Alissa decided to hang up the guitar for the year so that she could try another instrument: the violin. She is really enjoying learning how to play, and she loves making up songs on it. She's been practicing for a half an hour every day, we are very proud of her :)

Saturday the kids and I went and watched my brother Will's Tae Kwon Do belt ceremony. He was going from a yellow belt to an orange one. He did really well and will be getting his next belt :)

There were a bunch of rooms @ EMP where you could play different instruments, I was VERY amused watching my Dad and Kellin "play" music :)

The kids had fun playing the games but this one they weren't able to win.

This game, throwing darts at balloons, was their favorite.

This is me and Ali on the octopus ride.

Alissa and Daddy rode the big swings, while Dylan waited, the above, right pic is of Dylan and Daddy on the Octopus ride.

Dylan and Daddy riding on the slide!

My dad and brother and I went to Seattle sunday and went to EMP, The Olympic Sculpture Park, Hard Rock Cafe and the waterfront. It was a really fun day. EMP shares its building with the Sci-Fi "museum," which had an Avatar exhibit. The exhibit and music exhibits @ EMP were really cool! While walking we saw hundreds of walkers walking to stop Breast Cancer. We didn't see Ashton, but it was really neat! 3 days and 60 miles, I'm definately going to do it next year with Ashton!

September 15th was Curriculum day @ Dylan's school. While I visited with his teacher Mrs. Jewell, Dylan and the other kids got to have popcorn and watch a movie. The little boy next to him, in the black shirt, is his best friend Kyler. Dylan describes him as a nice boy who "has a squeeky voice and hair like the sun."

Dylan made this hat at school last week. He was very proud of the decorations he picked out. His favorite part of the hat was the big bow :)

I've just purchased a new book for my kindle, I hear it's supposed to be fantastic, and wonderful, and interesting! Reviews have said its a cross between Harry Potter and Twilight, which does sound great...but we shall see :)

I heard this quote on the radio the other day and it stuck with me; it is so very true. We are SO lucky to have such a WONDERFUL, close, supportive family! I don't know what we'd do without them!

Dylan was excited to be able to use his new umbrella for school! He said, "Mom take my picture today wif my umbreyya, it will look great!"

The 4 baby lizards didn't make it :( We had a nice burial @ sea (South Prairie Creek) with Alissa saying some kinds words and Dylan blowing bubbles. RIP little lizards.

Alissa's pet lizard Zig Zag had and is having babies! So far there are 3 and it looks like she's working on number 4, the first picture is of one of the newborn babies. The other 2 are of Zig Zag after having 3 babies.

Alissa started 4th grade and Dylan started Pre-K :)

Alissa's class is a 4th/5th grade split class. Her teacher Ms. Boyer seems really nice and ready to challenge our smart girl :) Dylan's teacher is Mrs. Jewell, she is super sweet and loves Dylan already :) These are a few pictures from Alissa's first day Sept. 6th, and Dylan's first day was Sept. 7th. For Ali's first day she was really excited to wear her cool new boots :) Dylan picked out his shorts, shoes and brand new rock-n-roll shirt and new backpack. The top 3 pictures are from the kids' second day of school, Ali with her new hair cut, and navy shirt; Dylan with his striped polo shirt.

Alissa got a new pet this weekend, Zig Zag. She is a North American Alligator Lizard. She eats crickets and likes the warm weather. A cat had bitten her tail off and Alissa rescued it.

Justin and Papa Dave took the kids up in the woods to go shooting on Saturday.  They came home with lots of stories, Alissa said if there had been any animals she would have hit them because she shot really well that day.  She hit her target a bunch of times.  I love the last picture, the one of both of them posing the same and holding the gun the same, too cute!  Our little hunters :)