Autumn starts school

August 29th was Autumn's first day of kindergarten.  She goes full day and her teacher is Ms. House.  Autumn was very excited to start school, not even a tad nervous.  I expected her to come home from school the first day very tired, but I was wrong.  She comes home from school most days demanding that I make up some sort of homework or project for her to complete.  She has a hard time falling asleep at night now because she's been so hyped up all day.  Autumn is definitely an extrovert.  She does not like P.E, but really enjoys art and library "specials".  She is also learning how to code in computer class, but I haven't heard much about that.  The other kids don't seem to miss Autumn too much, but are glad when she is home.  

I do not enjoy having to take her to school and pick her up everyday, but mostly the later.  Maverick and Violet hate getting in the car at the end of the day and then I have to unload all of them since I physically have to pick her up.  I'm not looking forward to when the weather gets cooler.  I also hate not knowing what is going on during Autumn's day.  She was told on the first day of school she wasn't allowed to eat part of her lunch since it was a "snack" even though I packed her snacks separately and I told her as much.

"Do I have to take a picture?"

OH, and nothing like a stack of papers mom has to fill out and a typo that makes mom look like an idiot.

Elizatrick

Evan's brother got married! We traveled down to Estes Park, Colorado for the shin dig a couple days early to spend time with family.  We stayed in a three bedroom cabin at the YMCA of the Rockies, which may not have been the Ritz Carlton, but they made the dish clothes look like flowers.

The got their Saturday afternoon and after we checked in we explored a bit.  I took the older kids to the playground, craft center, and the museum.  

Patrick stayed with us that night and in the morning they made up a game of "TV".  They pretended the large picture window was a television and they pretended to "act" on TV and "watch" TV.

Later that day Evan and Autumn went on a hike, but Autumn ended up puking after the bus ride to the trail head.  So Evan and Autumn sat at the trial head for three hours for their ride to finish the hike and bring them back.  I stayed with Lark, Maverick, and Violet and we checked out the game room and took naps.

When all the hikers got back we did a huge kickball game.  The "Norby" team was getting creamed since we let all the little kids play until Evan's cousin showed up with their 4 teen age kids.  We tied up the score and then got rained out. It was a real nail biter.  Then the bride's family hosted a cook-out and s'mores.  I stayed behind so all the kids could get a good nights rest before the big day.  Autumn went to bed at 5 PM that night.  I read lots of Calvin Hobbes (since that is the only book I brought.  Well it was luckily randomly left in my car) and ate popcorn.  

Autumn woke up at 7 am which a bit of a sleep in for her.  She ate breakfast than went back to bed for another hour.

Linda and Meagan putting the finishing touches on the reception site.

I don't naturally appreciate the beauty of the earth, but I'm working on it. Patrick and Elizabeth (Elizatrick) got married in a meadow in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was beautiful!

 Maverick and uncle Patrick "Twinning"

We were really concerned that it was going to rain during the ceremony since it rained every afternoon we were.  Luckily it was overcast!  We didn't need sunscreen or an umbrella.

Evan's sister Meagan.

Evan's youngest brother Cameron and his girlfriend.

Evan's aunt and uncle

Shark loved all the flowers? Weed? Brush?

Evan's parents.  Evan's mom wore this same dress to Evan's residency graduation. Except she dyed it blue for the event.  Genius.

Since they got married in the national park we weren't allowed to bring in seating.  First time I sat on a blanket at a wedding.

Lark was easily entertained by my feet and shoes during the ceremony.

By this point Violet, Maverick, and Autumn were all not feeling well.

Sara and Cameron sang a beautiful song accompanied by Evan's dad as part of the ceremony.

At the end of the ceremony all the guests surrounded the couple for a celebration with bubbles.  Also a first at a wedding and I feel like everyone should do bubbles at a wedding this way.

 This pretty much sums up our weekend!  Weddings with kids is super hard and stressful.  Weddings are just not designed for children.  I can't imagine what it would have been like if all of them were feeling 100% all weekend.

The Norbys

Sara was so helpful during the reception with Violet.  They are good buddies.  (Violet ate a mint and looked like she lost a few teeth)

Now this one was a handful and all over the place during the reception.

Evan was master of ceremony for the reception and also gave a toast to the groom.

This was during the daddy daughter dance.

Mother- Son dance

Autumn fell asleep during dinner, but the music woke her up.  She "danced" for one song then went back to sleep.

I'm so thankful the venue had a couple of random couches so I didn't have to leave the reception early.

Now Violet on the other hand was a ball of energy all night.

Each table was named after a different national park the table runner (that apparently was moved-probably to keep out of my kids' reach) is from Peru, where Patrick and Elizabeth started their "love story".  I love when couples put their own personal stamp on their weddings. 

I finally found something that kept Lark busy during the reception (she also refused to sleep).

The next morning we quickly checked out of our cabin and headed home. 

Roberts Family Reunion 2017

I love our family reunions! We started having a family reunion for my mom's family when I was 9 years old.  We've added a lot more people to the family since then and traditions and family relations have only strengthened. 

 My sister and I are the only grandkids that have been to all 11 family reunions (Some grandkids were  not born at the first few and most missed a reunion due to serving missions...anyhow we're still number one)  The shirts in the back are from various years.

 Neal is so intense...He kept staring at Noah.

 During the day you're free to do whatever activity you want, but at night you must be at the activity.  The first night we did minute to win it games.

Scotty was serious a champ at the Oreo game! He got it in his mouth first try within a few seconds.

Maverick and Henry playing on the play structure.

Minute to win it-out of order.

We visited our dear friends the Norths that live in Burley near the reunion house.

All the little girls playing.

Heather got a  "real" birthday party one night at the reunion.  Summer birthdays are lame.

Grandma Deon!

This reunion was the first time Lark met Grandma Deon.  She was pretty clingy during the reunion, but I'm grateful she got to met this remarkable woman. FOUR GENERATIONS

Another four generation picture

And another...

And Another....Three of my siblings and I all had a baby within 13 months.

AwHA...This is where Violet gets her "brown look" from...

Lark and Grandpa Brian.

(Most of) The Robins cousins sitting on a wall waiting on a wall for family pictures.  The shirts have a rook card on them since our family likes to play a game called "Thump Thump" which legend has it Grandpa Dick invented with his buddies.  (It is basically Mormon Rook)

The Norby's went out on the lake and took my cousin and my cousin's wife to help with four children who don't know how to swim.

Autumn LOVED the tube.

Lark..not so much.  Violet didn't even want to try it.

This may be my very favorite picture.  I'm not sure if Autumn is laughing AT or WITH me. Regardless her face says "pure joy".

Mom reading stories before bed.

The Tom Roberts' family getting ready for the family dance competition.

This is how Neal spent a lot of our evening activities.

Lawn Jenga with Grandma Pattie

The house is perfect for playing outside with cousins and second cousins.

Violet loves the water (and Ariel...but her mean mom makes her wear a rash guard )

The last night Autumn and her cousins covered the sidewalk (and themselves) with chalk.

Unintentional twining cousins

Sibling picture (plus Adrienne since she was asleep...or at least she was before the jumping picture)

After the reunion we headed home via Salt Lake.  We wanted to visit Evan's 95 year old grandfather.  When we told Autumn we were going there she asked, "Is that the grandpa with the ice cream sandwhiches?"  Yes, yes it is!  So we stopped at Smiths and got mint ice cream sandwiches to share.

Violet and Maverick looking at pictures of Great grandpa from his WWII days.

Lark playing in Neal's toy saucer

After our visit we went to my little sister's house and she watched the kids while Evan and went on a date to the local ninja gym.