First Day Of School!

We made it through the first day of school!!! Let me tell you, it was crazy! I felt like I was running around all day. I am ready for bed. But wait, I must blog first!!! The kids got up and got out the door just fine. The only drama we had was when Ian thought he lost his new lunch bag at school. Lucky for us, another teacher found it and got it back to us. Thank heavens. It was a cool lunch bag, black with neon green skulls and dragons on it! It was a crazy day, but it was a good day. Even Don made it home at a good time tonight. Let's see how the rest of the week goes!

This is Austin at 5:30 am., before seminary. He is a sophomore this year.

Oh Aubrey and her poses. She starts 7th grade.

Ian is in 3rd grade now.

You know how my kids are. This is their group picture. I have given up trying to get a normal pose of them. I have to laugh! They are pretty funny!

They told me to count to three, and this is what they did!

Pack Meeting!

We had Pack Meeting this week. Ian received his swimming belt loop, kickball belt loop, a gold arrow point, and a silver arrow point. He is really enjoying his leaders, Sister Thompson and Sister George.

For the Pack Meeting they had a paper airplane derby. As always, Ian had help from his older brothers. When we got there, the older boys wanted to take part in the derby too. So they quickly went to work making their airplanes. Now, I am sure both of them will admit that this wasn't their best work. You know Zach and Austin! Here they are getting ready for the derby by stretching!!!! Look at the other Cub Scouts watching them. You know they are thinking, "These guys are weird." Maybe they are a little scared of them!
The boys flying their planes!

Checking out how good they did!

They didn't do too good! Check out where their plane landed!!!! So much for my future Aerospace Engineer!

As I watched them this night I realized I will miss this. I know I will see Zach in November, but I will miss Zach and Austin's shenanigans when they are together! They do make life interesting. Maybe a break will be good. Maybe family home evening, family prayer, and family scripture study will be a bit more reverent. Maybe that is good, but I know I will miss it! Come to think of it, Austin will always keep life lively around here!!!! As he told me when he was eight, "I add spice to this family!"

Not A Good Day!

It was one of those rough days. We got some bad news. It is hard to see people struggle. Then we got some horrible news from Ethiopia. Our nephew who helps run a farm in Ethiopia was attacked by a villager and is in a medically induced coma after surgery. Please keep them in your prayers. You can read their blog to learn more about their life in Africa. Their blog is on our sidebar. Lastly, the van is gone. I don't think I need to explain. You can ask Zach or just guess! No one was hurt. It isn't worth it to fix the van. It was on it's way out anyway!

Alma 36:3 ".....for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."

Cabin Fever!!!!!

I don't even remember how the conversation came up, but I do remember that our friend's son Scott wanted to go to his family's cabin and relax with some of his friends before the fall semester of BYU. We were lucky enough to be invited along!!! We love going with the Albrights to the cabin. We get along great, our kids get along great, it is a fun time. Unfortunately Don had to work late at his school making changes on schedules and printing them up, so we left later than everyone else. It was really ok, because we got to see a real pretty sunset as we drove to Utah, near Kolob Canyon.

When we got there, we had pizza waiting for us. It was wonderful. We went to bed and the next morning we headed to Zion National Park. Now, some of the older kids didn't want to hike, so we choose a simple hike to do. One that was challenging, but good for the little kids to do. So we went to the Emerald Pools. It was a great hike for everyone. Along the way we took a bunch of pictures. You know the kids loved that! (O.k., the college kids didn't. They will look back someday and be grateful we took those pictures.) These are the "Little Ones".
The college aged kids! These are the most awesome kids I know. They are great! It was so nice to spend some time with them all weekend. I could just go on and on about them!
Ethan and Ian saw this little spot along the trail and asked us to take a picture of them. How could we say no?

The lower pools.

I just love Elaine. Look at our cute babies! They aren't babies anymore!

The middle pools had a ton of tadpoles. The kids loved that.

The upper pool and the most impressive pool. It air was much cooler there. The kids loved getting their feet.......uh, well sometimes everything wet!

Aubrey and Rachel

When you go to the upper pool you see this sign! It is right there, as soon as you enter the area!

So what is this soon-to-be missionary in South Africa doing with my son?!?!?

Oh yeah, being obedient!

Not swimming, oh not at all!

All of the older kids. Notice how nice they all look. Oh wait, not that kid in the back on the right. Hey, that's my kid!!!!

Wonder where they get it? If you read my blog, you know!

"Brother Brasier, take a picture of us up here!" This from the same boy that went swimming in the Emerald Pool!

It was Chris and Elaine's 21 wedding anniversary. I can't believe they spent the weekend with all of us on their anniversary! They really needed a vacation by themselves! That Sunday he was also called as the new Bishop in their Ward! Boy, they needed a nice quiet break! Not with all of us crazy people!

That night we went to Kolob Reservoir to skip stones. Once again, Matt headed into the water. My son Austin once again followed in!

The Saturday we left, the kids went and took a dip in the lake. My son stayed in the shade because I forgot the sunscreen at the cabin. He did not want a replay of the sunburn he received in Rhode Island.

Dallin and Austin.

The Albrights! Work it Allie!

A picture of us....really!

My cute family!

Good friends!

The group. Can you believe we all went to the cabin together and survived? Even the cabin survived! What is Austin doing???

This is how Ethan talks to girls!