Teardrop Lake

Saturday morning at 5:30am Molly and dad, Mike and Sage loaded up and drove to Henry's Lake.  They fished there all morning and only got a tiny minnow.  They took kayaks and immediately Molly got a leech stuck to her leg so that was the end of that. I dare sat it was a disappointing time.

Thankfully they met up with us in Ashton at Big Judds for a hamburger and a smile.  We couldn't go early because Ella was doing a fundraiser car wash with the student council at Bonneville and needed to stay until noon.

Then we drove to Teardrop Lake (also known as Snow Creek) and found a spot we could enjoy with hammocks, kayaks, fishing and relaxing.

The kids all had a great time. 

 

Ella had a good hour napping in the hammock.

Thankfully the boys caught a few fish at this lake and we ended the day with tired eyes, a few mosquito bites and big smiles.

Big Elk Creek Camping

We went camping with the Christensen and Elder families at Big Elk Creek for a few nights and had so much fun playing in the lake and with friends.  Lincoln and Grant were best buddies and had so much fun playing together the whole time.  They got pretty good on the little kayaks. 

A few times we loaded up and went to jump off the dock.

Ella and Bree had so much fun together too.  They are also the same age.

Even dad got in on the fun.

Rainbow looms, snakes and hammocks.  Everyone had plenty of friends to play with.  

And as we were leaving a hummingbird visited camp.  So much fun!  God is good, and nature is beautiful.  We are so blessed.

May 2020

We are so happy to finally be hanging out with friends again and to have some warmer weather.  Molly's friend Kimmi and her family put a tarp in the back of her dad's truck and filled it up with water for a swimming pool.  They thought it was the greatest thing.  They got to ride in the back of the truck to bring Molly home and that was pretty fun too.  They had their poses ready for me when they got there and had me come take a picture.

The other was a random play date when they did their make up a tad bit crazy!

Molly and I took a trip to Sunnyside Nursery to get a few flowers for our pots and for Grandma Carol.  We wore our masks and just had to take a picture because it was the first time she had been out with her mask.

Alissa & friends Kennadee and Hadlie in Hadlie's back yard.  Again.. yay for being with friends again. 

The kids got dad to pain a pretty awesome rock into an A1 sauce for the rock path at the school. 

Gas prices were crazy low at like $1.59/gal for unleaded.   I just had to take a picture for history sake. 

Dad and Gracie having popcicles.  It's one of her favorite words to say and snacks to have. 

Random pictures with Ella and Alissa. 

We love how Gracie puts her blanket up to her nose.  

She looks so cute, just had to get a picture to remember.

Heidi stopped to have me pierce Hadley's ears. 

More random kids photos and activities.  You get creative when you are in part quarantine. 

We got our door and columns painted.  I love how they turned out.

Lincoln and his best buddy Grant.  They go from his house to ours playing xbox and the snow cone truck was at Summit Hills so I walked them down there to get one.  Yay for summer!

Mothers Day

Mothers Day photos were a bit rough this year.  I think everybody was a little grumpy because, for some reason, mom was grumpy.  I just wanted to wake up and have everybody be in good moods and get dressed for my traditional Mothers Day photo, but unfortunately, that didn't happen.  I felt guilty all day for being grumpy on the day to celebrate the greatest success of my life, but the next day I felt good again.  I celebrate motherhood on the daily I guess.  I love being a mom and it's the only job I ever wanted to have.  I love these kids with all of my heart and soul and love their daddy who helps me raise them and loves them alongside me.

We are truly blessed and I love being a mom!

Lets just glance at years past..

April Quarantine

April was a super long month!  We were pretty strictly quarantined to the house.  We did have some highlights though.  We watched General Conference - everybody loves to snuggle mom.  Ella might be getting over it now, but she managed to jump on when it was picture time.  I believe it may have been the first time ever that no live audience was present for General Conference.  The speakers were in the room by themselves and not even in the conference center.  It was strange but made us realize the importance of keeping the laws of the land and following our prophet.

We did a LOT of walks around the track at Summit Hills Elementary by our home.  One afternoon we went over and Dustin played kickball with the kids while I played with baby Grace.

Family is what matters the most.  During times like this it is a true witness of the reality of that.  God, family and freedom.  I love these people more than they could ever know.

We did lots of homeschool.  It was tricky making sure that every kid made it online during the correct time and day to listen to their teachers.  So thankful for that laptop Ella got for Christmas this year and that she is old enough and capable of handling her classes on her own.  Almost every time I heard their teachers talking to them in the first few weeks I would just tear up.  It made my heart so thankful for other people who love my kids and want to help and teach them.  I'm sure it was no easy thing for them to suddenly have to switch to teaching kids via online.

Lincoln doing Kindergarten with Mrs. Moeller.  Out of all the kids I'd say he did the best with online.  I'm sure it had something to do with how easy Kindergarten is and he had already made bench marks before quarantine, but he really did a great job.

Molly learning from Mrs. Adcock.  The egg picture to remind us she did multiple science experiments and teach the teacher on video for her class.  They were really fun.  She showed her class how to bake a cake.

Alissa smiling at Mrs. Johnson.  

My favorite class to listen in on from Ella was Seminary. ♥

Taco Bell gave away free Doritos tacos to as many people were in your vehicle on Tuesdays all through quarantine.  And we went like 5 weeks in a row until the kids didn't even want a Dorito taco anymore.  We would get a taco and a $1 slushy and go sit at the Sand Dunes because not many people were there and it was very easy to keep a distance.  Mostly it was a good excuse to get out of the house and try to feel human.

Alissa dug a hole so deep and wanted to do a handstand in it.  If nothing else it made us laugh.

We sewed masks for everyone.  Ella got to sew her own.  So glad for that sewing class and that she knows how to do that.  Alissa also sewed a lot of Barbie clothes just making patterns up.  She is pretty darn impressive.  She didn't have a class, just learned from me teaching her and from practice.

We painted a TON like 200+ rocks and we lined the track over at the elementary school with them.  We encouraged others to help us line the track and we almost made it to the end.  It was a fun little project to keep us busy and encourage some unity in the community.  Many people commented on how much they loved seeing them and the news even came and showed them one day.

This is the kids by the rocks and Alissa going crazy holding a cone. 

A few random photos that I don't even have explanation for.

We were able to unpack just about everything during quarantine and go through some boxes we had been storing for a while.  We found a selfie stick and Alissa thought it was great.  This is one of like 100 photos she took while I was doing the boxes. 

Gracie LOVES going for a bike ride.  Ella took her a few times and she thought it was great, but it made me real nervous. 

Alissa and I made suckers multiple times.  Grandma Debbie was so nice to get us some sets of sucker making materials for Easter.

The girls had a eat what you wear challenge one day and only ate the color they were wearing.  It was pretty silly, but honestly .. you just get creative when you are quarantined.

And last but certainly not least one evening as I was doing the dishes my cute little buddy went outside the kitchen window so I could see him and was flashing hearts and I love you signs to me.  This kid has me wrapped.  I sure love him!