back to school...

We continued the tradition this year of taking our boys out for breakfast on their first day back to school- they chose McDonalds:


Another tradition we do each year when school starts back up is that Laun gives the boys a fathers blessing. I can't believe how fast my boys are growing up! By the time the school year is here I am so excited till I take them on their first day & then I get all chocked up. Not only is it their first day but, they are at a new school. I see them get nervous & it makes me nervous too. They might be big but, they are still my babies. I get so anxious to hear how their first day back to school goes. This year we decided to put them in a charter school for many reasons. The child to teacher ratio is much smaller & the charter school ranked high so, we decided to give it a shot.

Here are my handsome boys (they have to wear a green polo everyday but, are allowed to wear whatever shorts or pants they like):



The stats:

Clayton- 3rd grade, roadrunners
teacher-Mrs. Cohn


Porter- 2nd grade, frogs
teacher- Ms. Etters

good morning…

It says moo...

Some of the cows have arrived. Laun, Jamie & Chris picked up 10 jersey cows from phoenix today. So I headed down to the nutrition lab with the kids so we could see the new jerseys.

They are so cute-they almost remind me of deer since they are all brown. Usually there are the black & white cows here, so it was fun to see jerseys.

Marlee was a little afraid to get too close so Clayton was introducing her to the cow.

Marlee just kept pointing to the cows & saying- It says moo.

Laun & Chris bringing the milk for the cows^

Rachel (Jamie's wife) & Marlee^

It is fun for our kids to play together since they are all the same ages.

You got to get the cows to eat some how-some are more intrested in food than others.

Marlee seeing how it's done^

Marlee & Gabe

Clayton's baptism

Clayton wanted to get baptized in Phoenix & we were happy to oblige since that was home to all of us for so long.

Laun & Clayton right before his baptism:


Clayton & me:


Clayton with his proud parents:


We were so thankful for everyone who came to Claytons special day-I missed getting a picture with everyone who came but, at least we got a picture with some of them:

Clayton's Great Turley grandparents & Great Grandpa Mecham were also able to make it.

We are so proud of Clayton & the choice he made to be baptized.

We had a lunch at my moms house following the baptism & unfortunately I didn't take very many pictures.

This is me with my good friend Rachel Starchman:

The boys had so much fun climbing the tree & looking for creatures:

My sister Rachel & Marlee:

Marlee playing the piano with her Grandpa Turley:

Lydia (Rachel & Brandons baby) with Laun:

Thanks to everyone who shared this special day with us & for all the help we recieved from so many of you.

For dinner that evening our family, Jonathan & my parents meet up with Ryan for sushi & more. I am bummed because I didn't take my camera. My dad got a cool sushi dish called the rainbow & so did my boys. My mom got teryaki chicken, I got some great calamari & Laun & Ryan got all you can eat sushi as usual. It would have been fun to get a photo with everyone eating with their chopsticks. Oh well, maybe next time. The waiter knew that Marlee was mine & then later realized that the boys were also mine & she said,"You are rich." I couldn't say it any better. What is better than a wonderful family? We had a great trip to phoenix.

garden destroyers

We found these catepillars devouring our garden-I cannot get over how much & how fast they eat. By the time we found them they had already eaten off all the top leaves from our tomatoes & some of our jalapeno plants. No wonder there is the book called The Very Hungry Catepillar. Clayton was devistated that we had to get rid of them-I guess he loves all of God's creatures.

Laun's work

Last night our power went out & they estimated that it would be out for 4 hrs. So we went to the store & picked up some dinner & headed to Launs work. They needed to get the hay in before it rained so the kids & I tagged along. It was such a pretty night & I'm sure it was cooler outside than in our house. The boys had fun running around & Marlee kept saying,"It says moo".

I like in this^ photo how Marlee is sucking her thumb & touching her belly button, she is such a nut.

More lizards...

The boys love going with Laun to work & always come home with some creature to show me. Then they let them go in our yard & hope they stick around for awhile.

This lizard Porter caught was huge^


This lizard has a funky tail^


Clayton making a silly face as usual^

Happy boys^

Some of these lizards have the coolest colors

Clayton got to go to scouts for the first time & is lucky because Laun is one of his leaders. He was pretty excited & can't wait for next week already! And with me being the primary president, Clayton is pretty much surronded by his parents at church functions. At least he thinks it is pretty cool or it might be miserable for all of us.

To save us from boredom I took Porter & Marlee to our little neighborhood party. Porter enjoyed hula hooping, coloring with chalk, & eating ice cream. Both kids got their face painted & I was suprised that Marlee stayed still enough. Porter got a spider web & Marlee a heart. We got a good little walk in tonight.

more creatures....

doughnuts & the park...

This morning we got doughnuts for breakfast & headed to the park. It has been raining so we wanted to see if there was water in the wash.


And there was, too bad we were not there to see the water pouring in because I bet that looks cool.


Porter & Marlee holding hands- too cute


the girls