Together

I had a moment this past Saturday. I was sitting in the stands watching Parker play in his basketball game and I was eavesdropping into the conversation behind me. A couple of parents were watching their son play in the game and the mother's parents were there cheering on their grandson.

"Let's plan on dinner tonight after we get back from snow skiing." the Grandma said. If you don't want to take the baby I'd be happy to stay back and watch her." "What time is Ava's game this week? We wouldn't miss it for the world!" said the Grandpa.

I don't know why but this ordinary conversation just hit me in the gut. My eyes welled up with tears as I thought about how ALONE we are sometimes living here. My kids rarely get to show their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins... all of the things they are involved in. Sure there are sometimes some very real perks to being by ourselves and relying solely on each other but it made me sad for a minute. It made me especially sad for my kids. My kids are my life. I just rave about them and sometimes I wish there was someone in the stands next to me who could rave right along with me I guess. Sometimes I long for family HELP when we're stuck in a bind with no one to watch a kid or take a kid somewhere.

I'm grateful that I have my little family though. I know that home is wherever they are at. We're together even though we're alone. ☺

Parker's basketball team finished the season winning all of their games except for one. These 2nd graders showed the 3rd and 4th grade teams whats up. They were so dedicated and are light years beyond the skill level of the majority of 2nd graders. We've had leagues call and try to get them to join THEIR leagues because they have heard about the "infamous 2nd graders." Am I on my bragging box....heck yes I am. My husband has dedicated many, MANY hours to help coach these boys. They have taught them life skills and not just basketball skills which is even more amazing. One week, all of the boys were instructed to reach out and do something nice for someone that might need it. A classmate who needed a smile or an invite to play on the playground. All of the boys came to the next practice telling everyone all of the random acts of kindness they had done that week. Melts my heart.

My Dallin scored his VERY FIRST goal this weekend in 5 years. He loves soccer and sure gives it his all. He usually plays defender or goalie but was moved up to forward this game and scored a goal on a direct kick. I was literally screaming my head off. I was so proud of my boy. I may or may not have teared up in that moment as well.

(It's got to be the breastfeeding hormones or something.)

This week I also took Dallin and Parker up to Kelly Canyon for the first time. I lugged the baby all the way up there and looked SO completely out of place with her. I sat in the lodge for hours with her trying to keep her happy. The boys completed an hour of private lessons and then skiied by themselves for about 3 hours. I thought I was going to have an anxiety attack each time they rode up the chair lift alone. I just kept hoping that they wouldn't fall, or run into someone or something. I just wanted to be skiing with them or have Nate there just in case. Overprotective....yes, probably. They did just fine though and I'm happy they had a good time.

Sweet sister has been sick for the majority of the week. Just yesterday she finally started feeling better.

I took some pictures of her today just becuase she's the cutest thing ever. She grows and changes so much so quickly. I can hardly believe that she will be a whole 8 months old next week.

Even though I did have my weak moment it only takes me one second of looking at this handsome attorney of mine and know that we're tough. Together we can do hard things. Even if that means we have to do it alone. He is my rock (even though technically I'll always be his ROCK...haha) and my everything. I love him so much.

 

Also, our house is coming along. We have a foundation and should be getting started on the framing this week. I cannot WAIT until it is done. ☺

 

 

Go Seals!

2 more games and Parker's basketball season comes to a close. It is mind blowing how well these 2nd graders play together. They practice hard and practice often (which is both good AND bad...haha). Last night they scrimmaged against a team of 4th graders. They didn't win but it was a great game. I was surprised that they didn't get totally smoked. I can only imagine how good they will be by the time they are in 4th grade. Oh how I love cheering for my P-man. He is such a little stud. ☺

 

 Isn't that one cute coach over there on the sidelines holding a squirmy baby? Yeah, I thought so too.

Girl in pink

 

 

Free day at the museum

I love the museum here in town. It is seriously SO expensive though. To take my entire family would cost us a nice $40 each time. So not worth it when we are only there for about 2 hours.

Monday was FREE day at the museum. This is the very first time they have done this since the museum opened 10 years ago. I knew it would be busy so we got there right at 9:00am (open time).

 

The traveling exhibit was all on carousels. It was surprisingly so interesting. They had old hand cranked carousels and old steam engine ones. Some of the animals were carved in the late 1800's. As I type this I'm thinking how lame I sound. Seriously though...it was really cool.

 

As we left the museum the line to get in was wrapped all the way around the museum. Early bird gets the worm man. So glad we got there when we did. ☺

Disneyland (Days 5 &6)

Day 5 at Disneyland was awesome. The weather was great. The ENTIRE family was there (Kelsey, Logan, Brittany and Clay all arrived) We did a few rides at Disney in the morning and spent the rest of the day over at California Adventure. We'd never been to CA Adventure before. What FUN! We absolutely LOVED the CARS street and the roller coaster and the Toy Story ride! Disney really is amazing!

We did a little Jedi training which was SO cute. Parker really got into the role!

We rode on the tower of terror for the first time. SOOOOO fun!

We met up with some friends the Turvilles from Idaho Falls and went on a couple of rides together. Sharla and I and the kids and BABIES got stuck on the huge ferris wheel for a good 20 minutes. I was freaking out a little bit I'm not going to lie. Luckily we got some free passes to Toy Story for our traumatic experience.

 

Day 6 was C.O.L.D. It rained and the high temp that day was only about 53 degrees. The cooler weather didn't stop us though. We were glad it probably kept even more of the locals away! We had about a 15 minute downpour but then the sun came out right after which was nice.

 

 

My all time favorite part of the day was when we dressed Anna up in her little Cinderella dress and took her over to meet the princesses. O my goodness. It was such a special few minutes. I never saw a princess when I was little and I haven't had a reason to take the boys to see the princesses so I just absorbed each moment. It was so ridiculously sweet.

We rode on a few more Fantasyland rides, headed to Toontown and then spent a lot of the afternoon over in Frontierland.

Ah yes, the good old Tiki room:

Then we went back to CA Adventure for the rest of the night.

That evening we watched the World of Color water show. In-CREDIBLE! Love, love, LOVED it!!

Our trip was so wonderful. It was just great to spend an entire week together and get away from the extreme cold for awhile. I sure am grateful for in laws who help us make these memories for our children. They are so generous and giving and I can't thank them enough for making this vacation a possiblity. I can only hope to be as thoughtful to my daughter in laws and grandchildren one day.