First day of 4th, 2nd, kindergarten, & preschool 2014

I can't believe it's that time of year again!  It seems like summer just started.  

The kids have been SO excited for school to start.  

I don't think one of them were scared or nervous, just happy!

My big 4th grader

Luke thought the first day was a breeze and was excited to have such a cool teacher.

Ready to go!

2nd grader

Abigail said 2nd grade was the best ever.  Her teacher is also in our ward, so Ab already knows and loves her.

My little sweetheart

Abigail was sad that they won't be on the same playground this year.  Luke has to go to the big kid side.

My little kindergartner

Carly lost her little front tooth just in time for back to school.

She saw this shirt with the pink jewels and she was so excited to wear it on the first day.

Mom, let's just get to the bus stop already

showing off their new backpacks

Hailey's in preschool!  

Seeing the big kids going to school these last few years without her has been hard.  She's so glad that it's finally her turn.  

Hailey is in the same class as her bestie, Jake.

They just had to have Ike in the picture :)

He puts up with a lot.

Hailey just ran in the door and said, "Bye Mom!"

I think we're going to have a great year :)

R.K.J. reunion 2014

This is the reunion where my Dad and all of his siblings and their families come.  We have so much fun together.  Our family is getting so big that we don't see each other as much as we used to, so these reunions are so nice to catch up with each other.  My Uncle Mark and Aunt Marianne were in charge this year, and we went to a campground by Heber City.  It was an amazing place.  There was a little river just deep enough for the kids to tube down by themselves without being too scary.   There were lots of fun crafts and great meals.

I put Ike to nap in the back of the Yukon.  I opened the back window so it was the perfect little "crib"

Uncle Matt helped the kids go off the rope swing

Carly looks so graceful

Ike was such a great little camper!

Carly went off the rope swing and landed on a giant rock, slicing open her heel.  I am never prepared with a first aid kit because I know Jess and Matt carry a small hospital in their car.  Jess and Grandma fixed it up real nice.

The older cousins were so great to take all of the little kids down.

We all gathered on the bridge watching the kids float down the river

We put a bag over Carly's bandaged foot and kept it dry.

Uncle Jed stood in the River fishing the kids out when they were done on the tubes

It was so beautiful

Ben, Luke, Beau, and Adam went hiking up the mountain.  You can see Ben's red shirt.

What a great trip, we're already looking forward to next year.

Jay Jenkins reunion 2014

It was my parent's turn for our reunion this year.  They picked a campground up St. Charles canyon by Bear Lake.  The campground had the best little river going through it that the kids loved.  We got there Thursday, had dinner and watched the kids play.  Friday morning we got up and went to Minnetonka cave.  The kids did wonderful and walked the whole thing.  They loved it.  After the cave we headed to Bear Lake and ate lunch there while we swam.  Later that night, we came back to the campground had dinner, and put the kids to bed early so us adults could hang out.  The kids were so exhausted that they didn't even care that it was still light outside.  Saturday we had breakfast and then packed up.  Everyone was in charge of a meal, and I couldn't have picked a favorite.  They were all so good.  

 I love Hailey's camping attire.  That's all she wants to wear, skirts.

 My parents had dinner the first night, and for dessert my Mom made a "pail of sand".  It was crazy how much it looked like sand.  I couldn't believe it.  It was actually nilla wafers crushed up with a few oreos, layered with whipped cream and cream cheese.  SO good.  The kids were a bit skeptical at first, but it was delicious.

 I don't think Kael ever tried it.  He just wasn't convinced that it wasn't sand :)

 Carly and Hailey like to pretend they are twins.  They don't have very many matchy outfits, so they like to switch tops and p.j. bottoms so that they look like twins.

 On our way into the cave.  This was my 4th time.  Ben and the kids first time.

 backpack baby buddies

 Hailey did so good going up and down all of those stairs

 Abigail loved these formations.  She thought they looked like birthday cakes.  They were really called the 3 sisters.

The kids watched a little squirrel for a while.

 The beach was so much fun.  We could walk out forever without the water getting deep.

 I think the adults liked playing in the sand as much as the kids did

 Isaac was the best little baby the whole trip.  Even with spit up all over his face :)

Can't wait until next year's reunion!