The most wonderful time of the year...

Yes, it's Back To School time again, and we are all delighted (some more delighted than others.) Here are Jess, Pep, and Adam on the first day of school, which was Sept. 2 for us. In case you can't tell by the fingers they are holding up, Jess started 7th grade, Pep started 4th, and Adam started 2nd.

This is Jessica's second year of middle school, and it is much nicer this year because she isn't a newbie anymore.


Pepper has his first man teacher this year, Mr. Cole. I'm hoping Mr. Cole will help Pepper become more independant at school. In the past, Pepper has worked his female teachers' kind-heartedness to his advantage, and he manages to get waited on hand and foot. I don't think Mr. Cole is going to be quite so accommodating.


It is hard to believe Adam is starting 2nd grade. That is the grade Jess started when we first moved here. I thought she was so grown up, and now I think Adam is still such a little boy.


Don't Pep and Adam look chipper at their bus stop? If you think they look excited, you should have seen me in my living room doing the Happy Dance!

Actually, I must admit that I had a very fun summer with my kids this year. As they get older, I find that I am enjoying spending time with them more and more (it helps that they don't need something from me everytime they talk to me). I will miss having them around, although I will not miss the messy house that goes along with it. It is truly delightful to straighten up my house in the morning after the kids go and have it stay clean nearly all day. And, I still have Luker to keep me company.

Jessica turns 12!

On August 20, Jessica turned 12 - a momentous birthday. Since most of her friends are already in Young Women, she was more than ready to leave Primary and join the big girls. In honor of her birthday, we threw a "Crazy Pants Party." Each of the girls wore the craziest pants they could find, and we had a little fashion show with prizes. Then, of course, we watched "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants."

No birthday party is complete without cake. Jessica decorated her own birthday cake this year - you probably can't tell, but the cake is cut to look like pants and Jess made sure they were very crazy.

Make a wish...


Jess's big gift this year was an iPod. I'm not sure this was a good idea, because now she spends all her time with earphones in. I'm kind of lonely without my buddy to talk to. With all these boys in my family, I need her for girl talk!


Happy birthday Jessica! I am so proud of you and the truly cool person you are. Our family is all the better because you are in it. You have great instincts with people and I appreciate all the help you give me with the boys without me even having to ask. Even though you will always be my Baby Girl, I am looking forward to watching you grow up and become the sweet, smart, amazing woman you will be. I love you.

Poor, gender-confused Luke

So a couple of weeks ago, Jessica had a friend over for the afternoon, and I was enjoying a relatively quiet house while the girls entertained Luke upstairs in Jessica's bedroom. Little did I know that they were transforming my little boy into a mini-teenage diva!

Poor Luke emerged with earrings, make-up, even a bra!

No detail was forgotten - they even painted his fingernails.


Hannah Montana doesn't have anything on Luke. He truly IS the Best of Both Worlds!