Walks with Ike

Walks with Ike are the best. The sun was shining a few days ago. The big kids had gone to do something fun with their dad and Ikey was stuck with me. He had been sick so I didn't want him running around but It was too nice out to not be outside. I stuck him in the stroller and we went for a little walk. We spent most of our time picking up rocks off the side of the trail (me) and then throwing them in to any tiny bit of water we could find (Ike) It was nice to be out but what I cherished most about this walk with my youngest was the conversation.

Ike: "Mom, I see the sun."
Me: "You do? Me too!"
Ike: "Yeah... its right in my face!"
Me: "Yeah..."
Ike: "So.... could you move it?"

and a few minutes later he explained to me why his dad can't eat flour (I thought it was because he has a gluten allergy but I guess I was wrong.)

Ike: Walking down the sidewalk and jumping over all of the cracks
Me: "Don't step on a crack or you'll fall and break your back!"
Ike: "Yeah, like dad. He just step on a crack and break his back. Now he got a hurt and he can't eat flour anymore."

The logic is sound.

February

 So far this month we have visited St. George and enjoyed weather that was at least warm enough to play outside in with nothing more than jackets.

We fed a few ducks/swans

  We were lucky enough to visit the Prove City Center temple. The boys just saw a big fancy building that they couldn't run around in but AnDee was mesmerized and is super proud that she can now officially say the she has been inside a temple.

We also spent the day at the STEM Fest. It was SO DANG COOL.

 They got to freely build and create for hours.

 And they got to hang out with the Star Wars crew.

Buggy got her hair trimmed and we discovered that it is officially past her bum (when wet)

Beefcake and Bernie took a nap like this...

We had a few other adventures that weren't documented and we hope there is more to come this month. We are praying that the snow will melt. We are missing grass and sunshine and air that we can breath without getting lung cancer.

Also... Andrew passed his Securities Test so he can actually start making a little money!!! WOOT WOOT! This is a big deal... this test was huge and scary. So glad its finally over. And so proud of him!

To end todays post I would like to share my favorite conversation with my kids this week.
Me (after AnDee had a bit of a melt down over something very silly): "AnDee... maybe you need to start thinking about someone besides yourself."
Pep: "I think about my family!!!"
Ike: "I think about poop."
That pretty much sums up Ike right now. The kid kills me.

New Years

I don't make resolutions. Like I never really have. I tend to really suck at achieving goals so I try my best not to announce them to anyone, that way I don't feel so dumb when I don't follow through. This year, however, Im going out on a limb, putting myself out there and telling anyone who might stumble upon this blog what my (one and only) New Years resolution is.... Its this blog. Im going to regularly (oh heaven help me) post on this blog. My goal is once a week but Im going to go ahead and give myself a little allowance and say at least 2 times a month. I know what you are thinking... its already the end of January. You are completely correct. I am failing already. I have a legitimate excuse I swear. But Im not gonna get into that right now. ;)
With all that said... I have sucked at the blog the last year. I have so much catching up to do that it completely overwhelms me. As a result, Im not... not going to catch up that is. Im going to take all the photos Ive missed posting (which aren't many cause Ive sucked at picture taking too) and Im going to throw them up on this here post. If you are lucky, you might get a brief explanation. If not, deal with it and just enjoy the viewing pleasure.

We went to the coolest park in Aurora (Illinois) We got to do free train rides, pony rides, hay rides, paddle boats... it was just a good time in general.

Tree climbing obsession. (notice how two of the three don't have shoes on?)

Remember how we moved back to Utah? The kids got to take turns riding in the moving truck. Pretty sure it was the best thing that ever happened to them.

As soon as we got to Utah, AnDee went right to works selling cornstalks in order to earn money for her club house.

We also went right to work helping Gayle harvest her garden and get her yard ready for winter.

 Ike learned how to use a leaf blower.

Halloween... Im so proud of my little Christmas tree. Coolest Halloween costume ever.

Both AnDee and Pep have worked really hard to learn how to cross there eyes. Sadly I have no photographic evidence of Pep... Ill have to get on top of that.

We got to sneak up the canyon a few times before we got too much snow.

Our kids built this bridge. Not kidding. We gave them the supplies and they just went for it.

In between yard work and trips up the canyon, we occasionally got cleaned up. (complete with starters bowties)

Uncle Jake got married. If you are lucky I might find some more pics of the wedding and post them later, but for now this is all you get. 3 generations and Ike is really happy about all the picture taking.

We had to say goodbye to an old friend. It was completely heartbreaking. I don't want to talk about it.

We brought in a new friend who has become Andrew's best bud. His name is Beefcake and he smells really bad.

 We had Thanksgiving at Uncle Phil's house and the ENTIRE family was there for a minute.

We rocked the gingerbread house thing this year and made this wicked cool pretzel cabin.

I took a bunch of pics of Christmas morning and not a single one turned out. ALL of them were blurry. Im still mad. We did get a few pics of Uncle Caleb running the sleds behind the 4-wheeler. There is no question why Uncle Caleb is hands down the favorite Uncle. They spent HOURS out there while the rest of us lazy parents hid in the warm house.

We went to St. George for a few days and enjoyed being outside snow-free.

 Yes. He has a leash on him.

We have been practicing our old school type writer skills/boxing skills.

Lastly, Andrew and I went snow shoeing last week. It was seriously SO fun. Poor Bernie turned in to a snowball but she didn't seem to mind.

Ok... So... See you next week?

The Rest of Our Summer

So after we got home from Utah we got to hang out with dad for a few weeks. He initially tried to go back to work a few days after we got home but they sent him home and told him he couldn't come back... and who is going to argue with that??
So we took advantage of our extra dad time and played a little. We made a trip to the zoo (which is pretty much a weekly thing for us but with dad its better)

If you ever get the chance to get passes to a zoo that isn't very far from you, I highly suggest it. We have explored so many nooks and crannies of our zoo that we never would have if we didn't have passes. Having passes really allows you to slow down and see all the little things... and the little things have turned in to our favorite things. It also allows you to just play while you're there.

 and to make friends with the local peacocks...

 He was literally eating out of our hands..

We spent a day at the Indiana dunes and it was THE COOLEST!

 For those of you who (like me prior to moving here) don't know what "The Dunes" are, its basically just a bunch of giant sand dunes on the beach of Lake Michigan. I dare say this beach rivals most beaches Ive been to in California.

We also took a day and went in to the city. We stopped at this ridiculous giant McDonalds for lunch and then spent a few hours on the Magnificent Mile where we saw the American Girl Doll store (crazy. just crazy) and the Lego store!! 

Then we headed to the other side of town where we went to the Maggie Daley park....

I honestly have never seen anything like this park. It was hands down the COOLEST park I have ever had the pleasure to observe. The best part about it was that we were there on a school day and it had stopped raining just a few minutes before we got there so the park was essentially empty. My kids had free rain of the entire gigantic place! They had wet bums from the rain on the slides but it was totally worth it.

After the park we walked across the street and spent a few minutes at The Art Institute (yes... wet bums and all... we are very classy) We didn't spend an overwhelming amount of time there because... well because three kids but it was very cool and Id love to go back one day without the kids so I can spend more time.