First Day of School! - August 20th

A bunch of 6th graders met at a park to take pictures before heading to middle school.  The school doesn't really want a bunch of parents following their kids around taking pictures - not even on the first day!  :(

Kaitlyn, Emma and Josie - all ready for middle school.

Andrew and his best bud, Sean are in the same class again.  This was the only pic I could get of them before they raced off to the playground!

The three kiddos ready to take on the world!

Ella and her friend, Emily (who also started taking Karate lessons).

Ava and Ella, they are excited to be in the same class this year!

So the summer has come and gone and another school year has arrived.  Andrew is in 1st grade, Ella is in 4th grade and Kaitlyn starts middle school for 6th grade!  The kids were all pumped up and excited for their very first day.  I know the getting up early will catch up to them later on in the week...They are super busy with Andrew doing soccer, Ella still taking karate and now adding soccer (which are both twice a week), and Kaitlyn with her 4 dance classes.  I hope we can keep it all straight.  Luckily there is only one really crazy day - Tuesday. 

Newport Beach - August 18th

A bucket full of sand crabs that she is setting free.

I think we are making a new tradition of going to the beach the last Saturday before school starts.  It's sad to say that we have had such a busy year, that this was our first trip to the beach since last Thanksgiving!  It was a super hot day, even at the beach.  I even had to get in the water to cool off!  Ella found her friends, the sand crabs, Andrew ran around in the waves and Kaitlyn and James went boogie boarding and swimming far out in the larger waves. 

Bell Family Reunion-Continued

On the way home, stopping in Beaver for gas!

What a pose, the sun was in her eyes.

The kids sure loved to learn to fish.

Sleepy, tired kids!

Ella found a favorite worm, and of course gave it the name of "Tom."

Snow cones after a fun day in Park City!

Kaitlyn coming down the Alpine slide.

Joni and Ella coming down the Alpine slide.

James and Andrew getting ready for the Alpine coaster!

Joni and Ella getting ready for the Alpine coaster.

Kaitlyn and Spencer going together!

Luke, Andrew, Landon and Brogan feeding the goats.

Goat feeding time.

Triple chicken fight!

Playing doubles tennis.

Playing doubles tennis.

Fun little merry go round at Zermatt.

Andrew's first loose tooth.  It came out while in Utah.  The other front tooth came out a few weeks later at the shoe store.

We sure had a blast up in Midway for the Bell family reunion.  There was so much to do and see.  Thanks to everyone who made it possible to have such a wonderful experience!  The weather was beautiful. The kids really enjoyed being able to spend some quality time with their cousins, some of which they haven't been able to see in years!  It sure was fun to see how everyone's family has grown.  I am already excited for next year's reunions! 

Bell Family Reunion - August 6 thru August 10th

Since we had a few days in between my family's reunion and James' family reunion, we drove up to Orem after being in Beaver to stay at Lori and Rick's house. Many family members spent the next few days coming into town.  One day we went to a trampoline jumping place.  We also hung out at Lori's house and the kids never tired of jumping on their trampoline either.  On Monday the 6th we drove up to Midway to stay at the Zermatt Resort.

Callahan Family Reunion - July 30 thru August 1st

 

Stopping in St. George on the way out and had breakfast at the Amy's house.

We had a Callahan family reunion.  Everyone was able to attend except Kelly's husband, Herb.  We left Sunday after church and met my parents and Gigi at In N Out in Las Vegas for a late dinner.  Then we drove on to St. George where we stayed the night in my parents friends' vacation home.  Then Monday we drove the rest of the way up to Beaver, Utah.  Dexter's family has a house there that Megan and Dexter, and Dan and Stacie's family was staying at.  Kelly and her kiddos and Erin and Jeremy's family was there too.  We all went to a lake up a mountain in Beaver, where we had a picnic lunch.  We were able to enjoy being outside and many of the kids hiked around the lake there.  In the afternoon, just was we were planning on leaving, it rained.  But we were able to get in some pictures and a game of Fish. The next day, Tuesday, we toured a historic Courthouse in Beaver and went swimming during a lightning storm in the hotel's indoor pool where we were staying. It was crazy and fun!  Thanks everyone, for making an effort and sacrifice to be there!

Andrew Alva's Birthday Party - July 28

Andrew's friend, Andrew, had a birthday party complete with a huge water slide and reptile show.  The kids had so much fun!  The reptile show had many different creatures that the kids were able to touch and hold.  They were so worn out from this big evening of fun, it was the first night since summer break that they were all in bed, asleep before 9pm.  And, they didn't wake up til 9am the next morning!