Time Flies

So I've taken like 7 months off.  From blogging that is.  I'm definitely staying busy. Having a family with little kids is no joke, and on top of that we have had a very busy Spring and Summer.  So in my attempts to play catch up a little, I thought I would highlight a few big things that have happened in our little family this year.

Our area went through the snow storm of the century. We called it Snommageddon.  I think we got 30 inches over the course of 2 days.  Briant just happened to be away on business and missed it all. We lived in a place that takes care of most of the snow fall, but we do have to do our back patio.  Callie didn't like the snow and would cry when I took her outside.  So shoveling was a challenge.  Everything was closed and cancelled.  So we basically hibernated for like 4 days.  I was kinda going crazy, but we tried to make the best of it. Andrew loved being out in it with me and he had a blast in it for as long as it lasted!  Believe it or not, like 2 or 4 weeks later it was all melted!

We had to really pack down the snow before we could sled in it.
Mom had to go down 2 or 3 times before Andrew could go, or
he would just sink and get stuck.

Callie did end up getting more comfortable in the snow.
I loved seeing this.  Andrew helping Callie up the hill, once she
did start realizing snow wasn't all that bad.

After Briant got back, we made up for lost time and had fun sledding with him.

Having a snow ball fight.
Good throw Andrew. Nice form.

We finally found a house we like and we bought it. After waiting for what seemed like a really long time, and was only actually like 2 months (after we closed)... we painted 5 rooms, and then we moved in.
I am loving it here, and am loving that I finally have a place for everything. Best of all, I don't feel crowded and there is room to grow.

Kids playing while we were moving in boxes.  They have a play room now!

I painted the Laundry Room, myself.

I know some of you may be thinking,
"You are crazy!  Why would you paint it
orange?"  Well, it's always been my dream (for
like 1 year or so) to have an orange laundry room.
I feel like it's the only room you can get away with painting orange,
and it is just a happy color, that will make this mundane job
a better one. 

I love our new washer and dryer and rug!

We painted this green room, white!  I already knew how to edge,
so that was my job. Briant learned how to roll and is better at it than me know.

I did make him learn how to edge because it takes forever.
I was glad to have his help!

I like power tools.

Andrew still loves this bike so much!
On this day, he was skidding in circles!

This Spring, we bought Season Passes to Hershey Park.  We have been having a great time this year there as a family.  The kids are working themselves up to bigger rides and getting over their fears.
Andrew loves the Flying Falcon, and we are sad they are taking it down this year.

Callie doesn't like the mini scrambler.

Andrew had a great year in Preschool.  He loved his teachers, and learned a lot!  He graduated in May, and will be starting Kindergarten soon.

We is going to miss his teachers!

Because we moved and moved into a different ward, I was released from my calling as Young Women's President. I have really grown to love those girls in a very short amount of time and had a really hard time leaving them.  I was prepared to keep going to that ward for them.  It was kinda unsettling having to leave them since we've done so much and I felt we were far from done with the things we were working on.  Good things were happening and I felt like the goodbyes were premature, but had to happen. I still think about them and hope they are doing well.

They made me these flowers to say
thanks and goodbye.

Callie had a birthday, and she turned 2!! She is really growing up.  She speaks very well now, and is getting taller.  She can be very curious at times, but very anxious at other times. She takes her time with transitions and likes to control things. She is a pretty good eater.  She hates to sit still.  She likes to do things by herself, and she loves to cuddle. She recently started going to nursery by herself... finally (she really needed some forceful persuasion).

She didn't like open flames and
wouldn't blow out her candles.

With Spring comes a lot of moving out around us and we had to say good bye to our really good friends!  We will miss them so much!

We went on vacation!  We went to a family reunion for Briant's family and stayed to visit mine while we were out there.  Andrew thought this would be the best way to go.

Back to my home!

I always love getting to see my family, and watching my kids play with their cousins.  They  love it too and soak up all the fun they have playing together.

Thanks for the smile dad!

Her name sake.  They had a great time.

Figuring out the big girl swing.

Andrew helped Grandma plant corn.

We went to Yellowstone!  I loved showing Andrew all the fun things there.

One of my favorite memories from the trip.
We went out the east entrance, which was a first for us.
We saw this fun little waterfall and stopped to look at it and
throw rocks.  It was a really fun family moment.

Another fun memory.  We made the hike down to get a really good view.
I was super proud of our kids for hiking that much and it was an awesome view.

Callie loves swimming. She had a great time with Daddy in Powell, WY

Andrew was ecstatic to get to hang out with his
best friend/cousin, Nick. They have so much fun
together.  Nick also introduced Andrew to snails.
I'm glad he did it so I didn't have to.

We went on a fun hike with Devin and his family.

Andrew turned 5!! He is super proud of it too and tells everyone!  He is so ready for Kindergarten!  He is excited to ride the bus and learn to read.  He still loves anything with wheels, and legos.  He is totally a silly kid, but also a good helper.  His smile is infectious and his laugh contagious. He is a great big brother, and loves donuts!

I tried.  It tasted good.  I'll have to try it again for a auction or something.

We had family come visit us!  Andrew and Callie had so much fun with their cousins!

The original family is back together!

GG and Pop POP with their grand kiddos.

Giles grandkids.

Briant and I hit 8 years!!  He's awesome!  I love him.

We went on trek with the youth in our stake for church. They asked us in the Spring if we would be Ma and Pa.  I prepped for it by making a skirt, apron, bloomers, and 2 satchels.  We also had to buy lots of supplies to help us along the way.  We walked around 20 miles round trip and cooked over an open fire.  We slept on the ground with no padding under the handcart.  We were exhausted but we had some of the most amazing experiences with those kids.  I'm so glad we were able to do this, it will forever be something special to me that I will remember and treasure forever.

Women's pull.

Jamm'in Giles, trekking for miles, HOZZA!

Coming to the end of the first day.  Still smiling after hiking 12 miles.

A week and a half after we got back from trek, I went to girls camp. I was over the 3 level girls.  It was tons of fun! We canoed, hiked, played lots of squirt gun pranks, had great food, had good spiritual experiences, and had tons of fun!

I totally deserved this!

Bananas of the universe, unite!

My faith walk lamp.

As you can see, we've had a pretty busy spring/summer!  We've been on the go none stop since May!  We are looking forward to visiting the Philly Temple Open house this week and volunteering next week.  I'll post more pictures of that when it happens.

Oh and one more thing:

Andrew learned how to tie his shoes!