Back to School

It is back to school time again, and as sad as we were to see summer go, all the kids were ready for their new school adventures!

Aubree is in 6th grade this year and off to Jr High. This brings so many new adventures, such as walking to school, lockers, and playing in the band (she is playing the flute). Her teacher is Mindy Elliott. She is growing up so fast and turning into a beautiful young woman. She still struggles with anxiety and emotions, but is learning how to handle these a lot better. Along with playing the flute in the band, she is still taking ballet and piano lessons.

Kaden is in 5th grade at King's Peak Elementary (the school for 3-5 grades) and loves being the king of the mountain! His teacher is Lori Olson and he seems to be really enjoying her as a teacher. He has so many friends and is really outgoing and social. He loves being in Webelos Scouts and is working towards his arrow of light. He is also playing soccer right now and is looking forward to Basketball this winter.

Tyson is in 2nd grade at East Elementary (grades K-2) and like Kaden enjoys being the top of the school. His teacher is Amber Gordon, and he seems to really like her. He is super smart at Math and is at the top of his grade there. His reading is also really good and he keeps improving. He seems to be pretty well liked by all the kids and I can't walk down the hall at school with him without 3-4 kids stopping him to say hello! He is playing soccer this year also, and will play basketball and baseball in their respective seasons.

Brennen is back to preschool and thinks he is pretty hot stuff being in both classes, but that is the advantage of having mom as the teacher. He is really working on being a big kid and has come a long way since last year. On days that there is no preschool, he is mom's buddy and big helper. He started soccer this year and loves having his dad as his coach!

I can't leave Cambree out! She doesn't go to school yet, but she goes to the babysitter and she loves it! She is also a typical 2-year-old, sweet as suger the one minute, a raging tornado the next. But we do love and she brings a special light into our lives that I can't imagine not having!

Misc End of Summer Fun!

We did so many fun things at the end of summer this year, and since I am getting behind on this blog, I am lumping them all into one gigantic post!
The library hosted a Harry Potter birthday party at the end of July. Kaden dressed as Hagrid (and won 3rd place in the costume contest), Aubree was Ginny Weasley, Tyson was Voldemort, and Brennen was the Troll (his costume consisted of carrying a club)

We did sparklers for UBIC while we waited for fireworks to start. We are so lucky to be able to see the fireworks from our backyard.




Bruce and I ran the 5k for UBIC this year. We also ran the school district's back to school 5k.

The youth of our ward went rafting on the Green River and they invited the 11 year olds to go. Aubree had such a great time with her dad!

Aubree is on the front right of the boat.

The Saturday before school started we went to the Vernal rec center and went swimming. They have a really awesome indoor pool!
Cambree loved going down this little red slide.

Aubree playing in the water features.

Brennen took the time to stop and pose. I love that he isn't afraid to get in the water this year.

Tyson finally was brave enough to try the water slides. After that, we couldn't get him off!

They had a obstacle course set up in the lap pool. Kaden had a lot of fun with that.

Bruce wanted to do the climbing wall after we were done swimming.

Then Aubree surprised us by wanting to try it too! She made it all the way up and rang the bell! I was so proud of her! She is growing up so fast!

I am so grateful for the time we spent together this summer. My kids are growing up so fast and I feel like every moment I get with them is precious. I am so grateful that they still like to do things as a family and for the bonds that it builds. I was listening to a talk today about a mother who felt like it was so important for her to help her children build relationships with each other, because those are the relationships that will be the longest in this life. Even when we are gone, our children will have each other. That really hit me and I want to make that a priority to help them to learn to love each other and enjoy being together!

Cambree Turns 2

Cambree turned 2 on Aug 19th. I am sitting here wondering where the last 2 years went! It seems like only yesterday that I held her in my arms for the first time. We did a Pinkalicious birthday for her this year. If you have never read the book, it is about a girl who eats so many pink cupcakes that she turns pink. It is Cambree's absolute favorite book.
For her cake we made her a giant pink cupcake.

Blowing out the candles.

The outside of the cake.

The inside of the cake. I tried to make it pink. I should have used "more, more, more" pink!

Opening the first present.

It's Goldilicious, Pinkalicious's pet unicorn! Cambree already has a Pinkalicious doll, which she loves to death. Now she has the unicorn.

Opening her next present.

It's a scooter! She is always trying to ride the big kids scooters, so we decided to get her her own that is just her size!

I'm so grateful to have Cambree in our family. Heavenly Father knew our family would not be complete without her and her spunky little personality. I thank Him everyday for this wonderful, surprise gift I received.

UBIC Kids' Triathalon

This year Kaden decided he wanted to do the kids triathalon for UBIC. I was so proud of him for doing it, but also so nervous, so I didn't go watch. I made Bruce take lots of pictures though. They don't keep times or anything, it's totally just for fun, which I love. He did the Sprint division which consists of swimming the length of the pool down and back, a one mile bike ride, and a half mile run. (They also have an Olympic division which is 3 lengths of the pool, a 3 mile bike ride, and a mile run, which Kaden wants to do next year.)

Kaden and his dad at the end of the tri.

Kaden with his friend Danny and Danny's brother William. They all think they are pretty tough. And they are!

These are all the kids from our ward who participated.

Getting ready to swim.

Running the last part. Bruce didn't get any bike pictures.

All the kids who participated. I'm so proud of Kaden. He is starting to become quite an athlete, now that he has discovered how important it is to practice in order to be good at something! I'm proud that he dared to try something new, which makes him a winner!

Sitterud Reunion 2011

The weekend of the 24th was the Sitterud Family Reunion. This was the first year we have been able to attend and I was so excited! We grew up down the street from Grandpa and Grandma Sitterud and had most of our cousins close. So these are the people I grew up with!
The theme of the reunion was "All because Neldon and Lola fell in Love" My grandparents had the most amazing love story, so it was really fitting to celebrate that.
This is Grandpa Sitterud in the yellow hat. Grandma has been gone for 4 years now, but we still miss her a lot!

Planting a wildflower garden for Grandma. She loved flowers. We also painted prayer rocks and put together puzzles and bracelets.

Uncle Kirk and Aunt Karen were in charge of the reunion, and we are so grateful for all the work they put into it. (And thanks to my cousin Jen who took most of these pictures!)

It wouldn't be a Sitterud reunion without a sawdust pit! All the adults empty out all their spare change and throw it into the sawdust. Then the kids have a turn to search for as much money as they can find in 3 minutes. We did it as kids and now it's fun to watch my kids have a turn!





Even the adults got in to the action!

I'm so grateful for the heritage that I have. I am grateful for the wonderful family I was raised with and the influence it has had on my life. I was so blessed to live so close to such wonderful grandparents who have such an impact on my life! I loved and admired my Grandma for as long as I can remember, and my Grandpa continues to be one of my heroes in this life! I am truly truly blessed!

Camping at Uintah Canyon

The last weekend of July, we actually had a free weekend, so we decided to take the kids to Uintah Canyon for a quick camping trip. We had a super time, so I'm glad we squeezed in one last camping trip of the summer. The best part for me is no cell phone reception, so we get our dad all to ourselves for a few days!
Brennen and Cambree discovered this little cupboard under the bed not long after we set the trailer up, and it became their little "clubhouse". It also made them filthy because it is where we put the fire wood when we pack the trailer. Oh well, part of being a kid.

One of our favorite parts of camping is hiking. We don't take insane long hikes, for obvious reasons, but we enjoy exploring this beautiful place where we live.

We actually hiked part of the King's Peak trail. King's peak is the highest peak in Utah, and it is right in our backyard. We hiked about a mile and a half up it. Someday when the kids are older, maybe we will hike to the top!

We take a lot of water and rest breaks. Sometimes I think it drives Bruce crazy, but long hikes are hard on little legs!

Brennen has a crazy thing about bridges. He loves them! So we have to cross every bridge we see. (and doesn't my husband look hot with the baby backpack? I think so!)

Our other favorite thing about camping is throwing rocks in the river. Don't ask me, it is a little strange, but it is something we started with Aubree and Kaden, and they can't seem to get enough of it. Even the big kids!
Aubree taking a photo break. As girlie as she is, she still loves playing in the mud!

Brennen with a stick. Dad taught them a new game to launch a stick in the water and then try to "bomb" the stick with the rocks. Hours of entertainment, I tell you!

Cambree had to be where ever her sis was!

Classic Kaden face! What a character!

In Tyson's mind, the bigger the rock, the better!

As I sat next to my husband that day by the river and watched my kids find so much joy in these simple little things, I couldn't help but to thank my Father in Heaven for all these blessings in my life. I thought to myself that this is what life is really all about, these simple moments that remind me how much I have to be thankful for and what a blessing my family is!