fall football

fall means football games.

we usually go to all the schools home games

I had to document the first one of the season, partially just to embarrass all my boys. Just kidding. But they where a bit embarrassed I think...

A Hike in Utah - Utah trip part 1

We had a LONG trip (actually not long but busy).

Day one / morning day 2 was spent with the Barthlomes, olympic themed crafts, pizza and a killer hike!

The hike was, just perfection steep and rocky with streams and long enough to get tired but short enough for the kiddos. 

Memorial Day Weekend- first family of 5 camping trip

We where very brave this memorial day. We went to the kids last soccer practice of this session and then drove up to the ward camp out. We only have one picture but believe me that was an accident.
The boys had a lot of fun! Lawrence did really well i kept him bundled really well and only Mitch and I and my mom held him. We had a great time and found some cool places! Its so nice to be around family!
We stopped on teh way back to get a picture by this Tunnel which is the coolest one i have ever seen in this area of Idaho, i would have loved to jump in the picture and other cool poses but we had limited time -we where after all in the middle of the road.

Birding

we have all taken up birding (causally) its been fun to go on walks and see birds and notice them when we are out and about. Eli is very good at spotting them. We all enjoy it.

Spring break-Idaho City

We usually go to Sun Valley each spring, and well, we adore it! However this year the conference in Sun valley is not until the 16th of April, Way to close to my due date for us to attend, so sadly we are not going this year.
However, we did plan a quick vacation during spring break as a family. A last hurrah for the 4 of us. We loved it!
My amazing man planned the trip (thank you honey!)
We started the trip with a trip to the hot springs, wow it is classy, it loved it! very nice and spa like, with poolside service and beautiful facilities. (for those interested it will note that its is kinda pricey and only some days and are family/kids days)

After that we had a picnic (yummy) and then we went out exploring. Several hikes and a nice drive.

We stayed at a quaint little place in historic downtown, it was a historic building originally a logging boarding house. The Lady that checked us in , I believe is also the owner but she was very good about answering our questions about the history of the building and the town itself.
We explored some of the historic parts of downtown that afternoon (including ice cream) and then we went to dinner.
We played games in our hotel room and relaxed until close to dark and then went back tot eh hot springs!
That night we swam under the stars the moon was so bright it was perfect, and then very fast a storm with thunder and lighting the whole thing showed up really fast so we left a bit earlier then we would have otherwise, but they gave us free hot chocolate with was lovely and we all felt very relaxed!
The next morning we took our time and stopped to hike a bit more on our way home.
We stopped in Boise on the way and saw a movie with the kids and got some lunch.
We made our way home in good time.
Thank you honey for such a wonderful vacation!

A day for family

Our weekends have become so important.
Mitchell is SOOOO busy. I am not trying to brag or exaggerate. He works from 7 to 6:15-6:30 each day, because he teaches extra classes during his prep (so he gave up his prep basically) and because of his responsibilities as Attendance dean, he has long days with no break, poor guy.  He then has 2 hours min, each night he is required to do for his online professorship job through BYUI. On Thursdays he has Night class for his masters and get home at 9:30 or so, depending, some Saturdays all day for his masters. On Wednesday night he has meetings for church calling. Some Tuesdays he has things in the evenings and starting today he will have BBall on thursday nights after his class (when he can get there in time). And he always has papers and homework to do for school.
I am SO grateful but it is hard! I am not feeling very good so it makes for long days. We have meal times together everynight from 6:30 to 7:30, then it time for the boys to get ready for bed, Mitch usually gets homework of online job stuff started while the boys have a bath adn then will log off at bedtime so the family can have prayer and scripture study together. Then i go to bed (i really dont feel good) and he works another few hours coming to bed around 11, he usually wakes me up to pray together.
whew.
So the weekends when he doesn't have class and we don't have a billion things going on we really like to spend our time together . This last weekend we did a picnic and then played at the park and Big Als, that night it was homemade pizza and brownies with a movie!
It was so nice.

What i have been thinking about a lot is, first, this is all good. My aunt when she heard Mitchell was in a masters program she said "it will be a long couple years of you not seeing much of him, but, it will be for the betterment of your family." -She is a favorite aunt of mine and for some reason when she said that is seemed really profound and i repeat it to myself sometimes as kind of a mantra.
I have also been thinking about how, this is not something to whine about. The Lord has sent us an outpouring of blessings and it requires much of our time and energy but, really that is a blessing too. We now are more selective with what we fill our family time with. We are reaching our goals!