Back to School

Ah, fall. It's my favorite season of the year. I love the cooler weather, and seeing the beautiful mountains change color. There's a certain excitement in the air when the kids head back to school, with their new clothes, and new school teachers. Kate started her first year of preschool. She loves it. I'm so glad I decided to put her in this year. She will have two years of preschool, and I thought that maybe that was over kill, but boy was I wrong. Kate loves going, and I get to give kirk more attention. He is loving it up! He loves to sit on my lap and read stories. I've been trying to help him learn colors. It's been three weeks and he still hasn't gotten it! I'm starting to wonder if he's color blind or something. When Kate's at preschool Kirk is always asking "where's Kate?" I think he misses her when she goes, but a little space has been a good thing. They seem to play better, and not fight as often. Another really fun part about sending Kate to school is that I have a reason to get her all dressed up. I took a picture of her in one of my favorite outfits. Kirk was ready to step right up and get his picture taken as well. Yes I know he has a bottle in this picture! I've got a two and a half year old who still drinks from bottles! But he is so insistent, and I haven't got the heart to take it from him. He is still my youngest, so I indulge him alittle bit. I've been feeling much better lately. I'm past the whole sickness stage. Right now I just get soooo tired every afternoon. Right after lunch time I start to feel the drain. Luckily that's Kirk's nap time, so I get to have some rest. Tonight Dan took Kirk up to the Father's Son's camp out with the ward. Dan's been so excited to take Kirk camping. He said he was going to teach him man stuff up there, (Whatever that means)? I took Kate for a little girls night out. It was fun to be just the two of us. That doesn't happen very often, and I think she enjoyed it. We went and got her pictures taken at the mall since she just turned four. Then I bought her some chich-fil-a, and a hot fudge sundae. While she was eating the ice cream she kept complaining that it was making her head hurt. I told her she's just gotten her first "Brain freeze". She thought that was pretty funny. I had a couple of things to return, and then I bought her some new ballet tights. Then she fell asleep on the way home. I was excited about the way the pictures turned out. She as grown up so much. I was just thinking on the way into the mall about all of the past years we have done this. I've taken her into kiddie Kandids for pictures for the past three years. I felt like she was still two and no time had past at all. I'm so frightened that I will blink and all of a sudden she'll be sixteen. These truly are the moments to cherish. Our kids are our most priceless possessions. I am so grateful to be a mother!

It's Birthday Central!

Okay, I know it's been forever since I've updated this, but if it's any consolation we've been really, really busy. First of all the end of August and the first two weeks of September is Birthday mania at our house. Dan's Birthday is August 22. He's now soooo old 31! Kate's Birthday was last week. She had a crazy, fun, girly party. We had 10 girls over, what were we thinking? But her party really was awesome. Kate Madsen came at the end dressed like Cinderella. She was the highlight of the party! Yesterday was my Birthday. By the time mine comes around Dan will ask "do you want to do a party"? My prompt reply is NO WAY! I celebrated my Birthday by letting Dan do the dishes, and enjoying the news hour without kids to bath and get to bed. I also went to the Girls Camp reunion last night. It was fun to see all of the girls and their leaders again!. Today I canned peaches all day. My sister in-law Shauntel came over this morning to show me how to do it. We have two peach trees that must be on steroids or something. We have masses, and masses of peaches. We've been eating them, but I knew that we couldn't eat them all before they'd go bad. So in spite of my scary preconceptions of canning, I decided to jump in and try it. It actually wasn't to difficult. I was amazed at how rewarding it was. It's nice to work hard and have something to show for your labor. When I spend all day cleaning, the house just gets dirty again the next day. Canning will actually last. I did 24 jars of peaches, and we still have oodles and oodles more on the trees. Hey if anybody out there would like some PLEASE feel free. The kids have been really good. Kate just recently started Preschool. She loves going, and it's been good for Kirk too. I've been able to give him some one on one time. He is so cute, and always excited about life, and has an infectious smile. I guess that is a quick update on how the Mower clan has been doing. I'm now 10 or 11 weeks pregnant. 10 according to my doctor, but I swear I'm further along than he's giving me credit for! We are excited for the fall weather. Fall is my favorite time of year, I just love the changing leaves, and the cooler temperatures. I really can't believe we are wrapping up the year with just a few months left. I don't know were the times has gone.
Kirk found our food coloring and turned himself blue. He looked like a smurf for a day! (luckily it was in the kitchen and wiped right up). Never fret BYU fans his T-shirt washed clean!