You were expecting this...

Here's what you have been waiting for...pictures of the first day of school. Gavin finally started today. He was SO excited. He didn't want me to come in, so I didn't. Then it turns out that I was the only parent who didn't come and he felt bad.

I LOVE school uniforms.

Elise got glasses. She loves them and it's a good thing because she really needed them.

Ahh Dang

So yesterday we had a combined lesson at church for all the adult members. It was a very enthusiastic lesson on debt and getting our finances in order. Our teacher started off by showing the SNL clip with Steve Martin - "Don't Buy Stuff."



It is a good lesson. One that I STINK at. I get motivated to do better but then I fail.

Just two days before this lesson, I went to Nordstroms. A very big mistake. But I never go there. I had ordered some shoes during the Nordstroms Sale but I got the wrong size so I went in to exchange them. The Nordstroms shoe sales people are GENIOUS! They always bring out the shoes you want plus some other colors plus another shoe you might not have tried. And it is always a shoe you want. Dang.

I had heard about these shoes. They are cool. They give a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair of shoes you buy. Pretty cool. Worth buying already. But then I tried them on. Come on. They are comfy. And I need some black shoes. Need. Really I do. The last pair of black casual shoes I had were dr. martens. It's time. Right?

These ones only black.


So I bought them.

But now this financial lesson is getting to me. It won't sink us for me to have these shoes but can we really afford it? Shouldn't I use that money to go toward a car payment or something?

I don't want to return them.



PLEASE! Can I keep them? Just think - it is charitable for me to buy them.

The last 3 days...

Life has been kind of crazy since we got back. But we have filled our time with some pretty good things. We got to go with Teague to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication. That was a great experience. We could definitely feel the Spirit. Hopefully, Teague will always remember it and have the desire to go back as soon as he can. We are so excited to have this temple just up the street.
New FAVORITE family night treat (at least for the summer). Sorry Yogurt Vibe - we will be back to you but probably not on a Monday night. I know frozen yogurt is so much better for you but you can't beat the deal or the flavors. $3 for our whole family to have a snow cone. Seriously? It is buy 1 get 1 free on Mondays at the place on 90th and 1300 West (in the Stock parking lot).
Flavor Selections:
Teague and Elise: Sour Watermelon, Apple Pie and Toxic Waste (eww? but they loved it)
Gavin: Banana and Apricot
Annie and Kenyon: Tiger's Blood (strawberry and coconut)

and next time...Quinn needs her own. Or at least she thinks he does. She LOVED it (almost as much as she loves sand).

A little walk at Cascade Springs (it is way the heck up American Fork canyon). It is a beautiful drive and the springs are pretty. It is a paved, nature walk and just perfect for us. (Reminder to the brain dead moms like me: take food for the baby. It is way too far to go without being prepared.) **Courtney - thanks for the fun idea!!

At the Beach

We took a little trip to Cali to play with cousins and go to the beach. It is the perfect vacation. Of course, it would be fun to have Kenyon join us. And it would be nice of Quinn wouldn't eat sand. But other than that...it was pretty great. We can't wait to go back.

Highlights include- trying out different beaches till we were exhausted and then going straight to my sister's pool to swim (and get a little sand off), finding millions of hermit crabs at Shaw's Cove, donuts at Newport Beach, making tie-dye shirts, painting rocks, making s'mores at the beach, shopping without kids, cupcakes from Sprinkles, playing with cousins, and being with my sisters (wish they all could have come).

My sister, Kristine, posted more about our trip on her blog. See here, and here and here.

Relay for Life

> What a great event! Thanks to all who were on Team Kenyon, who donated money, or who came Friday night and supported us. A big thanks to the Jamieson's who put in so much time to making the event happen and to Angie, our team captain. We had the best team and next year is going to be even better. The event began with a flag ceremony and tribute to the survivors. The survivors carried flags and did the first lap around the track alone. Then the caregivers joined them for the second lap. And for the third lap, everyone was invited to walk in support of those fighting cancer.

Teague and Jake (he was diagnosed with Leukemia a year ago).

Each team had a booth to raise more money for ACS. We sold light sabers (made out of pool noodles and pvc) and marshmellow guns. It was a hit! We sold out fast and raised a lot of great money to fight this stupid disease.

Next year promises to be even better!!

A Must Have - for baby

These are my most favorite blankets. And Quinn loves them too. They are the best, light-weight, swaddling blanket you can find. Perfect for summer, too. I LOVE them.

Good news...I haven't found them ANYWHERE for less than $44 (for a 4 pack). I was at Target today....and THEY HAVE THEM for only $30. Same brand. I am hoping the quality is as good.

Summer Summer Summer Time

A few of the things we have been doing...

My sister, Kristine, has been teaching sewing classes in my basement. Elise participated one week and made super cute things - like this headband.

One of our favorite places is to go the "beach" at Oquirrh Lake in Daybreak. It has great sand and the water isn't too bad. Only dumb thing is that there are no bathrooms and not a lot of shade. But the kids are always happy and busy.

Cub Camp! I got to spend a day there and let me tell you that is FUN. ;) The boys loved it.

Teague fell out of the trampoline and hit is tooth on a chair. It chipped his permanent tooth pretty good. Thank heavens our neighbor is a dentist. It is all better.

Free lunch at Chick-Fil-A (only if you dressed up like a cow). We made these dumb little hats off patterns on the internet. It was hilarious but it was free.