Back To School!

"Beyond our study of spiritual matters, secular learning is also essential... I urge you to pursue your education - if you are not already doing so or have not done so - that you might be prepared to provide if circumstances necessitate such. Your talents will expand as you study and learn. You will be able to better assist your families in their learning and you will have peace of mind in knowing that you have prepared yourself for the eventualities that you may encounter in life."

President Thomas S. Monson

"My dear sisters, don't ever sell yourself short as a woman or as a mother. Do not let the world define, denigrate, or limit your feelings of lifelong learning and the

values of motherhood in the home - both here mortally and in the eternal learning and benefits your give to your children and to your companion. Lifelong learning is essential to the vitality of the human mind, body, and soul. It enhances self-worth and self-actuation. Lifelong learning is invigorating mentally and is a great defense against aging, depression, and self-doubt."

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

You read it, you guessed it! I am going back to school. After much thought and much prayer, Zack and I finally feel that the time is right for me to finish my education. However, I have transferred schools. I am not going back to Boise State like I had always intended, I am attending NNU. They have an excellent elementary education program and I am looking at being a college graduate in 2.5 years. WISH ME LUCK! I am going to need it on top of being a full time mom, wife, preschool teacher, primary teacher, house maid, and personal chef. I must say though that this was not an easy decision and it wouldn't be possible if I didn't have an amazing husband who is very supportive and willing to take on extra roles in the home to make sure our family is well taken care of.

Not only is mom going back to school, but Keely started preschool this year. She is so excited to finally get to stay during preschool instead of being shipped elsewhere so mom could teach.

Pictured below is Keely at

"Back to School Night"!

Mackee and her first day of FIRST GRADE! We just can't believe how fast she is growing. The early mornings have been smoother then I expected and I have found that I get more done during the day, but I do miss her being away for so long.

Mackee at "Back To School Night" with her new first grade teacher Ms. Cash
Don't you just love the side pony tail.

Total 80's look!

Gotta Love These Girls!

The girls wanted to show off their dresses before we headed out the door to church so Zack snapped a few quick photo's,

I love these dresses (thanks to my wonderful aunt Melissa), I only had to buy one out of the three. When we were at church this little girl (Sydney), looks over and tells her mom "they look like baker's". I JUST LOVE IT!

Izzie BUSY! This girl will not stay out of stuff... She is into everything and she is not even walking yet. We are happy to announce though that she will take 3-4 steps occasionally, but other than that she has no interest in walking. She absolutely loves pulling out the bottom of the stove drawer and climbing in and out of it. It's kinda cute because after pulling all the cake pans out and literally throwing them on the ground, she does attempt to put them back.

Target Practice!

We got to go camping this past weekend up to Mackay, Idaho with Zack's side of the family, and uncle Garett decided to spoil Mackee yet again for her birthday. He is famous for this. He bought her a pink 22 riffle. Of course she absolutely loves it, and believe it or not she had excellent shot placement and it was her first time using it. She must get that from her mother! A huge thanks to uncle Garett for such a special gift that will be getting used quite often.

Mackee and her daddy!

Shot placement results after the first couple of shots!

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING FOR A SIX YEAR OLD!

Mackee was pretty excited to get such a neat gift. No worries though, this gun will be locked in our safe and safety rules will be reiterated every time it is used. It's exciting for me as a mom to see her use it because it brings back so many memories of my dad taking me out to learn how to shoot when I was little.

So not that we are trying to brag about our talented daughter, but you know fly fishing is more important then hunting in this family. Below is a picture of Mackee showing off her Brooke trout and her famous Cinderella fly rod built by her dad.

On top of all the outdoor fun. Izzie had some fun of her own while camping. Whenever her sisters would take her for a ride in the JEEP, she would laugh hysterically every time. It was so cute!

Just Another Cake!

I am posting this cake because I know some of you enjoy seeing what fun things I can do in the kitchen. I made this cake for one our good friends (Kotton Corder). He graduated from the electricians trade so this was the best idea I could come with on short notice. I won't decorate a cake for just anybody but since I am married to a man who completed a trade program I know what hard work and dedication it takes to achieve something like this. He was very deserving of it. Yes, it's all 100% edible including all the tools on the side.

Happy Birthday Mackee!

Our baby girl turned 6yrs old on August 1st! We can't believe she is growing up so fast. What a joy she has been to have in our lives. For those who know Mackee best know that she is very outgoing and very loving. She can make a friend anywhere she goes and is always willing to help you. When she grows up she wants to be a mommy! She loves to swim, fish, camp, ride her 4-wheeler, and help her mommy bake in the kitchen. She has a mind of her own and is not afraid to tell you what's right and what's wrong. We love her for that because sometimes she reminds us as parents of the things that we are suppose to do. Mackee we love you and we hope all your dreams come true!

Mackee chose to have a SNOW WHITE birthday party this year! What a fun party it was. She had over 21 friends show up to celebrate this special day with her. A "friend" party is what she asked for so that is what she got. The cake was a lot harder to put together then it looks, but most importantly Mackee loved it and so all the hard work was worth it in the end.

Princess Mackee! Isn't she cute?

We played lots of fun games. Mackee's picks were: mining for gold, bobbing for apples, musical chairs, and red rover. I think the bobbing for apples was the hit of the day!

Thank you to all those who came to make this day very special for Mackee, she loved every minute of it!

Koehler Family

Est. July 17, 1999

This month Zack and I our celebrating our TENTH ANNIVERSARY. It's hard to believe that we have been married so long. He is the man I fell in love with so many years ago and he is still the man that I am head over heel's for. Even back when we were dating I could picture myself raising a family with this man. Here we are today with three beautiful little girls. I can't say it's always been easy juggling a family, career, bills, church callings, recreational activities, etc, but we have always found a way.

At the end of the day the only thing that matters is that I have my best friend to share it with.Thank you sweetie for all that you do for me!

Happy 10th Anniversary!

Celebrate our anniversary with us by checking out our slide show of LAS VEGAS. A huge thanks to Grandpa & Grandma Koehler and the Bowman Family for helping us with the girls. We couldn't have done it without you...

INTRUDER!

So while the girls and I were up to Green Canyon for the week, Zack called and told me we had an INTRUDER in the backyard. Well, come to find out it was this guy!

A ROCK CHUCK!

Zack was not about to let him destroy our backyard or tear up our beautiful garden so he decided to take some action. So he borrowed our neighbors high powered pellet gun and shot it in the head several times. Well, Zack said it just sat there looking at him so finally after awhile Zack decided to use something more powerful. Notice the arrows in the picture.

When we got home the girls asked daddy where the rock chuck was at now and they were disappointed to find out that he was laying in a land field somewhere.

Ocean in a Jar!

For activity day this week we had the kids paint with pudding and make an ocean in a jar. It was a fun activity, enjoy the pics!

Directions: Fill the jar 1/2 full of water and then add in 1-2 drops of blue food coloring (if desired). Then add in all sorts of sea shells, rocks, sand dollars, etc. Fill the remaining jar with OIL and then secure a lid on the top. Watch your kids enjoy finding their sea shells by looking into the blue ocean water.

Have your kids paint a picture with pudding. When they are done let them enjoy licking their fingers!

Swimming In The Creek!

We went camping with some of our friends (Curry Family) this past weekend. The kids absolutely loved it and who knew that swimming in a freezing cold creek could be so much fun!

Mackee and her friend Trinity floating down the creek. It was so cold that they were the only two willing to submerge completely under water. They loved it!

I had to post this cute picture of Izzie. We had to put a bandanna on her head because she wouldn't keep a hat on and the sun was hot that day!