Blue and Gold

We had Blue and Gold and it was fun the entire family could make it. The kids all enjoyed the food and hanging out with their cub scouts buddies! Rayle also was able to finish up and his Bobcat (long overdue). The boys need to hustle and earn their next awards before May. Love the scouting program!!!

My Heart Is Full

I am so grateful to be able to be a mother to my lovely kiddos!!! This week has been  long but good! I have worked Monday through tonight (Friday) so I have really only seen my older kids in the morning and for about a half hour once they get home from school. I miss them so much!!! Glad I don't work tomorrow but we have lots to do in our garage and I hope they will be really helpful! Nolan is growing like a champ! I am anxious to see how much he weighs because I do not trust our scale. He looks like he is gained a lot and his cute cheeks I just want to eat them up. He is sleeping through the night as I am feeding him when I get home. Before he woke up around three now he's waking up when I get up in the morning to get the kids going. He is such a sweet baby. Last week he rolled over from back to tummy. He doesn't like to be on his tummy's, so he usually cries. He's drooling a lot so I think teeth are coming soon can you get irritable but nothing we can't handle he's alert and less to get smiles and we're still waiting for some laughs. It truly is wonderful to have a baby in the house again, and Ashlyn is asking for a sister, let's just take a break on that and enjoy Nolan for a while. Rayle is earning his Bobcat at the Blue and Gold Banquet next week. Ashlyn will have her tumbling recital in May and we can't wait! Teagan had his science fair project due this month. He chose to do his project on electrolysis of water. He did a great job and his project looked amazing. However he was not chosen as a finalist, because he didn't do one part and that was needed. He thinks he would've been in the finals had he done that one part but he still did a great job!!! We got the kids spring pictures and I can't believe one how adorable they are and two how grown up all the kids look!!! It seriously has flown by so incredible fast! Teagan will be 11 in May! Seems like yesterday I was holding him in my arms like I am with Nolan now! Again so grateful to my Father in Heaven for the opportunity to have these four kids to love and nurture. 

Day Outfit

This morning I asked Rayle if he could help out and get Nolan dressed. He responded, "So should I get him in his Day Outfit?" This just caught me funny. Must have been the way he said it. Meant an outfit for the day. So I said "Why yes not his evening out fit or his traveling outfit!" The kids sure do love Nolan and since he smiles and coos at them I guess the feeling is mutual! 😉 

Nolan's Day Outfit! He's ready for the beach and some sailing. Rayle didn't get him dressed, the older kids still won't help with diaper changes and clothing this cutie. Daddy helped out and got him dressed. Busy mommy and only two hands and so much time to get out of the house in the morning. 

First Day of School

So I meant to blog this but life happened. We started our second full week of school today so at least I am blogging in the same month they started...that's saying something! RIGHT!!! August 6, 2014 was the first day of school for all our current kiddos haha with one on the way Ashlyn is still the baby for a little bit! So all the kids started school, Teagan is in the fifth grade, Rayle is in third grade, and Ashlyn is in full day kindergarten! I have mixed emotions about her being gone all day. It's weird to be kidless of my own children because it's been ten years that I have had a child always in the home. I am still watching Thomas so I am not completely alone, but it's different since he is not my child. I was a tad emotional saying good-bye to Ashlyn, I blame my pregnacy hormones!!! She also did not want me to leave. I finally had to walk away and let Brian take over or I would have been a HUGE mess. The boys it was a breeze where Mister Teagan had no wish to kiss us good-bye. We did still get a hug though. Rayle was still cool with hugs and kisses. Can't believe how much our children are growing up! At times it crawls along but then I sit back and boom Teagan has this year and next and then off to junior high! Ack! I know I will really cherish Nolan and his baby days because it truly goes by way too fast! The first day the kids all got off the bus smiling so it was a success. The rest of that first week went well! The following week started with homework and that is where there have been some struggles! Ashlyn is not too excited about homework but hopefully the routine will help and she'll learn to at least tolerate it! This year the kids do at least have an earlier bus drop off time, so that's nice! We get home from the bus around 3:30 so there is time for a little bit of fun in there with homework and dinner as well. Ashlyn starts up with tumbling again soon so that will be fun as well! Hopeful for a great 2014/2015 school year and with the mix of a new baby to boot!

I curled her hair the night before, she loved it!

UGH Rayle and Teagans pictures were so dark! Sad but he looked good!

Something about wearing new shoes, and clothes for the first day of school! It's awesome!

This is my all time favorite picture from that day. The kids faces crack me up. Brian was worried I would hurt myself. I saw something like this on Pinterest and I have been waiting to do it! I think it is a very successful first day of school mommy is excited picture!!!

Teagan in front of his door. 

Me and Teagan

Dad and Teagan

Rayle ready for third grade. 

Me and Rayle 

Dad and Rayle

Ashlyn starting her education!

Me and Ashlyn

Dad and Ashlyn

She was excited about the swings. 

Getting off the bus!

Rayle was quick about getting off. 

Teagan ready to head home. 

Great first day, hopefully we will have lots of great days with only a few cruddy days mixed in. 

Scouts, Rayle's ready are you?

Rayle turned 8 on June 17th. He has only been waiting for this birthday since Teagan turned 8 and got to join cub scouts! It's hard to be the little brother! In our ward I am Cub Master and have the joy of planning scouting events. So there was a Scout Day Camp the only thing it was at the end of May and Rayle was not 8 until June 17th. We however had lots of kids back out and there is no registration return so in my mind that's just a waste! Rayle was able to go and fill a spot and he was in Heaven!!! It's three days the boys leave here around 1:30 and arrive at the camp Heard Publeo north of South Mountain. The camp ends about 10pm and they go for three different days. They get to experience archery, BB guns, art, a science lesson, and swimming plus having fun with their dens!!! I was able to go with Rayle on Friday. It was a hot day but I was sure glad I got to go and enjoy Rayle in this kind of element! I didn't take too many pictures. 

Boys singing on the way to camp. 

When we got to the camp. 

Listening to directions at archery. 

Rayle taking a shot. 

Swimming and trying to back float. 

Bathroom break so we snagged a picture. 

All the boys with their loot of light up stuff. 

The boys getting wet with bucket line. 

Rayle loved this entire experience. So glad he was able to go. Teagan got to go to camp as well but a different session. Will blog about that differently. 

Teagan Honor Roll

Teagan also got Honor Roll. He missed the awards assembly because he was sick :( so I took pictures when he got his medal when he came home. Proud of all our kids! 

To finish the school year the boys had water day which they love because of the huge slides! Ashlyn also had water day but it's more buckets and balloon kind of style. We were certainly glad for summer break to start!

The kids are all excited about this upcoming school year. However summer break can't be beat!

Rayle makes Honor Roll

Today we got to attend the awards assembly for Rayle. Seriously that kid makes me happy...most of the time. Okay really we both struggle with each other. I think I push his buttons and he pushes mine! But when he's sweet he is SWEET!!! Every year Rayle comes home and complains about school and all the work. He says it's too hard and blah blah blah, but I know he is capable. He is in an advance class and through the year he has maintained an average grade level of 90% or better. Today he was rewarded for his hard work with his Honor Roll medal. His smile shows he was proud of himself I just wish that on the days he is ranting and raving that he can remember the joy of having that medal and knowing how he got it. Also seriously how cute is he!!! I know we are bias as his parents but dang we make some cute kids!!!!

Rayle shaking Ms Wades hand. 

It's blurry but Rayle waiting for his classmates to get their awards. 

Entire class Rayle is at the top just to the right of the kid holding up the certificate. 

Rayle and his second grade teacher Mrs. Barberio

Our handsome soon to be third grader!!! Master Rayle Carter Gibson great job son! 

Girl...friends

So Rayle has liked a certain girl since kindergarten. We have always teased him about it which he hates but it was cute. Well now I am thinking it's not too cute. Today Rayle came home with a "love note"!!! I could not believe it. What do I do, I know if it was my daughter I wouldn't want this happening, the kids are in second grade for crying out loud! Well as we were sitting down to dinner my phone rang and this sweet little girl is calling for RAYLE!!! WHAT!!! I asked her if her mother knew if she was calling for him and she said yes. UGH not so sure if I believe. Well since we were eating I asked her to call back later. Poor Rayle is being teased by everyone now. He claims it's all this girl but he sure is acting silly. Reminds me of my brother when he would call a girl and be so nervous about it. Cracked me up! Anyways I told Rayle no dating until he is 16 and even then it's group dating only. Also he can't kiss any girls until his wedding day. We didn't need to go down this road for many years. Darn cute girls!!!

Ladies Man

Ever since Rayle was little he has been a ladies man, not sure if I should be worried about that yet. He loves to dress up and when I told him to go get ready for his first grade program the other day, he hurried and got dressed. What a stud! I love this kid!!! I also LOVE the fact that he wants to wear glasses, like totally OBSESSED with it. Brian found some old frames and popped out the lenses and Rayle was in glasses heaven!!! So cute! This little guy is rocking 1st grade right now. Already doing multiplication in math, hello I struggled in 3rd grade to learn mine facts. I am so proud of him! Honor Roll as 3 quarters so far and should make the 4th as well.

BFF

Yesterday when Rayle got off the bus and into our vehicle he told me he had given away the Lego magazine to a kid so they would be BFF's forever! He actually said that not best friends forever. I wonder if he knows the second "F" stands for forever? He said it twice, maybe that makes it last longer, LOL. Anyways this morning he said he was going to get it back. Well that lasted long. Wondering if the BFF that received the gift will be willing to give it back. 

A PINK DS for ...RAYLE

Gotta love extended family with older kids. Brian's cousins are a few years older than our children and the oldest Sierra is almost 16 and has out grown her PINK DS. I had asked if they had any that we could have for Rayle since he likes to play Teagan's. They had a pink one to give. We knew Rayle would be just THRILLED to have a pink DS. Since Brian is SO handy he went ahead and found a black case to switch out the pink cover. Didn't know you could do that, and how handy as the new case was only $10! So with a little time to wait from the eBay purchase and a little more time for Brian to switch the cases, Rayle was able to get a new case on his Pink DS. When the case got here though it was blue instead of black. Ok it still worked, anything is better than PINK for a boy...RIGHT!!! Now Teagan and Rayle can play their DS's in style and enjoy each having their own with no sharing involved!!!

 I meant to take a picture before Brian start but he beat me to it and started to fast. Here is the light pink case being taken apart.

 Now the blue case being put together. I like how Brian wrote out the steps so he would be able to do the task! My man follows directions...sometimes!!!

I like to keep that plastic shield on my devices for awhile, when Brian asked Rayle if he wanted to leave it on like mom does, he ripped it off before Brian could even finish the question. Silly boy!!!

Glad for a handy dandy husband that will use his skills instead of just getting a new "boy colored" DS. With a couple of hours of time and $10 Rayle got a "new" DS!!!