September

The big event of September was our hill catching on fire. Part of the hill seems to catch fire almost every summer, and is quickly put out, no big deal. We assumed this would be the case when we were welcomed home from church on a Sunday afternoon by this lovely smoke. Unfortunately, it was a very windy day.

I had pretty much forgotten about the fire, until the kids came running from their bedrooms with their emergency backpacks on saying it was time to leave. I thought they were cute, and laughed. Then I looked out the window and realized the fire was coming down the hill towards our neighborhood.

We packed up a few things, and went to a hotel for the night. Some of our neighbors down the street stayed, and I am borrowing one of their pictures. We are about 7-8 houses closer to the fire. Our house was never really in any danger - thanks to some amazing firemen - but there was so much smoke, I wasn't taking any chances with the kids' asthma.

Soccer season also began again in September. Kylie was awesome this year! She scored so many goals we lost count :) She is about half the size of the rest of her team now, but she is fast! She is on a great team too - they are all so sweet - and they only lost one game the entire season.

Matthew got in a little reading at Kylie's games - isn't he cute? The kids are turning out to be bookworms like their mommy :)

The kids were off track at the end of September, so we headed south to see Mema and Papa. We did a little apple picking while we were there.

My parents took us to see Tarzan at the Tuacahn theatre. We loved it! The kids enjoyed meeting little Tarzan afterwards.

The gorillas were incredible.

The play was late and I couldn't resist taking a picture of my zonked kiddos on the way home. Sorry for the flash in your eyes Dad!

We also drove down to Vegas to see my sister April and her cute kids.

We went to see the King's Tournament show with all the kids. Here's Kylie meeting one of the Knights after the show.

Cheers!

My kids did not care for the dinner - a whole roast cornish hen that you had to eat with your fingers. They wouldn't touch it.

Look how big baby John has grown! We already miss him, and can't wait to see him again in a couple weeks.

And of course we always have to feed the sheep at Mema's.

We were even there for the annual appearance of the giant spiders!

Thanks Mom and Dad!

August

What's that? Yes, I am aware that it is November. Better late than never, right?

We went to our first Real Salt Lake soccer game sometime in August.

So fun! Since the kids have both played lots of soccer, they were very into the game.

Matthew was not too thrilled about the pouring rain during the game. He was like seriously, we're just going to sit here in the rain? The rest of us were having too much fun to leave.

Kylie was asked to join "the team" at her gym. I was not expecting it because she'd only been in gymnastics for 6 months, and I was kinda hesitant because of the major time commitment, but she absolutely loves it. She practices with the team for a year before she starts competing, so we're seeing how it goes for now. I have to admit though, I am extremely proud of my little girl.

Matthew started karate in August, and he is so loving it. I am loving how adorable little kids are when they practice karate - seriously cute.

Kylie's piano teacher plays the organ at our church, and she decided Kylie was ready to start learning a little on the organ.

I've been saying forever that we are going to rip out all of our carpet and switch to wood.
We finally took the plunge. So far, Kylie and Matthew's rooms are done. Then John had to do some traveling for work, and I decided I needed a break from all the chaos. We're also repainting everything as we go, and having paint stuff, floor stuff, furniture out of place was making me crazy. Maybe by the new year it will be complete??

August ended with John turning another year older - 37! Here he is with his mom and our 2 cute kids :)