Better than Christmas!

The kids have really enjoyed playing with the boxes of toys that have been packed away for more than two years, but toys aren't the only fun new things about our new home...
The tub in the master bath with the jets is a big hit.














Also, I've found some hidden treasures as well. I now have my cookbooks again, and I found my favorite brownie recipe that I made quite often when we lived in Logan. We tried it out the other night, and the kids gave their approval.















Bentley does remember some things we are unpacking. I'm not sure if Emma remembers anything, and everything is new to Ali. I just hope that Christmas isn't a disappointment this year with all this excitement in July. I know I shouldn't worry about such things and just focus on the true meaning of the Christmas Season a little more this year. Still, it is a slight worry.

Leavitt Family Reunion

We spent the fourth of July weekend at the Leavitt Family Reunion. This year it was held in Kanab.
We left on Thursday morning and arrived that evening. We checked into our room and then enjoyed delicious taco salads at the park there with swimming after. The pool was reserved for our family, and the kids had a blast. Its a nice newer pool with a play area, lazy river and water slide, but sad to say I didn't get a single picture of it as I was swimming with the kids each time we went.

The next day, Friday, the guys went golfing which Bentley loved, and the girls visited Jacob Lake for lunch.










That afternoon we swam in the hotel pool and then enjoyed hawaiian hay stacks at a school which had been reserved for our family. The kids had fun playing in the gym, and the adults got to visit. That night we had a little program which was a tribute to Granny as she will turn 80 in November. It was really sweet and was a highlight of the trip.

Pictured below are the great-grandkids at the dinner and then Granny and the Aunts and Uncles.













The next day, The Fourth of July, we attended a fun parade. It was quite impressive, and the kids, especially Bentley and Mason:), got way too much candy but had a blast.



























































After that we had sandwiches at my Uncle Berne and Aunt Jan's summer home where the kids got to swing on big tree swings, blow bubbles, and play.
















We then went swimming again. Granny treated any children who wanted to go. That night we had another wonderful meal of BBQ pork and homemade corn dogs with all the trimmings.















After dinner we went to see an impressive firework display. The kids loved it. Emma and Kasha shouted "Bravo, Bravo" while waving their Forth of July pom-poms throughout. Bentley was excited to sit by his "buddy," Cannon, and Ali sat with her hands over her ears the whole time but said she liked it when I asked her about it after it was all over.















The next day after breakfast and church we traveled home.
We stopped in Parowan at my Grandma Hettie's for a Sunday lunch and visiting and still made it home before dark. It was a really fun weekend and so nice to see and keep in touch with family!

Moving Day! ... All Week Long

I'm happy to be able to report that we have officially moved. It has been quite the process. We've been living in the "Cabin" but the majority of our possessions have been at my parents and in a storage unit near their house. On Tuesday we made the trip to Price to load a trailer which my dad drove up the next day as he was coming up for a meeting he had on Thursday. We got clearance to put things in the garage of our new home before our actual move in date, so Wednesday night Tom, my dad and mom, Kenzi, and John loaded the garage. Then on Friday, with the help of Tom's parents and brothers, Allen and John, we brought things from the cabin. On Saturday we made a final trip down from the cabin, and then the work of setting up the house and organizing "junk" that had been packed away for two years began. We had help from Tom's parents, his brother, John, and sister, Nora. The girls were able to play with cousins as Heather volunteered to watch them, and Bentley has enjoyed earning money for a new bike by helping load boxes. Thanks to all the many people who have helped. The help has been a life saver as it hasn't been as easy move for me personally.










Loading up the storage unit.









The kids had fun playing at grandmas while Tom, Bentley and my dad, along with men from my parent's ward loaded the storage unit (Tuesday). The kids ran through the sprinkler, so we had to change them into PJs a little early.

...

So far we have loved our new surroundings. The people in the neighborhood and ward are extremely friendly, and the kids have already made new friends. We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but I couldn't be happier.

The Homestead

We joined my Mom, Kenzi, and Beth at The Homestead for some swimming, lunch, delicious fudge, and a really fun day. We got to see the hot pot there and learn about the history of the place.















Here are the kids taking a little break during our unofficial tour.
















And here we are really "resting" (except for Ali and Bether who apparently didn't want to play along with the whole lets all take a nap game).
Of all the fun moments of a day, sometimes I'm amazed at what actually gets captured on the camera... not a great representation of this day, but at least some documentation is better than nothing I guess.

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly

The kids and I attended a fun Wednesday story hour based around an old lady who swallowed a fly :) They enjoyed making puppets and putting on a puppet show in the old lady. Good times at the library.

Happy Father's Day!

Wishing all the wonderful Fathers (especially my own) out there a very Happy Day!

Summer swimming

One of our favorite activities this summer is definitely cooling off in the pool. The kids are getting to be pretty confident in the water, and other than the fact that a swimming suit hides very little, I'd have to say I enjoy it too. Bentley asked what the "cords" on my legs were and if he could take a good look at them. I kindly told him they're called veins and that women don't like to have them on their legs, so no, please don't look at them... He wasn't too convinced and is still pretty amazed at my marks of motherhood.

Ouch!

Emma fell on the 'mean old rock stairs' and really did a number to her eye. I wish I could say it was her first battle with those stairs, but sadly it is not. From the look of things it seems that the stairs may have won...

Somewhere over the ...

Like much of the state, we've had a lot of moisture so far this summer. Last week was spent in Price, so the last few days have been the first couple lazy summer days. We've had few scheduled events, so what I envisioned as being a lot of warm days spent at the park and going swimming has turned into trying to come up with rainy day activities inside. Monday night after the rain had stopped, the kids spotted a double rainbow that was pretty impressive.

Yesterday while getting the kids ready, Ali wanted two ponies in her hair. After I had finished, I had a conversation with Emma that went like this:
Emma: Do you know what she looks like?
Mom: No, what?
Emma: An elk.
Mom: A what?
Emma: An elk with two, teeny, tiny horns.
(Cute little elk at that:)






Then yesterday during our rainy day activities we decided to make elephant finger puppets. Those familiar with the Joy School songs may know the song, "One elephant went out to play, upon a bright and sunny day, she had such enormous fun that she called for an other elephant to come. Two elephants..." We had fun singing and putting on plays with our elephants.

We'll have to change our banner

After two plus years of Woodland View Drive, our family is making a change. As of July this will be our new residence. Among all the things that will go along with our upcoming move: packing, unloading the storage unit, new neighborhood, new ward, new friends, new school, etc... we're going to have to change our banner. Woodland View Drive will be a thing of the past, except for our frequent visits for family get togethers, sledding, hiking, marshmallow roasts, etc. of course. As for a new banner, right now I don't have any ideas.