First Day of School

School started at the end of August. Callie began Kindergarten and Jack started the 2nd grade. It is nice to have both of them at the same school this year. Callie was a little nervous on her first day and did not want Rob to leave her but now she is loving school even though she has commented a few times that school is really long. Jack's 2nd grade teacher is a member of our old Clermont ward so it is nice to have a familiar face teaching Jack this year. Hudson is adjusting to not having Callie at home to play with during the day and has become my little shadow and is excited when we go and pick the kids up in the afternoon.

Star Wars Celebration

This is written by Rob- On the way to work one day, I heard that a Star Wars convention was in town. When I think of a Stars Wars convention, I imagined a bunch of geeky guys walking around talking about Star Wars stuff in such detail that no one can understand them, but since I like Star Wars and I have not seen this convention come to Orlando, I thought I would try it out. Both Jack and Callie have been watching the Star Wars cartoon version for the last year so I thought it would be good to take them as well. It was great! It was like a big costume party with tons of things to look at and interact with. Half of the attendess were dressed up. And when I say dressed up, it wasn't just throwing on a Star Wars t-shirt, people went all out with costumes - some costing thousands and thousands of $$s. The kids loved going up to people and asking them if they could take a picture with them. Everyone was extremely nice and polite. Old kids, young kids, people of all ages were there. Casual fans, hard core fans and even no fans at all were there and looked like they were all enjoying it. There were many activities and things to look at from a replica of Jabba the Hut to a flea market of old and new star wars toys. There were game rooms were kids could play every possible Stars Wars video game. There was even a Mickey Mouse R2-D2. The kids and I had a blast and would like to go back if it ever came into town again. I think even Sarah wants to go now. Here are a few pics from the convention. Jack and Callie attacking each other with their lightsabers

There was every color of Bobo Fett there
Jack attacking a biker scout stormtrooper.
Kids riding a speeder bike
Darth Maul - Callie wanted to know if she wanted to grow horns on her head in time for Halloween would she need to start now.

Very expensive R2-D2. Most expensive things/items were behind ropes so people wouldn't wander up to them so when we saw this R2-D2 by a hands on kids area, we thought it made sense that this would be hands on as well. Both kids grabbed its head and would shake it back and forth and poke at it. After a couple of minutes, a girl in a orange rebel jump suit came up and said "you probably don't want to do that... that costs over 10,000." I quickly steerd the kids away and found them something cheaper to play with. $5 lightsabers.
A snow speeder

July - Colds and Grandparents

For the rest of July, we spent our time between being sick and visiting grandparents. We had a really bad cold virus go through our house in July and for the entire month at least one of more members of our family were suffering. After several rounds of antibiotics for almost all members of the family for ear, sinus infections, pink-eye etc, we are just now recovering in August(knock on wood). However, we were still able to enjoy a few previously planned vacations to visit the grandparents.

Mid-month, my parents came and took all three kids to their house for the week. My mom always amazes me with the amount of energy she has. Even though I am half her age, I don't know if I even have half of her energy. While hosting all three kids at her house two of which were still recovering from the first round of colds, she still found time to work her two part-time jobs and take the kids to lots of fun places. My dad still works full-time and has meetings two nights a week for his church calling so most of the time she does it all alone. In the five days that the kids were there, they went to Chuck E. Cheese twice, an inflatable bounce play place, the movies, and to Wakulla Springs park. The kids had a blast and loved being at their house.

On the boat at Wakulla Springs
Happy to be at Grandma's house
At the bounce place
Doing puzzles at Grandma's

My week without kids was a lot less busy. I did little things around the house here and there, updated all the kids baby books before I have another one to fill out, and Rob and I cleaned out the garage. I had planned to do more but I started getting the cold virus for the second time that week and did not feel up to doing a lot of what I had planned for the week. However, Rob and I did go on several dinner dates that week since we knew that it was one of our last opportunities for several months to go out alone.

The kids returned the following week and so did the virus. Rob ended up staying home from work three days that week with a fever and cold and Rob usually never gets sick. Callie's ear infection returned and Hudson got another fever and pink-eye. We also started preparing for our postponed Colorado trip to see Rob's parents. Last year, we had a trip planned and tickets to go to Colorado but, at the last minute, had to postpone it a year because of our move. So we postponed the tickets to this summer but then with the surprise pregnancy, we had to change our plans again and decided that Rob would just take Jack and Callie since we didn't feel that it would be wise for me to fly 4-5 weeks before my due date. Rob and the kids had a blast in Colorado even with Rob and Jack still fighting their illness while there. Hudson and I were left both sick at home and my mom came to take care of us for the week. I was so grateful for her help again because being a single mother while sick was not fun for the one day I had to do it.

In Colorado, Rob and the kids went hiking, tubing, picnicing and canoeing in the mountains and fed buffalo and caught fish on the Wyoming plains. They also spent a lot of time playing with cousins and family. Aunt Liz's house is just a block away from Nana and Opa so the kids loved going back and forth playing at each house. Callie was in heaven with Aunt Liz's bunnies, chickens, and dog and spent a lot of time playing with the animals. I still can't believe all the things they did while in Colorado! Thanks Nana, Opa, Liz, Bryce, Ted, Tori, and Mark for planning so many fun activities. Jack and Callie loved it!!
Rob and the kids with Liz's family and Nana and Opa
Rob got to go golfing - a rare treat with 3 kids and a pregnant wife top of Rocky Mountain National Park (about 12,000 feet!)
Jack on top of a 12,000+ ft mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park
Jack and Callie's first time with real snow
More snow picture in Rocky Mountain National Park
Jack gathering an early morning egg at aunt Liz's house
Uncle Bryce took the kids canoeing at a nearby lake.
Callie with Liz's bunnyAunt Liz teaching Jack how to catch the chickens
After catching, came throwing the chickens. Callie liked that part
Jack with two fish that both he and Callie caught
Fishing in a Wyoming watering hole
Callie feeding a mini pony
Callie feeding the buffalo on the plains of Wyoming
Callie feeding the buffalo on the plains of Wyoming Kids with Nana and Opa having a picnic in a canyon
Callie next to the Poudre River in Colorado.

Kids tubing with Uncle Bryce and cousins.