It's back to school time!!

All the kids have started back to school today, August 25th. Boyd asked me how I felt about it, and I told him I was ambivalent. I was happy having the kids home with me and I am happy having them in school all day. As Brock would say, "It's all good."

Alyssa and Jenny are in their usual pose for back-to-school pictures. Two darling girls getting ready for big, bad junior high!

Court gets to drive the blue car to school!!! He's so excited.

Brock is going to the "U" via the Frontrunner.

Casselman Sibling Retreat 2008

Playing a game of volleyball after lunch.

It's my ball! No, it's your ball! No, it's no one's ball!!

Blake hitting the dirt during volleyball.

Bryce and Brenda playing Bocce ball.

Bocce ball anyone?

Ben holding the scoreboard in the best way possible.

Boyd preparing for a difficult putt.

Brenda, Brent and Maria watching Blake and waiting for their turn.

Matt posted guard to catch errant golf balls floating down the stream.

Ben got caught in this bush trying to hit his ball out of the 'rough'.

Lazy, Crazy, Hazy days of Summer

Seriously, there is hardly anything exciting going on right now so I thought that I would list a few more of my most favorite things, just to keep my blog fresh.

Potato Ricer: this handy gadget takes cooked potatoes and squeezes them through 1/4 inch holes, much like a garlic press. No more lumpy mashed potatoes.

Dollar Tree: if you need cute gift bags for not a lot of money, this is the place to check out first. I got some great wedding gift bags for $1 each.

Snack: Town House crackers and krab salad from the deli. We love to nibble on this for a date night snack or a family treat.

Dyson vacuum: I know that this is a bit of an expenditure but it is worth EVERY penny. AND, if you get it at Bed, Bath and Beyond, they will let you use your 20% coupon!!


Aeropostale and Hollister: for school clothes shopping, there are few better stores. My kids find what we need quickly and we are in and out in minutes instead of hours. :)

Orville Redenbacher popcorn: I discovered the mini bags of popcorn and besides the fact that Orville Redenbacher's popcorn tastes better than most of the others, the mini bags are just the perfect amount for a tasteful snack.

Dental Implants!!!

Several months ago my tooth in my lower right jaw became infected due to a crack in the root and I had to have the tooth pulled. After several months of healing, I went to the oral surgeon's office yesterday and had a titanium screw placed in my lower jaw. The implant was placed under a local anesthetic and I have never had to open my mouth so wide. I had a nurse pushing my jaw open while the oral surgeon drilled a hole into the jaw bone and then put the screw inside. Boy, was I glad when I could close my mouth again!! Now we wait for 5-6 more months for the bone to grow around the screw and then my dentist will place a crown on top.

Back home to Utah

Kalie and Kevin came and picked us up at the airport. It was a double treat to be able to pick up Brock and then to see Kalie and Kevin.

All the siblings at the airport.