My Favorite Store!

One of my favorite store has got to be Target! I like it so much I go there weekly and sometimes two or three times! They have such great finds!I love finding knock offs here that are similar in look but so much less in price!!! I have found many things that are similar to Pottery Barn, American Girl Doll, Ann Taylor Loft, and even Nike! The other day I went to there to use my 10% off coupon and here are some of my finds!

I have been eyeing these fall dinner plates and accessories so I finally broke down and got them.

My sister said that the ruffle shirt is in this season so I purchased this one: I am not sure what I am going to wear with it or if I'll even keep it but I thought it was cute!

Target has some great shoes that are very affordable! I love these flats!

The dollar spot in the front of the store is the best! I have done many fun things with the "finds" I get from this section. The other day I bought every single one of these turkey headbands! Fifteen to be exact. I love them and they totally look like something out of PB Kids for only $1! I think I might have to host Thanksgiving this year!:)

Target's snack bar is also a great deal. I frequently get the kids the popcorn special!

It includes the yummiest popcorn and a fountain drink for me for only $1.50! Everything about this store is great! I actually am heading there right now for my second visit this week!!

Weekend of Treats!

This weekend was full of TREATS! It started with the best root beer float I've ever had! It was in a small pitcher and had whip cream on top! I was in heaven.

All weekend was full of sunshine. It was ninety plus both Friday and Saturday. It is definitely a TREAT to have warm, sunny days in the NW. We first went to two soccer games and had so much fun watching Brinley play her first game ever. Another TREAT!
We spent the rest of the afternoon at the Columbia River, swimming and playing in the sand. (We were going to take the boat out but the wait to launch it was over an hour, we just went to Cottonwood Beach instead) On the way home we stopped at Top Burger for another TREAT. I think they have the best soft serve in town, plus they are make their cones big and they are cheap! That evening after stake conference another treat was consumed at Cold Stone. This TREAT was called Peanut Butter Passion and it definitely didn't disappoint.
Sunday was our stake conference. It was a TREAT to hear our prophet speak to us via satellite from SLC.
Our evening TREAT was Keri Sork's famous Apple Bars. When she asked me what she should bring for dinner I requested these bars because they are Jon's Favorites. My late evening TREAT was piece of this yummy blackberry cream pie that Stacey made for me.
You are saying to yourself "That's a lot of TREATS for one Weekend!" and yes it was! I will be hitting it hard at the gym this week because they were all worth it!!!

School Time!

We are officially in the swing of things with school now being is session for a week. Last week was crazy getting adjusted to our new schedule and then to have a holiday??? Some of the school districts only started today a whole week after we did. The first day went well with a new middle schooler and a first grader. I got teary eyed only once when my only boy Mason and now a sixth grader left for school.

Mason was nervous as he left but quickly decided that he liked Middle School! This is Morgan and her friend Mina on the first day of school. They are both eighth graders! I can't believe this is her last year of Middle School!Since our house is close to the school kids stop by here in the morning to meet up with each other and walk to school.Here is a picture of some of them on the first day. Some days it is more and some days less. Pretty much my house is like grand central station in the mornings!! After getting these kids off to school I have about one more hour to get B & B out the door. Brinley was excited to be a big first grader in Mrs. McKee's Class.

Brooklyn was excited to be in third grade because she and our neighbor Brandon are in charge of the walking group and she gets to use a planner this year!As they were leaving for their first day of school I was feeling sad and guilty that I was not taking them. Jon was with the girls because I had to teach my class. We always start school the day after Labor Day so I don't usually have this problem. I told my class that morning you know I must love you guys because I am here and not at school with my kids. Jon did a great job taking them to school and taking several pictures that I asked him to take. This one is my favorite!

After school they ate their apple cookies that Maddie and I made:And then later that evening Morgan's Beehive Advisor dropped off these DARLING!!! Apple treats.They were the yummiest brownies dipped in red chocolate with a pretzel stem and a little green runt leaf. I had to take a picture because they have got to be the CUTEST first day of school treat I have ever seen! Way to go Kendall!

Maddie really missed Brinley the first few days of school. She would ask me at least ten times a day, "Is it time for us to pick up Brinley?" This picture is of her hugging Brinley before she left for school on day two.Madelyn started school yesterday at Children's World of Music. This is her second year and she is in the Butterfly Class with Miss Michelle. She was very excited to go and not nearly as shy this year as she was last year. She jumped out of the car and was ready to go in by herself. I insisted on coming in with her to make sure she knew where to go and take a picture of her with her friends in Big Room.

We are off to another great year!

First & Last!


The past three weeks we have experienced many FIRSTS!

I hiked to the top of Multnomah Falls with all the kids! This was the very FIRST time even I made the hike. I carried Maddie most of the way and my calfs were feelin it the next day!
We all biked to Sonic for the FIRST time during "Happy Hour". Little Brinley's legs got tired but she made it there and back with only a few tears!

The three little girls' and I picked Blueberries for the FIRST time! So fun and fast picking!I took all the kids today to Big Al's to go bowling for the FIRST time for Brooklyn's Birthday! Mason was also there but he wanted to play arcades. Happy Birthday Brooklyn!!!
I french braided Maddie's hair for the very FIRST time, she loved them and wants them daily!Morgan got her eyebrows waxed for the FIRST time. Here she is smiling but the day it happened her face was priceless! I wish I had a camera!!! She was hilarious!!! Amy Morgan and I got a good laugh that day! I told her you think that hurt wait until you have Babies! I took the kids to Cottonwood Beach on the Columbia River a few days ago. Unfortunately, it was the FIRST time all summer and the LAST!
Jon and I took Mason and six of his friends on our FIRST "All Boy" boat ride! Spencer Corno, Luke Fraley, Brett Barinaga, Michael Cordes, Luke & Drake Mulder joined Mason for a fun evening of wake boarding and tubing. Jon gave all of them tube rides to remember!! We left all the girls at home except for me "Flag Girl"!

Sadly to say we have also experienced some LASTS!

We had our LAST FHE treat outside last night on our patio table. Jon got me this awesome table, chairs, and bench for Mother's Day! It's suppose to seat ten, but we've had many little girls on the long bench! We have loved having it this summer. There have been many dinners, lunches, popsicle breaks, and late night talks with friends around the table this summer!
Saturday was the kids' Last Happy Hour visit! But not my last Happy Hour, those last all year long!!

We had our LAST sleepover two nights ago! The kids have had fun this summer sleeping in each other's room, on the floor, in the bonus room, under beds, and on couches. They have been going to bed late, sleeping in, and the naps that occurred this summer can be counted on my ONE hand!
And finally today was our LAST day of swimming in our pool. Morgan and Mason bought this pool with their own money at the MapleCrest Garage Sale at the beginning of the summer. They thought it was a great deal at $40! Little did they know that Mom/Dad paid for the water and all the chemicals needed to keep that water clear! This has been a great past time for the kids and MANY of their friends! We have had Paige & Mckenna, Luke & Drake, Chad Richards, Kennedy, Camdyn, & Griffin, Avery & Cass, Hannah, Rachel, & Elizabeth, Houston & Tyler, Ellie & Austin, Elsie, Sage, Ethan, & Jarin, Shaylee, Kenyon & Brandon, Mckenna Sork, and Emily & Meagan Young to name a few!!! They played many games but I thought this one was hysterical, they called it "Kids Choice Wipeout Game"!Jon and I have even gotten in a few times to cool off during some of our super hot days! The one week it was 90 degrees and above for 10 straight days this summer I got in several times and we even all swam together as a family for our FHE activity!


The last few weeks of summer have been so fun and packed with last minute activites! Four of the five start school tomorrow, actually in about eight hours so I'm off to bed!