Brady, my baby

Now I know that this boy just turned 8, was baptized and will be starting 3rd grade in just a few weeks, but he is and will forever be my baby. Case in point: this picture taken from my bedroom floor at 9:45 this morning (how are my kids ever going to start getting up early for school?!?). If Brady has a nightmare or thinks he sees a spider downstairs he quickly comes running up to our room, no matter the hour. I lay out some blankets on the floor and he instantly falls back asleep (while I usually can't go back to sleep for a good long while...grrrr.) He will always bring his bear blankie up with him because he can't sleep without it. Some of my sisters were talking about taking blankets away from their 3 year olds and I'm thinking I missed the boat on that one. Do you think there will be room in Brady's mission suitcase for a well-loved bear blankie? Also notice the footie pajamas that still look so cute on him. He decided to wear them last night so he wouldn't scratch the 10 or 12 mosquito bites on his legs.

Yes, he's definitely the baby of the family and for sure is the most spoiled. This kid can get me to buy him a lego set almost every time we go to Target just so I don't have to hear him cry and throw a tantrum. After four kids you'll do anything just to keep the peace. Whether or not this translates to getting a sports car when he's sixteen remains to be seen.

Good Riddance

 

You may recall just how much I despise the calcium plant directly behind my house. This picture from last summer shows it in all it's decrepit glory. Three years ago when we first came up to see our house being built I almost cried when I saw this ugly building framed by my big living room windows. We had changed building lots while we were still living in Phoenix and I didn't realize what sat behind us until it was too late.

Well look at the view now:

One of the happiest days this summer was when a big tractor came to dig up the field behind us to plant corn. Yay! No more ugly dry weeds and sagebrush! Then, piece by piece they dismantled the calcium plant and the structures around it until it's mostly gone.

Now when I look out all I can see is a gorgeous sea of green as the corn grows higher and higher. Although I don't know what the future plans are for this land I'm sure going to appreciate the beauty while it lasts!

Brady's Baptism

This weekend was a great celebration for Brady's baptism. Crazy to think that all of my kids have reached this stage now. We had a house full of visitors for the big day.

Utah Trip

So much for the lazy days of summer! I feel like this is the first day I've had in weeks where I've had time to finally sit down and catch up on my blog. We have just been go, go, going! First up was a trip to Utah. We like to visit my mom's hometown of Beaver, UT for the 24th of July. Most of my cousins gather there and it's fun catching up with everyone. The parade is always a highlight:

brother Trevor, Mark and brother-in-law Matt

 sister Lindsay and youngest brother Jordan (who's going to be a senior this year!)

 cute girls

 

cute boys

 Uncle Pat and Aunt Kathy in the parade

 Me, big sis Melissa, Lindsay and Mom

 The parade always ends with the fire truck spraying (or rather soaking!) all the kids. Dallin and nephew Nathan were the brave ones this year.

We finished out the weekend with waterskiing, a family BBQ and fireworks, church, a  beautiful drive in the mountains and playing games with cousins. I always love being in Beaver, my second hometown.

Monday morning we headed to Provo for McKenzie to go to EFY at BYU. Mark had to get to back to work Tuesday night but I stayed in Salt Lake with the kids for the week. We had a great time visiting friends and family. Highlights included shopping at the Park City outlets, meeting up with Phoenix friends at Raging Waters, swimming in the Rasmussens' new pool and going to the Parade of Homes with the Robertsons. The kids loved the "UP" house in Herriman.

Happy Fourth!

 We celebrated the Fourth of July by going to visit Mark's family in Shelley for the third year in a row. We started the festivities on Saturday by driving to beautiful Driggs, ID to for the Huntsmans' "Celebrate America" event.

(Shot of the Teton mountains peeking out)

 

 It was a day long family festival including an air show, bounce houses and games for the kids, entertainment and a patriotic concert.

 

 The highlight of the night was hearing Glenn Beck speak followed by some of the most amazing fireworks we've ever seen. It was really a great day even though it was pretty hot.

 Mark (a huge Beck fan) declared it one of the best days of his life. Pretty much all his favorite things: WW II airplanes, visiting with an old buddy from high school, Idaho mountains, being with his older brother David, honoring veterans, celebrating this great nation and traditional family values, hearing Glenn Beck and watching the fireworks with the kids.

 

On Monday we went to Steven and Kathy's yearly BBQ. Lots of fun visiting with family and swimming (for those brave enough to handle the freezing water!)

We ended the night back at Grandpa's house for our own fireworks and a little target practice (we are in Idaho, after all!)

Saturday Night at the Park

Lindsay came into town to help watch the boys during girls camp. The weather was so nice we decided to take a picnic to the park and enjoy the summer evening together. We had fun taking some cute pics of the kids.

Origami Master

One of Dallin's recent obsessions has been origami. My kids have been doing this for years ( I blame Nathan and Chelsea for the paper swans they had on the tables of their wedding luncheon...it's been going on since then.)

Dallin likes to look up instructions on YouTube and then follow along, the harder the better. This project was a doozy:

First he had to cut and fold over 400 paper triangles. Just this took two days.

Then he carefully put them together to form a swan (or dragon if you want to be more manly)

Quite the accomplishment

I think he's a little burned out on origami now and has since moved on to magic tricks. I know, the girls are just going to be banging down the doors for this guy.