Francis Frontier Days

We had spent Labor Day with Rick and Olivia's family for Francis Frontier Days.

We all had a GREAT time (with the exception of Matt ridding the sheep).

I love this picture of Noah riding! 

...and falling

Matt makes a good cowboy!

Last year, Lindsay won the race.

This year, she didn't stand a chance because she and Liv held hands nearly the whole time.
(And Linds and Liv are the youngest in their age group this year).

I also LOVE this picture of Noah nearly catching the pig!

He eventually caught it, but he didn't get to take it home.

The kids won a pop, a quarter, a coloring book, and crayons!

Noah also caught (and got to take home) this chicken!
Eli got one too!!

Matt was happy with his pop and candy!

Alphabet Dates--U Date

This weekend we had an UNBELIEVABLE “U date.”

We started by going to watch Noah’s “UTE Conference” football game, where the kids saw UNCLE Rick.

Then, the kids watched the movie “UP” as we drove to our secret destination. 

Well, we got lost, made lots of U-TURNS, and made an UNEXPECTED stop at Chick-fil-A.

Next, we went to visit the UP house! (Lindsay was so cute and freaked out!  She loved it).

Following the UP house, we watched the UNBELIEVABLE Brigham Young UNIVERSITY game. (Seriously, did you watch that!?  Best night ever!) 

We made and ate Pineapple UPSIDE-DOWN cake, and had milk from cow's UDDERS.

I LOVE this picture of Matt and Eli wrestling!   Those cute cousins!!

We sure love that Noah!  He is a great cousin!!

This picture makes me laugh!  Lindsay said, "Take this picture, but don't put my bottom in it!"

My first time making Pineapple Upside-down cake!

Go COUGARS!!!

And seriously, if you didn't see the end of that game...watch it HERE.

Back to School Feast

This year we had our 2nd annual Back to School Feast!

The Gunnerson Family Theme for 2015-2016 is 

"Who Can I Serve Today?"

I am hoping that this theme will help our family look away from ourselves, 

and learn to be sensitive to the needs of those around us.

I asked Matt what he wanted for the feast.  

He said, "those potatoes with the swimming pool."

"Mashed potatoes and gravy?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Done."

We also had roast, vegetables, rolls, spinach salad, and a chocolate almond cake.

I sure do love these kids!

We also gave the kids matching key-chains with our theme on it.

The kids keep theirs on their backpacks.

Darin and I have ours on our key-rings.

Hopefully, it will be an extra reminder to do a little service every day! 

Making a wish for the new school year!

Good Morning Life!

This is a video of what I do pretty much every day!

I think this might be one of those "only a mother could love" videos.
Nothing too fun or funny, but I'm sure when I get older, I will love seeing our old "routine."

Matt's 1st Day of 1st Grade

I have been dreading this day all summer.

Matt has been anxiously awaiting this day all summer.

FIRST DAY OF 1st GRADE!!

It wasn't that long ago that I was TEACHING 1st grade.
I loved teaching 1st grade, and I am so happy for him, and I know he will love it.

I'm just super sad for me.

Matt was up, dressed, and in our room at 6:50, ready to go.

Too bad he had to wait for nearly 2 more hours!

He had been so happy all morning, until I asked him to close the car door.
For some reason, that set off a few tears.
(Which then set off a few tears from his mom).

They let the parents come into the classroom for a few minutes.
He was happy and well adjusted already.

I held it together the whole time I was with him.
After I left his classroom, I had to make a mad dash for the car.

This is what I look like every morning around 9:00am these days.

But, when I picked him up after school, it was,

"THE BEST DAY EVER!"

He gave it a perfect 10!

Trip to the Cabin

We didn't make it to the cabin as much as I would have liked to this summer.

We decided to take one more trip up before school starts.

Darin took Friday off and we headed up Thursday night.

There is something about being in nature, away from it all, that is so special.

I thought my heart was going to burst about 100 different times.

I cannot express how much I love this family of mine.

As a girl, I always imagined how my husband and kids would be.

I can honestly say, even in my wildest fantasies, I didn't think it could be THIS GOOD.

I love that my kids love each other.

I love that they think our family is the best!

I love how Darin is with our children.

I could not be more grateful for this life.

Darin took us to some fun lakes we had never seen.

Darin took Matt fishing while Lindsay, Andrew, and I cuddled in bed.

As always, the trip was filled with music, yummy food, relaxation, marshmallows and more.

And here is a little video I made of our trip.