School

I promise not to say anything about how the first day of school came so fast, or how I bawled my eyes out, or how it seemed like only yesterday that she was in the NICU, because it's not true. She's been hungry for knowledge since I can remember and it didn't phase either of us, this transition into school. She loves her teacher, she loves her class, and LOVES to ride the bus (which is the only thing that freaked me out throughout this whole ordeal). Tessa, on the other hand, is a sad little girl. She misses Em, and sobbed as we left her at school the first day. This is how she looked getting into the car. This is the girl who'll pose anytime of day, literally in her sleep, so you know she was upset. She's warmed up to the idea now, but it took a couple weeks.
Emory was born for school. Everyone who knows her, knows that she "LOVES TO READ"; that is exactly how she describes herself. She is the sweetheart of our home, and we're so happy that she's loving her first year of school; and if she continues the way she's headed (with the dream of being a physician) the first of MANY!

Beach-a-licious

The YW had a goal this summer of bringing their scriptures and Personal Progress books to church. For each time they brought them, they got to put a seashell in a jar. Luckily, it was full the last nice weekend of the summer. As a reward, we had a Beach Day! All the leaders that came brought their families, as it was a Saturday, and probably the only day of the week we would see our overworked, Resident husbands.
We walked around the harbor, to shop and see the sea lions. You don't really have to even see them to enjoy them, as their stench and crazed barks/howling are overpowering along most of the boardwalk. Introducing Patrick Starfish; he's not as funny in person.We LOVE this beach! It is definitely the Oregon Coast, not warm at all, but so beautiful in it's own way. Even though it is NOT warm, Cory and Ben thought they'd skim board. They both turfed it . . . hard. The kite flying was amazing as usual, and Emory really enjoyed that. Tessa just enjoys the freedom of sand, and running faster than me in it. The super cute Laurels and the picturesque view behind them. It's been an adjustment, going from Beehives to Laurels, but I think I'm more suited to their style than the cray-cray that is Beehives! We did hot dogs and mallows and had an all over, wonderful day at the beach.

Portland and OMSI

We spent a weekend in Portland a while back, and really had a blast!
Lots of good food: Voodoo Donuts (bacon on a donut can't be bad for you when it tastes so good, right?) The Grilled Cheese Grill, where they only have grilled cheese and you eat in a school bus, and a yummy-licious ice cream place called Ruby Jewel Scoops.
OMSI: it's been a long time since I had been here, but it is the girls "new favorite thing to do". When I pulled up, it felt surreal not being there with the Radfords :(
We learned about:
Brain Teasers,Einstein,Watershed crap,Dinosaurs,Infrared light,Meerkats,Weather,Air movement,Ears,and Space. Phew, that was a lot of learning in one day!

Real Life . . .

Do berries really grow on the side of the road in Real Life?!?!? Apparently they do, and I've taken full advantage of them. Literally? On the side of the road? Mine for the taking? Don't mind if I do. We now have wild blackberries overflowing our freezer and fridge, in all forms; whole, crushed, jam, cobbler, you name it. The only draw back is that I look like a scratching post for cats. My legs and hands and arms are massacred, but it's a small price to pay.
Also, a friend invited us to go on a hike the other day. She told us to meet at her house. We got there, walked around to her back yard and started on this amazingly, beautiful hike! Do people really have forests in their back yard in Real Life? Yes, yes they do.

Summer activities

Both Emory and Tessa completed their Summer Reading Programs through our local library. They both earned their very own book, which you'd think they'd never had before. Emory chose "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and Tessa got a "Fancy Nancy" sticker book. Emory read over 100 books this summer, and her greatest accomplishment was "James and the Giant Peach". She earned the movie buy reading it to me every afternoon.Both girls took swimming lessons, and really enjoyed it. She got to ring the gong, to signify completing Level 1. Emory did very well, and ended up swimming by the end - thanks to one of her floaties popping off in Utah, and her realizing she was ready. Tessa wasn't old enough for big kid class, so she and I did Water Kids together. It was great for just the two of us to get to do something. She was, by far, the most advanced in the class. The teachers were all so impressed, that they said she can move up to big kid lessons! She evaded picture taking on the last day of lessons, but here she is playing with some Finnish toys.

Oo-tah!

We had some sad business to take care of, when we had our impromptu trip home to Utah, but that did not stop us from having some fun with cousins and friends.
We were lucky enough to see our favorite-little-person-in-the-whole-wide-world for the first time, and we were not disappointed. Mahal is the cutest and we "love her SOOOOOOO much" as Tessa would say! We played in the ditch in front of Grandma's and there's nothing more classic of Logan in the summer than this. The Cache County Fair was afoot, were we met up with some interesting people.Our goodest friends were expecting a baby the same time we were down there, so we got to see cute baby Maya; but more importantly, OUR BOYS! Somehow, I spaced taking a picture of the little sister?
Cory had to go back to work, but we stayed for an extra week and played at my families house.
"Bunga Bunga" Bay - Emory really surprised us by LOVING every slide she was tall enough to go on!Lots of swimming in the pool.Yummy food: Homemade Pretzels and cheese sauce and S'more treats.And a toasted mallow fight.Nothing like Cookie Crisp with Homer.