Father's Day Photo Shoot

I try to take pictures of my kids each year to give to their dad on Father's Day. So I loaded them all into the car and headed to Canyon View Park, thanks to the recommendation of my friend Crystal. Once we got there, I spied a nice shady spot with some pretty bushes by it and told my kids to head over that way. As I got closer, I noticed a sign posted nearby: Warning: Poison Ivy. Keep Out!

Oops.

Luckily we dodged that bullet. Here are some of the best of the day. 

 Eve is a total space cadet. She couldn't find a normal smile, a relaxed pose, or really even look at the camera most of the time. So this is what we get.

 That Anna is sure a beauty! I can't believe how blue her eyes are! I tried to find some Photoshop actions to enhance them more, but it got kind of complicated so I gave up. So those are her natural blue eyes, amazing!

 I am in love with Kate's toothless smile. She kept trying to keep her mouth closed, but I wanted her to show me that gap! You can often hear me singing to her "I love the gap between your teeth."

 This little guy did not make it easy! I think I took more than 100 photos of him. He just hated sitting by himself. He sure is a handsome little fellow though, don't you think? 

I also took a billion group pictures, and this is the best one. I really need to do a Photoshop class about replacing heads in pictures, because I promise there were some where Eve didn't look like she was about to cry and Anna didn't look like she was in pain. But even Photoshop couldn't help with Max, because there were none where he was actually smiling.
Meh. We do the best we can.
I sure love this little group of people. I am glad to call them mine!

Zoo:Check

 We have been anxiously awaiting the opening of the Rocky Shores exhibit at the zoo. Polar bears and otters are my two favorite animals, and it was so fun to get to watch them play around in the water. Max liked to wave at the bears, which cracked me up.

 Out of all the fun animals to choose on the carousel, Eve chose the peacock. Yes, the peacock that is mostly a bench with feathers and doesn't do anything fun. Everyone else rode something cool, but Eve and I were stuck on the peacock. At least she was happy about it.

 Anna loves to pretend that the back of my mom's car is a drive-through window and she is the fast food employee. My mom is so nice to go along with it, because sometimes when Anna gets an idea, she cannot let it go.

Tracy Aviary: Check

We crossed the Aviary off our Summer Fun list pretty early, thanks to our Pass of All Passes. I love the aviary, but it was pretty hot and the kids did not seem very interested. It's possible we spent more time in the restroom than actually looking at birds, but whatever... it was still a fun day.

 We went with our friends the Bassetts. Their little boy, Bentley, was so excited when Max was born because now he wouldn't be the only boy when we hang out together. I think it's been a little disappointing for him that Max is not a ton of fun quite yet. Ben insisted we get a "boys picture."

 One of the best things about going to the Aviary is playing in the water feature at Liberty Park. I think the kids could have spent the whole day there. Here's our girls with sweet Gwen.

Camping: Check

I totally figured out how to beat the system. I get to enjoy all the fun of camping, but not suffer through sleeping on the ground, peeing in an outhouse, and freezing my tail off. It goes like this: we plan a camping trip somewhere nearby, so that we can head up and have a good time roasting hot dogs and hiking around, and then at about 8 pm, I take my sleepy baby back to our house so that we both can get a good night's sleep. Trav and the girls stay in the mountains and enjoy Daddy/Daughter time, and I stay up till all hours of the night reading a thriller. It's the best.
Here are the pictures from our latest camping adventure, at least the part I was there for!

 We went to Whiting, near Mapleton. It was so close and so beautiful! For some odd reason, the kids were afraid of the campfire, so I roasted all the hot dogs while they munched on Cheetos and snow peas.

 Camping is a big deal for our family because it is one of the two times a year that we buy soda. Eve could not get enough of her cream soda!

 After dinner we went for a little walk. Anna and I played tag and it was really fun to run through the trees trying to trick her.

 Max is a fan of the great outdoors. All night long he kept looking up at the trees and trying to grab them. He was fascinated by the scenery.

Once Max started to get fussy, he and I drove him. This was the view coming down from the canyon. I feel so blessed to live in this beautiful place!

What do you do in the summertime?

I sat down with the kids and made a list of all the fun things we want to do this summer. They are so funny. Here's how it went:
1. Tracy Aviary
2. Natural History Museum
3. Seven Peaks
4. Splash Pad
5. Bike Rides
6. Bean Museum
7. Zoo
8. McDonalds
9. Movies
10. Hikes-- Bridal Veil, the Grotto, Ensign Peak
11. Spanish Fork Reservoir
12. Take care of garden
13. Play with Sammie, Erica, Allie, Jane, Alexis, Cecily, Kaley
14. Make crafts
15. Sleep in tent in backyard
16. Go Camping
17. Go to San Diego
18. Go swimming at Grandma's
19. Slip n slide
20. Sprinklers
21. Fireworks
22. Beach toys
23. Fiddler on the Roof
24. Go boating
25. Fishing

I don't know if we'll get them all done (especially fishing because I think that particular activity is both boring and gross), but it gives us some ideas. Also, I've set up a schedule for the days of the week-- mostly to try and get myself organized to do worthwhile activities with the kids.

Make a Project Monday

Time to Read Tuesday (Library Trip)

We Love Grandma Wednesday

Think of Others Thursday (Service)

Food is Fun Friday (cooking lessons)

Last of all, I set summer goals for the kids and they can earn beans (our reward system) for things like running a mile, learning to make juice by themselves, swimming across the pool by themselves, memorizing the Articles of Faith, reading 100 pages, etc.
Here's to a summer of fun!

Moab: The Windy City

As my parents get older, they are getting more sentimental. I don't ever remember going to Moab as a family when I was a kid, but since Anna was born, my dad has been excited about taking us down there. He remembers it as a favorite family trip with his dad when he was younger, and I am delighted that he wants to share it with our children.

So we had been planning a little getaway to Moab with my parents over Memorial Day, but the weather was not cooperative. We were able to find a little secluded canyon out of the wind the first night we were there, and of course, the kids loved wading in the river and skipping rocks.

Saturday morning we drove to Delicate Arch first thing. The wind was whipping us like mad! There were several times when we literally had to stop and hold on to Anna and Kate so they wouldn't blow away!

 But we made it! Glanced at the Arch, took a photo, and then got out of there! With as strong as the wind was, I was truly worried someone would fall off the cliffside you have to walk on to get out to the Arch.

 See how we can't even keep our eyes open?

 Trav couldn't even use the hiking backpack to carry Eve back because the wind kept blowing sand in her eyes. He carried her in his arms the whole way and eventually she fell asleep. Little kids have an amazing ability to sleep through anything.

 Picnic in the minivan! We literally could not be outside of the car at all!

But, no worries. It just left us with extra time to chill at the ice cream parlor on Main Street.
I was so impressed with my kids on this trip. Trav and I were both a little grumpy about the weather, but the girls had such good attitudes and enjoyed every minute of it. Anna even found great joy in sweeping all the sand the wind blew in out of the tent trailer. Both Anna and Kate hiked the entire way to Delicate Arch without complaint, and that's a long and steep hike for a little girl!

News for Trav

As you read in my last post, we decided not to move to St. George. Which is a good thing, because literally the very day after we made that decision, Travis met with our stake president and was called to serve on the High Council. (Yes, I know. He's about 20 years too young for that. But we have a very young ward, and as Trav put it, they reached the bottom of the barrel in calling him. :) )
Of course, before you can serve on the high council, you have to be ordained a high priest. We were so grateful that Trav's stepfather, Cory, could do the ordination for him. He's such a great guy and we're glad to have him in our family. Nancy, Trav's mom, made him a little bookmark that shows his priesthood line of authority, and it turns out that Cory was ordained a high priest by Trav's Grandpa Max (yes the same Max that our little guy is named after.) So it was fun to have a lot of family-ness going on that way.
I am grateful for this wonderful man I married. He loves the Lord and just honestly wants to do the right thing. He is such a great example to me and I love him to the moon!

The Grass Is Greener.... Right Where We Are

The first six months of this year were such a roller coaster for our family. First Travis applied for a new job, and we felt so good about it. He had all the experience they were looking for (he had even worked there during law school) and was well received when he went in to drop off his resume. As we prayed about it, we felt so strongly that it was the right thing for him to do. Unfortunately, the company ended up deciding not to fill the position. It was a big disappointment for us.
At the same time, the firm he is currently with lost their St. George attorney and started putting pressure on Travis to move down there. He was driving down a few times a month to cover that office anyway, so we thought maybe we should look into moving our family there. The more we looked into it, the more excited we felt about the change. Interest rates are low, and we got the first bid on a great house in short sale (see photo above). He felt like he'd be able to do more of the type of law he enjoys in St. George. And, let's be honest.... no more blah winters! So we got excited about that plan.
And yet, the whole time we were thinking of moving down to Dixie, thoughts kept coming to my mind of what I would miss about living here in Spanish Fork. Our amazing friends and neighbors. Our street with 80 billion kids who run/bike/play like wild Indians and don't discriminate based on age, gender, or abilities. Our ward. The Mommy Preschool we were planning. Hikes to the Grotto and Bridal Veil. Seven Peaks, the river trail, good schools and parks. The awesome library that orders any book I request and does fun programs for my kids. Miss Melanie's dance class. Sister Lyman. Swim lessons in the summer time. Grandparents that live close enough to visit often and help out when asked. Ashby Girls Days to City Creek. Babysitters whenever I want them.
It was a difficult decision for us to make, and we waffled for three months. It consumed our conversations and activities. Both options were full of good things and it was extremely hard for us to decide which was best for our family. Eventually it came down to this: although moving to St. George would be a fun adventure, we felt like it was in our family's best interest to stay here.
In the midst of the pendulum of emotions this decision swung us through, I found this scripture in Genesis. After Joseph's brothers had sold him into slavery, after he had spent years in prison, and eventually after he had helped to save Egypt and his family by managing their food storage.... his brothers came before him and begged forgiveness. His reply was so wise: "God meant it unto good, to bring pass, as it is this day to save much people alive ." (Gen. 50:20) Sometimes we don't understand the things we go through. Sometimes the stresses and worries don't work out in a way we comprehend. But, I have faith in a deep and personal God, who knows me and my family and knows what is best for us. I know He "meant it unto good" and now we must look for the blessings He has in store for us.

Dancing Queen

I have two thoughts about putting little kids in dance classes: 

1. They are so little, they really can't do much. Their performances are usually the little girls up on the stage waving at their moms or picking their noses. So what's the point?

2. Although Number One is true, it is SO FREAKING CUTE!

 Our cute little Evie had her first dance performance a couple weeks ago. She loved getting into her beautiful costume and getting to wear real makeup.

 This is her with her fellow three year olds sitting on the stage before the performance started.

See how her mascara is smudged in this photo? We had a little drama because someone had accidentally taken the balloon with her name on it. Many, many tears were shed. just in time for the class picture.

I absolutely loved Eve's dance class and teacher, Miss Melanie. She is one of the sweetest people I have ever known and she makes me so happy to live in Spanish Fork. Miss Melanie's program focuses on creative dance, which is awesome with this age level because it allows the kids freedom to move and dance in their own way, but still learn about dance technique at the same time. I am so proud of my Eve because she was so shy and nervous when she first started her class, but she grew so much during the four months she was there. I think it will make the transition to preschool easier in the fall.