New School Year

Sydney started first grade this year.  I can't believe how sad I am about it.  She seems too young to be going to school all day.  But she loves it.  Her teacher is Miss Holt.  Sydney already loves her.  The first thing she said to me after I picked her up the first day was "Mom, do you know how many times I go to recess a day?"  How many?  "3 TIMES!!"  with her fingers waving the # in the air like someone had given her a million dollars.  

She was also selected as student of the week for the first full week of school.  We were able to make this poster all about Sydney for her special week.  She was so excited.  Let me tell she put some critical thought into selecting her favorite things.  

This is the list of what Sydney says are her favorites....

COLOR......PINK

MOVIE......HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 

SINGER....MARTINA MCBRIDE

PLACE......LAKE POWELL (It's better than Disneyland she says)

FOOD.......SPAGHETTI (I don't agree, she never eats it.  I would say shrimp is her favorite)

DESSERT...CHILI'S MOLTEN LAVA CAKE

LOVES school, playing T-Ball, Dancing, Gymnastics, playing with friends, stuffed animals, shopping and being a big sister.

Stitches

So Luke is only 2 years and 3 months old and has more trips to the emergency room than me, Mark or Sydney.  This time he was running around the house at his usual mock speed with a blow-up duck around his waist when he tripped and went head first into the barstool.  He took a deep gauge to his face.  It only required 3 stitches.  He cried the entire time we walked into the room until they were done.  It was heartbreaking.  It only took 3 of us to hold him down steady enough to do the stitches.  Who knew a 30 pound toddler could be so strong.  

MISSION UPDATE

                                                                             Logan and Jake
                                                 

                                                                        Luke, Jake and Sydney

                                                                     Jill, Mark, Jake, Bert and Julie

Our nephew Logan received his mission call a couple of weeks ago to Houston, Texas.  He will be leaving us in October.  Jake entered the MTC last week headed for Mexico.  It has been such a great opportunity for my kids to learn about mission work.  The photos are after Jake's setting apart.  

Family Reunion

My Aunt Diane hosted the whole Newitt family at her home this year to meet for dinner.   Ray's family was up from Arizona and most everyone came except for Norma's family in California.  It is so good to see all of them.  It's crazy I only get to see my cousins once a year and most of them live in the valley.  I didn't get many photos but I did get one with my two favorite cousins Chris and Christian.  They have spent their entire life harassing me and nothing has changed.  They still love to tease me, mostly because they know I can still kick their trash in a race just like when we were little.  The other photo is of our 3 little sisters.  It's crazy to think that we are the parents now.  It was great to see everyone and see how wonderful they all are doing.  

Girls Night Out

Sydney and I planned a special Girls Only night out.  We went to Martina McBride (Syd's favorite singer), stayed overnight at the Hampton Inn and met up with Sherri and her girls for a day of school shopping.  It was so much fun to spend a day just with her.  She was so excited all week about it.  She is growing up so fast.  She stood up and sang for over half the concert even when her old mom gave in and sat down.  She wanted to stay up all night and talk with me.  Sometimes I have to remember she's only 6 and not 16.  I lover her so much and love being around her.

Sydney was most excited about seeing Mryiam, my long lost co-worker and friend that moved to Tennesee a couple of years ago.   She went to the concert with us.   We both miss her like crazy.  She pretty much helped me raise Sydney her first few years of life while she lived at the office with me.  She has been such a good friend it almost makes me sad to see her and remember how much fun we used to have and what a great friend she has been to me and now I only get to see her once a year.   

If you're wondering what the boys did?  Wakeboarding at Utah Lake and Fishing at Schofield.  Of course no pictures,  They are boys......

Zoo Day

Mark's family has cousin day at the zoo once a year.  This year we planned it for a Saturday afternoon, which we usually try to avoid, and it was one of our best years yet.  It wasn't very crowded and the animals seemed a little more lively for some reason.  This year we finally hit the bird show and rode on the new carousel which made for the best zoo trip ever.  

Marylynn was up from San Francisco with the twins.  They are already 10 months old and this was the first we have gotten to see them with all of their time in the hospital.  They are adorable and I can't believe how big they are.  Sydney is fascinated with Mia.  Everyone tells her they look alike, so she thinks that means she's hers.   They are both so cute, but I don't know how she does it.  

Lake Powell II

     

                         

We returned to Lake Powell again on July 18 with my family or at least part of my family.  My parents, Dayna and kids, Matt and Tess, Sherri and her girls, Amanda, Mason and our family all made the trek.  We had a lot of fun.  My family has been going down at least once a year for over 20 years now so we've gotten pretty good at it.  My family likes to rough it.  We did take down our trailer this year which was nice to wash dishes and keep some items sand free but everyone else stays in tents.  We all throw a tarp out and sleep under the stars which I think has become everyone's favorite part of Lake Powell.  

The kids were so good and had lots of fun digging in the sand and going out for "family swim time" in the deep water.  Allie and Mason both learned to wakeboard and most of the adults got to ski and wakeboard this year.  

Highlights this year were the massive wind storm we slept in the first night,  Matt's belly-button shirt,  the small city of mice we found living in the tube, Tess and her PANTS, Amanda NOT getting sun-stroke (Hooray, for shade and sunscreen - who knew), Luke allowing me to leave him long enough to actually wakeboard, The big bus at Wal-Mart, the fact that being 36 and a father of 4 hasn't made Matt any less insane when skiing, the German McDonalds in Kanab, using a camp chair for the passenger seat of the boat - pretty red-neck, good food as always, and great neighbors.  

If any of you have stayed at Lone Rock Campground, you know the difference neighbors can make.  We camped next to the most awesome people ever this year.  The night we pulled in a group let us pull in the middle of them since they were leaving the next day, it ended up being a family that had moved from Spanish Fork that I had grown up with, the McConnells.  It is crazy how small the world is.  After they left, Dave and Flo moved in with there motor home.  They are the sweetest couple on the planet.  They helped save our camp while we were gone and let us camp right on top of them as well.  They camp there for the rest of the summer before heading to Arizona to stay for the winter.  I hope we didn't drive them to crazy, because they were definitely the highlight of our trip.  All the kids are still talking about them.  Part of me thought they were crazy to live together traveling in their motor home and living on a beach for a quarter of the year, but after staying by them, I'm very envious and hoping maybe one day Mark and I will be lucky enough to do the same thing.  They seemed like the happiest couple on earth.