Packing It In

We started our summer list with a trip to Thanksgiving Point's newest Curiosity Museum. All outings are more fun with cousins. I'm glad we were able to go with Challey, Stratton, Paris & London. Watson adores Stratton. Thankfully, Stratton allows the adoration and they get along pretty well, most of the time.

Another day we visited the Hawaiian Shave Ice Hokulia. That's my favorite. It is so good!

Watson attended a couple of "summer school" classes at Thanksgiving Point. One was for cooking, another gardening and the third astronomy. I love this age of wonder and wanting to learn as much as possible. He is one of my favorites in every way right now.

I'm still a little off my game for regular activities for the summer. But, we did manage one patriotic project for the upcoming 4th of July holiday.

Watson and I tagged along on a hike with Challey and her friend to Battlecreek Falls. It was a great hike. A little steep but Watson and Sparky were troopers and hardly complained a bit. Watson was content to throw rocks in the water and make big splashes.

So our summer adventures have begun! Chandler is off to EFY in Logan at Utah State and Watson and I have something planned every day. It seems there aren't enough days in the week to fit everything in, but we will certainly try.

Father's Day

I love having our boys together to celebrate their dad. Scott is really the best. He doesn't know it. But I do. I hope Chandler and Watson know that too. Scott is always there. He wants to be present for these kids in every way. Yes, he has passions and interests of his own. But these two are everything to him. I couldn't have chosen a better man to be my children's father. He is amazing. We love him so much.

Let Summer Begin!

Yay! Chandler's home for the summer! We hate having him be so far away during the school year but we really love to have him all to ourselves during the summer. He always comes home tired. The flight from Florida is looong. We are so glad he's here!

Just Keep Swimming

We started June with swim lessons. Watson loves the water. We picked a pool close to our new home, in Riverton. It was kind of fun to drive past Grandpa Bee's farm every day for a week on the way to lessons.  Watson did great! He is good at going under the water and swimming while "ice cream scooping." Not only is he getting good at swimming but listening and following directions too.

We Really Did It

Although it felt like there was one obstacle after another on our path to moving, it did happen. I felt I could breathe a sigh of relief once my Kitchenaid was in place on the counter. We have moved to the country, sort of. I'm excited for the quiet. To not be in the middle of constant business. I'm excited to explore the paths and trails all around our house. This is going to be an exciting adventure for a while to come. Yay!

All Done!

Watson loved preschool. He loved Mrs. King. He loved her the moment he met her. He was so happy to go to school every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. His last day was fantastic. The kids put on a play of the book, Miss Nelson is Missing. Watson was the detective. He played it perfectly. The kids sang fun songs and told funny jokes. Mrs. King was the best teacher! This was the perfect place for Watson to start his "formal" education. I'm so grateful it was in our neighborhood. I'm so grateful Mrs. King loved the kids and her work. I'm so grateful Watson was safe and happy and able to continue learning. I hope his next preschool experience is just as great. There is a high bar to meet for his new teacher this fall.

Our Cute Little House, No More

This was my house. And then it was our house. So much happened here. I became myself in my early thirties. Then I became Scott's wife and Chandler's (step)mom and Watson's mom. It was hard to leave it. So much was learned here. But, it was time to go. It was time for a fresh start and a new place. We worked hard to make this our home together. We have so many lovely memories here. Quite a few heartbreaking ones too. We will miss our cute little house. And our fantastic, loving ward. And our nice neighbors. And I will really miss my little gardens.

Mother's Day

I had cake for breakfast. And beautiful flowers to enjoy. And lots of kisses. And two surprises: a flooded basement and a new china hutch for our new home. The basement flooding was the low of the day. Watson and Scott were the high of my day. I am so blessed, and grateful.

My Big Kid

 I still remember Chandler this way. He was so happy, so little, so cute. I can't believe he is 14. Where did time go? He used to indulge me any time for pictures. He usually smiled his biggest smile, no matter the circumstance. Things have changed since hitting the teens. Most of my pictures are of him with his hand covering his face or blurry because of hurrying out of view. It's quite a challenge at times.
We love Chandler. We love his sensitive heart. He can be the absolute best brother on the planet! He makes me laugh, a lot. He is pretty patient despite having two sets of parents and five siblings scattered around. He is the best 14 year old I know. Happy birthday Big Kid of mine!

This is our new norm once I pull out the camera. He's usually telling me how much I owe him for his image too. He thinks he's pretty awesome, and I do too.

A Little R & R

Things were crazy. The house, the float, the selling the house. Our family need a little time of from the real world. Scott had a little St. George trip planned "for work" to bike. So, Watson, my mom and I tagged along. We stayed at the Gundersen condo and really did a lot of relaxing and a little bit of hiking. Of course we ate good food and swam quite a bit. It was just what we needed. 

 This hike was in Leeds. It was fantastic! Watson loved being in the water and scaling the biggest rocks he could find. It was such a great experience. And so beautiful.

We managed to fill up on treats as frequently as possible. The Fractured Prune donut shop was super yummy and we couldn't get enough of Swig. We were sugared out by the time it was time to head home. It was relaxing and really a perfect time to be together.