Say Cheese!

My husband detests this time of year- because I insist that it's time for new pictures.  Fall is my favorite because we're still hanging onto the last vestiges of color from our summer tans and the leaves have started changing outside... it's really the best of all worlds if you think about it.  Which I do- I spend a lot of time thinking about pictures.  

Anyway- Shaun's irritation aside, I hauled my family outside and told them to say Cheese.  

This kid... man oh man how he's grown.  I've started noticing it more and more.  The other day I was standing behind him and I couldn't help but notice how his shoulders are starting to broaden now.  He's not quite as tall as I am, but has already passed two grandmas and one aunt.  Ty turned 11 this summer and is definitely feeling his pre-teen vibes and hormones... I hear it just gets better.  For the most part, I'm loving his emerging personality and sense of humor.  Ty is quite spiritual and loves to learn new things.  

I'm also so impressed with his dedication to his gluten free diet.  I know it can't be easy on this kid- heck- it's not easy on any of us.  But he never deviates.  Seriously.  Never.  His Primary teacher took his class out to lunch to Dairy Queen the other day- and I sat and talked with Sister Christiansen for a few minutes afterward and she commented on how blase Ty was about needing things a little different than the rest of the group.  She said he took charge and told the cashier just how he needed his burger made and then asked about the fryer to make sure his fries wouldn't be cross-contaminated.  I have to admit I was a little bit in awe too.  We do all of these things all the time- it's second nature to me- but it's interesting that it has become the same with our kids.  Ty is checking and double checking all the time to make sure he's doing what's best for HIS body.  It's a maturity that I didn't expect to see in him.  Maybe I don't give the kid enough credit most of the time.  Someone please tell me I'm not the only one??

This little nugget of ours absolutely keeps us on our toes.  Kate is our little drama llama.  Love her to bits though.  I signed her up for dance this year and she's living and breathing ballet- she can't get her cereal without adding an arabesque.  She also has quit walking and instead chasses around the house.  I want to yell a little bit,,, but at the same time- I'm pretty sure I used to do the same thing.

She's loving school- in fact she was sick the other day and burst into tears when I told her she was staying home.  She grabbed her puke bucket and said that Mrs. Schrenk wouldn't mind at all if she brought her bucket to school.  Yeah right kid.  Go back to bed.  I'm in love with her teacher though too- so I kind of understand her reluctance to miss a day.  Kate has passed off all her Kindergarten sight words and First grade's too.  So Mrs. Schrenk tracked down a copy of the Second grade words and sent them home for Kate to practice on.  I am so grateful that she took the time to help out a kid that wasn't struggling- it's refreshing.

Kate loves to spend her time outside with our kitties, and most afternoons can be found under the shade of the tree with a kitty in her arms.  I don't know what they find to talk about for hours on end- but it must be pretty sweet.

Ryan.  Oh sweet Ryan.  He is such a menace.  But look at his face!  Go on... just look at it... you can't help but want to snuggle with him.  I don't know how he does it.  He can be such a rotten little stink to his brother and sister... but when I get after him- he gives me this look that makes me want to apologize to him for yelling.  It's ridiculous.

Ryan hates riding the bus.  I thought it would get better this year, now that he had one year under his belt.  But I was wrong.  I usually am when it comes to Ryan.  He's 8 and he still baffles me.  I don't make them ride the bus that often- usually just when I'm substituting in Burley or Heyburn.  We're going opposite directions and it doesn't make sense for me to take them.  Ry's not okay with it.  He totally pouts every time it happens.

He played some flag football this year and was SO excited when his coach put him in as quarterback.  I'll have to find some pictures of him from my phone and post them- he just ate it up.  He's just as excited for basketball to start.

We actually gathered the whole family for this photo shoot- I think we've convinced Grandma Jacki that new pictures are a good thing- these babies of ours keep changing at an alarming rate!  The rest of us look about the same from year to year- other than I just get more gorgeous.

These pictures were all taken in our yard this year- I seriously love where we live. It's the most picturesque place I've ever seen.  The yard goes on for days and you could take pictures forever and never get them in the same spot.  Right behind these guys are our fruit trees- remember all those apples?