"Patriot Day" at J's

Jason has been working hard to "spruce up" the carwash for some big-wig carwashers that were coming into town. He's painted curbs, lines, arrows, and tunnel walls. He's had his "flower artist" (a.k.a. landscaper guy) plant nice flowers, shrubs, plants all over the property. And he's purchased many new signs, seating, and crisp new uniforms for his employees. He wanted everything to be PERFECT. (I guess all the new stuff wasn't just for the big-wigs, but for the upkeep and investment of the carwash too.)

Another thing he did to impress the big-wigs was to have balloons and flags set up. It also worked out quite conviently that it was "Patriot Day" (9/11)... red, white and blue all over.

Abree's favorite was the balloon "rainbow". She talked about it all day, to anyone who would listen.
Jason did a nice job getting everything looking awesome. He's such a proud Carwash Papa!

After the big-wigs visited, Jason headed to Sun Valley, ID for "business meetings" with them. His ride was a private jet and his accomodations were at the famous Sun Valley Lodge, where he'll be "wined and dined" or altleast soda-ed and dinner-ed.

Oh, what a tough work day. :o)

School is Cool

Finally, I'm posting "Back to School" pictures!

The pictures of Taylee and Treyson were taken during the first week of school. They are close enough they can walk/bike to school. So far, Taylee has had bike issues, so they've been walking every day. Don't know what's up with their attire this day. These aren't the cute school clothes I bought them. Oh well.

Rylee gets up just too dang early for me to get the traditional "stand by the door w/backpack" photo. I've had good intentions of catching her before she goes out the door, but to no avail.

These pictures were taken at the 2nd Annual Heritage M.S .Family BBQ. The families were invited to come to school for dinner, a short assembly and then visit each class period (way shortened) and meet the teachers. Rylee escorted us all over the school, stressing if we were walking too slow or didn't make it to the destination quick enough. Treyson was going nuts having to sit for so long and Abree made loud/funny comments, at inappropriate times, making everyone laugh. It was a long night, but I'm glad we went.
I like knowing the school and teachers.

Rylee's new friend, Sarah. They're in the same "Advisory Class" among others.
Rylee showed us her combination lock skills and how organized her locker is.

I didn't expect anything less.
I love the different expressions in this picture. Look at the attitude Abree is sporting.

Look what I've been doing

So, I'm in a mood...crafty!

I've been wanting to make some bows/headbands/barrettes and ponytail holders for some time now. Just recently I started to gather/buy supplies and print off tutorials of "how to". What fun!

Here are some of the examples of what I've been working on...

I've been asked, "What are you going to do with all of them?" Well, I dunno...I'm just having fun and fulfilling that deep-down need to create and craft. I'm sure my girls will claim some of them and some of them may go to you! :o)

Filled to the Brim!

We just had the most wonderful weekend filled with friends, food and fun...

Our good friends Steve and Kristin (Krissi) Goodmansen flew down from Post Falls for the weekend. Friday night, we went on a triple date (Steve/Krissi, Brek/Marianne and Jason/me)to Deseret Book's "Time Out for Couples". With it only being 3 hours, we wished for less music and more instruction. Our favorite speaker was Kim Nelson. He used humor to lighten the more serious issues of marriage. ---The basic points I got from his talk were; Men and women ARE different. Realize these differences and work with them. Talk to your spouse and let them know what you REALLY want. Steve and Jason standing in front of the "Time Out for Women" poster (for the next day). Jason wouldn't hold my purse in the picture, but he had been carrying it around for me. :o)

After the Time Out conference, we went to Applebee's for appetizers and dessert. Yum!

Brek, Marianne and Steve.

Krissi, Jason and me. (Well, atleast my right eye.)

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On Saturday, we had the most fun and relaxing day. Krissi and I went shopping (of course) while Steve and Jason "played"...video games that is. (Jason had taken the day off of work. A VERY rare thing because it was Saturday.) Then for dinner, we went downtown to P.F. Chang's. We called it a birthday dinner, since Krissi's birthday is this month and mine is in October. We had yummy food on the patio. The weather was perfectly pleasant and the company was even better.

I can't explain how wonderful this weekend was for me. I felt joyful. It's been a LONG time since I've been "filled" so full. Thank you to my wonderful, eternal companion Jason (who puts up with me and my weirdness) and to my good friends for such an awesome time. ----I really needed that!!!! :o)

Smullin Reunion

I have no photo proof that we went to the anual Smullin Reunion, over Labor Day weekend... but we did! My camera memory was full and I didn't take the time to download or develop pictures

The reunion was hosted by Jason's Uncle Fred and Aunt Jenni this year. It was an afternoon event in Utah, somewhere outside of Odgen. We BBQ-ed, visited, participated in the Smullin Olympics (a tradition every year) and benefited from the reunion raffle. The raffle is the highlight of the reunion for us. Every year, my kids look forward to getting their tickets and anticipating which prize they might win. And every year we have to talk about being gratefully for what we get and that we might not get exactly the thing we were hoping for. -As they get older, this IS actually getting better. Whew! -My favorite thing I got from the raffle was a Christmas table runner that was made by my sister-in-law Melissa. Thanks Melissa. It will look great on my new table.

I know, I'll take a picture of that...there's my proof. :o)

We stayed with Jared and Teresa (Jason's brother and our new sis-in-law). They were awesome hosts and we enjoyed our time with them thoroughly. Thanks guys!

Back to School

This is over-due, but better late than never... I guess.

The kids went back to school on August 25th. Yea! They were all very excited... I think for different reasons:

I'd say Treyson was looking forward to riding his bike to school. (The new one he got for his birthday.) Rylee made it her "goal" to teach him to ride a 2-wheeler, without training wheels, a week before school started. Both of them got up and ready, that first Monday morning, to practice riding. In less than an hour, he was riding fairly confidently, with no assistance. Both of them were totally thrilled. Rylee had only one problem, "Mom, now what am I going to do for the rest of the week???" Funny girl. Her "goal" was met much sooner than she thought it would be. --Thanks Rylee for being such a great big sister and for being so organized and goal-oriented. :o)

I think Taylee was excited to use her new school supplies and be at a new school. She loves to create and was probably excitedly anticipating the first masterpiece to be done with her new box of crayons. --We barely made the power-walk to school that first day. Their backpacks were heavy with supplies and they kept lagging behind. I was glad that I had chosen to put Abree in the stroller that morning. She's perfectly capable of walking the distance, but it would have been hard for her to keep up with our pace that day. The kids were starting to go into the school, just as we got there. We caught Treyson's class before they went in, but missed Taylee's. I had to give her instructions (from the outside of the school) on how to get to her classroom. She told me later she had gotten confused and ended up asking for help. Then she realized she had been looking in the 3rd grade hall...and she was now in 4th grade! She's a little directionally-challenged, just like her dad. :o)

Rylee had many things to be excited about. First on her list I think was her new school clothes. She had them outfitted and laying out a week before school started. (Well she did have that extra time on her hands, since Treyson learned riding his bike so quickly.) Also she was excited to be going into Middle School! --Yikes, I can't believe this. I went to Jr. High and was used to the idea of 7th grade being that next big step. In Meridian, you start Middle School in 6th grade. Jason admitted he was having a bit of anxiety for her, the night before school started. Cute, funny daddy. --She liked the idea of having a locker (to decorate, of course) and moving classes for different subjects. She told me when she got home that day, "I had my map with me, but I didn't even have to use it. I just looked at the room numbers and figured it out." She also had been a little worried about memorizing her 10-digit school ID#, but said, "After I wrote it down for the second time, I had it memorized already." Gosh, I wish I had a memory like that!

Abree is dying to go to school! We took part in a pre-school co-op last year and she totally loved it. I plan on doing it again this year, with new mommies and new kiddos. We don't plan on starting until the first part of October, but that doesn't stop her from asking, almost every morning, "Do I have pre-school today?" I remind her we're starting in October and then she says, "But that's when my birthday is!" Yep. --Abree doesn't make the cut-off for kindergarten next year either, although I'm pretty sure she would be ready. Oh well, when she goes to school I'll be a school-kid-empty-nester. I'm liking that she gets to stay my "baby" just a little bit longer. :o)

**Pictures to come in a later post.**