3 weeks early

Today Allison went in to the orthodontist for a check up. She was really hoping it was time to take her expander off but I knew that it was still a little early. Dr. Guymon said it would be in October but today he said it looked good. It came off today 3 weeks early.
She got to pick out a retainer color and it was hard for her to choose. They had so many colors but she did finally decides on a rainbow sparkly one. At dinner she wasn't quite sure how to eat. It is kind of funny because right as she was really getting used to it then they take it off. Now we get to get used to a retainer that might cause some discomfort because is going to try to pull two of her teeth in some. Guess we will see how it goes.

Canning oh my

So the canning season has begun. We really enjoyed the jam and pears that I did last year so I thought I would take on a little more and all the fruit came at once. My plans were to can with Megan and Dawn at my house but Megan had an emergency so it was just Dawn and I. We worked Friday and today. On Friday we got 51 jars of nectarine jam done. Today we had high hopes of getting 100 lbs of peaches canned, 50 pounds of peaches canned into jam 250 pounds of pears canned and then 150 pounds of pears dehydrated. Unfortunately the fruit did not want to cooperate and we ran out of time too. It took all day just to work on the peaches and the pears are rock hard and not ready. Hopefully by Monday we will be able to finish. We had a lot of fun canning and laughed a lot. Capri and my girls were great a help and things ran very smoothly. We did have a few hiccups but Madison was right there to make a sign so it wouldn't happen again.
Lets just say that apparently some people can't follow pictures for instructions and need it spelled out. Also there were a lot of things to remember so a sign helps with that.

Soccer season has also started so throughout the day Dawn and I had to stop what we were doing and take our girls to soccer games. Capri was first and then my two Allison and Ashley. Dawn and I traded off so someone was always home canning. I wish that I could have seen Capri's game but there will be other weeks for that.

Ashley's game was first and she did awesome. She defiantly is a go getter when it comes to sports. She is always right there with the ball trying to steel it from the other team. Today she had the most awesome play she stole the ball from the other team by her goal and dribbled it all the way to the other end to shoot. Unfortunately the ball didn't go in but she kept control of the ball the whole way down the field and held off the other team. It is going to be fun to watch her this season.

Allison's game was next and boy is the field bigger. I don't know if she was ready for that. Allison's coach used her as a sub. today so she did a lot of sitting out.
When she was in the game she was on fire. She played a few different positions but she really did great when she played a forward. She would attack the other team and steal the ball from them. It is so much fun watching her play another sport and branch out from basketball.

Kevin was bummed to miss the girls first games but he also knew there would be plenty more. He needed a guys day with his friends while he is on break from school.

6 and 12

At school in PE Madison is doing the Presidential fitness test. When I was in school I always dreaded this test. I always felt so bad because all of my scores were awful. In 6th grade Madison received the National award for her scores. She has always done well on it. This year she ran an 8 min 18 sec mile. I could never run that even in my dreams. She also takes school more serious then I ever did and I know that has something to do with it. Today was the day that they were measured. She was so excited because her height measured at 6 feet. Madison has always been tall for her age. She is such a sweet kind person and I have always worried that she would be made fun of. She has had some wonderful people in her life that have told her to be proud of how Heavenly Father has made her and to hold her head up high. I am so thankful for these people to help me build her confidence so other kids would not get to her. Her confidence has also helped her so people don't make fun of her. People that meet her can feel her sweet spirit and no one wants to make fun of her. She is tall and beautiful on the inside and outside. I am so thankful that she has looked at her height as blessing in her life.

Our ballerina

Today I took Ashley to her first dance class. Ashley's best friend Elahn was taking a class and Ashley is always dancing around so I thought it might be fun for them to take it together. Ashley did great her first day. She listened to her teacher and did everything that was ask of her. It is going to be fun to watch Ashley progress. She will have two recitals one at Christmas and then one in the Spring.

Labor day weekend

Wow I can not believe that it is Labor day already. This year has flown by. It is hard to believe that school has started and Christmas is around the corner. This year our trip to Utah was short. The girls only had Monday off so we had to get everything in in three days. Kevin tried to convince them that they could miss a day of school and we could stay a day longer. None of them wanted to. In the short amount of time that we were in Utah we were able to do our annual shopping trip in Park City, have dinner with family
(the girls really had a great time seeing Anna and Devany.)
and go to Lagoon. It has been a few years since we have gone to Lagoon so the girls were really looking forward to it. Ashley wasn't sure what she was excited for because she was young the last time that we went. She just knew that if Madison and Allison were excited then she should be too. The girls are at the perfect age because we can ride most rides all together as a family. There were still a few that Ashley could only ride and a few that she could not ride.
It was a great mini vacation from the craziness of life. We had a great time as a family and made some great memories.

Madison's first day of 7th grade

Madison started school today. She didn't seem as nervous as last year. She was very excited because she already knew a few people in her classes. I think it also helps that she has a year behind her and she knows what to expect for the most part. The dress code still makes her nervous so she played it safe on the first day to feel it out. Last year on the first day the teachers were very picky and sent a lot of kids to the office for violations so Madison wanted to see how they would be this year. I have a feeling it is going to be a great year. Madison so far likes all of her teachers and has friends in most of her classes so she is set.

Ashley's first FHE lesson

Ashley gave her first Family Home Evening lesson tonight. It was on manners. Madison helped her prepare it and give it. It was fun watching her be all serious. It was really a lot of fun to see her get so involved in FHE. The final activity of the night was a scavenger hunt. I won but everyone says I cheated. I don't think I did. I just followed Ashley around and watched to where she looked. It just happened to be where the bad manner bugs were hidden. I never ask her where they were at. It made for a good laugh because she really tried not to show me where they were at.