6 weeks are finally over!

For the past 6 weeks Travis has been at POST for training. He was able to come home every night, most people had to stay there on campus in the dorms! The days were long and the food was horrible! He left the house every day just after 5 am! And most nights he would come home exhausted and go to bed by 9p or earlier!

He was elected class president (voted by the class), and had the privilege of speaking at graduation. He was ranked 4th in the class, which was a total combined from everything they did and was tested on. 

The President giving his speech! He did really well. 

Here they are being sworn in, repeating the Peace Officer Oath by the judge.

All lined up and ready to receive their certificates. 

All DONE!! He was glad to be done! There were 9 in his class. 8 guys and only one girl! He made some lasting friendships, and great memories. 

We are all gad that he is done. His first week back will be very busy then we will get back on a regular schedule. 

Utah 2012

Every year at about this time we make a trip to Utah. Our good friends the Crockett's moved down there a few years ago. Our kids are all the same age. So it was like having 3 sets of nearly identical twins!!! 

This year when we went it was Conference weekend. Our friend Raja got us tickets and Madison and I were able to go together! Travis waited in the standby line and wasn't able to get in. :(

Ready to go in! We were there early. We had to be in our seats 30 minutes before, or they would give them away. We said goodbye to Travis, we went in and he went and found the standby line!

Madison wanted to take a picture with the glass fountain before we went to our seats! She had so many compliments on her dress. She got tired of saying "Thank You!"

In our seats! It looks far away but actually we were pretty close. We could see face, we didn't need to watch the big screens!! Madison kept saying how awesome it was!

It was starting to fill up! Madison wants to sit way up high next time!

I think we will wait for Zachary to turn 8 before we go again. 

She was really excited that it was "half time" only 1 hour to go!!!

At the end! It was a great experience! Thanks again Raj for getting us tickets!

Since Travis wasn't able to get in (no ticket, and the standby line was toooo long!) we agreed that we would meet by the reflecting pool! This is one of my favorite pictures!

Progress Report 2012

Madison ran in the house today after school and was so excited to tell me about her progress report. They have been in school just over 1 month and conferences are coming up in October. 

She could hardly contain herself, "MOM I GOT AN 'A+' IN SPELLING AND AN 'A' IN READING AND IN WRITING!!!!"

So this would have probably worked better if we had a scanner! Oh well. The 'B' is in Math. It has never been her strong point but she tries hard and is getting better!

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This next picture is from her "Diagnostic Report; for STAR Reading"

It is a test that tells us how Madison does in reading and what level she has tested at. 

I will explain. She tested at a 5.8 reading level. Meaning that, "Her skills are therefore comparable to those of an average 5th grade after the 8th month of the school year." (so almost 6th grade!)

This is what the paper says, "Madison also achieved a national Percentile Rank (PR) of 98. This score is in the above-average range and means that Madison scored greater than 98% of students nationally in the same grade."

We are so proud of her! She is a great example to Zachary. This whole week he has been striving to be the VIP in his class. He wants to be just like her. She is a great kid (a bit spazy at times!) but just plain awesome. There is never a dull moment when she is around! We will find out here at the end of the quarter if she made Honor Roll! 

Good job Madison! We love you!

Happy Fall!

Well today is the first official day of fall. This week Madison was awarded VIP again! The first time this year but it's probably the 5th time since first grade! She was recognized for "Participating in class and always showing good citizenship." Brynn and I got to go to lunch with her. We brought her and her friend a chocolate sundae.

This is her good friend Kennedy. They have special tables set aside where the VIP's and their families can sit. 

Brynley had fun watching all the kids in the lunch room!

Fall also bring soccer! Zach is playing again and loves it. He is not on the same team because he moved up an age group. He is now U8. He can play U8 for this coming spring and fall again. Then he will play big boy soccer on a full size field!

More action.

Madison during the game! She usually goes and plays on the the playground but it was a little cold and wet today, so she decided to read instead. She finished her book before the end of the game!

Brynley during the game! 

Well Travis was asked to help with coaching this season. The first picture here is the 2nd half of the game. He and the other coach have to be out on the field. Then the second picture here is at 1/2 time. Yes he is wearing an Oregon shirt and hat! We have had a lot of fires lately and this haze is normal. 

Well here's to a fun filled fall. I have already made cinnamon rolls, caramel apples and changed the Glade plug-in to Pumpkin Vanilla Spice!!

Remember This?

Does anyone else remember this? Travis looked at me funny and chuckled when I picked this up at a yard sale today for $5!

This nifty little chair hooks right up to the table! She thought she was so cool! Good bye highchair! 

She was so excited to sit next to Zachary. Now that she is 20 months (can you believe it? I can't!) She is in full blown toddler mode! She climbs up the back of the couch and flips over the top! She climbs on top of the table and dances! She will use a step stool to get what she wants. And she is currently in love with, ELMO, POOH and NEMO! 

So in short our house is very busy, chasing Brynn before she falls or get's into something she shouldn't! But we sure love her! 

Go Ducks!

Well College Football is upon us. More importantly Duck Football has invaded our house! This time of year is filled with excitement! We love our Ducks, and will watch them anyway we can. You can catch anyone of us sporting Duck gear most of the time, and when we go shopping or put and about we get some pretty dirty looks. But every once in a while we will run into a fellow duck fan here in Donkey Country!

Since the PAC-12 has it's own network now, and we don't get the network on cable, we had to get creative on where we could watch the game. Travis took about an hour looking on the internet to find the live feed of the game. He finally found it and this is where he sat for the whole game. He ate dinner here as well! 

Brynley was tried and wanted daddy to hold her. So here she sat for quite a while watching the game with dad! 

McDowell Family Reunion '12

I don't know why it has taken me so long to post about our family reunion?! Both of my sister in laws have done a post but I just haven't gotten around to it. So here it goes and I apologize if it's a little long!

The reunion started on Wednesday the 1st and ended on the 4th. We went rafting, picnicking, water parking, eating and a lot of family fun. There were 9 adults and 9 kids. 

On Thursday, we packed up and headed to Lake Lowell. We had a picnic lunch and played on the beach. Grandpa too most of the kids and taught them how to skip rocks.

Brynley and Mason are 6 months apart. As you can see, we made shirts this year! It was really fun to have something for everyone to take home and remember the fun time we had!

The cousins! In age order. Blake, Madison, Ashlyn, Zach, Mariah, Ryleigh, Mason, Brynley and Bailey.

Then later that afternoon we all went to Roaring Springs! My mother in law bravely brought her camera in the kid area! Here is Blake and Madison.

Me, Brynley and Zach. Brynn loved it. And wanted to go again and again!

Here is Travis and Mason.

Most every kid in the family loves to read. And Grandma brought a few books for everyone. She brought books for each kid at their own reading level. Madison was excited to get a stack of Box Car Children.

Most mornings after breakfast, we went outside before it got too hot!

It was Duck day for these three!

Zach was showing Grandma and Grandpa how he can ride his bike!

Mariah and Ryleigh taking a break! 

On Friday we spent the day on the Boise River!

We left the kids 3 and under at home. But these 3 got to come!

Our raft. Me, Travis, Mom, Dad, Madison, Zach and Ashlyn!

The rowing team! Travis and Dad did most of the rowing. Mom helped a bit too!

The other raft. Rick, Nicole, Shannon, Devin, Tammy and Blake! Blake was the only one brave enough to jump in the icy cold water!

That night all the adults went to dinner. We hung out on Saturday, then did Madison's baptism and a family BBQ. We ended the evening with ice cream and Family home evening. 

It was a fun week! And we were glad that everyone was able to come. We missed Tana and Nate!