{Family Visits, 12th Anniversary, 1st Day of School, Owies: August 2014}

We began the month of August continuing our trip up to Washington and went to see my sister Angela and her daughter {our niece} A in the play "The Sound of Music".  They both did a fabulous job on their parts.  We loved watching them perform.  It was an amazing show.  Angela played one of the lead Nuns {Sister Sophia} and A was Gretel. 

 Our son E received his Bear Badge at his Scout Pack Meeting.  My brother Danny, his wife Jolie and their two kids came to visit us and we had a lovely time with them.  We went blueberry picking with them while we were still up in Washington.  We had two visits to the Emergency Room, to get our daughter K's head super glued and also because our son C had swallowed a penny.  I think we need to put some of our kids in a bubble!  It's so hard to not be able to protect them from everything.  But that's a difficult part about being a parent, I guess.

 Mark and I celebrated our 12th Anniversary in August.  Mark's parents {in Oregon} watched our 5 kids {I was 3 months pregnant with our #6 at the time}.  We went to the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and saw and learned some amazing things about the history of the Oregon Trail.  It was a lot of fun!

 We tried new restaurants, viewed sites around the area, and had some much needed alone time together.  It is always nice and very important to spend some time alone, away from the kids.  And your relationship and the kids are all the better because of it.

 We also rode the train in Sumpter, Oregon.  It was really fun.  We enjoyed looking at the beautiful views from the historical train's windows.  We had a wonderful time on our anniversary together.  I'm so grateful to have had this incredible man in my life for the last 12 years.  I'm Lucky, I'm in Love with my Best Friend.  Here's to Eternity. 

   Here are our Kiddos playing at Grandpa and Grandma's {in Oregon} and the Park together.  

 Here are our Kids getting the mail with Grandma {Mark's mom} and having fun playing with their cousins in Oregon.

 We had a wonderful time visiting with our Friends and Family, in Oregon together.

 We sure do Love these Kids!

We love going to the Library for Story time.  Before we moved into our house, we lived in an apartment across the street from a library {pictured above} in a smaller town {outside of the bigger town that we now live in}.  My parents came to visit us and helped us pack our apartment up to move into our new house, that we were moving into at the beginning of September.  It was especially helpful with being pregnant with our #6, to have their help.  We loved having them in Idaho to visit us!  It was a joy visiting and spending time with them.

 One of the special things of being married to a teacher, is having them home during the same vacations that the kids get.  School started for the kids and Mark at the end of August this year.  Our son E, started 4th grade, our daughter R began 3rd grade, and our little K, started Kindergarten this year.  Mark also started teaching his 2nd grade class again.  They are all at the same school.  Which is so much fun for us!

{July 2014: Hospital, 4th of July, Reception, Cousins, Friends}

Our Poor Baby Girls!  {In Idaho} Our Daughter R, was admitted to the Hospital with a severe case of Pink Eye {I didn't even know that was possible!}, and then while we were there, Baby H, fell and hit her sweet little head on a chair and cracked it open, requiring 4 stitches!  It was convenient that we were at the hospital when that happened though, so her Daddy just took her right down to the Emergency Room to get it done.  They gave her a cute little doll, for doing a good job.   

We went to Oregon for the Week of Fourth of July, and enjoyed spending time with Family and Friends.  The Kids had fun Spending time with Cousins and Friends.

 We went to a Fourth of July Parade, with Family and Friends, and went to a Delicious Barbeque at Mark's Parent's House.

We lit Fireworks as a Family {the Kids Loved the Sparklers!}, watched the University's Firework Display, and Rode on Mark's family's over a Hundred Year old Steam Engine.

Then we went up to Washington to Visit more Family and Friends. 

The Kids had fun spending time with their Cousins and Friends.

 I had fun going to the Wedding Reception of my Childhood Best Friend Adrienne, with my sister Celestia.  To view pictures {on my blog} of her Adorable Reception, click here.

We had a Wonderful time up in Washington {and Oregon}, visiting Family.  The Kids had Sleepovers with their Cousins, and we had a Barbeque and Roasted Hotdogs and Marshmallows over the fire.

{Family Fun, Mother's Day, R's Baptism, Talks, School: May 2014}

In the month of May, with our Family, there were a lot of awesome things happening.  We went to the Family BBQ {Picnic}, at Mark and the Kid's School, we Celebrated Cinco De Mayo, by eating Yummy Mexican food.  Our son E, was Principal's Pride in his class {Student of the Month}.  We were so proud of him!  Our daughter K gave a talk in Primary, on Easter Sunday {April 20th}   K's "Easter Talk":  {K did a Wonderful Job!}

"Jesus Has Risen.  Jesus Our Brother.  Jesus Our Friend.  Joy Fills Our Hearts.  He Lives Again. "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven..." (Joseph Smith Teachings) I am thankful that Jesus was resurrected, so I can be resurrected too someday, and be with my family forever.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Our son E, also gave a talk in Primary "God Speaks Through Prophets" E's Talk:  {E did a Wonderful job!} "There are many ways that Heavenly Father can talk to you. He can speak to you through the Holy Ghost. He can speak to you through the scriptures. One very important way that Heavenly Father talks to His children is through His living prophets. When the prophet speaks, he tells us things that Heavenly Father wants us to know.
In the Book of Mormon the people of King Noah were very wicked. Heavenly Father sent His prophet Abinadi to preach to them.  Alma, one of the priests, believed Abinadi’s words and learned the way to obtain God’s promised blessings.
In the Bible we read of God’s promises to the children of Israel. Through Moses, His prophet, the Lord delivered them from Egypt. Moses taught the children of Israel the way to obtain God’s promises and blessings.
There was not a prophet on the earth when Joseph Smith prayed to find out which church to join. He became God’s prophet and restored the true Church of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith taught the people what they needed to do to obtain God’s promises and blessings.
 If you knew that Jesus Christ was coming to speak to you, would you take time out from your playing to go and listen to
Him? Each April and October, the prophet and other General Authorities speak to us in special meetings called general conference. They tell us the things the Savior would tell us if He were here. Their words are like the scriptures and will guide us in our lives.
Today PresidentThomas S. Monson tells us what God wants us to know and do. When we listen to general conference, it is as if God Himself is speaking to us. We can learn the way to obtain God’s promised blessings when we listen to our prophet.
Our prophet loves us just as the Savior loves us. If we do the things he teaches, we can be happier in this life. We can learn how to live again with Father in Heaven and the Savior, Jesus Christ. It is wonderful to know that through our prophet, the Savior is speaking to each of us!  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen"
Sources:
Elizabeth Ricks, “Sharing Time: I Will Follow the Prophet Today,” Friend, Oct 2006, 14–16
Diane S. Nichols, “Sharing Time: Listen to a Prophet’s Voice!,” Friend, Apr 2001, 13

We celebrated Mother's Day.  The Kids and Mark spoiled me, with Breakfast in Bed, a Wonderful Lunch and Dinner, Flowers, and Special handmade gifts from the Kiddos.  We also called and sent cards to our Mothers.  It was a great day!

Our Daughter R had her Baptism in the month of May.  We were so proud of her.  I did a Photo Shoot of her in her Baptism dress, {that my Mom made for her--it's so beautiful!}  To view more of her Session, click here.  

Our Daughter R, had her Baptism, up in Oregon, with her Best Friend, L.  They had a wonderful experience together.  They sang "When I am Baptized" together, and they also sang "I am a Child of God" with their siblings {they have siblings who are all the same ages as our first 4 kids, and they are all best friends}.  I also played the descant on my violin, for that one too.

It was so fun to have a combined Baptism, with our great friends, the Smith family.  The program was all done by both of our families.  Mark's Dad {R's grandpa} gave the talk on The Holy Ghost, and Nette's Mom {L's grandma} gave the talk on Baptism.  Both R and L's Dad's Baptized them.  It was a Beautiful Baptismal service.  Mark confirmed R.  It was such a wonderful day!

 We went back to Mark's parent's home, with both sides of our family, and took some lovely pictures {thanks Riana!} with our family.

Our Daughter R, with her Grandparents, Parents, and Siblings.

R and L had such an Amazing Baptism day!  R with her Cousins, at her Baptism Luncheon.

Our Kids had such a Blast playing with Cousins from both sides of our Family.  It was a wonderful Baptism day!  We all had a great time spending time together.  We are so glad that so many of our Family and Friends could be there for R's special day!{Thanks to my awesome sister, Angela for taking care of our sick Baby H {without being asked!}, during the Baptism!}

{Idaho Zoo & Capital Trips and Visit w Family: March 2014}

After we left Oregon, we traveled back down to Idaho, and on the way to our Home; we stopped and visited with Mark's sister Kristy, husband Troy and their 4 Kids.  The first day we were there, we went with them to the Boise Zoo.

 The Kids loved walking around the Zoo with their Cousins and seeing all of the fascinating and amazing animals!  Mark's sister Kristy, and her adorable {niece} Baby A.

There were so many cool and interesting animals to learn about!  It was awesome.  Bald Eagles are so fascinating.  {Our Nation's Bird.}

 This was most of our Children's First Official Trip, to the Zoo {Little Man E went when he was about 2, and Little Miss R was 6 months old}.  So they were all, Super Excited to go! :)

Baby H was ecstatic to see all of the animals, especially since they were behind glass {she kinda freaks out, when they are up close to her}.

There were some neat birds to see; including geese roaming around the Zoo!

 The Animals were so fascinating, to the Kids, and Us!  We ate lunch together there.

There were some Awesome toys and cars, for the Kids to play on.  It was a little drizzly, which was actually a plus, because it wasn't very crowded.

 We had to go see the Penguins twice; because the first time they weren't out of their nests.

We saw Lions, Tigers and Bears {Oh My}.  Also, Leopards, Giraffes, and Penguins.

 Little Man C, enjoyed seeing the Elephant Statues, Little Miss K playing with Cousin: T.  Mark and his Little Sister Kristy and their Babies.

 We all really liked seeing the Zebras, and the Kids liked playing on the Toy Statues.

There were a lot of fun things, for the Kids to see.

 The Kids Loved the Petting and Feeding Zoo!

It was fun for the Kids to Feed and Pet, the Goats and Sheep.

 Cousin A sat next to our Sleeping Baby H, and the Boys enjoyed looking at the emerged Penguins.

We stayed with Kristy and Troy for a night and we enjoyed spending time with them.  The Kids especially loved playing with their Cousins.  We had fun visiting and playing games.

Mark, Little Man E, and Little Miss R, enjoyed holding our Cousin/Niece cute little Baby A.

After we left their home, we went to the Idaho State Capital building for our first visit.

We enjoyed learning about Idaho History and seeing the Beautiful State Capital Buildings.

 There was a replica of the Liberty Bell, and a Statue of George Washington.  It was fascinating to learn about a lot of the History of the State of Idaho {especially since we live here now}!