treasures

 We celebrated Jackson's 6th birthday last week, treasure hunt style!  He requested chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting.  Jake, Josh, Kate, Booker, and Sebastian were invited.  He tried to get more friends but I said 6 is it (Jaxon couldn't come last minute).  I was the Captain and Lily my first mate.

The kids were super excited about finding all of the clues, but apparently hot tubbing was on the brain, since once they had found the super cool treasure chest (stained by Adam) filled with chocolate gold coins and jelly bean jewels and had a pirate cupcake, Jackson asked me "Mom, aren't we going to do something fun?"

 I love this shot of Lily and Jackson.  Best buddies!  The week before we celebrated in St. George with Grandma and Grandpa and Liz's kids too.  Trampoline park, and swimming in Veyo.  He seemed quite happy, especially with the new Wii game Grandma and Grandpa gave him.  He has never been so excited to come home before.  And the night before his party it was his turn for a night out with Dad, who took him to "How to Train Your Dragon 2" - with popcorn, candy and a big drink!  He was very excited.

(With Henry earlier in the summer)
Jackson is our wandering boy - he LOVES to explore!  I finally quit procrastinating and got Adam to take off his training wheels.  He sure wasn't happy at first, but within two days of working working working he finally got the hang of it!  Pretty neat to be able to see such hard work pay off, he was so determined.  And SO HAPPY when he got it.  He told me to take pictures, and call Dad, and send a picture to his friend's mom.  Super cute.  Interesting to compare to Lily:  while Jackson wanted help and guidance at first, Lily is one to push you away "I can do it myself!"  "I know how to do it!"  Funny how different their learning styles are.  

I took both of them to the Weber River path so we could bike and they LOVED it.  Jackson was so mad when we had to leave.  He was weaving in and out of the separating lines; standing up to pump up hills, and putting his feet up on his bike seat - all of the things he could do with training wheels.  Every few days he will tell me he is glad he took off his training wheels.  Such a neat kid.  At church yesterday I got him from his Primary class, where he was in the middle of telling a story to his teacher.  He continued telling me on the way home and kept on going - for 45 minutes!  He really has an awesome imagination.  I think he learned the art from Amanda's "Kid Stories" at bedtime, where she gave the kids reign at some of the story intersections.  At any given time you will likely find Jackson with something resembling a gun or swords/knives, completely lost in his own world of fighting and shooting.  Pretty neat except when you want his attention.  Can't believe he is 6 years old!

(At the cupcake store in St. George - courtesy of Amanda, of course.)  He started Kindergarten a few days after his birthday.  He is very excited to be going to a big school with his big sister.  I just wish it was all day instead of half day - after 3 years of preschool he is definitely ready!  He loves a good joke, too.  The other day he asked why he kept on forgetting things.  I said "hmm...because you're crazy?"  And he started yelling and saying "Ahh!  My hand is bleeding on fire!  Why is my hand bleeding on fire??" I asked why, and he said "Because.....Lily kicked my elbow?"  Love his silliness.

The kids were so excited when I had Ada join them for a dip in the hot tub.  This is one of the kids' favorite things ever.  I didn't think she would like it so much but she did!  Loved splashing just like Isaac.  And can I just say how awesome those trees are - it is a great deck!

The day finally came!  The kids have been watching the temple be built for the last 3+ years, and were SO EXCITED that we could finally go in!  The tour was a bit rushed compared to Brigham City, but nevertheless it was really neat to be able to take the kids through.  Isaac loved the water features the best.  Lily loved the diamond lights.  Jackson loved the windows.  It was a very special day, and I am grateful we got tickets even though I procrastinated getting them!

After the tour.  What a crew!  We are so happy to have a temple close again!  Cuts off an hour of babysitting time since we're not driving to Bountiful.

extras!

It is a sad thought this is my last baby I will get to hold while sleeping!  What a beauty.  And such a happy girl.  Fills me with wonder at least daily how lucky we are to have gotten her (because that was a hard road).

Amanda is a wonderful photograph taker!  These are mostly her shots from our time in St. George together.  I love how Ada's arm is outstretched and she still has multiple rolls!

At the sand dunes.  Love that hat!

 This is where Isaac ate breakfast every day.  What a great porch!  Lots of hot air balloon shows as well, so fun for the kids.

 We went up to Pinevalley one day.  Here is Dad telling stories of how aunts and uncles met.  Better than TV!

 On the same hammock I played on as a kid at my Grandma and Grandpa's house!  Unfortunately this was the straw that broke the camel's back, and the rusted metal broke a few minutes later...

 Henry is such a great reader!  Lily is pensively listening - she loves to pose for the camera!

 Nathan showing Henry how to play a video game, since his parents won't even buy a suitable TV.  Nathan was quite impressed by Jackson's skills.  I guess he forgot how good I was as a kid!

 At the trampoline park with Grandpa.  Dad thought it was so funny how Isaac never sank the trampoline because he is so tiny.

 Flower girl.  Lily seemed pretty happy with her summer in St. George.  She is starting at another school this year, the 3rd in 3 years.  She is such a trooper.

 And she loves her Aunt Amanda.  Who doesn't?  She is basically the best thing since sliced bread.

 The only time this has ever happened, and probably the last.  At our hotel in Boise, Idaho on the way home from Cannon Beach.  Cute kids.
Some other summer fun included having Carly and Carson come down for a sleep over.  We met Jana at the Tracy Aviary for the afternoon, then came home so the kids could play!  Lily and Jack are lucky to have such nice cousins.  They really do play great together.  They stayed 2 nights, and then Jana and Matt came up and we went to Pineview Reservoir to spend the afternoon at the beach.  The kids were in heaven.  Adam bought a little rowboat that they all loved.  Ada loved the water, I was surprised since it was so cold.  She loved the sand as well, and when she got back in the water with Adam actually fell asleep on his chest.
I also had a brithday - 32!  I got my hair cut, much to Adam's dismay.  Top comments included "What did you DO!!!" right when I walked in the door; and "You know I like long hair."  Always fun.  I bought a wheat grinder (so much more fun making bread when your kids actually eat it!), registered for a triathlon to do with Liz, and got my violin cleaned and fixed and a new case.  It was used by a neighbor for the past 5 years, and I finally got it back.  Very exciting!  We got to go on a date in St. George the weekend before too.  Good year.

CB ~ 2014

 Some of my favorites....Talking with Mom by the window.

 S'More's from a fire by Dad;  he was pretty disgusted in our idea of s'mores in the oven, so took out a bunch of recycling garbage and persisted and conquered despite my teasing and taunting.  We had some pretty good laughs.

 Isaac and Pete playing.  These two had a lot of fun and we wish we lived closer to each other!

 Babies love babies!  Sammy and Ada enjoying some post-nap play.

 Amanda made Dad an AMAZING breakfast in bed.  Dad kept on saying thank you to me even though the only thing I did was carry the plate in.  

 More playing!  That house is really great for kids.

 Isaac fighting the green.  Good luck buddy!

 Also he was determined to catch a sea gull.  It was pretty awesome: you can't beat a toddler's enthusiasm and surety for success at such a lofty goal.  He got Jack, Peter and Henry in on it, and they were at it for quite a while.  Eventually most of them were mad at each other though, thinking that somebody ELSE was to blame for the bird flying away...

 71 years!  Another quick bird story was at the fish hatchery outside Portland.  Adam bought fish food for the kids and up at a little pond Jackson bent down and got a duck to eat out of his hand.  Lily of course wanted to try but the ducks wanted nothing to do with her.  We thought they had got spooked but then Jack tried again with success!  Lily tried again and failed.  It was so funny.  Adam tried and failed.  Jack succeeded.  Adam helped Lily who finally succeeded with Jack's coaching.  Then Adam helped Isaac succeed.  Jack is our bird charmer apparently!

 The ocean!  Peter and Isaac had been playing tag with the waves when one bowled over Isaac.  After that he didn't want to go near the water, just shoot it with his gun.

 Seven year old Lily!  Beautiful girl.  She loved running and playing in the water - no fear of the cold for her!

 Jackson contemplating and showing off his muscly thighs.  He is a strong boy.  Good thing Cannon Beach is kind of isolated.  This kid will wander and explore to his heart's content no matter how many admonitions and/or threats he gets!

 Sand!

 Ada liked it.  I didn't like having to monitor how much got in her eyes or diaper area.  Sand diapers are the worst.

 My little cuddle buddy.  After listening to Lily and Jackson be so excited about Cannon Beach he of course started repeating "I want to go to Cannon Beach!"  When we drove into town and pointed out the water to the kids Isaac kept on saying "Where's Cannon Beach?"  I forgot that the last time we were there he was 9 months old.

 Movie time!  Lily and Jackson slept on the fold out bed and thought it was the coolest thing ever to have a TV in their bedroom.  They (didn't really but had to have us come and turn it off for them) fall asleep to movies every night.

 Uncle Tyler got a kite for his birthday.  Our kids commandeered as much time as they could.

 Jackson was sooooo excited it got up in the air for him!

 I was determined to do something else on our trip to Tillamook.  I found a little waterfall hike that we went on.  Like most things, Jackson ran ahead of everyone outside of shouting distance, got to the end, and passed us on his way back to where the car was....Tyler ran back to get him when we realized he had gone all the way back, and we had to point up to the waterfall to show him what he missed the first time!

 Luckily Amanda and Tyler let me borrow Sam's stroller.  That was a steep hike!  Ada was happy as usual even though she had a cold.

 Jack ran to the bottom to play in the creek.  He was so hot he dipped his head in to cool off.  I can't remember why Pete was sad, but boy that face reminds me of Amanda!

Lily was very excited until she asked Grandpa for a ride and he said no.  Poor girl.  Even though we were carrying her around until way older than other kids because she is so tiny, she still wants to be carried all of the time and gets very sad when we say no!  The hike was nice since we could stop and look at all of the beautiful green foliage.  Outdoor Oregon is so refreshing.

This is what Isaac was doing while I was packing for the trip.  Not sure how to label it but it was really funny.  And yes he did get the pump up and down a few times.  It is so much fun to watch him grow up.  He is a super good talker and loves to ask to watch Star Wars and have otter pops.  And popcorn, if Grandma and Grandpa are in town.  :)

fun in the sun

Isaac wants me to put a movie on for him (it is 9 am).  I am cleaning up and trying to get him to help me.  He just said, "You driving me crazy!"  Ha!  Right back at you, buddy.

Mom:  Does anyone know where my purse is?
Lily:  Oh....sorry Mom.  It's in my closet.
Mom: Why?  Ada is sleeping and now I can't get my camera!
Lily: It wasn't my fault.
*pause*
Mom:  Could you please explain whose fault it was?
Lily:  It wasn't my fault!  I wasn't thinking when I did it.

We went to St. George to spend time with Amanda and her kids.  Here we are at the Crack!  Isaac even went through, and I couldn't keep up with Lily, Jack and Henry they were so fast.

 Home free at the top!  This is one of Jackson's favorite places to explore.

 I wasn't a huge fan of the drop off that Isaac was next to....hence his grumpy face at me telling Henry to hold on tight!

 The caves are the most fun!

 Lily and Jackson letting Mom get a few extra minutes of sleep.  Ada loves them so much.

We went to the sand dunes one morning at 9 am....the kids lasted about 10 minutes, it was SO HOT!!!

 Then I went home and left the kids for a long weekend.  I tried to get the boys room painted but it was also the World Cup (i.e. no help from Adam).  Pretty nice break anyhow.  I was pretty mad at myself for leaving Isaac - it was a last minute decision and I missed him like crazy!  He is such a handful but such a cutie.  Nathan, Alicia and Eve got to St. George and Nathan texted that they would maybe steal him because he was so adorable...Adam and I got a good laugh at that!  Adam said he just needed to wait a few hours.

 Pedicures!  The previous week Amanda was saying that we needed to get a babysitter because she wanted to go shopping and then get a pedicure.  Lily quickly interjected "No!  It has been so long since I had a pedicure!  I need one too!"  Ha!

 McKay bought a boat, and Mimi took the kids the first day.  They loved it, and were so excited to tell us about tubing.  Amanda went to Vegas with Tyler for their anniversary and asked us to watch their kids.  Adam and I discussed taking Peter and Henry boating and I said "but Amanda will say no" to which Adam answered "Why do we even need to ask?"  So we didn't, and Mom watched Sam and Ada while we went out for a while.  The boys loved it!  I was so glad, as I was pretty nervous they would freak out from being scared.  They even got on the tube, and Henry twice!  Very impressive.

 Fireworks with cousins at Nate and Audrey's.  That was an awesome show!

 I noticed Jackson climbing down the rocks - who needs stairs?

 S'more's afterwards...

 Jack wanted his picture taken with his yummy treat.

 A few days after getting home (with the usual whining of why-do-we-have-to-go-home-it-hasn't-been-that-long, to which we answer "YOU HAVE BEEN HERE 3 WEEKS.  WE ARE GOING HOME!") Britt and her family came to visit.  Although we gave them a stomach flu for their ride home, it was so fun to see them.  The kids were happy, and the adults even got to go on a kid-free date!  Score!  We went to an Indian restaurant that Adam wouldn't have gone to with me alone, and reminisced about their last visit when Adam was working and we took all 6 kids so Kurt could feel like a polygamist.  Pretty funny.

 Good bye photos.  On top is before I offered Gregory 75 cents.

 And after!  I only knew of a dime I could offer Eleanor, and that only got a teeny tiny smile from her, I wasn't quick enough to catch it.  Gregory had a neat bank he had won at the Nickelcade.  In St. George Nathan got a WiiU that triggered Jackson's brain big time.  So lots of money saving talk, which promoted:

 Lemonade Stand!  Jack was asking every day about doing a lemonade stand to make enough money to buy a WiiU.  Lily offered to sell her bed (she still isn't happy about us selling her birthday present when we moved....).  I resisted as long as I could - was I nervous their hopes would be dashed?  Probably.  But we finally just got it done.  I went out and was their first customer.

 So cute.  Lily was holding the sign.  And the first real customer stopped!  It was pretty exciting.  I was hiding inside hoping it would be soon.  They set it up again the next day (Saturday) and made $8.50.  I was impressed.  But really, we do have a great street for it - a lot of traffic.

 Now if we want them to do something we offer them money (outside of normal chores and good behavior).  Hopefully it will get them reading more and trying new foods.  Jackson is pretty desperate to get a WiiU!

Here is our happy baby girl.  At her 6 month check up (she's 7 months now), she was a bit over 19 lbs.  Adam wanted to know how much Isaac was and he was 24 with clothes on.  She's growing!  But also she can get around anywhere, so should be thinning out soon.  Such a gorgeous girl.  She is still super content if her belly is full.  Although she gets really mad whenever I leave a room.  Which can get old.  She got her shots, so when we got home Isaac pointed to his head and said he had an owie.  There was a bump there (he gets bonks so often that Adam says it's 'perma-bruise') and I put a band-aid on it.  He was cuddling with me a little later and said "I have owie.  I bonk my head.  Doctor said no more jumping on the bed."  Super cute.

I realized we have been in this house under 3 months.  Although the garden areas are an absolute disaster, we have done so much work inside.  I am excited for things to slow down in the home improvement area.