August 2013

August was wonderful this year. We arrived home from the reunion all worn out but happy. While we were away our garden grew and we had our first year of growing corn on the cob. Alyssa and Parker were my great helpers taking off the husks and prepping it for dinner. The weather has been hot, but cooling down compared to a scorching July. The kids have been out in the front yard and on our street every evening for bike races and games of 4 square. We love our street and the neighborhood for all the wonderful kids. There is always something happening and we love it.

 For Moms Club this month we worked on filling backpacks to donate to the schools for kids that don't have a lot of supplies. We got a screamin deal on backpacks at $2.99/ea so we were able to donate 30 backpacks. I love school supply shopping because there are always great deals to be had. At Walmart I bought markers and colored pencils for $.25/ea and found all sorts of other things to keep and donate. I love to have that stuff on hand because the kids will get on artistic streaks and there is nothing worse than having markers that don't work.
 The kids were ready for school to start this year. Tanner is in 2nd grade at Castello Elementary and his teacher this year is Mrs. Takamoto. Parker is at the community preschool called CSD tinytot program. His teachers are Ms. Lynn and Ms. Stephanie. Alyssa is in playschool with our friend Tika Makasini. Each morning the kids will need lunches, so the best new school item this year was new lunch boxes.
 This month we haven't been without illness. The boys got strep throat and so I took them all in to get checked. Sure enough a quick swab showed strep. You would never know that they were sick based on the craziness at the doctor's office. Their favorite thing was the gloves and they had to touch every piece of equipment in the office. I cracked up and our doctor just shook his head because he knows by now that when we come there is bound to be craziness ensue. We did discuss some possible plans for growth hormone therapy for the boys, and we have decided to start the process of testing for a growth hormone deficiency. That will be a process, but we'll see how it all turns out.

When we haven't been sick or preparing for school this month was full of BBQ's and birthday parties. We had perfect Saturday weather, and one weekend we went to 3 parties in a row. The first was at Funderland with Tanner and his friend Jalen. Tanner was thrilled to go on the rides with all his big kid friends. Then we came straight back to go to a BBQ and pool party with the Elder's Quorum families in our ward. We had delicious foods. The kids had to be peeled out of the pool in time to make it to our 3rd and final party of the day. Our great friends the Zyireks had a party for their daughter Emily. They had bounce house and a woman that made tacos fresh from the grill. We ate until we were so full we would pop. The kids favorite event was the pinata. They each took a turn and really got into it. By the time we were done for the night, our kids could hardly keep their eyes open. It was a wonderful day.