Boys' Night Out & Super Soakers

BY EASTON

Me and Daddy had another Boys Only camping trip! This time was especially exciting because we got caught in a HUGE rainstorm. Mama got all worried but I called her and told her how much fun I was having. Me and Daddy loved it, we left the worrying to my doggy Fern and to Mama. When I called Mama on the phone I was talking a million miles an hour because I was so excited! 

Daddy carved this for Mama. They are SO mushy :)

I saw a really cool Super Soaker water gun at my grandma's. She told me it was my cousin's. I told my Mama all about it and she said that if I worked really hard I could do chores and earn the super soaker. I was so excited! I even begged to do chores. Mama said she hopes that lasts :) Here are a few of the things I did. . . . . . . (with some help from Mama, but not much!)

1. weeded the garden.
2. washed the car.
3. washed windows.
4. cleaned my room.
5. played with my sister.
6. swept the porch.
7. clean up playroom
8. made my bed.

I kept doing chores until my envelope was empty

I loved doing this chore: Playing with Kinley

She loved it too!

It took me a whole week to do all of the chores. Then just me and Mama went to the store to pick out my very own super soaker gun. Mama said it was a date :) I told Mama I was looking for a green super soaker. I spent a really really long time looking at all of the different ones before finding just the right one in just the right color. I was SO excited. On the way home I told Mama, "I am so happy I earned my super soaker". I was so excited to show Dad which one I picked when I got home. I slept with it. Mama said I couldn't bring it to church though, bummer! I told Mama that when she is outside next time I is going to get her with my super soaker!

A few other funny things I said this week:

After peeing on the front porch: "Oh Mama I so sorry, I didn't mean to. I thought it was a bathroom!"

In primary when we learned about being kind to our brothers and sisters the teacher asked if I share with my sister, I said, "No I take her toys. When she is asleep I go in and wake her up!"

While at Grandma & Grandpas: "Oh boy Grandpa I is so tired, why don't we rest ourselves? Grandma you can go in the house, me and Grandpa is resting ourselves".

Happy Birthday America!

BY EASTON

We went camping over Independence Day! We still drove into town for an awesome parade where I got SO much candy. My favorite was the taffy. We roasted mallows. I rode my bike. We went in the Razor on a really long ride. We went to a lake where I promptly stripped down to my underwear since Mama "forgot" my swimsuit. We explored ice caves. We watched movies with my cousins in our trailers. And I dug A LOT of holes with Dad's shovel. 

Waiting for taffy!

Cousins :)

I wore this helmet 24/7. Ya know, just in case someone started a motorcycle. That way I was properly dressed to beg for a ride. 

DIRT!

BIG ICICLE! WHEW!

I also had a dentist appointment yesterday. Mama said she was so proud of my she nearly cried! I kept my mouth open so wide for the dentist lady that she said I was a really good alligator! haha. I let her clean all of my teeth and only accidentally bit her once. She used special bubble gum toothpaste. It smelled good. It did NOT taste good.She said my teeth are nice and clean and cavity free!! I picked a dinosaur for my toy. I was so excited to go to the dentist and when we left I asked Mama when we could go again.

Happy 4th!

We decided to, now brace yourself for a big surprise, go camping over the fourth! We are really making good use of our trailer :) We went up to a really pretty canyon north of Bear Lake for a few days. It was nice to escape the worst of the heat. It was a few degrees cooler and we even got a couple of thunderstorms which I loved and my dog hated.  We traveled down to Paris on the 4th because the kiddos wanted to catch a parade (AND CANDY!) and my sweet niece Kambri told us it didn't feel like the fourth of July without a parade :) The kiddos had a blast. And Paris, ID doesn't cut corners on candy. Way to be generous! 

cousins

A little too bright for Nathaniel's left eye!

Other than the parade we spent lots of time 4wheeling and eating mallows, classic camping stuff. Easton was OBSESSED with anything with wheels that moved (aka the 4wheelers and motorcycles) so he wore Nate's full face helmet 24/7, sheesh!

The ice caves! That's one big icicle 

Nathaniel lake jumping at Lake Bloomington

June

More camping baby! We celebrated my birthday, it was a blast. My husband spoiled me rotten, it was fabulous. We got to swing by Bear Lake during one of our camping trips. The kiddos loved it, Easton especially. Kinley really enjoyed eating the sand, over and over again. I did NOT enjoy the sandy diapers for the week following. We are the proud owners of a new trailer! We loved our old one but it won't work so well once this little bun in my oven is here :) After some crazy mad negotiating skills by my dad and some major perseverance by my hubby we are the proud new owners of a trailer that is much newer and fits our family so much better. We love it!

Speaking of bun in the oven he/she is growing like a weed! Even giving me some good kicks. We do know the gender but I don't want to reveal it yet! Our target ultrasound is coming up and and I'm hoping to get a good picture of his/her cute little face to go with the announcement! I got a sneak peak at my last appointment and I will tell you that she/he is ADORABLE already!

Life is good. We feel so very blessed. We have two beautiful kiddos that are absolute miracles and one more miracle on the way. It's so much more than I ever thought possible. When we first encountered infertility I really changed my thinking on the size of my family, I stopped expecting. After we got Easton I thought, okay I'd love two but this is GREAT! After Kinley I thought wow two is amazing, we'll see what happens. Then we got the huge surprise of this little bun! Some days I struggle, there is NO doubt. Exhaustion is a whole new factor with this pregnancy, especially chasing two very busy kiddos around. My husband works incredibly hard to provide for us. I am so grateful for him. That sometimes means long days for both of us. He really amazes me with his dedication and positive attitude. He rarely complains. I've got wonderful family. They are such a huge support to me! I cannot express how often they have given me just the help and support I am so desperately in need of. I'm grateful for parents who are still parenting and supporting me. I have wonderful neighbors. Families who are so friendly and always looking for a way to help. People who really just want to serve with no personal gain, none. Young women in my ward who jump in to help me with my kids each week. Who see me coming home from school lunch and run across the street to help me get the kiddos inside. Incredible. My body has been through a lot in the last few years, the hardest part being the huge hormone changes from pregnancy to nursing to stopping nursing to pregnancy again. It's been difficult and I've experienced some post partum depression, insecurities in motherhood, and dark times. I am so grateful for all of these wonderful people in my life that have helped me through it and been my light when I was having a tough time finding it myself. I am so grateful for my family and close friends.

May

We've been busy at our house! Summer is a fun and crazy time! We plan lots of camping trips. Go to lots of BBQ's. Every day I take the kiddos to school lunch, which they LOVE. We go swimming, to fairs, etc. We LOVE summer! Here are a few pics from May.

We drew pirate mustaches

Camping!

Riding every chance they get.

First ponytail - look hard - top left :)

No idea how he pulled this off.

"Mama, me and Daddy is sleeping! No pictures"