Withdrawals

Nay 4 months and Stella 2 1/2 months



Nay about 5 1/2 months Stella 4 months

Nay is in withdrawals from her favorite girl cousin, Stella. She misses sucking on her feet. She wanted me to post these pictures to help her remember the good times they had together--sharing the bottle, screaming together, and causing all sorts of trouble. Nay is excited to be roommates with her at BYU in 18 years.

First Day of School

I love how little man is standing behind her.


Dread. Mixed with a teeny bit of excitement. That is what I felt on Labor Day. It's what I felt every Labor Day for years of my life. The realization that Summer was over and the school year was beginning. Now, for the next 18+ years I am going to be subject to the public school year. Ugh. No more fun vacations mid-September (Remember how we went to Disney World last year at this time?), no more late nights during the week.

Full day Kindergarten is in full swing. Boo went cold-turkey on her naps (although she still had one today since it's Saturday). The night before school started she asked what we were doing the day after Tuesday and I told her, "School." "And the day after?" "School." I guess I hadn't told her that school was EVERY day.

S. walked her in as I ran home to get her lunch I forgot. Hopefully that is the first and last time. I am still scarred for the times I forgot my lunch.

The only tears shed were those from the mom.

George's Crib and other exciting places

We've been doing lots of weekend jaunts with S.'s sis, Mary, her talented husband, Josh and beautiful baby, Stella, Mom and Dad Mud, and Uncle Jacob (S.'s bro. who is loving the summer off from BYU to grow his beard).  

We visited Mt. Vernon.  They have added TONS of new films and exhibits.  The kids had a great time.  

Turned the 4 1/2 hour drive to Chapel Hill into 7 hours to visit the N.C. Muds (more to come on that).

Went to Luray Caverns after showing up at the Route 11 Chip Factory (DO NOT try the Mama Zuma's Revenge chips--serious steam coming from ears) only to find it to have moved.  Turns out we made a fabulous mistake and were able to see a part of the Caverns that is only open one day a year!  It was also the Cavern's 130th anniversary so they had candles lit throughout the cave.  

And of course, what is a summer without going to the National Zoo?  

Truth be told: There is never a dull moment with the Muds and we do things on a whim!

Utah 1

I have to catch up in my posts.  We're doing too many fun things and I am getting too far behind. I need some pictures from my sis for a lot of the activities, but I thought I better start...

The Atk Family Reunion in Utah was busy, busy, busy.  Some highlights:

+  100 birthday party for my Grandma who flew in for the occasion from D.C.  (Her real b-day        is Oct. 30) 

+Family pictures

+Lunch with Lisa--longtime friend that used to live with us!

+Dinner w/ Gardners.  Man, I miss C-ville friends!

+Extended Atk Family Reunion

+Rock Band, Sing Star, Dance Dance Revolution

+Rafting on the Provo River

+Granny's Drive In Milkshakes

+Park City--Alpine Slide, Coaster and Zip Wire

+Tour of BYU (Man, that has changed!  May I please go to college again?)

+S. went w/ my bro, Steve, and Bro-in-law to grand opening of Soccer Stadium

+Tour of Conference Center in SLC by my Aunt and Uncle

+VA reunion party (Nay checking out her future prospects)!!!

+Seeing my beautiful roommate, Tracie!!  Staying at her parent's house in Park City (Umm, Michael Jordan's anyone?)

+Dinner with Jaime (so sad she moved from VA)

+Hanging with Gma and Gpa Bruford and their amazing house

+ATVing

Drawbacks from the trip:

+Getting my stinking first ticket in HEBER!  

+About 1/2 the family getting sick w/ a 24-hour virus 

More pics to come of the VA reunion...

Rewind: Rochester

We went up to Rochester July 4th for a visit of our newest nephew, Ethan (oh, and his parents, too). We finally celebrated "Baby Fest Spring 2008" with all the new babies. For anyone who says all newborns look the same check this out: three kids who are related and look NOTHING alike.

We saw some impressive fireworks downtown Rochester on the 4th and on Saturday went to Niagra Falls with the whole Mud/Bru crew. I have been to the Falls many times, but hadn't ever been on Maid of the Mist. Gma and pa Mud and Uncle Dan watched the three babies so we could go. It was awesome. Sunday was Ethan's blessing at church and then we headed home stopping for some delicious BBQ on the way. The kids did great in the car and a shout out to Uncle Jacob for helping retrieve fallen toys (that's right, we didn't use a DVD player for the 8+ hour trip one-way).

Rewind

It's been a whirlwind of a month. We'll start with the B-day girl back in June. Her reaction when she came down the stairs and saw the decorations, "It looks just like a castle!"

Enchanted birthday party for the big 5.
Activities:
Coloring Giselle and Edward
Decorating tiaras
"Cleaning" up flowers and pebbles to the Clean-up song
Princess Bingo
Eating heart pizzas and fruit
Hitting the Step-mother pinata
Cake and Ice Cream
Eating Poison Caramel Apples

Boo, we love you. You are so kind, smart and talented. We love watching you grow everyday.

Lucia

The kids were playing while I was getting ready. This is what I discovered. Boo had "done" Little Man's hair, or should I say, Lucia's hair. They had also done bunny, cat, and mommy bunny's hair (fur).

When I was younger we used to dress my brother, Stephen, up in a dress and do his hair. We used to call him Stephanie after the make-over. Thankfully, he has turned out pretty normal--well, that is debatable. He is pretty hilarious, actually. I will note that the only pictures we have of this were from when he was around 2. He is now MUCH taller than me and would probably give me a noogie if I tried anything like that.