Big Boy, Big Day!

So we hit a big milestone this month with Kellin starting kindergarten. I was very anxious the weeks leading up to him starting, and had a bit of a hard time putting him on the bus the first day but for the most part things went really well. It was a busy week, with Kellin starting school, me starting with my new preschool class, and a trip to Laughlin that weekend. Kellin did great, he got right onto the bus, totally confident, and once at school, went right into class and dove right in. That night we had his back to school night and his teacher seems ok, just ok. Time will tell. He has the greatest bus driver on the way home. The kindergarteners get out early here, so he rides home on a seperate bus just for kindeergarteners. His bus driver is Mr. Phil and since the bus number is 00, they call it the "uh-oh" bus, so cute! He has made friends with two boys on his bus, and has already had a playdate with each of them. He is so good at making new friends, he is so loveable and friendly, and I am so proud of him for that. Here are some pictures from the first day of school:

August Rush!

This past month has been crazy, crazy, fun! We have been on two boating trips, canyoneering, hiking, had my brother stay with us for three weeks, Kellin started school, I started my new job, Ethan turned two and I think we hit just about every casino town in Nevada. Let's start at the beginning. In an effort to keep my adorable little brother out of "trouble" (haha, ya like he'd get into any) for the summer, my parents asked if he could spend a few weeks with us. So at the beginning of the month he came to stay with us for three weeks. It was so great to have him here. The boys enjoyed playing with him, Kade loved hanging with him checking out funny You Tube videos and playing guitar, and I loved cooking with him and having his help with the kids! I don't know what I'm going to do without him now - I was spoiled for three weeks! I wish I had a teenage child that loved to babysit, never had a bad attitude, and was as polite as Zach! Thanks, bro, for being so great and putting up with our crazy lives!
We also had a chance, which we would never pass up, to go boating with some friends at Sand Hollow. We had a great time, especially Kellin. Our friend took Kel out on the Wake Surfer and I swear Kel was in heaven. He loved it. We got some great pics on our friends camera, I'll post them when I get them.
The next weekend I had the chance, which, again, I would never pass up, to go Canyoneering with some awesome friends. Kade, poor guy, had to work so he couldn't come. It was a great experience, I had a blast and can't wait to do it again. Our last repel was 110 ft straight drop down - awesome adrenaline rush!! Here are some pics:

Me & Aimee on the way up the mountain - ready to go!

Our awesome friends, Jared & Cheryl, our guides for the trip!

That's me, repeling down one of the canyons into freezing, stinky, gross water! We had to unclip from the repel line while floating in the water and then swim through the water to the other side. I think the gross water freaked me out more than the repeling.

Me & Aimee freezing our butts off! We all thought it would be hot (hello, it is Saint George) but in the shaded canyon it was so cold my fingers & toes went tingly & numb! We kept running ahead trying to find sunlight!

Swimming through the gross, stinky water!

The final 110 ft. repel - awesome!

The next weekend we went to Laughlin, NV with some of my Amato brothers & sisters. We had never been to Laughlin before, and as far as a city, there's really not much to get excited about. It's kind of like Mesquite, NV with lots of old Casinos & not much else. But, as far as a lake goes, I would rate Lake Mojave as one of my favorite lakes! The water was so cool, clean & refreshing and the shore of the lake was sandy, just like a beach. We had a blast hanging with friends & family on the shore while the kids played in the sand & water. We had a couple boats & sea doos out there and had a great time wake boarding, boating & sea dooing. I didn't snap many pictures so here are the few that I took:

Kellin loved hanging out on the boat - he would swim out to it and jump off the front with his cousin Becky! They were our little fish the whole weekend!

Ethan really wanted to ride the sea doo - maybe next year bud!