Lunch in Midway

Twice a week, Bry wakes up early (before me and the kids) and heads up to Midway to work a cabin remodel job. Eleyna always misses seeing daddy at breakfast and lunch so we decided to meet him up there for lunch a few weeks ago. We got some pizza and salad to go and took them to a park near the job. There were ducks and a lake AND a playground!

Isn't it amazing to watch a child experience such joy over simple things? I want to be more like that.

Catch up - St. George trip

The first weekend in June, we packed up our little family (no small task) and headed down to St. George for some r&r. We stayed at a condo in Las Palmas. It was perfectly situated, ground floor, walked right out to the pool and a playground. Eleyna was in heaven! She LOVES the water come to find out. If we'd have let her she would have swam all day long. We ate out, watched movies, and after we put the kids to bed, Bry and I would sit out on the patio and just talk. It was simple. But it was probably one of the best trips we've been on. There was something special about the four of us just being together. Me at the entrace to Las Palmas. It was so pretty!

Eleyna admiring the flowers on one of our walks around the property.

Friendship

I've been thinking about friendship recently. If pressed how many friends would you say that you had? What is a real friend? Two weeks ago we had a lesson in SS about David and Jonathan. Some of the scriptures we read that day really impacted me. As usual the scriptures gave a voice to my own feelings in a much more eloquent manner than I could ever express.

"And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." (1 Samuel 18:1)Then, in 1 Samuel 20:42 it says: "...The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever."
I'm so grateful for the friendship of these two amazing women. I feel like our souls are knit together and I know the Lord will be between us forever.

Heavenly Father helped us find each other and I'm amazed at His direct involvement in my life.

Ms. Personality

Sometimes I wonder what my little girl will grow up to be...

since she enjoys dressing up like a princess,

and a construction worker.
I can't wait to find out!

More birthdays

We got to celebrate two more birthdays in May. Bryson's birthday was first. His siblings all got him some new waders for fishing and Janeen made him an entire turkey dinner for his Sunday birthday meal.The day of his birthday we went out for a special seafood dinner at the Market Street Grill-just the two of us. (The food was delish!) We also got to see the movie Date Night the weekend of his birthday. Thanks to everyone who helped make it such a fun birthday week!Eleyna's birthday came next. We had a fun Dora-themed birthday party for all her little friends. Below is Maya, Aliyah and Eleyna eating their Dora cupcakes. Later that same evening we did a barbeque with our families to celebrate. Eleyna got tons of new toys! Some of the highlights included a little cooking set, a Dora dolly, a highchair to feed her babies in, a Dora trike, a Disney princess book, a three little pigs story set (with pigs, the big bad wolf and all their houses), and some new blocks with a wagon to put them in. This last month, her vocabulary has really exploded. She can count to 10, sing most of "Twinkle Twinkle" and "Jesus wants me for sunbeam", and say a prayer (with help). We love hearing her try to say "Pirate Island" and "Sarah". She also has cute phrases such as "Hold tight me!" and loves to say thank you. She is such a delight right now!
We are so lucky to have her!

Hunter's 4th birthday party

This year for Hunter's birthday, instead of gifts, I just wanted people to write a note to Hunter. I bought a little journal (which I intend to use on all future birthdays-it was way better than gifts!) for people to write their feelings/memories about Hunter in. Everything shared was so sacred and beautiful.

Every birthday Hunter has is such a blessing! I cherish each one dearly.

It was so fun to spend an evening with Hunter as the center of attention, getting showered with love by his family. It was the perfect party.

Uncle Dave and Aunt Kim
Cousin Nash and little sis (being crazy)
Uncle Jon and Aunt Sarah
Uncle Ry-Ry
Dede
Soon-to-be Uncle Spencer and Aunt Laura
Grandpa Durrant
Grandma Janeen and baby sissy with Hunter's singing birthday bear (I was ready to strangle it after one day of nonstop "Happy birthday" over and over)

Ode to the KitchenAid

I conquered a mountain in my personal life today with a little help from the glorious invention shown below...(also known as my Mother's Day present) and made my first couple loaves of whole wheat BREAD!
Before I logged in to post/brag about this achievement I ate a slice with raspberry freezer jam and it actually tastes good too! I'm so proud of myself.

Ridiculously so.