I need to update....

Lots to update:
Little brother Andrew coming home from his mission to Texas
Michael's 3rd Birthday
Kyle's 30th Birthday
Relief Society Fashion Class
Company from out of town for birthday and missionary festivities
Bifocals
Canning
Wonderful fall weather-until today

I'll get to posting soon.  I miss updating my blog, so I'm going to do better, promise.

Side note--Kyle came home from work sick, and I went in to see if he'd taken medicine and he told me that the last time was when our boys were in the 8th grade.  I told him we don't have boys in 8th grade, and he said, "yes we do."  Then he told me he needed to get up and watch TV.  I told him he better stay in bed.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Tonight after family scripture study and family prayer, Kyle said, Chels I think I can hear Michael in your scriptures.  I hurried to find him because I didn't want him tearing the pages.  He was thumbing carefully through the pages and said, "Mom, I'm looking for God."

Talk about a melt my heart moment....

Today's the DAY!

I can't wait until 9 pm tonight when my little bro, Andrew gets home from his LDS mission to Houston, Texas.  Seriously, so excited.  Last time I saw him I had Michael, a 10 month old crawling baby, and now that 10 month old is an almost 3 year old with glasses, and we've added sweet Preston to the family.

This picture was taken two years and 6 weeks ago when he left. (They extended his mission by 6 weeks, so we've had to anxiously wait longer!)  I'm excited to hear all about the last 2 years, but also really excited for him to start the next chapter of life.  Glad we get him for the next couple of months before he leaves for BYU (he already has his AA from running start).

Present Ideas

Michael's 3rd birthday is coming up, and I need some ideas.  What are some of the timeless gifts that your children love?  We would like to get him something that is educational or at least hands on.  Michael is a BUSY boy and so I would like something to help him focus.  I am also in need of some age appropriate book suggestions.  Help!

This was taken at the fair in August.  Michael LOVES animals and anything to do with farms.  Forgive his crooked glasses (this was his backup pair).  Actually today he's supposed to get his bifocals.  Not really looking forward to that.

Yesterday was Michael's first day with NO accidents.  We are finally getting in the groove of potty training.

Teen Makeover

I have loved all of my makeovers, but this one was definitely the most fun, and the easiest (which is always a plus for me).  Genny is such a sweetheart.  Go check out her before and after photos, and her rockin' new wardrobe!  HERE

Genny is a foster child, and her foster family is working towards adopting her.  Hopefully it all works out!  Come to find out we are members of the same church, but she's only been a few times in her life and doesn't know much about the church, and hasn't been for years (she thinks maybe 4 years).  I took her to mutual with me last night, and I think she's interested in going more.  I really feel like this makeover was not a coincidence, but that it was meant to be.  You'll have to ask me the story sometime. 

October 1st Slip 'n Sliding

I was mowing the lawn this morning and Michael came across his slip 'n slide in the storage shed. He insisted, and since it's going to be 87 degrees here today, I didn't argue. I can't believe this weather, I LOVE IT!

Last of Summer: Visitors and 3 More Reunions

This summer I was in charge of 3 reunions (Lybbert Reunion, 10 Year Class Reuion, and Mahuika Reunion-25 people at our house), plus two baby showers, among having other house guests and everything else that summer entails.  I'm going to try and sum it up in this one post, so I don't have to keep doing summer posts.

My best friend Candace came to stay with us for 5 days in July.  She lives in Tennessee while her husband goes to law school, and I wish so much she could live closer.  Her husband had to stay back for work, but her and Laura kept us company.  Every day her daughter would appear with an adorable dress, bloomers, and hair bow.  All made my Candice....I started feeling bad about my crafty skills the longer they were here, but luckily Candice made me my own hair pieces to tie me over until I can figure it out on my own.

I have lots and lots of memories with Candice that start in middle school. We were roommates in college a couple of times, and have always kept in close touch.  I wouldn't even pick a wedding date until I knew what day she was coming home from her mission, but once I picked the date she decided to extend for 6 weeks so she couldn't even make the date that was picked just for her.  Don't worry Candice I've forgiven you. :)  I wrote Candice every single week of her mission.  Now that's dedication!

Next up in our summer of craziness was my 10 year class reunion.  I went to a small school, but I haven't hardly kept in touch with anyone even though I went to school with most of them for 13 years.  It was really fun to see everyone, and felt like yesterday we were all together.  I hear some people say they hate their 10 year reunion, but we actually really enjoyed mine, and Kyle did too, which is always a plus when the spouse can feel comfortable.  I wish that everyone could have made it because there were lots of people that couldn't come.  Here are some of us at the reunion...

 
This was the second year we did the Casper Reunion at my parents place.  It's always fun to get together with the Casper family.  I just wish more of my older cousins could make it who live away.  Next year???  I dominated the handstand water competition, but I got smoked in the swimming competition by my aunt (so much for all that triathlon training!).

All the cousins who could make it this year.  There are 51 cousins total.

These two fed each other, pretty cute!  Don't you love Louesa's blone curls?  I used to have hair exactly like that.

Last but not least was the Mahuika Reunion which I volunteered to be in charge of and host.  Not sure what I was thinking offering to host 21 (25 including us) out of town guests for an entire week, but I'm glad we offered because we had a lot of fun.  The weather was perfect the whole week, and we jammed a lot of activities in.  We had people sleeping in closets, on floors, and in the laundry room, but each family had a room.  5 of the adults who don't have children or aren't married, stayed at Kyle's cousins house, but people still showered and did all of the activities at our place.  I actually didn't take very many pictures because we had an in-house photographer (sis-in-law's boyfriend) who took all of our family pictures and lots of reunion pics.  It was nice to not have to worry about taking all the pictures, but my pictures don't show everything we did.  Oh well.  

Thursday and Friday: Everyone arrived
Saturday: Swimming and BBQ at my parents
Sunday: Church and family pictures
Monday: Moses Lake Aquatic Center
Tuesday: Jet Skiing on the river
Wednesday: Relay Races at Park and Float Yakima River
Thursday: Departures