Delayed

About a month ago, I was on my way to a workout group one evening and the southbound freeway entrance was blocked off by a police car.  Right then, the traffic report came on over the radio and they said there was an uncontrolled fire on the freeway in the median at the Antelope Road entrance/exit.  I pulled out my camera since we were at a dead stop.

No access

See all the black?  The fire was mostly out by this point.

Dead grass and weeds

I never heard how the fire started, but the area was open again on my way back an hour and a half later.

Lexi's haircut

Lexi was long overdue for a haircut, so I took her in before her first official day of preschool.

I was hoping it would be shorter and more stacked in back like it was the last time she got it cut, but the lady wasn't as good as the one last time.  But, it's still cute and shorter!

Lexi's preschool

Lexi is so thrilled to be in preschool this year!

We went to the meet the teacher day and she felt so cool that she already knew her way around the school since it's the same one we sent Kaden to last year.

Ready to learn!

Coloring her backpack

Tumbling!

Birthday dinner and saying goodbye

I told Shane that I wanted to go out for my Red Robin birthday dinner with Kelly and her kids before they left.  He wasn't feeling very well, but was a good sport and went anyway.  :)

The kids loved having a dog in the house!  Dimes is a sweetheart, so that helps.  ;)

I don't know why Lexi was mad, but Liz looks cute!

Baby Jordan

Oh my little Mr Logan

Sweet girl

Kelly and Logan

Lexi drank some ranch and was feeling happier (and sillier!).

 Back at the house, we had a cupcake party with all the kids.

But the girls had to show me their "special spot" first.

Girl talk is best under Kaden's bed.

Cupcakes!!

Saying goodbye.  :(  *sniff*

Early the next morning, I drove Kelly and her kids to the airport.  I didn't want to start crying in front of her kids because I wanted them to be excited about moving to Texas and happy for their long day of flights ahead.  Anyway, I literally barely made it back into the car and just lost it.  I sobbed the whole way home (probably shouldn't have been driving...) and was in bad enough shape when I walked in that Shane called in to work and got the day off so I could stay in bed and cry all day.  (I did.)  I hate change, but I keep reminding myself this was a good thing for their family.  We miss them every day, but are so thankful for letters and Skype!

Haircut

It doesn't happen too often, so I usually post about it when it does.

I got a haircut!

Definitely needed one badly.

After!  Looks much better!

This is the look Shane gets when he takes pictures of my boobs instead of my hair.

From the back

Surf-N-Swim

We had the annual Porter family reunion August 5th at Surf-N-Swim in Layton.  I was so glad Kelly and her kids could come this year!

It started off as a miserable night.  There is always a potluck dinner beforehand and before I had the chance to eat anything, Lexi had to go to the bathroom.  Okay, fine, no big deal, right?  I ran her to the bathroom about a block away, then came back, ready to eat.  Less than five minutes later, she says she has to go again.  I knew that meant she needed to poop.  Because of Shane's eyes, I'm always the one taking the kids in a public situation (at someone's house is a different matter, though).  So, while he sat there comfortably eating the good food, I ran her yet again to the bathrooms (still having not had any food).  Well, she didn't make it.  She was close, but not close enough. 

And that was a bad time for me to find out she was having tummy issues and there was liquid poop EVERYWHERE.  I didn't have any diaper wipes with me, and Shane wasn't answering his cell phone (of course).  It took me a while, but I finally got everything (and Lexi) cleaned up the best I could with wet, flaky toilet paper.  I knew that because of whatever that disease is that's caused by poop in the pool, I needed to wash Lexi down with soap before she could get in.

So, still not having had anything to eat (and not wanting to at this point...there was no soap in the bathroom), I told Shane (with no small amount of venom - it was the hunger talking) that I was going to take Lexi home to wash her down and get her other bathing suit.  Lexi felt soooo bad, but I did make sure to keep telling her it's not her fault and sometimes tummies get upset.

Anyway, we got home, washed her down really well, suited her up again and headed back.  I stopped at McDonald's on the way because I knew we would need to head straight to the pool by the time we got back (7:00 PM by now).  Plus, it made me happy.  ;)

So, we finally got back and I tried to let it all go and have a good time.  Again, it helped that Kelly was there.

Around 8:30 or 9:00, Lexi said she had to go to the bathroom again.  At this point, though, I was fed up with it and Shane didn't even hesitate to volunteer to take her.  He came back ten minutes later without her.  She didn't make it...again.  Time to call it a night!  Lexi rode home bottomless, but wrapped in a towel and I prayed she wouldn't have an accident on the way home (she didn't).  I was more tired than any of the kids by the end of that day.

Fireworks

We went to the Roy fireworks with some friends again this year.  As always, they do a great job!

Liz did Ari and Lexi's hair that night and she honestly did a great job!

Fixing Lexi's hair.

Jordan trying to figure out who baby Brielle is.

Sitting in random people's chairs.

A VERY nice little girl shared ALL of her parade candy with our kids.

Ready for fireworks!

Kim holding baby Brielle.

Ka-boom.