NEW SMILE

The Tooth Fairy has been making VERY frequent stops at our house lately. It seems like every other day one of the girls is loosing a tooth. Well, yesterday was a big milestone for Camille. She lost one of her front teeth. She looks so cute! She was disappointed that the Tooth Fairy didn't bring a hundred dollar bill though. Instead she got $2!

FOR ALL THE BYU FANS...

I have been saving this picture to post at the start of the BYU Football season, which is quickly approaching. Our friend Craig sent this to us earlier this year. We have laughed and laughed at this picture because it has confirmed every BYU fans suspicions...that Satan is a Ute! (Notice the hat, if you're a little slow)

Go Cougs!

A VERY LONG WAIT

A 6 YEAR WAIT and now nothing but SILENCE fills my house today. It's an eerie silence, one that is different from when they are playing at friends or at an activity. It's a long, almost too quiet silence. It is a silence that I thought would never come and now that it is here, I'm not quite sure how I feel about it.

Today, all 3 children are at school for the entire day. I came back home after dropping the girls off and curled up in my bed. I couldn't sleep. I just couldn't believe how slow and yet how fast the past 6 years have gone. I felt very melancholy as images raced through my mind of when my girls were babies. Those were long days. And now, this is a long day as I anxiously await their return home from school with a batch of freshly made chocolate chip cookies (our tradition).

Abby started school yesterday and was so excited to have the same teacher that Camille did last year. Her best friend, Erica, is in her class. She was excited to wear her brand new outfit that has been ready to go for the past month. It seemed like nothing could go wrong for her yesterday. BUT...

This is what I found when I came to pick her up at school:

She was NOT happy at all and hated the first day of 1st grade. She was bored and said it was too hard. She was NOT happy that Erica got to leave with all of the other Track 1 students and she was left behind for another hour. I am hoping today is a better day.

Time is so strange. It seems like everyday goes by slowly and then you turn around and a year has passed. It seems like just yesterday my little Abby was in her high chair with her big brown eyes looking up at me. I love that she has big brown eyes. She is my only child that has them and they match mine. I love that Abby and I share that trait. Abby is such a joy in our family. She loves to be first at everything and always tries her best. She is a great sister and she just melts my heart!

This was my life 5 years ago!

Camille 2 1/2, Abby 1 1/2

CAMILLE

The girl who LOVES hats! She brings the fun into our family. She is always making us laugh. She had to start school 1 day late this year. So this fashion outfit as she calls it, had to wait 1 extra day to be worn. She loves jewelry, pink and anything girly. She loves to go to the mall but refuses to carry her own shopping bags. She's definitely our little Diva!

This was Camille on the real 1st day of school. She had to have a hat of some sorts to wear.

And of course, bunny was there as a loyal and true friend.

Camille has always been a ball of fire ever since she was born and even in the womb. She is always happy and truly loves everyone and everything. Well, except for vegetables. When she was in Arizona this summer, my brother announced to his family that Camille was a blast from his childhood past. I have to agree. Sometimes she says and does things and I think to myself, the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

I love these girls so much! I don't know what I'm going to do with myself everyday. Well...actually I do! It's a mixed bag of emotions for me today and I am so filled with love for being their mother!

FIRSTS

FIRST DAY OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

First day of waking up early from summer vacation.

First new clothes of the school year.

First time of using a locker at school.

First time of having 8 different classes.

First time he bought a "cool" backpack with his own money.

First time I've ever taken a school picture in the car because these 2 didn't want their picture taken in front of the school.

First of many times that I am staring to feel old!

Hope this FIRST day of school is a great day! We love you Tanner!

ARIGATOU SO MUCH

This past week has been one of the best of my life! We had such a wonderful week with our friends from Japan, The Iinuma (pronounced ee-nooma) Family. Words cannot begin to express the love I have for each of them. It is amazing to me the similarities we share. For example, when Sachiko (the mom) whipped out her "List" for souvenirs at Disneyland, I thought Daren was going to die laughing because I've been known to carry a "List" around a time or two. She loves to travel, get good deals and loves being a wife and a mother. Although, my hat goes off to her...she does laundry everyday.
It was a privilege to show them our country. They kept saying, "Everything is so big!" They had never experienced a large open space such as the American highway - straight as far as the eye could see or so many lanes on the freeway. They have never seen a cactus before. They were amazed to go to Wal-Mart and see our oversized ketchup bottles and our buckets (gallon sized) ice cream. They were shocked to see the size of our potatoes. Daren loved telling them about the Idaho potatoes and how large they are. I was amazed and admired their dedication to education and professions. I admire Toshiya (the dad) who works tirelessly to provide a comfortable lifestyle for his family. These people are truly amazing and they have forever touched my heart.

We were able to go to Disneyland with them. Yukiho (the daughter) loves everything American-from cheeseburgers, rootbeer, candy to Disneyland.

This is my favorite picture of our trip because approximately 1 year ago, as I was saying my prayers one evening, I prayed that the Japanese student that would be staying with us would be a good fit for our family and that we would have a good experience with him. Over 235 students came. I know it wasn't just coincidence that Sotaro came to our family. I know that God heard my prayer and answered it. I know that the hand of the Lord was involved with us meeting them and I will forever be a better person for knowing them. We have laughed together, cried together, and shared stores together. When I dropped them off at the airport in Los Angeles, I had to pull over and stop driving because I was crying so hard. It broke my heart to have them leave America. I know we will see them again but it might be many, many years. Daren said when he left Portugal as a missionary, it was a similar experience. I'm grateful for modern technology of e-mail and blogs to keep in touch with them.

While they were here, we tried learning some Japanese. One day Camille said, "Arigatou so much" which means, thank you so much, so much. A simple Arigatou is sufficient to say thank you so much but she added on the extra so much.

So, I'd like to say to The Iinuma Family:

Arigatou so much for coming to America.

Arigatou so much for your friendship.

Arigatou so much for touching our lives. You will forever be in our hearts.

Finally, to my Father in Heaven, Arigatou so much for blessing us with the opportunity of knowing The Iinuma Family. It was been such a sweet blessing!

WELCOME TO AMERICA

The day we have waited for....the arrival of the Iinuma Family to America!

Thanks to my Japanese neighbor, we were able to make Japanese signs welcoming them.
It took Daren only minutes to outfit Sotaro in BYU garb!

I think Abby is going to turn into a rice ball! She loves them and loves to eat the Japanese food.

Camille does too!

Today we went to Temple Square. It was a wonderful day with wonderful people!

We are going have a great week with them. I am SO dreading Friday when they leave!

BAD DAY

TANNER'S BAD DAY

8am-Dental cleaning. He has tooth pain due to his 12-year old molars coming in. Dentist finds 0 cavities (IT'S A MIRACLE!!!) but the gum over his new molar has folded onto itself. The dentist needs to use a laser to break the gum away so the tooth can grow in. He says come back at noon for the procedure.

10:15am-Scheduled appointment at the pediatrician's office for the dreaded 7th grade shots. However, he has 2 ingrown toenails. So we use this appointment for the doctor to check out his piggies. Doctor gives him 4 shots (2 on each big toe) to numb him and then removes the ingrown toenails.

12 Noon-Back to the dentist office in Provo we go where a nice shot of Novocaine is given. An hour later, gum is removed and the molar can start to become visible.

1:30-2nd stop at Jamba Juice

1:45-Tanner is informed that tomorrow we will be back to the pediatrician's office for 3 7th grade shots.

1:46pm-Weeping, whaling, and gnashing of teeth (literally)

LACROSSE

This is Tanner's new passion....Lacrosse! He has been at a lacrosse camp this week. Needless to say, Tanner is tanner than me from being outside so much!

A CHEAP TOOTH FAIRY???

Camille lost a tooth yesterday and put her tooth under her pillow for the Tooth Fairy to come visit last night. When she woke up this morning she came in our room with the $1 that the Tooth Fairy left for her in the night. We were a little surprised she didn't seem very excited.

Me: Are you excited the Tooth Fairy left you some money?

Camille: Yeah...but I would have been MORE excited if she had left me a note and a ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR bill! Maybe when I lose my next tooth she will bring me a $100 bill.

Yeah....MAYBE!