Play, play, play

It seems like all we've done this week is play.  We had a great memorial day weekend with Jared's family.  The cousins had so much fun playing together.  It was fun to see everyone and we are so grateful everyone made the effort.

We were at home for a couple of days and then Jann (Jared's sister) invited us to visit with them at their time-share in Bear Lake.  So we went up Wednesday night and stayed over through Thursday.  Jared was glad to have a day off of work.  The kids had fun playing and we had fun relaxing.  It was pretty cool on Thursday, but the kids had fun playing at the park and walking along the beach, playing in the freezing water and sand.  I wish I had had a camera.  Owen was wet from the waist down.

Jared and I also revisited the place we got engaged which was fun to remember.  Then we took the kids swimming at the pool.  It was still cool, but they had fun.   They cried because they had to get out.   And now we've just been playing with Matthew (my brother), whose up for the weekend.  The boys were sad when everyone went home.  And next week they won't know what to do with themselves when we go back to normal.  But we're counting down the days until we move in (even though we don't know the exact date).  Hopefully, VERY soon!

I am so grateful the weather is so nice.   We love that we can go outside and enjoy it.  Happy summer!

In Memory

To me, Memorial Day always meant the end of school and the beginning of summer.  I didn't care much for going to the cemetaries to visit our ancestors.  However, things have changed.  I have lost some very dear relatives that I miss very much.  I am now grateful for the opportunity to remember them, their legacy and to teach my children about these wonderful people.  The most recent that we've lost is Jared's dad, Tom, and my Uncle Clayton Merkley.  I miss that my boys won't get to know their Grandpa Johnson very well and that they won't remember the times they had with him.  He was a generous, kind and loving man.  I am so grateful to have a husband who loves and tries to emulate his father.  My Uncle Clayton was always the life of the party.  He loved to laugh, tease and enjoy life.  We miss him and his laughter very much.  It almost doesn't seem real.  There are many others who have been an influence in my life and I will be eternally gracious of their lives and for their legacy.  I hope I can be worthy to be called their posterity.  We miss you and we love you.

Little Trip

This past week we went to Vernal then on Thursday we went to "A Day Out With Thomas" again.  

We had lots of fun at Grandma's and Grandpa's seeing everyone that was there.  Thanks for coming to see us.  We love being with you all.  The boys haven't known what to do with themselves since we left.  Owen wanted to go see Samantha today and was disappointed when I told him we weren't.  I think they miss the trampoline too.

We also had fun at Thomas.  Aidan was almost beside himself and Owen was just as excited.  They had the best time playing with trains, riding on the train, and playing at the Dairy Keen (train) restaurant.  It's was such a magical day to see and ride a real train pulled by Thomas, see Sir Topham Hatt, and play with so many of their favorite trains.  There was a little drizzle of rain, but it didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves.  

Grateful to be a mom

I did this layout in honor of mother's day.  This picture is probably my favorite so far of me and my boys.  I love being a mom and I love that I get to watch my kids grow.  I love their smiles, their laughs and the joy they find in the very simple things.  I am so grateful to be a mom.

Aidan's before and after

After 4 months, I finally made it to the Logan temple today.  Hopefully next time it won't be as long.  It was very replenishing and very calm.  I needed it.  There has been a lot on my mind.  So it was nice to have some of that settled and be able to move on with life.

I have been taking care of sick kids this week, again, and now the biggest kid (Jared) has it too.  Owen had an earache on Wednesday night, but woke up that next morning with it gone.  That's never happened before.  I count it as a big blessing--saved us from a trip to the doctor (we don't have very good health insurance).

The big highlight this week was finally giving Aidan a haircut.  Last time we did it in Vernal and Grandpa had to hold a screaming kid.  So this time we set it up right, a movie, the water bottle, and I started with scissors instead of clippers.  He was doing good enough that I just kept cutting.  We even used the clippers. He didn't like it, but we got the job done!  He looks pretty cute.  IT was a big change, but it's grown on us this week.  Totally fits the little tough boy that he is. (If you look hard you can see the big goose-egg and cut on his forehead from contact with the slide.)

I am hoping this week that we will be able to enjoy a week of spring--nice, perfect weather with NO snow!