My little Tristen Colt started preschool today.......

Tristen- "Mom I can't wait to go to school. It's going to be the funnest day of my life! Oh, yeah... and I don't need you to walk me to the door- just stay in the car, okay?

mom- "I don't care what you want, I'm walking you to the door and I'm going to make you stop and turn around so I can take your picture and give me a kiss."

Tristen- "Fine. I'll let you get out of the car this time and take my picture but I know you're going to cry your brains out anyway- and next time you have to stay in the car because I'm 3- a big boy and I don't need your help!!!"

mom- "How was preschool?"

Tristen- "I LOVE school! I REALLY like Mrs. Kunz and it's NO FAIR I only get to go once a week!" Did you cry your brains out?"

mom- "Yes because I missed my little Colt but I'm really happy you like school!"

Tristen- "I love you mom, I'll try and think about you next time."

mom- "sigh (with a tear)"

DADDY IS HOME!!!

We are so proud of daddy for bringing home such an AWESOME bull!!!
He has spent endless hours shooting his bow, work'n the horses, and getting into tip-top shape (I think he got on the treadmill once), to prepare for this once-in-a-life-time diy Utah hunt (that he won in a drawing by the way), and we are SO happy that he had such a great experience!

Thanks to daddy's friends Bryan and Jared for enduring the long and hard hunt with him! Bryan called the elk in while Jared caught it all on film- AMAZING!!! (look at that country!)

WE LOVE YOU DADDY- GREAT JOB!!!

(one tag filled- four more to go........ heaven help me!)

Has it been ten years yet?

Mark has been hunting elk down in Southern Utah. I told the boys the first day he left that he would be gone for "ten days"... Last night while tucking the kids into bed, Tristen asked me if it has been "ten years" yet so his daddy could FINALLY come home. I said, "it's only been six days but it sure as hell feels like ten years!"

BABY JAIL...

I promised myself I would NEVER be that kind of mom- you know the kind that confines their sweet baby's exploring / learning / creativity to four tiny mesh walls of what they call a "play pen"? Well I had NO choice people! My little Donald is the fastest curious George on the planet and in the few short seconds it takes a mom to pee (with the door open of course)- he can put himself in a predicament that can take me VERY LONG MINUTES to even find him first -and then LONGER to get him out of the situation he has created! I thought my home was baby proofed (after all, we've done this before, he is our THIRD!) The fact of the matter is that our home IS baby proofed but not DONALD CURIOUS GEORGE proofed!

Atleast he likes it.... just look at that smile -(I'm telling you, he is ALWAYS up to something!)

Please don't call DFS people- he only spends time in baby jail during "emergency situations"! I promise.

Kortlen goes to Kindergarten!!! yipee?

Just look at that face- he was so excited to start school with his new "Clone Wars" backpack and lunchbox!

Daddy drove him to school (I don't think an hour bus ride with all of the "big kids" is appropriate for a 5 yr old.) But he gets to ride the bus home because it is just the kindergarten kids on the bus and Sister Astle (from Primary) drops him off right at our house! (and mommy has her cell phone number to call her at anytime!) ((very important!!!))

He thinks he is so big! He stopped to pose for the picture himself- I didn't even have to ask him too.

Daddy thought it was hilarious when he came home from taking Kort to school and found me like this..... but let me explain.... Kortlen is my oldest child whom has ALWAYS been home with me and had VERY few babysitters in his life time (all of which were family). Also, here in Afton there are not very many preschool programs available so Kort only went to preschool for one year and it was once a week for two hours. That is the ONLY experience we have had apart from each other! (And it only gets worse....) Kindergarten here in Star Valley is ALL DAY!!! There is NO option for half/day. So I am expected to just send my little five year old sweet boy out the door at 7:30am and not get to have him home again until 2pm! It has been TORTURE!!! And to top it all off- he absolutely LOVES it! I have been heart broken... And then, even when he gets home- he is so excited to play with his little brothers that he doesn't have time to tell me about his day. I have to wait until after I've tucked him and Tristen into bed at night and "eaves drop" when he shares every detail about his day at school with his little brother! I sure hope it will get easier because I still cry at lunch time when his barstool sits empty.