First Day of School

First day of school pictures.
 

Barrett's baseball/Pool Birthday Party

Barrett had a baseball themed birthday party at the pool.  I made a really cool baseball cake that, sadly, arrived to the party falling apart.  The kids didn't seem to care too much.  At least I was smart enough to take a just-in-case picture at the house before it fell apart.
This was not the most photogenic party, but the kids had a blast...so I guess that's what's important....I guess :)

Tiny Dancer

Annabelle started taking dance class recently.  Honestly, I signed her up purely for the cuteness factor.  And boy does she deliver.

When we went to buy Annabelle's dance clothes and shoes, I had all 3 kids with me and I was worried how the boys would do when we walked into a store full of pink and frills and not a thing that interests them.  To my surprise and delight, the boys were amazing!  We tried on ballet slippers and tap shoes first.  Barrett and Kyle ooohed and ahhed over how cute and tiny her shoes were.  They were bragging to other people in the store that Annabelle was their baby sister.  When it was time to choose the clothes, they were doting on Annabelle and pointing out which leotards and skirts they thought she would like.  They even found a polka dotted dance bag that they knew she would love...and she did.  I just watched them, feeling so proud of all 3 of them.


This was after just one class...Look at that concentration.

Summer of 2013 Fort Chronicles

When making our summer bucket list this year, the boys wanted to make a fort and keep it up all summer long.  I remember making sofa forts as a kid.  There is something magical about forts and the feeling of having a hideout...a cozy, personal space. It went on the list, and when summer started, I helped them make a sheet fort in the game room. The boys have slept almost every night in the fort, staying up way too late reading, talking, and watching movies on a little portable DVD player.  We have drawn on each other's backs, had tickle wars and tea parties in there.  The tent has evolved from a plain white sheet with a blanket on the floor, to having a foam mattress, to pulling out the sofa bed, and housing every book and stuffed animal they own.  I hope these are rich, bonding, happy memories for them...they sure are for me. A Summer Fort will probably become a Starr family summer tradition.

Star gazing in the middle of nowhere

I mentioned to Cody on Monday that we should take the kids out to watch the meteor shower.    Man, did he jump on that.  Next thing I knew, he found a "Dark Map" online (I never knew such things existed) and decided that to see the stars, we'd need to go out to the country...like an hour away.
We had a nice evening, stopping to eat at our fave BBQ place on the way.  We brought car snacks and music and enjoyed the ride.

I somehow managed to catch a picture of one of the shooting stars...I didn't see it happen (probably because I was distracted by the kids).  We did see quite a few shooting stars though.  But the best part was the driving and talking.  If we hadn't had such a long drive, I would have never learned how to build a time machine.  Oh yes, Kyle knows how and he told me exactly how to do it:

"Mom, I know how to make a time machine.  It's so easy.  All you need is a lightbulb, a clock, 4 crystals, and 3 buttons: one for the power, one to set the date, and one for the GO button.  First, you turn on the power to light the lightbulb which shines through the crystals which creates the time portal.  Before you walk through the portal, you have to make sure you set the clock to the time and set the date for the day you want to travel to. Then push GO and walk through the portal of light...DUH!"

(Word for word, I recorded it on my phone.)



This is what it looks like when you try to get a self-timer picture of your family really late at night when everyone's eyes are adjusted for out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-super-dark-darkness.  I took a second shot but everyone closed or covered their eyes.

Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List -- Checking items off, one fun day at a time!

Water Balloon Fight - CHECK!

The setup:


The aftermath:

Boys, if you ever wonder how much I love you, just consider that I filled all these balloons for you to THROW AT ME...and that I posted a picture of myself looking like a DROWNED RAT on the internet for anyone to see.  Why would I do that?  Because I know it would make you smile and I love you THAT MUCH...more actually.  You guys got me good with those balloons...but I think in this picture, you both look much wetter than me.

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Lemonade Stand - CHECK!



With our friends, The Littles.  Oh, and to the untrained eye, it may look like Kyle is wearing a ribbon in his hair, but it's actually a ninja head band.

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Hawaiian Falls -- CHECK!