School's back in session!

School started again for Tyler on August 24th. He started first grade in a brand new school! He's liking his teacher and it seems like this will be a great year!

Trevor started preschool this year too. He's in the 3-year-old class so he gets 2 years of preschool. He loves Tuesday & Thursdays because those are school days!
I tried really hard all summer to get Tyler into the Dual Immersion program at his school but as of today he is still #2 on the waiting list. I really wanted him in the program because I feel that he is smart enough to learn in two languages. It makes me angry that kids from outside the school boundaries get in before kids who live in boundaries but at this point there is nothing else I can do.

Ledgemere

Back in July when Mike & Ashley were visiting from Texas we went up Big Cottonwood Canyon for a dinner at Ledgemere. It's just a little picnic place about 2 miles up the canyon and it was so fun. There is a little stream and a cave to explore. But first we roasted hot dogs and cooked foil dinners.

Brad and Tyler roasting hot dog over a smokey fire. Grandpa Newman is in the background. He was the designated fire builder and tender.
Baby Chandler being his usual cute self.

Brad, Trevor, Taylor, Gavin, Lincoln, Tyler and Kaylee climbing the rocks. It made me nervous. On a side note: Trevor, Taylor, Gavin and Lincoln were all born within a year of eachother. Lots of boys!!

Jeff, Jamie, Taylor, Gavin, Kaylee in the cave (Trevor is hiding in there too)

Tyler & Trevor in the cave

Unfortunately the cave was full of graffitti, which is a testament to what this world has come to. We could only go about 50 feet in to the cave before it got too full of water.

Family Pictures

In July we did family pictures at Wheeler Farm. They were done by my sister-in-law Rachel's sister-in-law Angie. I want to have her do more of my kids. If you're ever in need of a good photographer I highly recommend her. Here's her blog: http://www.angiestevensphoto.com/

Here's the whole Newman clan:

Bankhead Reunion

Back in July we went up to Eden, UT for the long anticipated family reunion. After my grandpa died I really didn't feel like going but I knew it was important to him that we all be there so I went. It was blazing hot so we....

spent time lounging at the pool (isn't Trevor hilarious in his floatation suit and goggles?)....
lounged in the shade (this is Tyler and my niece Lilly)...

and played lots of games to keep busy! (Tyler and Jonas on stilts)

Janeen with Hailey, Kyla (her niece that came with us) & Lucy and Jeanette with Avery

Fun was had by all. Brad participated and did really well in an arm wrestling contest and also did a basketball free-throw contest and a golf game. I mostly wrangled kids, made balloons for kids and sat in the shade complaining of the heat. On the last day when we were trying to do a group picture with all 240+ people I felt really awful and it showed. By the time we got home to Salt Lake I was sick with the flu in a way I've never been sick before. Not a fun way to end an otherwise great weekend.