A Whirlwind of a Week!

PA School has begun for Jason, and things have just been moving along non-stop since! Last week was orientation, and this week IT HAS BEGUN! Jason is loving everything he is learning, and he's handling the work-load well (even though it's only three days into it, they've probably been given two weeks worth of information).
 His day starts at 6-6:30am, then he's gone by 7:30am either studying, or at school. He get's home at 6:30pm, and I make sure that we have dinner ready. We have dinner, he gives the girls a bath, then he's gone by 7:30pm to study some more! He comes back home sometime before 10pm, and is in bed no later than 10:30pm. It's a crazy schedule, but it's worth it! It's only for two years, so we've got this!
So while Jason is at school and studying all day, the girls and I find fun things to do to help the day go by. Here are some of the activities we have done these past few days...

Orientation Week:
Monday, August 15th -
---Jason's First day of Orientation!

I made this sign for Jason and Shad (who was staying with us at the time)

Jason left this for me (he unloaded the dishes)

And he left this on the door

I made sure that the guys took first day photos!

Wednesday August 17th (Lilly's Birthday! - We didn't celebrate until the weekend though)
---The girls got to make beautiful pictures with their water paints! A little bit later, the Sister Missionaries came to wish Lilly a Happy Birthday (they even brought her a "Birthday Girl" badge, and some skittles!), and stay for a rest on their Preparation Day. We love the Sisters!





Friday, August 19th
---We started the day off with side-walk chalk on the balcony! I love that we can do this on our balcony, but now we have to wait for a rainy day to come so we can wash it off and have a clean palate!



Saturday, August 20th - Lilly's Birthday Party!
We loved having our friends over for the party! It was a Flamingo themed party. I only got some pictures on my phone, but Ashlyn got some more. As soon as she gets them to me, I'll post more!

Lilly and her friend Cambry!

Sunday, August 21st - A busy day indeed!
Ben, Celeste, Seth, Noah, and Ezra arrived a little after Lilly's birthday part on Saturday. I'm so bummed that I didn't get pictures of all the kids together! I did manage to get a couple on Sunday though.
After a long day at church (I gave a talk - Jason, Ben, Celeste, and I sang in Sacrament Meeting - We attended a baptism where I gave another talk on the Holy Ghost - and then their was a pot-luck after the baptism at the church), we finally arrived home. I got right to making dinner, while everyone else headed to the park. Apparently, the rain came pouring down while they were there, and the kids had a blast! Here are some pictures of our drenched children... Love those faces and poses!



Monday, August 22 - Jason's official first day of school!
Since we knew Daddy wouldn't be home until late, we made sure to get some energy out at the park across the street from our Condos (also located at Lilly's School!!!). We also had the wonderful Crapo family come back to stay with us for a few days until their apartment was ready for them to move in to. They aren't pictured here though...
 I'm cracking up over Lilly's headband she wore... I don't even know where that elastic thing came from! Lol



Trying to get pictures together results in this usually... One looking, one not...one picking their nose...



These girls love the rock climbing wall - especially Abby! That girl can climb. It's actually amazing how well she does with only being 2yrs old!

They are quite brave climbing this high thing too...



 Park bliss...

Tuesday, August 23rd - Another day...

Just a little peak at what our mornings looked like with friends staying with us!

While Cambry and Lilly were at the Haibach's for their "Summer Camp" (once a week for two hours only for one month) Abby and I ran errands. She was so distraught that Lilly had to go. When we finally came back to get Lilly, she was so happy. We waited on the grass for her and Cambry to get back from the nature hunt they were on. 

Wedneday, August 24th - PARK DAY with FRIENDS!

We decided it was time to get all the kids out of the apartment, and take them to a big park they could have lots of fun at. We were there for over two hours! It was awesome, and the kids had a blast!

Abby and Oaklyn. Abby was looking at and airplane. These two actually played for a long time together! They are one month apart in age. 

The sand pit was definitely a highlight!

Silly gooses! (I was trying to get them to laugh so they'd look at the camera!)

At one point, Abby was in her own little world playing by herself...

 Pure joy... park bliss...

And the Mommy's! It was so fun having Cassie and her family stay with us!