the rest of the summer

Now that winter is basically here, I guess I will get around to posting about the rest of summer. Here is what we did...

***We all participated in the Pioneer Haul 1-mile Walk/Run on Pioneer Day. The kids wanted to train for it, run around the block in the weeks before, but we actually never got around to doing that. They did pretty darn well anyway.

Here everyone is at the starting line.

Logan would sprint for periods of time then move to a slow jog/walk when he needed a break. He was pretty serious about it.

Ella and Lincoln running hard.

Lincoln was seriously awesome. He was one of the fastest boys in the whole race.

He's got some serious endurance.

Logan, Me, and Landon heading towards the finish line.

***Celebrated Lincoln's 5th birthday! I made him a real cake (lego) for our family party, but not sure what happened to the pictures. We made homemade doughnuts at one point during celebrations and here he is blowing out candles in the not-fried-yet doughnuts.

***Wind Caves hike. We made it the whole way this time, thanks to my visiting teachers,

Nan and Janae.

***Ran the first annual Smithfield Half Marathon with my sissies. It was the first race we have ever all been able to run together and it was awesome...definitely want to to it again next year.

(Katrina's friend, Brittney, Katrina, Me, Michelle)

***Participated in the first Cache Valley Man vs. Mud. Here we are before:

During:

After:

Sunbeam

Opening song to tonight's FHE.

Tonight's mini-lesson on kindness went over surprisingly well. When playing the kindness ball game, the kind words to me were along the lines of how much the kids enjoyed our family home evenings. Not sure I buy that, but it was kind.

Super post - Tetons

A super post for a super trip: Six nights camping in the Tetons, in a tent, with my family.

Favorite photos, once more, in no particular order:

A quick break on a hike - photo op

The kids loved to carry around walking sticks while they hiked.

I wouldn't have been able to handle any of the hikes without Michelle and Shay who took turns carrying Landon. He LOVED it.

Riding in the back of Grandpa's truck.

We found a lost bear cub and took him in. Funny, he loved to eat dirt.

Ella - great hiker. She went on an extra long one this day with the grownups.

Landon was pretty good at standing up on this trip,

but hadn't quite mastered walking,

which of course meant a filthy child from the moment we arrived at camp.

Tie-dye: a Smart tradition. Ella and Carson sporting their new shirts.

Hiking. Ella and I loved learning the names of some new wildflowers

and finding them along the way. We found some we didn't know

the name of and Ella made up a name for them - "baby-bells."

Grandpa and Ella

Logan, Grandpa, and Grandma

Lincoln

The best parents/grandparents anyone could ask for.

Dinner in Jackson. A table of goofs.

Roasting hot dogs. Shay, John, me

Landon held by Shay.

Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone.

We made a fun day trip where we saw tons of Bison and Elk,

took a dip in some hot springs pouring into a river near Mammoth Springs,

and walked to Prismatic Spring.

Logan and Grandpa

Thank goodness someone thought to bring bikes.

Along with eating straight dirt,

he liked to dip his food in the dirt as well.

Extra flavor, you know.

A lot of time was spent floating in Jackson Lake.

Best buddies, Logan and Josh, in their car floaties.

More hiking.

Sisters.

Here was our attempt at a family photo at the viewpoint on our last hike.

As you can see, we never quite got it right.

There was not a lot of sleeping happening at night for this little guy, but he did find time to squeeze a nap in during the day once in a while. I would have loved to join him.

Amazing trip. I can't believe I survived it.

It wouldn't have been possible without the family I have.

Unfailing kindness

There has been some grumbling happening over the last week or two. Yes, from me. I hate when I am like that...in a slump I can't seem to get out of. A week and a half ago on Sunday I asked for some much needed peace and strength, a sign of Heavenly Father's love, something to keep me going, and I received it, but then the week went on and I let the feelings come back. And then today I was humbled by some amazing people in my life. Absolutely humbled. Everyone is so good to us. I often wonder what women do in my circumstance who don't have the kind of support that my family has. I can't even imagine how difficult it must be for them. I have cried many tears of gratitude today. Thank you.

Also, thank you for introducing me to this beautiful poem.

God Hath Not Promised

"God hath not promised skies always blue

Flower strewn pathways, all our lives through;

God hath not promised sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labour, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing kindness, undying love.

God hath not promised we shall not know

Toil and temptations, trouble and woe;

He hath not told us we shall not bear

Many a burden, many a care.

But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labour, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing kindness, undying love.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,

Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;

Never a mountain, rocky and steep,

Never a river turbid and deep.

But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labour, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing kindness, undying love."

By Annie Johnson Flint

Bear Lake

Bear Lake is one of those places I absolutely love and can't wait for each summer. I feel so lucky to have grandparents who own a cabin right on the beach so we can spend a week there each summer. I have so many wonderful memories as a kid playing with all my cousins and love that my kids are getting to experience the same thing. Here are a million pictures of our week there in no particular order.

Michelle, me, Katrina, mom

Lincoln all snuggled up in a towel after a dip in the lake.

My kids loved to be wrapped up tight so they can't hardly move.

Ella and cousin Breanne

Sailing! Ella couldn't get enough. Too bad a part on the sailboat broke and she only got to sail a few times. She's looking forward to next year.

Fireworks at night.

Landon. He turned one by the way. Yes, we celebrated and had a party, but no I didn't document it when it happened. Bad mom!

He loves me!

Always fun when grandpa comes. Rolling a truck full of rocks down the ramp into the water.

Ella and Evelyn.

My muscle men. They like to exercise with me. Can't you tell?

Logan and his 2nd buddy, Michelle

Logan. If he had his way he would have been on the beach from sunrise to sunset.

Lincoln and I digging holes and building sand castles. The water is so high this year that I could put Landon down for a nap, bring the baby monitor out, and play with my older kids.

Logan and Lincoln playing bumper boats.

Landon

Lunch at Cafe Sabor in Garden City.

Evelyn and Logan

Grandma and Landon. Landon loves holding on to grandma's fingers and walking around. She's a good sport about it and helps him for longer than I would.

Logan and me

Off for a ride on the paddle boat. Caroline, me, Logan, Lincoln.

While putting all these pictures on here I couldn't help but feel completely grateful for my life and the experiences and blessings I enjoy. What a great week.

a long time coming...

I finally updated. It is a long update as you can see if you scroll down far enough, but I had a lot of things I wanted to remember. I am without kids this weekend so found the time today to create this monstrous post.

People ask me all the time how is it to not have my kids all weekend. This is how I feel about it...

I enjoy being able to clean my house and have it remain that way for more than 10 minutes.

I enjoy having the weekend to complete 2 weeks worth of errands and shopping so I don't have to do that with the kids later.

I love being able to go on a long run outside rather than on my treadmill.

I miss making dinner for them, weird, right?...but I haven't gotten used to making dinner just for me. I usually end up having something like Diet Coke and peanut butter M&Ms for dinner.

More than anything, I miss them, especially this weekend when they are far away camping and I am worried and have had a couple of sad phone calls and I can't be there for them.

I can't wait to see them tomorrow.

special package

Friday morning the kids received a special surprise package in the mail. Each received a cute outfit and they also got some walkie-talkies to play with. They were so excited.

There was a handwritten individual note to each of them:

Dear Ella: You are a wonderful sister and a big help to your mom. You have a happy heart and work hard to choose the right. I love you very much. Love, Somebody

Lincoln - You are a wonderful big brother. You always think about kind things to do to help your family! You are a good reader. I love you very much. You are the best soccer player ever!

Logan - You always make Landon laugh! You show your love for your mom by helping to clean and sweep. You can run so fast! I love you.

Landon - You make your mom happy by laughing and smiling. You crawl fast and know how to climb on things. You are learning new things every day. I love you!

I worried my kids a little by crying as I was reading the notes to them. Thank you, Somebody (mom)! You made our day.