7.1.18

This last week we finally welcomed home our dad. Since we moved up to Driggs at the end of May, Adam has been gone four weeks. He went to Houston twice during the week and then went to Mongolia for two weeks. He brought home some magnets for the kids.

He made it home on Friday the 29th specifically so he could make it to Brian Sichter's anniversary party of the day he almost died in a motorcycle accident. We drove two hours as a family out to Brian's small ranch in Wyoming where I got to meet a few of the men from Jacobs that I had heard so much about but never seen or met. I made them get together for a picture. It was really a wonderful experience. The kids played in a giant gravel pile for two hours. We ate antelope and  talked to many drunk, kind people. Wyoming was beautiful with a long view of three different mountain ranges off in the distance.

Lucy, Caleb, and Jo have learned how to mow the lawn on their own and I'm very proud of them. They of course, are extra motivated to do it for the money, five dollars for the front and five for the back, but I am still proud of their motivation no less.

John-Henry is still not walking but is as cute as can be. Lev is happily still doing quite well with his potty training. He is able to go on his own so often. It's made me think that maybe waiting until they potty train themselves is worth it. I was in the "two in diapers phase" a long time, though, so there are definite pros and cons to both situations.

Adam, Caleb, and Truman all share allergies. Truman came in looking like his dad with allergies.

It made me miss Adam even more. The toilet paper stuffed nose is how Adam has been spending much of his time this summer. Poor guy.

We went to a party celebrating a good friend, Brian Sichter's, one of recovery from an awful motorcycle accident. We drove two hours to his ranch in Wyoming. The children played in the gravel with some neighbor kids and I enjoyed finally meeting many of Adam's coworkers that I've heard so much about and never even seen a picture of. 

So I made them take a picture. 

Adam, Phil Shepherd, Ralph Crawford, Bill Helms, and Brian Sichter.

7.22.18

We have a walker! As of July 22, 2018 Buck is officially walking. He is the biggest chunkiest sweetheart, and the favorite of everyone in our family. 

Here in Driggs we have some amazing rainstorms. It is by far much more wet than any area we have lived in so far and we love it. The mountain smells permeates the air when it rains and it feels good to breath. We were lucky enough to have a rainbow arching perfectly over view in the backyard

Adam went on a horse packing trip with his friend Josh and his family. It was the first time I have ever seen him nervous about something outdoorsy like this. He had a wonderful time and was inspired to own a horse sometime.

While he was gone, Driggs had their Tin Cup Challenge fundraising convention. We all did the fun run, except for Caleb, and enjoyed the festivities at the city park. Truman got lost along the race route and ended up rolling in on his scooter twenty minutes after we got to the finish line when I though he was ahead of me. I am always surprised at how I don't panic when my children get lost. Buck was invited to participate in a Diaper Dash, a crawling race with other babies. He is such a speedy guy on all fours, I thought we were a shoe in for the $50 gift card to Broulims. He however, had to wait so long to crawl, that by the time the race started he was beside himself crying, unable to crawl to me. He came in second place, though. We are so proud of him.

We sang a pioneer song in church today. The kids all sang, except Caleb, and Adam saying with them as well. I played and couldn't keep from smiling at how boisterously and happily the kids sang the song. It was called, "Pioneers Courageous" from the Friend magazine. I wished I had been able to video it.

And, since this week is Pioneer Day, that means that it's also almost Truman's birthday. He has been asking about it multiple times a day and struggles to comprehend the time it will take to get to July 25th. We have some great surprises planned for him. I sure hope he feels how loved he is.

Grandma and Grandpa

In January, Grandma and Grandpa Mills came to visit and we loved having them. Luckily, the zoo was having a free day and we took advantage. 

Lucy's favorite animal is the zebra. And because it is Lucy's, it is also Josephine's.  

It was packed, to be sure. But we had fun anyways. Caleb's favorite was the tiger. He is obsessed with Calvin and Hobbes right now, and so he has the same devotion to tigers that Calvin has.

We went to McDonalds, played games, and enjoyed having family with us. Thanks for coming Grandma and Grandpa!

It's Alive, It's Alive!

I am resurrecting this blog, blowing off the dust, and posting again. I am doing this for the sole purpose of having a record for my family. Again. The kids are growing so fast and life is getting so busy and we need to remember. So, here we go again.

Starting with Christmas, we spent the holidays in our new home in Colorado. We did our usual tradition of acting out the Nativity. 

The manger and blanket/sheep.

Siya was Mary, Truman was the baby, Caleb was Joseph, and both girls wanted to be angels and not shepherds, so Mom was the shepherd. 

Christmas morning did not disappoint. We had such a happy, relaxing, exciting morning. We spent the day together, playing with all the toys and gifts we received. It could not have been more fun.

Siya loved her Bubble Guppies theatre stage for quite a while. We also wore our new Christmas pj's for most of the morning. This was the first year we opened pj's on Christmas Eve. Adam really wanted to have this tradition in our family.

Caleb LOVES LOVES LOVES legos. Anything legos. It's a fun phase. Now I just have to come up with a way to keep the legos off the ground so that Truman doesn't eat them now that he is rolling everywhere.

Adam's big gift was a ladder! Functional, but he was excited. 

Truman LOVED his first Christmas! He is just as sweet as sweet can be.

Lucy loved her giant art kit. She is still using it quite often three months after Christmas. Thanks Meema!

We had a merry merry Christmas indeed!

Raspberries

We had such a wonderful time picking raspberries this year. This is one thing I really missed while in Orange County. We had lots of yummy strawberries but I sure do love utah raspberries.

The last time we went no one was in this stroller but the year before that I have this same shot with Lucy in instead of Siya.

Now we have helpers too!

Caleb was so enthusiastic he kept shaking his jug to show us his raspberries. It didn't take long for his raspberries to become juice.

But, we sure had fun. And have lots of YUMMMY jam.