Little Everyday MOMents

The kids didn't want the traditional picture in front of the door so this will suffice. First day of first and third grades doing home school.

And this little squish. What can I say? This may be the last moment he falls asleep on my lap and I'm soaking in every minute.

 

Individual School Dates

 Once the school announced their daily format for school, I knew instantly that the distance learning due to COVID was not going to work for us. There really wasn't much improvement compared to how school was being conducted in the spring and that was an utter nightmare. With lots of research of varying curriculum and even more prayer, I decided to un-enroll my children from public school. Public school was just not going to fit for us, not the students or myself as a parent. So I've chosen to home school my kids this year. And so far, it is going pretty darn well! I love the flexibility - we can do whatever we want, when we want. The kids love the videos and learning games and I supplement with typing, doing a gratitude journal for our writing to promote selflessness and positivity, art, and our own PE is usually riding bikes or hiking. I can even plan any field trips! I got Cora back into private therapy for speech and reading, and Kimball is now taking piano lessons.

 

I love this feisty, sassy girl. She knows what she wants all the time and is so determined. After getting school supplies she chose a donut for her treat. Of course.

Kimball chose ice cream for his treat and as we picked up school supplies he found a dirt bike in the middle of the store. Since he's all about mountain biking, that was the best part of his date with me.

 

Potty Training-No More Diapers!

 

Squeezing Out the Last Drops of Summer

No group photos of us but the kids earned their Silverwood tickets through a reading program and we found the perfect day. Such FUN!!

We went to a demolition derby at the Stateline race track, boy what a crack up. Ezra loved it most of all and we sneaked in licorice and oreos, can't beat that for a more lovely summer evening together.

Stopping for a quick treat for our day!

A few weeks ago as we were hiking through Beacon Hill we stumbled across the pump track and other major jumps up the mountain. KIMBALL WAS IN HEAVEN!!! We go at least once a week to run the jumps and finish off for a snack at the river before heading home.

The wildfires have been relentless in August! CA, OR, and WA have all had whole towns destroyed, it has been so sad. Our air quality became hazardous and was at 497 at one point, it was so smoky and we couldn't do anything outdoors for 10 days.

 

Mothers Day in Utah

I forgot to document Mothers Day this year. I hinted very heavily, nay-I gave a few direct speeches-to Lance about how I should take a short trip to SLC to visit Christine because I deserve it. I work all year with no thanks and no pay and I deserve a break to see my sister and her new baby boy. Anyway, after much persuasion Lance consented and my present for Mother's Day was a trip down to SLC.

I got really lucky because I got to stay three nights!! Not only that but Mom and Dad joined me for part of that trip so I got to see them too. It was heaven! I pretty much sat around being waited on, haha. I didn't have to cook any meals or clean anything or change diapers, it was a true break from my everyday. I can't say that's completely true. I did get up with Grayson for one night so Christine could have a break.

One of the days we went to Antelope Island to see the old homestead. This is the beautiful view we had! We picnicked there and even saw some buffalo.

Grayson makes some of the funniest faces

While I was gone, Lance took the kids to Fish Lake where they could explore around. One night they all had a slumber party in the guest room with yummy snacks. Everything went well and Lance didn't die and the kids LOVED it.

 

Summer Vacation

Our vacation in a nutshell (because I didn't get many pictures at all and then lost my phone on a trail. Oops.) :The first day all the younger kids went camping with Grandma and Grandpa Pettingill so Christine and I got to go shopping with just the two of us. It was so needed to be together and we definitely needed new clothes! That next week was spent in Twin Falls visiting Coxes and May's. 

The next week we went to UT to Cherry Hill water park with all the Pettingill's. What a blast! We had some good food, some good games (the best part was Scott tripping on his own shoe during a foot race), and good company. Lance took Kimball for a day trip to Lagoon, I'm pretty sure that was Kimball's highlight for the summer. I also finally got to meet Lucy!! We were also able to be there for Graysons' baby blessing and it was such a tender experience watching Grandpa Washburn in his feeble condition. On the way back to ID we drove to Logan to visit Laura and Josh Van Noy, we think it has been 10 years since we last saw them. We had a double date out to dinner and then joined them for church the following day. While there, we showed the kids the temple where we got married. Oh and when we picked up Lance from the airport in SLC we showed the temple square even though it was all closed up due to COVID. At least they could see that what we hear and see on TV for general conference really is real and tangible.

The last week Lance and I went on a date zip lining in the canyon. These runs were nothing compared to the runs in CDA. We rented the cabin in Elba and had the Cox reunion. We did lots of four wheel riding (where I lost my phone somewhere in Frank's Hollow), swimming, eating, visiting, and games.

You can't have a summer vacation without being dog tired every night. Ezra fell asleep on the bath rug waiting for me to tuck him in.

Swimming with May cousins

Tanned bum! 

Brad took Christine and I to Niagra Spring? Dam? I don't remember the name, but he took us fishing somewhere in the canyon on the Jerome side. Christine couldn't figure out how to cast and I was just a laughing and laughing at her, it was so funny! We didn't catch anything that morning but we all had a good time trying.

We had a girls trip shopping! We hit a ton of stores and everybody found something. It was really fun having the younger cousins and just be girls! 

The best part of our trip!