Catching up (it's gonna be a long post)

Life around here has been a little hectic lately.  In a good way, but crazy none the less.  Thanks to my knee surgery,  I now have come to a screeching halt and have oodles of time on my hands.  What a better use of my time than to sit and blog, right?

Jake's baptism was Labor Day weekend.  What an amazing day, to say the least!  I continue to be awed by the spirituality of my son, and the naturalness with which my husband continues to grow in his priesthood responsibilities.  He gave Jacob such a beautiful confirmation blessing - Jacob sat there with eyes closed and a big grin on his face through it all (I believe a mother has a right to "peek" on these types of moments).   We were surrounded by family and friends and I know Jacob felt loved and supported on his special day.

 my men in white

 this is what organizing 20+ people for a picture looks like

 my big family (minus Josh and Katie)

my little family

We followed up Jacob's baptism with lunch at Burgerville and a family trip to the zoo.  At the last minute, my brother and his family and my aunt were able to join us, so we were our own little herd heading through the zoo.  Unfortunately, the animals liked the 90 degree weather even less than us, and there weren't a ton out to view that day, but we had a great time anyway.

 the kids in the eagle's nest

 Leah in the petting zoo

 riding the dino

 Jake realizing that bronze statues sitting in 90 degree sun all day get HOT!!!

 Brady working the ladies

 no family picture is complete without a mountain goat

 on the bus ride back to the parking lot

Austin after running through the mister - wet, tired and happy

The day was capped off with a baptism/birthday party at Aunt Kiki's.  It was great to come in out of the heat to central A.C., yummy food and good company.  Jake opened his favorite gift, his own set of scriptures, embossed with his name on the front.

Next up in our busy line of activities was Jake's first day of school and Austin's kindergarten testing.  Couple the first day of school with the opening of a brand new school, and things that morning were a bit chaotic.  The line of parents and students waiting to get in when the bell rang wrapped all the way up the driveway and down the road.  In the hubbub, this is the only picture I got of Jacob that day:

Jacob was very excited to see that not only had some of his buddies transferred to the new school, they were in his class as well.   Somehow, when he came home that first day, he just looked older.  3rd grade, where has the time gone?  Austin sailed through his testing that morning with flying colors.  His teacher even commented that they didn't usually see kids test at his level unless they had been to pre-school, which he has not.  I am so proud of my boys!

Two days after Jake started school, and three days after my parents had gone home from Jake's baptism weekend, my mom was back in town to help us out, and I had knee surgery (which is whole post in and of itself).

Four days after my surgery, Austin started Kindergarten.  He was so excited and so ready!  He was decked out in his Captain America backpack, on which he is just sure the big red-white-and-blue "A" stands for Austin.

Thank heaven for handicap parking permits and kind ladies manning the front door who let us in early!   I hobbled in with him on my crutches, got his supplies put away, and left him looking like this:

Dad and the boys ride to and from school each day, and Jake and Austin both love it.  Leah loves the ride over in the bike trailer, but has a hard time understanding that they are there pick up/drop off the boys each day and not to play on the playground.

Whew!!