Jackson and Asher's first day of school

I can't believe Jackson is in the 4th grade! That seems so grown up to me. I swear it was just a few days ago I put him on the bus for kindergarten. Then I look at these pictures and see how grown up he looks and I know that he really is a big fourth grader.
I have kind of the opposite problem with Asher. He is so tall and he seems grown up that I keep thinking he is in an older grade than he is. But second grade is a big one. He is really excited for this year. He loves school and all the friends that he has there.
The boys headed out to catch the bus, but it never came. I found out later that I had their bus pick up time wrong. So I took the boys to school. Which was good since I then I got a picture of the boys in front of their school. Jackson told me that he loves the pictures of him getting on the bus each year, so the next morning, when I had the bus time right. I got pictures of them as they ran to the bus. We are really lucky to have the bus stop right at the end of our driveway. Notice that the boys are not getting on the bus at the same time. Asher was still looking for his shoes as the bus pulled up. His nice brother made sure the bus waited for him.

Lily's 4 year old, cowgirl birthday party

Lily had a super fun, cowgirl themed 4th birthday party.  She was so excited, and has been asking for this party for years!
The invite. The party set up. We had chili and corn bread with Montana huckleberry jam. We also had Weinharts and IBC root beer and cream soda. For some reason root beer just taste better from the bottle. My favorite was Mitch's contribution to the party, the s'mores! They were a big hit. After we ate we went outside for some stick pony barrel races. This was possibly one of the cutest things ever. These girls meant business. They even neighed for their horses and galloped as fast as they could, trying to get the best time. Katie Lily Bean Merrin gets extra credit for doing the race with a baby in her arms Greta got an excellent time doing the race with a little help from daddy. Sydney (I think, the twins are identical) Cora, (again, I am guessing) insisted on doing the race with her mom as her horse. After races the girls came back inside to decorate their cowboy hats. Pink, sparkles, ribbons and little girls. How could I go wrong? Then it was cake time. Lily had requested a rainbow horsey cake, and I did my best to oblige. When I cut in to the cake and she saw the rainbow, she was so excited! Making the process of making the cake, totally worth it. originally I had three horses on the cake, but Lily made me add "a hundred of horses." All the little cowgirls. My little cowgirl.