Disneyland Trip - Days One and Two

We surprised our kids. We'd been planning on going sometime, but never mentioned a specific date to the

kids. We finally decided to bite the bullet and I booked the trip. Then I invited my mom and dad to come along. We planned the trip to take place during harvest break from school in September. We told the kids we were going to Las Vegas to spend some time with family there.

It was all working out so nicely until the school board voted to change harvest break because the potatoes weren't quite ready to harvest. My kids ended up missing four days of school. I missed parent-teacher conferences. We still had a good time.

Since the kids didn't know, we decided to tell them in Randy's usual fashion.

It started in the bathroom as soon as they were out of bed. Then it went to another bathroom...

...out to the garage, back into the house, and hopefully ending with them figuring out that we were going to Disneyland. Except that they never did figure out we were going to Disneyland.

Now, if it were me, I would have put a huge sign on the van that said, "Disneyland Express." But it wasn't just me and we tried it his way. It failed. The kids totally didn't get the clues so we finally had to tell them we were going to Disneyland and then they didn't believe us. Total let down. In fact, McKay started to cry because he wanted to go to Las Vegas!

We left home at about 6:15 Saturday morning and headed to Vegas. We arrived at Uncle Kyle's house at about 3:30 in the afternoon.

The kids had a great time playing in his pool. I had a wonderful time visiting with my sister-in-law, who I didn't get a picture of.

I'm pretty sure Randy had a great time catching up with his older brother, Kyle. I think Kyle and Randy are the most alike of the brothers.

That night, Kyle had a messy face contest for the kids. I don't really have to show you a picture for you to know who won. Tanner could win without trying. We loved staying at Uncle Kyle's house and we're ready to go back anytime.

Sunday morning we got up early and had a wonderful breakfast with Kyle and Francie. Then we hit the road for LA. The traffic was horrible! But we finally made it to our hotel and met up with my parents. The kids were pretty excited by now and pretty shocked to see Nana and Papa.

We had all of Sunday afternoon/evening so we wandered around and I fell in love with the palm trees that lined the roads and the sidewalk. Okay - I loved the whole trip, but I enjoyed our little walk to Downtown Disney and through the shops.

We watched the fireworks and then headed off to bed because Monday was going to be a busy day!

Guess Where We Went

More details to come...

Summer Project - Yard Stuff

Last Spring found us working in our yard. We were attempting to actually make a yard. Our original plan was to build a shed on a concrete foundation. Then one day, I was looking at the spot we picked out, and casually asked Randy why we couldn't extend the concrete clear up the side of the house.

So Zac, Randy's home teaching companion, a certified concrete contractor, and a brilliant nuclear engineering student, came over and got right to work.

After a few days, the concrete truck showed up and blocked the road for 30 minutes.

But Look! Isn't it pretty? One of our neighbors joked about the wheel-chair ramp. It looks funny here, but that little ramp sure is handy when we drive the riding mower into the shed. After this concrete pad dried, this became McKay's favorite place to ride his bike.

Then, Randy, Dan (a friend of ours), and Braxton spent multiple Saturdays getting the shed built. I love it because the lawn mowers, rototiller, rakes, shovels, gas cans, etc., are now in the shed and not the garage.

This is the finished product.

After the shed was finished, the two older boys got to spend most of their summer days spraying the weeds in the back of the house. We'd spray, wait for the weeds to die, water, and kill everything green that came up. We did this three or four times. Then at the end of August, Randy got to spend the better part of a day on a tractor tilling up most of our acre.

It really is a lot of yard. This picture only shows about a third of what we tilled up. We decided that when we do plant grass, we want real grass that isn't full of weeds, and that's why it was all killed off. After tilling, we hired a guy to come put in our sprinkler system. I realize there are those of you who say, "Do it yourself. It's not that hard." But after watching these people put in our system and getting it done in two days, I'm so glad we didn't try to do it ourselves. We'd still be out there trying to put in lines.

Part of our landscape budget included the curbing. I love it and it will look even better in the spring when I can tackle these flower beds.

The last thing we did was buy four big trees. You'll notice that there is some green starting to come back up. That pasture grass is hard to kill. In the spring, we'll kill everything again and then we'll plant grass seed. Hopefully a year from now we'll have a lawn.

A lawn would be nice. It might mean less mud in my house.

First Day of School

Yes, I'm aware that the first day of school for my kiddos was nearly two months ago. I'm trying to catch up here. Patience, people.

This is my darling 3rd grader.

This is my 6th grader. He's the one who always wants to have a good time at school. Seriously, those are his exact words.

The big, bad 8th grader. He's neither big nor bad. But he is a substantial teenage pain in the rear. And always hungry.

Here's hoping I can tolerate the public education system for another year.

Summer Project - Sewing

 I have to blame my sister for this project. At some point last spring she told me that Kilee was old enough to sew. I think I mentioned it to Kilee and then to my in-laws and pretty soon, Kilee and I had a pattern and went looking for some fabric.  

Before we started, I made her read the directions twice. Then we got to work. I usually started the step so she could see how to do it and then I let her take over. She was very careful and so determined.

I dare say she even enjoyed the process.

It took us about two hours to finish the first skirt. She loved it. The next day, we bought more fabric and this time, she made the entire skirt herself. It took her 1 1/2 hours.

The pattern we used came from Oliver and S. It was so easy and can be adapted to any size or age of girl. They are so perfect for any day and can be dressed up or down.

Thank you, dear sister, for the idea. We are getting ready to move on to bigger (not necessarily better) things.

Humility

Braxton and I were on the way to piano lessons and I was asking him about school. He's 13, you know, and won't volunteer any information.

I asked him about band. He replied that they are learning this really cool song, but it doesn't sound very good right now.

"Nobody can play it right except the bass drum player. It's frustrating for Mr. Seare."

"Who's the bass drum player?" I ask.

His answer: "Me."

Shout Out to Danielle W.

So since I've been regularly updating my blog (even if it only has been for three days), I've noticed a visitor from Hawaii. Not that it matters, but I figured after he/she/it showed up several times that this person must either like my writing or they know me. This morning as I was getting ready for church, it occurred to me that it's Danielle from winter semester!

Hello, Danielle!  How's Hawaii? Do you love it there? I'm now officially following your blog. Is it weird that your former English teacher follows your blog? Do you miss me? I miss you. I miss your smile. I miss your class. Not that I don't love my other classes because I do. But it's that first child thing.

Do you think you'll graduate from BYU-Hawaii? or will you miss the cold of Rexburg too much and have to come back here? Have you met a Lindsay Jensen? Because her mom was my oldest son's 3rd grade teacher. Her mom is Hawaiian so it was natural for Lindsay to go there. I don't know Lindsay, just her mom. And I really liked her mom.

I'm off on a tangent, aren't I? Some things never change.

Well, good to know where you are, and at least by following you, I'll know how you're doing. Have a great semester!

Love,
Sister Stocking

Another McKay Funny

Randy's brother and his family were here visiting. They have a little boy a year or so older than McKay. McKay and Ison were playing together when McKay comes wailing into the kitchen: "Mommy, make him stop!" McKay is crying and pointing to Ison. "Make him stop!"

"Stop what?" I ask.

"He's calling me little and I'm not little! I'm small!"

Kilee's Baptism

Kilee turned eight in June. That means one very important thing: Baptism. Kilee was able to have a very special baptism, though. She got to share her baptism with her cousin, Chloe, who is just 12 days younger. The baptism also included Chloe's other cousin, Jacob.

The baptism took place in Blackfoot, a central location for all of us. My brother, Lance (Chloe's dad), and his family were there as well as my sister Monique and her family, Big D and his family, Bear and her family, and we were very surprised and delighted to have my oldest brother, Quinn, who lives in Alabama, there with his wife.

Before the baptism, we met for an impromptu family reunion of sorts.

L to R: Lance, his son Matthew, my dad, Monique and her husband Grant, Big D.

L to R: My mom, Bear, Quinn, Kathleen, and Randy.

Randy baptized and confirmed Kilee and just like he has in the past, he got very emotional when he started the baptismal prayer.

This is a very rare picture of me on my blog. I hate pictures of me. This is no exeption. But I wanted to show off that beautiful white dress that I paid a whopping $16 for at Costco (two years ago).

Chloe and Kilee.

After the baptism, we gathered as family. Lots of family. Chloe's mom has 9 brothers and sisters. I have six brothers and sisters. Randy's family lives close so his parents and brother's family were also there. Our good friends the Jensons came and shared the occasion with us. And we ate because that's what family get togethers are all about.

It was a wonderful day full of sweet memories, both for Kilee and for me. I'm so grateful to my family and friends for making it that way.

Summer Visitors - The Millingtons and The Weavers

The last day of July found my sister (let's call her Bear) and her four kids and my brother (we'll call him Big D) and his little family here for a few days. They were here for the occasion of Kilee's baptism (yet another post and if you're keeping track, I'm up to two additional posts that I've promised you). They arrived on a Saturday so Sunday was just hanging out and going to church. I loved having my family in church with me. It was so much fun.

Monday we went for a drive up to Driggs. Same Driggs as the baseball tournament which I still need to blog about. We went to a little park and had lunch. On the left is McKay, Adam, Braxton, Tanner, Aunt Bethany, little Royce, and Big D. On the right is Kilee, behind her is Benjamin and Andrew who you can't see, Bear, and Jared in the stroller. That's my big diet Pepsi in the middle of the table. Just in case you were wondering.

I had to share this picture of Andrew because he is so stinkin' cute.

Big D on the slide with his oldest son, Royce.

Big D at the bottom of the slide where his behind got stuck.

All the kiddos in the tree. See Jared? He's so happy to be up there in Braxton's arms. See Royce? He loves being on Tanner's shoulders. We ended this little excursion with a trip to Ashton and the soda fountain. Yummy shakes! That's a must if you're ever in the area.

Big D's family had to leave on Tuesday. Something about jobs. But Bear and her clan stayed for a few more days.

We drove up to Yellowstone and saw lots of wildlife and watched Old Faithful blow. This is a right after she/he/it finished. Braxton left for scout camp this day so he didn't get to go with us on this fun adventure. In the back is Benjamin, Andrew, Kilee (the only girl). Front is McKay, Adam, Jared, and Tanner.

We also went to the splash park one day and sweet Amy came up did glitter toes on us. Bear and I even managed to sneak away like big girls and go to lunch without kids. I think that is the first time in 13 years. 

Even though Bear was here for five days, it still wasn't long enough. Shy Benjamin just started talking to me and then they had to leave. However, the kids had a great time and that's all that really mattered.

Summer Visitors - The Marins

Okay - I know I'm seriously behind in the blogging department. My intent is to catch up quickly, but because this blog also doubles as my journal, you will all have to suffer through summer with me as I get caught up.

Our first visitors, the Marins, came to see us over 4th of July weekend. Lori and Jess live in Winnemucca and it simply wasn't enough that Lori and I talk on the phone every day...sometimes twice a day. The visit was short, but we loved having them here.

Tanner had a baseball tournament in Driggs (more on that coming up) so Saturday morning we drove to Driggs and then we stopped at the Teton Dam site on the way home. My kids are used to me taking pictures all the time. The Marins were less thrilled about the photos.

But then we got back in the truck and this was the scene. It was so peaceful. Stinky, but peaceful. Lori definitely had the better smelling car at this point.

We did sparklers Saturday night and a handful of other fireworks. Then we ate and played games and it was just like old times.

We loved having the Marins here and wish we lived closer, wish they could have stayed longer.

Okay, so maybe only Lori and I wish those things.