Big girl haircut

Well, after repeatedly paying good money for crappy haircuts (at Great Clips) for my girls, I decided to "treat" Sarah to a decent haircut (at a real salon - woo woo!!) before her preschool starts next week. She just got a trim with some "long layers." Overall, it was an ok cut, but I don't know if I'll do it again. I'm having issues finding good service for a good price. Grrrr.

Anyway . . . Here's some pictures of the "big-girl outing."

First Day of School!!

Well, the day has finally arrived . . . the first day of school.

I must admit, unlike many Moms out there, I've been dreading this day all summer.

It's been so nice to have Allison home, to be here with me, & play with Sarah and Kimball.

She's such a good little girl, a great sister, and such a BIG helper(!!),

that she will be sorely missed around here while she's at school all day long.

I could have gone for a few more months of Summer. She's growing up way too fast!!

Here's some pictures of the big morning before school:

Me & Allison

From L to R: Kimball (2), Me, Sarah (4), Allison (6)

Matt and the Kids

Allison waiting for the bus at the bus stop

Getting on the bus!

Funky picture taken by Matt, of Allison through the bus window

Never a good thing

You know it's going to be bad when your not-quite-2-year-old comes to you and says,

"uh-oh"

or

"I sorry Mommy"

I think I heard that about 5 times today.

Never a dull moment around here.

And yes, this is a typical "look" for Kimball. It's just THAT hot down here.

(Really he just spills all over any clothes I put on him because he refuses to wear a bib.

That, or he completely soaks his clothes with water, because that's all you CAN do if you live here in the summer without a pool -- play with a hose or various other water toys.)

So, it's this or have 5 outfits to wash by the end of every day.

PET PEEVES

1. I HATE IT when doctor/dentist offices & hospitals make me pay for things BEFORE they bill my insurance. They SAY they get an estimate from my insurance company, which tells them how much to charge me - but I ALWAYS end up overpaying -- and do you think that they ever actually CALL ME when I have a balance on my account, so they can repay me the amount they owe me????!!!! NO!

Today I called my pediatrician's office and I had a $150 balance on my account!! Of course, I only found this out because I ASKED. REDICULOUS!!!! Who knows how long this has been building up for. And I was JUST THERE a week ago!!! Do you think that they offered this information to me when I checked in or before I left the office??? Of course not. DO you think they thought of offering for me to use my BALANCE to pay for my copay, instead of paying them MORE MONEY?! NO! Why would they do that??

2. I HATE stupid companies (phone, cell phone, utilities, insurance, Dr's offices, WHATEVER) who bill me wrong, (of course, in THEIR FAVOR) and I have to spend HOURS of my time talking on the phone to get it fixed. IT DRIVES ME CRAZZZZZYYYYY YY

Sorry. I just had to get this out.

new synonyms I've come up with

Boys: walking disasters

Kimball Craner: weapon of Mass Destruction

Kimball's latest casualty: writing on the walls with black marker. Nice. He also likes to color on his shoes, his arms & legs, the carpet, the floor, the fridge. I'm about ready to throw away all of the markers and pens in the whole house.

Funny thing is, everyday when we put on his shoes, he points to the marker lines he drew on them, and says, "only color on paper!" (because this is what I tell him over and over as I take markers and pens away from him)

"The Grotto" trail up Payson Canyon- Utah

ok. I'll just say straight off the top, that there are ALOT of pictures to this post. I guess, I love all of the green, and water, and mountains, so I couldn't slim it down to just a few. I miss this kind of stuff, living in Texas.

So, anyway, on July 4th, we took a quick hike on the "Grotto" trail up in Payson Canyon. It was perfect for the family (not too hard, not too long) and had lots of fun river crossings and a big "reward" at the end of the hike. So here we go . . .

At first, I had the camera and started taking pictures. See Matt and Kimball starting out on the trail.

But soon after, I handed the camera over to Matt, so I could actually BE in some photos for once.

THe kids had a blast on all of the river crossings!

We had to keep a tight grip on Kimball the whole time though.

Here's the whole fam at the "reward" at the end. A cool waterfall.

Matt twirled the kids around in the freezing water.

Everyone threw rocks in to make a splash.

And of course, Kimball insisted on getting all wet.

Matt took Allison and Sarah the extra distance to hike to the top of the Falls. You can barely see them peeking around the top of the waterfall!

Kimball and I walked most of the way back together.

He found a stick and insisted on hitting EVERY tree, weed and rock he could see - the whole way down. It was taking us FOREVER to get down the trail, and the rest of the family was WAY ahead.

Finally, I got smart & just picked him up, walked much faster, & "helped" him use his stick to "hit" the trees we passed on the way. Boys. That's all I have to say.

Just give them a stick, some rocks and some water, and they're in Heaven

Kimball, age 22 months, and his stick! (left)

Some pictures of Sarah, age 4

Allison, age 6 1/2 in front of the waterfall

Miner Family Reunion in Utah - June '09

Most of the Saturday during our weekend "Miner Family" reunion was spent at Wallsburg. Here are some pictures of the fun . . .

The pond, zipline and paddle boats

Relaxing in the shaded Tree swing with Grandma Kay

Sliding down the giant Slip-N-Slide with the cousins, Aunts and Uncles

Riding the 4-wheelers with anyone old enough to drive them!

Thank you Ashtons!