A sunday famiy gathering

Today Chris and I and all 6 kids piled into our too-small-van, and drove to Olympia, to Eric's Aunts house, where we all had a great time - we enjoyed spending time with Lola (Eric's mom), and Aunt Rose and Uncle Dick, Kenny & Keren, and lots of cousins and second cousins. It was a beautiful day with lots of great food, fun, and a loving family day for all.

Olivia with yet another pose ... look at those eyes ...

Olivia ... being silly or not - she is strikingly beautiful to me ...

Hey pretty gurl

Sierra & Wyatt out on the water

Wyatt & Trent swinging Bailey on the rope swing

Olivia and Sierra were making fun of me, and how I always take pictures of them, and how annoying it is ... so, there ya go, girls.

Wyatt & Bailey picking apples with Uncle Dick

Sierra & Trent

Bailey and Sierra ... looking ... odd

Bailey & Sierra

"I"

"Love"

"You"

Trent and Grandpa Nick cleaning out the gutters at Grandma Maureens

Wyatt as goalie, Trent is #6

Trent explaing the rules of soccer ... as he see's them

Bailey and cousin Isaiah

Sierra will yell at me for putting this on here .. but I love this picture of my pretty girl.

Look at that bounce!

Bailey really working on her bridge

Wyatt & Trent worn out after class (waiting for their stamps!)

Bailey is a Daddy's girl

Wyatt on the rope swing

Filling up on some good home-cooked ribs after a long day of soccer in the rain

The boys fueling up on snacks during half-time

Wyatt as happy as can be, even though the rain won't stop!

Trent loves playing soccer, even in the POURING rain

Hello, Bailey, are you in there?

Yet another odd Bailey face ...

This is what I get when I ask my newly 12 year old (as of 4 days ago!) to smile ...

Bailey & Trent, ready for a late night at gymnastics!

Gymnastics for Sierra, Olivia, Wyatt, Trent & Bailey

Olivia during warm ups!

Bailey was LOVING her class - she was focused, enthused - and flexible!

Trent is nearing the top - I think he just wanted to make sure he got up higher than Wyatt!

Wyatt working his way up the rope ...

Bailey is ready for her gymnastics class to start!

Soccer has started for Wyatt & Trent!

Trent looking handsome in the fall sun!

Wyatt, first time as goalie ... I think he's loving it, what do you think?

Great kick, Trent!

Bailey ... just so dang cute ...

The FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL for SIX kids!!!!

Well, summer break is over & its that time of year again. SCHOOL HAS STARTED! Today was the first day of school, for all 6 of our kids. Since we moved, everyone was starting new & fresh ... Bailey stayed at the same school, but today started in the "big kid" class, all new to her. Getting SIX KIDS ready for school was exhausting!!! I know its hard on all six of them as well ... new schools, new classes, new teachers, new friends to make ... and so many other changes in all of their young lives ... but for today, everything went well!!!!

Sierra & Olivia comparing "first day" stories ...

Sierra & I went and picked up Olivia, Wyatt & Trent after school ... at least Olivia was smiling after the first day!

Sierra giving Trent kisses after his first day of school!

After school: Sierra & Dane doing their homework (on the first day???) at the dining room table ... with their school issued lap-tops (nice!)

Walking into Sierra's school for her first day! The 8th graders had a late start today ...

Sierra - our extraordinary 8th grader!!!

Again ... getting my teenagers to "stand and smile" is seemingly impossible ... but I did catch her mid "Mooooom" ... so it kind of looked like a smile!!!

Trent, Olivia & Wyatt waiting outside of their school ... all looking just a *little* apprehensive ...

Trent, Olivia & Wyatt

The three of them now all go to the same school ...

Olivia!!! Our sweet sixth grader!