UPDATE...

Hallelujah! Mike the Mink was let go somewhere near the Weber River yesterday afternoon. I am still dancing!!! I guess he was too vicious, smart and smelly to keep around. :) Thank goodness Lynn is a smart man.

Mike the Mink

Lynn and his critters!!! I'm always amazed at what makes it home. We were having a garage sale on Saturday morning and our neighbor "fetched" Lynn home to his garage. Not unusual. Lynn is good at disappearing. He was gone awhile, also not unusual. He came back with a critter. I looked into the cat carrier and asked, "Where'd you get the mink?" Lynn wanted to know how I knew it was a mink. Hello, taught a mink farmer on my mission...
Anyway, the neighbors found the mink in their garage cozying up to the cat food. The last time they had critters in their garage (4 baby raccoons) Lynn came to the rescue and caught them too. We think this mink might be one let go from a mink farm a few months ago just East of South Weber. He's very friendly, AND he walked right into the cat carrier.
Lynn looked online and called the Mink Farmer's Association and confirmed our critter was indeed a mink. (Only needed to ask me!!) Lynn named him Mike. Actually, we're not sure he's a him. He could be a her. No one is willing to look close enough to find out. He lives in the barn. Apparently, mink farmers don't take loose mink back after they've been in the wild. They can spread disease that way. Now we have a mink, and he stinks. Lucky ME!

First Day of School

Brayden

Abby

Elise

The first day of school was on Monday, August 24th.

Brayden started 6th grade. He told me he took a math pre-test where he was one of the last people finished and it took part of his recess. He had to figure out bias and 15% tips and area of things. He said he thinks other kids MUST have guessed because he worked out the problems and he was "sure" of some of his answers. He must get that gift from his dad.

The twins started 3rd grade and for the first time are in the same class. They have my good friend Joan Krogman. At first they were dismayed to be in the same class. They were NOT happy with the arrangement but are adjusting and doing well. Mrs. K says they are very independent and have different friends. She called to tell me how Elise acts like a "mini" teacher. Elise told her the 1st grade buddy she is assigned to was going to be a lot of work and is, "quite a handful." Abby is Miss Friendly and has all the boys looking at her with 3rd grade crushes (although she would pop me one if she knew I told!)

Lynn started back at USU the same morning and is VERY HAPPY to be back in school. He has two history classes this semester to finish up his general ed. He says college girls are the same as they always were: 18 and cute! Although they are must more scantilly clad than they were 20 years ago...

I started school with 28 cute little bodies in my room. I have been exhausted all week and ready to drop from the shear energy expended to keep all the bodies on task and in their seat. It took us 8 tries to figure out how to line up with out talking, touching and running. It's going to be a year!

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Evans for taking the kids to school for us on the first day!!!

HE DID IT!

We finally got Bray on the big roller coasters! We had a bit of a strategy in place. First, we took his friend Justin with us so Brayden would be less likely to cry and carry on and show us a full blown anxiety attack. Then Lynn decided we would just walk right on to Colossus without saying a word and before Bray had a chance to get worked up, he'd be on the ride. It worked like a charm. He rode Colossus three times in a row. Then, I grabbed his hand in a vise lock and hauled him over to Wicked. He did it and said he liked it too. Behind him in the photo is the first hill of Wicked, straight up and straight down. He said he kept his eyes open too! Makes a Mother so proud!!!

Scout Camp Out

Brayden went on his first official 11 year old scout camp out! Lynn actually got to go as a dad and not a leader! They packed in, dug a fire pit and enjoyed themselves! Pictures! Enjoy!

RODEO!

Lynn took the kids to the Weber County Fair Rodeo. He bought them all a new hat. You'll notice the hats all fit their personalities. Elise.... Miss Pink. Abby.... Daddy's little partner. Brayden.... Indy. They had a GREAT time! And I got a night off! Now they're rooting for the Derby on Saturday!

What to do When Your Babies Grow Up...

Sounds like a good title, eh? Wish I knew. One second you're rushing to the NICU to change their diapers and make feeding and bath time and the next thing you know they're 8!

I have a favorite country song I listen to these days, heck if I know who sings it. If you know please tell me. I never get to hear the artist who sings the song because I sing along and my kids who are in the van with me act like they are dying an ignominious death and scream and cry until I quit singing. Yeah, I probably would too if I had to listen to me.

Oh, the song..... It's "Don't Blink". That's right. Don't blink. They grow up too fast. I've tried really hard to enjoy my babies at the age they are and not wish the time away. I made sure I cuddled them and rocked them as much as I could. Cuddling and rocking is quite the feat with a baby sucking on a bottle in each arm and a 3 year old in the middle of your lap having his favorite story read to him for the millionth time. But somewhere along the way, I blinked. My baby girls turned 8 and were baptized on the 4Th of July. Quite the experience if you asked them and me. Two is always better than one. :) Someone made the comment about how pretty their white baptism dresses were. Gorgeous! It never ceases to amaze me how different these two babies born 4 minutes apart are in size, taste and everything. Just look at the difference in those two dresses. Abby danced around the dress shop in the 3 way mirror. The sales lady commented on the happy little princess she was. Elise always takes the grand entrance the more drama the better and after 20 dresses found the one that was just right and made her "Queen of the Hour" Entrance. The next comment was, "Soon you'll be helping them pick out their wedding dresses." My jaw dropped in shock. WEDDING DRESSES?!?!? Who are you kidding? These are my little 4 pound babies. BITE your tongue! Lynn patted my back later and told me I had a good 20 years if he could help it. Better be 20 at least, no less than 15!

Now tonight, my baby boy is on his first Boy Scout overnight camp out! Sigh, sniffle, sniffle, snort. As Elise said, "Mom, it's not like he hasn't gone before. Dad's with him too. Jeez!" True, Lynn was the 11 year old scout leader and Bray always got to go too. BUT, this is the first time he's gotten to go with his troop, as a scout, and Lynn isn't the leader. He's sleeping in his tent with his friend Justin. Oh, my baby boy.

Then tonight, Abby grabs her teddy and blankie and climbs in my lap to be cuddled. Ahhh! bliss! Just how I like it. I guess I've got a bit more time. Then Elise climbs in my lap! I was a virtual twin sandwich! No way I could fit all 3 now if I wanted to. I rocked my babies and I remember, "Don't Blink!"