Welcome Jimmy!

Well, Swimmy (our goldfish) has been a member of the family for about 5 months now and we felt that he deserved a better home than the mason jar he has been living in. So, we went out and found a proper bowl...and while we were at it...we found him a friend. "Jimmy" had a sweet red mohawk and we couldn't resist him. We were afraid Swimmy might not appreciate sharing his new home...but the 2 of them seem to have hit it off and all is well. So, Swimmy and Jimmy continue to entertain us and are the perfect pets for this allergy-prone family!

Karlee is 9!!

I can't believe a whole year has passed since her baptism! Karlee is growing up into such a beautiful girl and we had a great time celebrating her big day! When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday she literally told me that she wanted a hula hoop and a six-pack of root beer. Who am I to argue? So, we had planned to go as a family to Trafalga to celebrate and decided we would bring her best friend, Makayla, with us. Karlee chose for us to go to Applebees for lunch and then we headed out to Trafalga!


Lucky for us, the summer weather has held out for a little longer than usual. Trafalga was warm and not very crowded...perfect! After a couple of rides we hit the bumper cars and got completely soaked...so then we hit the miniature golf course to dry off!






After a sweet game of golf and a little rock climbing we decided to head home for presents and cake. Karlee got an outfit and homemade blanket from Grandma GiGi and a perfect best friends necklace from Makayla...and of course, a hula hoop and rootbeer from Mom and Dad. It was a great day and a great start to being 9!!

Introducing...

Well, I'd like to introduce you to the soon-to-be newest member of the Nemrow family. This is Kyle...as you can see, the kids are already making him feel like family! We are so excited that Brooke and Kyle are finally officially engaged! We are all glad that Kyle is just as unique as the rest of us and think he will make a fabulous addition to the family! Congratulations guys!


Also, this is how I found Rylee dressed the other day...her "fashionista" ways always surprise me! I love this kid!


Tonight Karlee had a cheerleading fundraiser dinner...it was their first chance to perform their competition routine for an audience. She was so nervous because her best friend, Makayla, and her family were coming...Grandma and Grandpa Clark came...and Brooke & Kyle were all there to support her. We are so lucky to be surrounded by so many people we love! She did a fabulous job and made us all proud! I wish I had more photos...but the place was packed! Thank you so much to those of you who could come...it really meant a lot to us!

Bub's First Day of Preschool!

Today is Spencer's first day of preschool and he was SO excited! I guess I am lucky because all of my kids are pretty independent and love to go to pre-school...they don't miss me a bit! He was happy to wear his favorite "Dino Bites" shirt and new shoes and carry this bag (which is almost as big as he is!). He is there now...I can't wait to hear all about it when he gets home!

Lake Powell 2010!

Lake Powell is simply one of my favorite spots...something about that lake makes your forget about everything at home and simply enjoy and relax. The Clarks invited us to come on the houseboat for the Labor Day weekend and we were so excited! Besides the boat breaking down (I don't believe I have ever been to Lake Powell and had a fully functioning boat the entire time)...we enjoyed every minute! We parked the houseboat on this great little beach, we hiked and explored, jumped cliffs, swam (and swam and swam), cruised around on a rental boat(which we lovingly called "McDonalds" because of it's yellow and red motif), soaked up the sun, ate (and ate and ate), and just hung out with some of the people we love most. Another favorite activity on these trips is sleeping under the millions of stars...even though the wind was a bit crazy at times, it kept the sky clear for nighttime viewing. What a way to spend the weekend!








The tatoo contest was a highlight of the trip! Candice's lovely roses growing up her stomach, Jim's dinosaur on his neck ("So redneck!"), Jake and Sean's assortment of tats...good times!

Audree's First Day of Kindergarten!!

Wow! 3 kids in school...I always knew it was supposed to happen, but I am not sure I believed it ever would. Spencer was sad that she was leaving, but he took a nap that lasted almost the whole time she was gone (just as I had planned, perfection!). Audree rode the bus with 7 girls on our block and there were 5 other girls her age getting on at 2 other stops...there are a LOT of little friends around here for her! Aren't they adorable? Anyways, she came home on the bus with Karlee and Rylee (who took very good care of their little sister...picking her up from her class and holding her hand the whole time) and Audree loved every minute. She has been telling us all about the games, rules and school tour ever since she got home! I love this kid and I think she's going to make a great Kindergartner!

We made this backpack for Audree to take to school...when I was painting her name on it, I had it looking great and then as I was finishing up...I totally stuck my hand in it and smeared it. It was a great opportunity to teach Audree about "happy mistakes"...we just smeared the silver name all over to make sparkles and re-did the name in purple over it. She is such a perfectionist, but she was very excited to learn that you could have "happy mistakes"...I think it turned out alright in the end!

Pure Craziness!!

You're probably thinking that since I haven't posted anything in almost a month it means that nothing has been going on...actually, my friends, it is quite the opposite! I am not sure if I have even taken a breath during the month of August! It has been jam-packed with fun! Lots of photography, getting the kiddos ready for school, a girls-night-out with some childhood girlfriends (Sheralyn and Jenny...love those guys!), a one-day trip out to California to see my Dad get set apart in the Bishopric (that was really fun because I totally surprised them when I showed up at church...thanks to Blair and Shanna my partners in crime!) and the last 10 days I spent in California too!

Jake had to fly to Virginia for a week for work...I had nothing to do here at home that week...SO...we drove out California (he flew in and out of there for his trip) and I got to hang out with my family and the kids for over a week...we had a blast! Here are some pictures to catch you up!

One of the days we met with Sheralyn and her kids to feed the ducks and turtles at the park. The kids had fun getting to know eachother (my girls decided that the boys were "hot" and have debated over who gets which boy ever since...and the drama begins!)



We did a LOT of swimming!! In fact, Audree and Spencer both learned to swim without lifejackets this trip and it was always more fun when Garrett and Mackenzie came to swim with us!



One morning we went down and got muffins at "The Shoppes" with GiGi and then went to the "falls" to cool off.



One of the afternoons GiGi came with us and we hit the Santa Ana Zoo...it made the Utah Hogle Zoo seem like an African Safari. It was pretty much a couple birds, a whole bunch of monkeys and a plastic cow (I am not even joking about the plastic cow!!). It was fun and we wasted a couple hours there, but I don't recommend it. Also, Audree was NOT happy about the dirt that kept creeping into her flip flops there...oh the drama!




On our last day there (Jake returned and we got to hang out for a day before heading back!) Blair and Shanna took us out to Canyon Lake to do some skiing and boating! Karlee and Rylee waterskiied and had so much fun...Karlee swears she did a jump over some wake! Jake took a turn and showed he still has some skills and I got up and fell over a couple times (and paid for it with soreness the next morning!). We did a lot of eating and swimming around and generally just relaxed...thanks for a great day guys!





There was also a day at the beach (which I would rather not remember...got soaked by a rouge wave, traffic, screaming children, etc.), Jake and I went to the gun range with Blair and Shanna, we went out for a yummy pizza dinner with Travis and Katie and Mom and Dad, I got to visit my Grandma Nemrow with the kids, we watched some movies and just had a great end-of-summer extravaganza!


Then today...school started...summer is done. I can't believe my Karlee is in 4th grade and Rylee is in 2nd (Audree starts kindergarten next week). Can't wait to see what this year will hold!