la the hospital gift shop and she buys all her gifts from there. They also have great holiday decor. I usually buy our kids Christmas ornaments from there and new Christmas decorations each year. I also enjoy stopping in around Halloween...good stuff. We weren't so sure how the hospital in Coeur d' Alene would stack up. It was smaller and certainly no Sacred Heart gift shop...but...I did buy myself a lovely watch and some fabulous perfume. Kelley and my mom picked up a few items as well. So...should you be visiting the sick...stop by the gift shop and treat yourself to a little somethin' somethin' for your good deed. :) Kidding...sort of. Here's the sad truth. I will be making a special trip to that particular hospital gift shop next week for the sole purpose of buying some birthday presents for friends. Lucky girls!!

Well after all that scariness at the hospital on Friday we really needed to relax after our visit on Saturday. The weather was delightful. High 80's. The sun was shining. That is not to be squandered here in the Pacific Northwest. So out to the lake we went.

I'm not going to lie. It was looking quite autumnal out there. Check out all those leaves. But I chose to live in denial and donned a suit and jumped in. It wasn't too bad.

Not bad at all

The kids all jumped in too. Everyone except for Kelley took the plunge.

Tyler and I and our sad attempt at a self-portrait...clearly we have issues.

This cracked me up. As the sun was setting behind the mountain...Bryn grabbed her Strawberry Shortcake chair and bag of popcorn and sat down at the end of the dock with a very contented sigh and watched the sun go down over the lake. She kills me.

This is also killing me. This sale is THIS WEEKEND and I still have a ton to do and set up is on Thursday. Perhaps I should get off the computer and get to work.