Last Min Camping trip!

Our friends called us and said, "lets go camping!!" So, we did!
Thanks Finch and Johansen Families!! Some of their kids are in these pics too.
The kids loved it. Camping is camping, lots of dirt, rocks, sticks, building fires and exploring. So, of course, the kids loved that.
Chris was really the one that did everything for our family. The only thing I think I did was help put up the tent so I could nap in it, make pancakes, take pictures and laugh. HA! I was useless! (I guess this baby is really growing this week. I am totally drained.)But, it was a fun last min adventure. Only 45 mins. away from home. Not bad.

It was nice and peaceful up in the hills. It made me think about WIND and where it had been before it had gotten to me. I thought about how we cant really paint or capture wind in its full glory, but we can try. I actually wrote a little poem n everything, that I wont be sharing. ;) Silly, but I loved thinking about God's creations.

Adeline's first day of school

It came! The first day of school! No more countdowns. Adeline is sooo excited to be going to school!
The bus came to the front of our house and we got lots of fun photos. Beatrice was very excited to see the bus! We've been reading lots of books about buses. So, Bea loved it too. I watched the bus drive away... Sigh.... then I jumped into the car and met her at school. Then I took more pics. HA! She was so excited!
The teacher, Mrs. LeBlanc did mess up Adeline's seat assignment. She was supposed to be sitting next to Tara and Jacob, her friends. She went right up to the teacher and told her so and that she needed it changed very soon. HA! I left before the name change, but it didn't look like Addy was going to move without insisting. I hope THAT went well.
I can't stop thinking, Have I taught her enough? I hope she remembers that she can use her assertiveness to choose the right way. I hope she remembers that Heavenly Father is always there for her. Oh boy! That is the hardest part about letting them go a little.

After school she didnt ride the bus home from school because she didn't know which one to get on. I picked her up and I asked her what her day was like. She said that she had fun listening to stories, making Goop, eating a snack and sitting next to her friends. Addy said there were a lot of kids and it was kind of crazy. At one point she told her teacher that she had a headache and would everyone please be quiet. That is my Addy! Oh boy!

Baby #5

This is me at 6 mos. pregnant with baby #5.

We still don't have a name, but we are thinking a lot!

Maybe... Annelie or Anneliese calling her Annie. Maybe... Eleanore or Elinor calling her Elli. Maybe... Dehlia. Maybe... Sophia calling her Sophie. We like Eliza but we'd end up calling her Lizzy and it's too close to Izzy. Isabel's nick name. Anya is pretty for a middle name. I have others, but we can't decide. I also don't know how I'll spell them. It has to be old fashion and have some character! Also, has to roll of your tongue while yelling it out! ha! Small requirements.

Be afraid! Be VERY AFRAID!

I know Adeline (5) was talking back, but my camera was right next to me when she did it. I just had to have her repeat it. It was one of those parent moments that you are not sure you should laugh or send her to her room! It was funny but I am now officially totally scared of her! HAHAHHA!

She is saying, "I am 40 pounds more serious than you!" Of course with lots of attitude and notice the little treasure of the eyebrows at the end.

swings

I watched Beatrice on the swings at the park a few mins. ago. I wonder what that total absolute feeling of glee and laughter feels like. I know we can't go back, but I wonder if I could hold on to that feeling and savor it every moment if I had it again. What would I do with that kind of power now? Or, just imagine what could I have done with all that power up until now! What kind of person would I be?

These photos are of Bea and her amazing hair back in April, but you can see that look in her eyes!

This one is for Chris.

Well, we all cleaned the entire house today. It was great. We all worked together....

WAIT, WHERE IS ADDY AND GABE??

Working hard putting dress up away I guess.

Yep, Addy is in the Stitch costume and Gabe just got shot with the StarWars lazer gun.

Light Saber time!

So much for that!

Education Week

Ok, so Education Week was just one day for us. We could only get away that one day with Chris's schedule! Oh! We went by ourselves! You can't bring kids so, we have some amazing friends that took our kids for the day on Saturday.

Chris and I had a great time running all over BUYI aka Ricks College campus. We thought we'd know where everything was because we went to school there for 2 years when it was Ricks. We didn't know that so much had changed and we got out the campus map. Ok, so for those of you that went to Ricks, The very top of the hill was gardens. Nobody went there unless they were going on a walk with their date. Right? So, the gardens is like the new central quad. All of the new buildings are above that. Crazy! Time flies! It is still beautiful. I loved it. But, being at Ricks made me think of so many memories. Those memories are past. It's weird to think I am growing up. HAHA! Seriously!

We went to some great classes. We went to some classes that Chris felt prompted to catch up on his sleep. Those were the froofy girly teachers. It went well. One class, that he was awake for, was on how to build a better marriage. Well, it was inspiring!! The teacher was a marriage counselor, etc. His name was Doug Brinley has written a bunch of books and a fabulous speaker. He said that the thing he can trace back to couples having problems was this... Couples Prayer. It was pretty powerful to know that I can keep my marriage good by just keeping my prayers with Chris going!! That right there stems out to all the other things that we deal with in our marriage. Pretty cool!

Chris was inspired. Chris's all time, life long dream job would be a marriage counselor. He got all powered up and is looking into how he can transition. What is this life for anyways? To live right and hopefully choose good things to have a happy life you want. Also, to follow your dreams. You've only got one life here. Got to use it well. It takes guts. So, he's finally trying to do that. It might take awhile, and I know it has taken him quite a while to get to this point, but I am on the boat with him. I am excited! (Who doesn't want to be poor with 5 kids while going to grad school? I mean, that sounds like heaven! ha! all kidding aside, it does if he's happy!)

So, next time there is an "Education week" or a "Time out for women" of a "women's week"...GO! It keeps things into perspective. Who doesn't need more perspective in this world that beats us down?!

Here are a few photos we got after we were done. It was in the gardens. Chris had to be my photo subject. I took a bunch of the gardens, but these were more fun. This is Chris...

I was laughing way too hard and so the picture is totally blurry, but it's my blog and this picture makes me laugh! He wouldnt pose again because someone else came into the garden. bummer!

He's holding my bag that I made a few hours before we left. I didn't have time to get a new outfit. ha! But, I wanted to make a new bag I had material for. Priorities!

There was a post without a top on it. I decided it was perfect to use my timer on the camera. This is after the entire day of hiking all over the campus. I wish I looked a bit more fresh. I guess I could pass it over as the pregnancy glow. Yes, I am huge for only being 23 weeks. Have you ever been pregnant 5 times? I am excited that I can actually breath, eat, and not get my ribs and organs beat up. THAT is the best part of carrying all my kids straight out in front. I love being pregnant!

I also love this guy. He makes me laugh!