Quiet Time

"Blue Steel" 

Ryder's best frown/puffy lip.

Ryder and Jack started preschool this week.  After dropping them off I went home to clean.  I walked through the door and the house was silent.  Wow!  Sometimes when they are all occupied and the house is quiet, I feel like I begin to move in slow motion.  I had to shake off the slow motion feeling and get to work.  The boys had a great day and they love their school and teachers. I am working out the pick-up schedule though because all three kids get out of school at the same time at two different sides of town.  Carpools are in the works!

If we ask them to frown before smiling they always smile better and then start to laugh.

Jack

Ryder

Best Buds! Brothers! My Boys!  They are so cute!!

First Day of First Grade

The first day of first grade.  I have to admit that this year I was sad that Sarah would be gone all day at school.  Just as we were getting everyone out of the house, Ryan called  letting us know he was coming from work to walk with her to school.  Sarah was very happy about that.  Ryan asked how she was feeling and she was medium.  So, not to worried but kind of worried.  (She felt a little concerned because our neighbor and close friend decided to homeschool their daughter who Sarah plays with every day.  So she wouldn't see her friend all day.)  Preschool and kindergarten were not too long and it was more like an extended playday.  

At lunch time I kept checking the clock to see what time it was, hoping that time would pass a little more quickly.  The boys and I did stay pretty busy while we waited to see how Sarah's first day went. 

We picked her up and the first comment was, "Mom, you didn't give me enough water."  We worked out that dilemma and by the time we were home she said it had been a great day. 

Sarah's first week in first grade included, running the fun run(several times), journal writing, being an ogre in the classroom play, recess with best friends, and lunch on the school lawn.   

Day #2

We had to stop at the little park after taking Sarah to school.  

Jack

Ryder

Mischievous!  This is the second time the boys have been on time out and decided to climb out their windows!  No kidding.  The first time the screens ended up in much worse shape and I found a child standing in the hedge.  This time I was folding clothes and heard the front door open and the pounding of little feet.  Maybe we should put bars on the windows...does it get better when there teenagers?  Our time out spot has now changed.  I do appreciate their creative solutions to their dilemmas.

Sweet siblings!

Ryder, Sarah, Jack

San Ramon Water Park 8/15

The end of summer is coming too fast and school starts Monday.  On 8/15 we met Marisa and her girls at the water park in San Ramon.  What a great park!  The kids really had a great time together and Marisa and I had fun visiting.  It is hard to believe that we have been home from our missions for so long.  We had talked about living next door to each other, so I would say this is pretty good living within 40 minutes of each other.   

The boys were very patient and loved being splashed. 

The boys loved all the wheels to turn water on and off.  The slide was also a big hit.

The boys were always on the move.

Inspired by the Olympics the girls tested their high dive moves.  Brave Ladies!  

Sarah was doing twists.

Marisa's daughter has great form.  

This is a lot different than our former mission attire.

Marine World with the Lambourne's

We had a great visit with our cousins.  We met at Marine World on 8/11.  My daughter the daredevil decided to ride Tony Hawks Big Spin during this visit.  The suprising thing about that ride is that the boys could have gone on it with adult supervision.  Are you kidding!!!  Up and down and twisting all around... YUCK!  We went on another ride while we waited for the girls.  

The only tough part of the visit was that I caved to peer pressure and decided to ride Vertical Velocity with my niece and brother-in-law.  Not a good idea.  I felt a little light headed but I thought it would pass.  We went over to the Looney Tunes area for one or two last rides before heading home. The boys picked a ride that you could spin the basket while rising into the air.   I decided we would not spin the basket.  As the ride began I quickly found out you could not stop the basket from spinning.  Let's just say I took one for the team.   I waited for the ride to finish and before the basket was all the way to the ground I jumped out and ran to the bushes.  The boys told Ryan that, "The ride guy gave Mom paper towels."   

Cute Cousins waiting for Thomas the Train.

Thanks to our Aunt and Uncle who helped so both the boys could ride at the same time.

Kung Fu Panda and Jack Tai Lung

Ever since we went to see Kung Fu Panda with my parents, Jack has been a little kung fu master. Hi-yah this and hi-yah that.  So one evening he decides that he is Tai Lung the Tiger?, anyway, Jack found the black markers and gave himself stripes and started doing karate on anyone in his path.  Ryan and I could not stop laughing.  I did try to hide the markers but he still finds them and comes out of his room somedays with tiger stripes.

Ryder wanted in on the fun and made some stripes as well.  His were in ball point which did not show up as well.  

Jack's super pose.  Hi-yah!  Isn't that a karate kid move?  

*Just a note, mom and dad, check out the new tile.  Jack or Ryder, walked in the house after it was installed and said, "What happened here!"  He knew something had changed, the yucky carpet was gone.  Hooray for no carpet under the dining table!

Golf with Friends

Every once in awhile Ryan has a chance to play golf with friends.  Brandon was in town for business and Tony made a quick trip to Mare Island so they could all play a quick 18 holes. I want to thank Ryan for forgetting his golf shoes so I could also drop the camera off with him to take some pictures.

So, who will you all be cheering for during football season?  Ryan has already started watching the BYU classics and all the games they replay just to get ready for the upcoming season.  

The San Francisco Zoo

The Alexander family called to let us know they were taking a trip to the city so we decided to meet them for a day at the zoo.  I map-quested the zoo and made all the necesary arrangements so I would not get lost.  We arrived without incident and had a wonderful day.  The weather was perfect and the animals were pretty active.  The rhinos put on quite a show by pooping and then eating it.  Let's just say my kids thought that was hilarious and that's what they shared first thing on the phone with Grandma and Grandpa Carrick.

The giraffe had an excellent house next to the exhibit with really tall giraffe doors.

The chimpanzees were a little chilly because of the fog.  It's nice to know they have blankies too.

My cute cubs!

Sarah, Ryder, and Jack loved the meerkats exhibit.

Abby and Sarah.  Sarah loves her like a sister.

Matthew, Michael, Ryder, Jack and Joey looking at the little Joey.

This was the fastest zoo train I have ever been on.  The conductor tossed peanuts to the squirrels so they would clear the track.  There was one close call though.

After quite the drive home we needed to call Grandpa Doug for permission to eat at his favorite fast food place.  We can't go without him the kids have informed me unless we have permission (nice training Grandpa!).  

Tennis Lessons

The boys are finally old enough for tennis lessons.  After sitting on the courts since they were nine months old watching their sister it was finally their turn.  The kids do learn a lot of patience and how to rotate in line and take turns.  They had a great time.

Ryder, in the blue, and Jack, in the gray, are practicing their net game.  So far so good!  

 

Sarah gets ready for her backhand shot.  It is amazing for a six year old!  She gets very excited to hit the ball back into the instructors ball bucket.  She has a great forehand as well.

Jack above and Ryder below at lessons.

The lessons turned out to be a lot of fun for all the kids.  Maybe in another few years we will all be able to play a game together as a family.