So here we are at the end 

of this not long enough Summer.

The kids are back in School

 and I find it all bittersweet.

I love my Summers with the boys.

Love having no schedules to follow,

no homework (I hate homework!),

but most of all I just love having them around.

Usually! :)

This year Cody is in the 3rd grade

and Landen is in Kindergarten.

They are so excited to be attending the same school.

It's so cute to me how much they love each other

and look forward to doing things together.

Cody's first day of school was last week.

His teacher this year is Mrs. Orr.

He is very happy to have a classroom

in the school and not in the temps.

He was bummed school was already starting again

but now he says he is happy about it and likes it.

Alex & Cody

Rachel, Cody & Alex

Cody & Paige

Cody, Brooke, Paige & Crew

Cody & Alex

Landen had his first day of school today!

So exciting!!!

He has been ready to go for weeks.

I put Landen in afternoon kindergarten

 and does not start until 12:45pm. 

This morning he was ready to leave at the

same time Cody leaves in the morning.

Had his back pack on and all!

He was not thrilled when I told him he still

had about 4 hours until he goes. 

When the time finally rolled around

he was ready to go to school!

We were planning to walk over to the school

with his buddy Luke and his parents.

They were not ready fast enough for Landen.

He says to me," lets just go!" then starts walking away.

He makes me laugh.

No messing around with him. :)

Once we got to school he was totally done with me.

While the kids were lined up outside the classroom 

I was saying goodbye and trying to hug & kiss him.

He was pushing me away and just ready to be on his own.

:( 

This is completely opposite of Cody

 on his first day of Kindergarten.

Every kid does have their own personality!

Walking to school.

Welcome to Kindergarten!

The door to Mrs. Anderson's classroom.

Luke & Landen

Lining up before the bell rings.

On his way!

After school was over and the boys were home.

I asked Landen how it all went?

He was acting a little bummed out and replied,

"it was nothing special!"

Okay????

That was all he had to say about that.

:)

Saturday, Aug. 6th 2011

 My dear, sweet, husband Matt 

baptized our son, Cody.

His baptism was very special 

and very memorable.

{In a cute, sweet way}

Let me explain...

After Matt finished the baptism prayer

then dunked Cody under the water,

his little hand did not completely go under.

If any part of you does not go under water

then the whole baptism has to be done again.

The second time around went perfect.

So Cody can say he was baptized twice.

Later, Matt was telling me what he had 

said to Cody right before they entered the font.

It was about making sure he didn't

let his feet pop up out of the water,

 not even one little pinky toe!

Otherwise, the baptism has to be done again.

 He didn't think to mention the hands too. 

:)

After Cody was baptized we all moved to

 another room in the church where we had 

a little program and then his confirmation.

My Mom, spoke first.

She did an amazing job.

Just like I new she would.

Cody's sweetheart Paige,

sang a beautiful song for us.

So tender and sweet!!!

My awesome Dad confirmed Cody.

It means a lot to me, that my Dad

could be a part of this special day.

F.Y.I.  I have so many great pictures

it is so hard to pick just a few.

So believe me when I say this is 

just a few. I have a about 200 or so.

Here are some of my Favorites...

Cody is showing off his new silver CTR ring.
Love his blue eyes!!!!

My Mom & Matt's parents got Cody a set
of personalized scriptures. 

 My Mom totally out did herself by making
several dozen number 8 sugar cookies to
hand out after the baptism. So yummy!!!

She individually packed each cookie!

I loved this whole idea and wanted to make them myself.
I never found the time to do so. I am so thankful
for my Mom and all her hard work and time to make these.

Brooke looking so beautiful in her dress.

Group shot with my Mom & Dan.

Group shot with Matt's parents & brother Justin.

Grandma Simcox & Landen

Cody received this CTR picture holder & tithing bank
from Grandma & Grandpa Simcox.

G&G Simcox, Cody & Thaxton.

This picture of the kids is too dang cute!
Especially Landen. He knows what he likes. :)
{Thaxton, Crew, Brooke, Landen, Paige, Miley}

Trevor's family with my Dad & Tammy.

Our Happy Family

Group shot with my Dad & Tammy.

Pioneer Day 

has come and gone but I have some

  great pictures to show all the fun we had with

our friends and family.

A few of the neighbors, including us, 

brought our families, BBQ's, blankets,

tables & chairs all together in

Scott & Sarah's cool and shady backyard.

Where we had a big Pioneer Day Bash!

We grilled steak, hamburgers, hot dogs & chicken.

 Everyone brought sides to share. Pot luck style.

We had a massive spread of food, drinks & goodies.

It was finger licking good!!!! Literally :)

Kids were running wild all night playing

together and having so much fun hanging out.

Once it was dark, the fireworks came out.

My boys had been anxiously awaiting 

this event all day long! Asking me 

over and over again, "Is it TIME?????"

Driving me nuts! :) 

Earlier in the day Matt took the boys to a

Fireworks stand and bought a bunch 

 of little firecrackers for the kids to do 

and big fancy fireworks for the grown ups.

I can't believe some of these fireworks are Legal?

They are so cool!!!!

All the neighbors pitched in and 

bought fireworks too.

 We took turns lighting them.

And had a pretty sweet show right

in our own backyard!!!

Crew & Grandpa enjoying a taste of SuMmEr!

Trevor, Shari, Annsley & Rachelle

Grandma Nette sewed up some bean bags
for the kids to play games with.

Me & one of my besties Nikki.
And their new puppy that I want to steal!

Crew & Grandma
Crew + root beer = Life is GoOd!!!

Me with my SwEeTeSt boy Cody
and my BeAuTiFuL Mother.

Crew is a swinger these days. :)

Poor sleep deprived Trevor.
Tries to catch some Z's whenever he can.

Thaxton hung out at the playground
all night. He didn't even take a break
to eat his dinner. :)

Me & my cute HuBbY Matt.
Landen wasn't ready for the pic. LoL

Everyone chilling out waiting for the sun
to go down so the real fun can begin!

Me & CodeMan!!!

Annsley with those Baby Blue Eyes.

The boys. Can't believe they are sitting
here being so good. ???  Oh, it's
because Matt is lighting the cool
firecracker that drops parachutes! :)

 The kids took off running to the front
of our house where all the parachutes
were landing. Thanks to G-ma for going
with them and taking this great picture.

While waiting for it to get dark for the BiG
fireworks to start, Matt had a bunch
 of fun LiTtLe firecrackers for the boys.
Smoke bombs, tanks, snakes, snap-its, etc.

As soon as the fuse would go out the boys
were right there to clean up and get ready
for the next one. Anxious???

Tank Wars! Classic.

Crew with picking up the spent
 tanks with his tongs.

Then they put the spent ones in a bucket of water.

Not sure what this was. Maybe another tank??

Love how the kids are all lined up watching.

Hanging out with our awesome neighbors.
It was so fun to just relax and talk.

L to R- Jessica, Blake, Nikki, Rachelle, Sarah, & Scott.

The boys still watching firecrackers.

The End :)