It's a Miracle!

I was starting to wonder if we were ever going to get our front yard done--so were the neighbors! I suppose it is not "done" but I am so excited to have a lot of the dirt covered up with some cement and lawn! Projects seem to take much longer to accomplish than I orignally thought, but I was not willing to say we had lived here three years and still didn't have the yard done!! So, it's only been two and a half years since we moved in. To our credit though, we started with the backyard since that is where we prefer to hang out so it isn't like we were doing nothing (or so I justify our timeline!) So I am happy, Kade is tired and we owe a big thanks to our neighbor and a friend for helping out with the sod!

The Family....

I love to check out people's blogs, but I am terrible at my own. So here's a "what we've been up to" post.

My girls love to color and paint. I hate to clean up the paint messes, but every once in a while I give in and score some major points!

We had artwork spread all over the counters by the time they were done. Good thing paint and markers can be washable!!

The rodeo's a big event at the Bringhurst's. Addy didn't want to be left out when she saw the others getting ready. I thought she looked cute in the boots.

Grandpa Doug invited the kids to ride with him on the Village Bank float during the parade. They were supposed to be cowboys and cowgirls--not too hard at our house! They rode in a covered wagon. It was pretty hot and by the time we saw them they looked worn out!

Kick's Soccer has started up again. Rhett is still enjoying soccer (although his new love is basketball) and he is on a team with most of the same kids from last year. Kade is working hard with getting him to be more aggressive. Last game he scored a goal, we were all pretty excited, but he just acts embarrassed when we cheer him on.

Addy turned two last week! She seemed to enjoy the whole birthday experience. She was great at opening presents and for the most part Rhett and Laynee let her open them herself. She got a trike, baby stroller, coloring paraphernalia, clothes, and a bedspread. Addy is a very entertaining little girl and often makes me tired! She is also very stubborn--Kade blames me and I say it is his fault!! Addy is always looking out for Laynee and I am glad they play together now since Rhett is at school all day. She can frustrate Laynee when she won't leave the barbie stuff all nice and set up. Now I see why my older sisters said I was always got into their stuff and was breaking things. It just happens. Good thing the girls are having fun since we are having another one....

Grandpa and Grandma's House

Kade has been out of town and by that I mean on a hunting trip with a friend in Alaska. A completely unavoidable trip. So since we are bored and confined at our house we went to stay with my parents for the weekend. We don't do this, well ever, since we live so close. The kids had a blast. We introduced them to chicken--Rhett was a HUGE fan (sorry Kade), had a Hannah Montana party for the girls, and played with cousins. We all had a great time. On Saturday one of the cousins showed my kids a geode rock and informed them that these rocks are worth $1000! My kids have been learning the value of hard earned money this summer with all their chores and they thought finding a geode was a great idea to instant cash. Grandma humored them and let them smash rocks with her hammer all afternoon--even providing them with protective eye wear. Some of the glasses were deemed the hitters (those with the hammer) and the others the watchers (those just observing). Grandma even planted them with an actual geode to break open. It was hilarious. And Rhett is very trusting in what seven year olds say. We cannot convince him that his rock is NOT worth $1000!!

Rhett was all business, after all we were dealing in big money. And Laynee....she just loves to have a good time. She was mostly just a watcher, but does know how to make anything interesting!!

Back to School

So summer (vacation) is over and we had a great one. Not that I could prove that since I never got my camera out. I carried it everywhere and forgot to "capture the moment" every time. I think subconsciously I was trying to save myself lots of scrapbooking time. We went camping a couple times, had a family reunion, played with friends, swam and hung out with the family. The months went by fairly quickly, but now our lives have screeched to a horrible stop and I am wondering if time is passing by at all?!!

Rhett wasn't as opposed to the first grade as he had been to kindergarten. I guess he realized there is some value to recess and now lunch at school. In keeping with tradition, I forgot to take a picture of him on the first day of school, so we tried again on the second day. The first day, I drove him to school and asked if we could walk him in. I suppose me and his entourage of sisters seemed embarrassing because he refused and practically jumped out of the car and was off. After school, I attempted to see how it all went and get all the details. In keeping with Bringhurst style (I blame Kade entirely) he didn't want to say much. I play 50 questions and get about 6 answers. He could only confirm that recess and lunch were the only good parts of the day. He didn't seem to be too tired or ornery after the new longer days, so I am happy. Laynee likes being the oldest and in a little more control while he is away. But really, Addy is always the one in control. Really.

I made him smile for this picture. I think boys must learn early about "mug shotting" it for the camera. I am excited to see this years school picture. Last year, I had never seen such a weird look. Out of ANY child. Ever.

This is "cold lunch" and surprisingly he is eating it all not just the treat. Unless he has learned early on the art of tossing the remains so mom can never know the truth......

Good Times

Rhett started T-ball in May. The league we are playing on is in complete chaos. His team has been re-named about five times, had two cancelled games and were the last ones to finally get a uniform. But, despite it all, Rhett is loving it. They get three tries to hit off a pitch before they get the tee out. He is doing pretty good and can hit the ball a lot. He's been playing first base and may not catch all that often, but he is getting to be a very fast runner!! After t-ball is over, he has informed me that he wants to try playing basketball.

It must be ingrained in boys to look serious in there athletic photos.

Rhett lost his first tooth at the end of May. He kept telling me it was loose, but I didn't believe him. Loose to most kids is that it is hanging by one last disgusting thread of skin. One night he came in to show me his tooth. He was "sick of it being loose, so I pulled it out!" I couldn't believe it. The tooth fairy left him a dollar bill and four quarters (I know, a generous fairy) and Kade is working on convincing Rhett that knocking out his teeth could be very lucrative. Great.

I know. She is nuts. Addy has got some serious personality. Most days it exhausts me. She is way entertaining to all of us though. The kids have been swimming and not to be left out, Addy wanted to wear the goggles. She is just more creative in how she uses them than we are.

Crazy!!!! Maybe, just maybe....

Dance Recital

Laynee has been taking dance since last summer and they finally got to do a dance recital! I was so excited to see it all come together and for her to get to finally perform. This week they had to have practices every morning and a dress rehearsal the night before. It was suppose to get these littlest girls ready to be on the stage and not get scared. They don't get to bring their costumes home until the second performance (tonight!) is over and I think she is most excited to get to keep it!

Getting ready for the recital. Laynee loved getting to put a little makeup on.

Purple is her favorite color lately so she was very pleased that it was the color of the costume. I think they had the cutest costumes of all the groups--although we also paid the most for their costumes!!
She wasn't a bit shy. She told me that her sleeves were tight on her arms so she couldn't stretch her poses as much as she was supposed to. They practiced on this stage all week with no one in the audience. When they did their little routine they came over to a corner and laid on a star pillow to wait for everyone to finish. When the audience started to clap they all looked up with such wonder. I don't think they realized people --or how many-- were out there watching this time. Afterwards, she got some flowers and it made her day! Thanks to Daddy, Rhett, Addy, Grandpa Bill and Grandma Jewell, Grandpa Jim and Grandma Sandra and Grandma Ellen for coming and supporting Laynee!!!

Rhett's Birthday

Rhett turned 6 this year. His birthday was on a Monday and it just so happened to be a fieldtrip day at school. His teacher knew we had a few animals and had asked if the kindergarten could come and see them during their farm unit. They sent a permission slip home to all the parents (a lot who know us!) and said they were going on a fieldtrip to the Bringhurst Farm. I just about died when I saw it. We have a dog, 2 horses and some chickens--most of which all of our neighbors have. I don't consider us a farm. Though I was told that to some kids it was like a farm. But others thought it was as funny as I did. I had to quiz Kade down for some info on the animals Monday morning. I really don't know (care?!?!) much about it. I asked Rhett if he was excited for the fieldtrip. Not so much. For some reason, it wasn't that exciting to get to walk home to see the animals you have to feed as a chore every day. But, he did seem to like getting to tell his friends about them and even said, "This is going much better than I thought," to which his teacher got a good laugh. So we had 120 kids come by and check out the animals and have a Popsicle between the AM and PM kindergartens.

AM Kindergarten kids. They were everywhere. Good thing we have room to roam.

Then on to the birthday party. It was the only nice day that week so we were able to play outside. They had a spiderman party and got to practice some superhero skills, mostly with water. I think they had fun and most importantly, it is in the past.

Classic pinata game. Takes lots of time and candy is never frowned on by kids.

Rhett had a good time with his friends. There are lots of boys his age right here in the neighborhood.