Sunday, September 6, 2015
Summer 2015
Summer is finally over and the kids are in school. Here are some of the last pictures of the summer. I have mixed feelings about it being over, but we had the best summer ever! We stayed busy all summer long. We cooked and cleaned and made all sorts of messes. We went to the park nearly every week. Ben took the kids to the movies every week. We went to a ward activity. We went camping twice. We picked huckleberries. We went to northern Idaho to see my grandparents and we went to the Cook family reunion in McCall. It's the most we've done in one summer ever! I'm hoping we can keep topping it from each summer here on out. It is nice to have a routine back in the day though. Travis is in 1st grade this year and Natalie is in preschool. They are both loving it. I am still working my one day a week, but soon I will be switching over to the dark side and working the night shift. I'm not too thrilled about it, but I only have to do it for one year and three months, not that I'm already counting down. We have been challenged in our ward to read the Book of Mormon individually by the end of the year so that's what Ben and I are starting on this week.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
July 2015
This summer has been going so fast. It makes me kind of sad because as soon as school starts Travis will be in school five days a week and then we will have to plan our fun around school and homework. I've been kind of a slacker on taking pictures this month. I have a few, but won't upload any now only because the camera is in my bedroom and the kids are in bed.
Ben went to Boise a couple weeks back for his annual school Boise trip. He was gone a week. I managed to keep pretty busy with the kids. Natalie kept me on my toes as usual. One of the days that Ben left Ashley came over with her kids. We decided to take the kids to the park. We went to Brooklyn's Playground because it's my favorite. It's large and there is only one exit and one entrance so it's easy to keep track of the kids... or so you would think. We ate lunch with the kids and then they were anxious to start playing on the toys so with our permission they ran in. I followed behind and watched all four kids run in. I didn't follow inside though. I continued on my way to a nearby tree that was right by the entrance and exit so we could keep an eye on it and watch for runaways. I set our stuff down and then sat down and Ashley followed right behind me. We were sitting down for about one or two minutes then Ashley went in to do a head count while I held Macie. It was taking longer than a head count should take and I suddenly got this panicky feeling that Natalie was gone. I got up and went inside and Ashley came over and told me that she could not find Natalie anywhere. Boy did the panic set in. I rushed inside the playground and did a quick run through and didn't see her so I went to the bathrooms while Ashley and other people looked for her on the inside from the playground I should have went over to the parking lot, but I went back and met up with Ashley and handed Macie off to her. She rounded up the kids and went looking for Natalie while I went back in the playground. I was just minutes away from calling the police when I heard Ashley yell across the field. Some lady found Natalie out at the parking lot near our car. That was by far the worst feeling I've ever felt in my life. I have no idea how she got past us. The only thing I can think of is that she went right in and the came right out as we were walking to the tree. That was the only time our backs were turned. Needless to say we have not been back to the park since. I am so glad that Heavenly Father was watching over her. So many things could have happened and gone wrong.
Lately I've felt like Sunday is just another day of the week at our house. We don't go shopping, but we do other things that we would do on any other day. I've struggled to find ways to make Sunday a special day because it should be. It's hard not to veg out and watch tv all day because after a while it can sometimes get boring and there isn't much to do. Well Travis has been earning some money doing chores around the house. He sets a goal of what he wants to buy and then saves up for it over a month or so (depending on how expensive it is) pays his tithing and then buys it. Well yesterday I brought home a piggybank for Travis so that he can keep all his money together without losing it. He counted up all his money before he put it in there and he was seven dollars short. He's been dying to get the Skylanders Swap Force. What he didn't know is that Ben and I bought it a week ago because it was on a good sale and they only had two left. We didn't show him, but Ben decided to pull it out yesterday. He showed Travis that he already had it and that he could use his money and buy it from us, but he couldn't have it until Monday after Ben wakes up and he could not watch tv or play the I-pad until Monday. Travis agreed and he was super super excited. I was a little skeptical because I know how that tv bug gets. I was suspecting that after Ben left for work that he would be hitting me up for the tv, but he stayed true to his agreement. I then decided that he would forget this morning because every morning Travis wakes up an hour before everyone else and I let him watch tv with the volume down while people start waking up for the day. Well he didn't watch it. In fact Natalie came in my room this morning tattle telling that Travis wouldn't turn her on a show. When I asked him about it he reminded me that there was no tv today because he couldn't watch it or play the ipad until tomorrow. This is where the Sunday part fits into the story. After church we spent the whole afternoon and evening together up until bedtime. we cleaned the kitchen together and played a couple games together and went out back and threw the ball for Charlie and played catch and spent some time with Chelsie and Troy and Travis practiced wrestling and read the scriptures together and a chapter of our Goosebumps book together. It was a lot of fun. No tv and no ipad today made us be a little more creative than we usually are, but it was a day well spent. It definitely made this Sunday a little more special.
Ben went to Boise a couple weeks back for his annual school Boise trip. He was gone a week. I managed to keep pretty busy with the kids. Natalie kept me on my toes as usual. One of the days that Ben left Ashley came over with her kids. We decided to take the kids to the park. We went to Brooklyn's Playground because it's my favorite. It's large and there is only one exit and one entrance so it's easy to keep track of the kids... or so you would think. We ate lunch with the kids and then they were anxious to start playing on the toys so with our permission they ran in. I followed behind and watched all four kids run in. I didn't follow inside though. I continued on my way to a nearby tree that was right by the entrance and exit so we could keep an eye on it and watch for runaways. I set our stuff down and then sat down and Ashley followed right behind me. We were sitting down for about one or two minutes then Ashley went in to do a head count while I held Macie. It was taking longer than a head count should take and I suddenly got this panicky feeling that Natalie was gone. I got up and went inside and Ashley came over and told me that she could not find Natalie anywhere. Boy did the panic set in. I rushed inside the playground and did a quick run through and didn't see her so I went to the bathrooms while Ashley and other people looked for her on the inside from the playground I should have went over to the parking lot, but I went back and met up with Ashley and handed Macie off to her. She rounded up the kids and went looking for Natalie while I went back in the playground. I was just minutes away from calling the police when I heard Ashley yell across the field. Some lady found Natalie out at the parking lot near our car. That was by far the worst feeling I've ever felt in my life. I have no idea how she got past us. The only thing I can think of is that she went right in and the came right out as we were walking to the tree. That was the only time our backs were turned. Needless to say we have not been back to the park since. I am so glad that Heavenly Father was watching over her. So many things could have happened and gone wrong.
Lately I've felt like Sunday is just another day of the week at our house. We don't go shopping, but we do other things that we would do on any other day. I've struggled to find ways to make Sunday a special day because it should be. It's hard not to veg out and watch tv all day because after a while it can sometimes get boring and there isn't much to do. Well Travis has been earning some money doing chores around the house. He sets a goal of what he wants to buy and then saves up for it over a month or so (depending on how expensive it is) pays his tithing and then buys it. Well yesterday I brought home a piggybank for Travis so that he can keep all his money together without losing it. He counted up all his money before he put it in there and he was seven dollars short. He's been dying to get the Skylanders Swap Force. What he didn't know is that Ben and I bought it a week ago because it was on a good sale and they only had two left. We didn't show him, but Ben decided to pull it out yesterday. He showed Travis that he already had it and that he could use his money and buy it from us, but he couldn't have it until Monday after Ben wakes up and he could not watch tv or play the I-pad until Monday. Travis agreed and he was super super excited. I was a little skeptical because I know how that tv bug gets. I was suspecting that after Ben left for work that he would be hitting me up for the tv, but he stayed true to his agreement. I then decided that he would forget this morning because every morning Travis wakes up an hour before everyone else and I let him watch tv with the volume down while people start waking up for the day. Well he didn't watch it. In fact Natalie came in my room this morning tattle telling that Travis wouldn't turn her on a show. When I asked him about it he reminded me that there was no tv today because he couldn't watch it or play the ipad until tomorrow. This is where the Sunday part fits into the story. After church we spent the whole afternoon and evening together up until bedtime. we cleaned the kitchen together and played a couple games together and went out back and threw the ball for Charlie and played catch and spent some time with Chelsie and Troy and Travis practiced wrestling and read the scriptures together and a chapter of our Goosebumps book together. It was a lot of fun. No tv and no ipad today made us be a little more creative than we usually are, but it was a day well spent. It definitely made this Sunday a little more special.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Birthday Party and Cottonwood
Our family has had a lot of fun in the last month. Shortly after Travis's Kindergarten Graduation we celebrated his birthday. He invited a few friends from his Kindergarten class. Unfortunately this year was super rainy for his party so we didn't get to go outside like we did last year. We did find things to keep up busy though. Travis had fun with all his friends.
When we were up in Cottonwood my grandparents also took us to Kamiah so we could look at my Great Grandfathers old house. It was the first time I've been there since his funeral. It was really neat. A lot has changed, but some of it is just how I remember it. It is now a bed and breakfast. Ben and I hope to go back some day and stay in it.
We also had the opportunity to take the kids to Cottonwood to visit my grandparents. It has been a very long time since I've been that way. It was time well spent. They were very pleased to see us as well. They told us that we are the first grandkids to make it out to see them. While we were out there we went day camping and went to the Convent and met some nuns. We got to see the high school where my mom grew up. We also made it out to Keuterville and went and got Ben a hat at the bar and grill there. It was really nice to spend time with my grandparents. Ben especially enjoyed snooping through the old photo album looking for blackmail on my mom. Here are some pictures from our trip.
When we were up in Cottonwood my grandparents also took us to Kamiah so we could look at my Great Grandfathers old house. It was the first time I've been there since his funeral. It was really neat. A lot has changed, but some of it is just how I remember it. It is now a bed and breakfast. Ben and I hope to go back some day and stay in it.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Kindergarten Graduation
Near the tail end of April we celebrated Ben's birthday. He had a late birthday because of school and work, but we finally did get to celebrate it. It was not only a good birthday celebration, but a celebration to the end of the madness of this last semester. It was a brutal semester, but everyone survived.
And on a side note of all this growing up stuff my kids think they need to be doing, Natty has informed me that I am no longer to call her Sissy. That is now Macie's name. She has informed me that I am to call her Natalie. This last week we have started the potty training process. Day one was filled with lots of messes. Day two even less. Day three and four were dry days. She's had a few accidents here and there, but she's got the hang of it. Though she tries to weasel a diaper out of me on a daily basis. I haven't given in yet and at this point I don't think I can. We have come so far and I don't' want to go backwards. We are very proud of that accomplishment because she has been quite fond of her diapers.
We also just had another big celebration in the family. Travis graduated Kindergarten. He has come so far this school year. I am really sad to see kindergarten go, especially knowing that next year is the start of when he will be gone all day every weekday. He has been my sidekick for the last six years. It's hard to believe that this time has finally come. I don't think I'm ready to give it up, but I don't have much of a choice. I do look forward to this next big step for him and I'm excited to see him grow and learn.
It took many attempts for a family photo. While this is not the best, it is probably the most accurate of how our family photos actually go. Gotta love it!
The next two pictures are a picture of Travis at the start of the year and a picture of Travis at the end of the year. He has really grown physically as well as mentally.
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