{6.14.21 - 6.20.21}

Alya took some selfies while I was doing her hair this morning. Silly girl! // Wouldn't it be interesting to be in his head!?

Eli graduated to a "big boy bed" this week! He is so excited! // Showing off his muscles! Gosh he's cute! 

Can you see Matthew in this picture!? He drew out for a bear this year! I am so excited for him! I was able to go with him one night this week! We sat in the tree-stand for what felt like for.ev.er! But then this beautiful boar came in! My adrenaline ramped up, it was so exciting! He came in just sniffing the air...he could definately tell that something wasn't quite right in his forest...

Look how broad his shoulders are!!! He's so big! He walked in, sniffed the air, and took a couple steps toward me, and even though he was plenty far away it still made me a little nervous! Haha! But it didn't take him long to wander off, and then about 45 minutes later I caught a glimpse of him behind Matthew. He had circled us trying to figure out what he was sensing. 

He made his way back around and headed for the bait. Matthew got his bow ready and the exact point that the bear takes off in this video is when Matthew pulled back for a shot. I have no idea how he heard the bow, but obviously he was paying close attention! 

It was such a cool experience for me to be there and see him! And I'm glad I didn't sit in that tree-stand and not see anything...that would have been the most boring experience of my life! haha!! 

 

{6.7.21 - 6.13.21}

The girls got to go play with a friend today so the boys and I went exploring a little bit. 

There is a gorgeous little waterfall up Manti canyon that we drove to and hiked around a little bit! We love exploring!

I have been filing loose papers this week and I came across some drawings and notes from the kids. The first drawing is a skeleton that Axel drew, and the other is a note from Lyla to me. 

Axel's airplane and dinosaurs/fossils. 

The whole dino scene is just the best! I love it! (Drawn by Axel)

The kids love our babysitter (and so do I!) She rode her motorcycle down to babysit today and the kids were so excited that she let them sit on it! 

Matthew and I were able to go with the youth to Lake Powell for youth conference this weekend. It was so beautiful! 

I love this kid! (I love that his tattoo looks like chest hair! Haha!!!) // Eli refuses to look at the camera for me...but that's okay, cause sometimes I love these stubborn candid pictures. 

The girls are getting so good at the slide! It's a good thing they are so tall!  

{5.31.21 - 6.6.21}

We got Miss Lyla's cute soccer pictures back...FINALLY!! I have been waiting for so long and I had to keep emailing the company to have them send them to me...it's kind of been a joke. But I'm glad we have them! I think she is pretty impartial to soccer so I wouldn't be surprised if she opts not to play again, but I'm so glad she had this experience! // Matthew and I worked at the Grazing Pasture this weekend trying to get it ready for the owners to come spend some time. Bullet prefers to run along side the side by side but he was getting so tired! He was very confused about being able to ride with us and couldn't decide if he liked it or not once he caught his breath! 

He is probably the most durpy, abnoxious dog I have ever known, but he is a good buddy and he sure is pretty! 

It's gorgeous up here this time of year! 

I like that part of his job is making sure there is access on all the roads, because it means we get to take a little break and go for a little drive for a bit. 

We took the kids to Yuba two nights in a row. The first night everyone was just in regular clothes and got soaking wet so today I put Eli in a swimsuit, I'm glad we did. Look how wet Axel's shorts are! Haha! 

A swimsuit was good idea! // Look at his cute little fish, and that adorable smile! 

Alya's carp...

Lyla's carp.

{5.24.21 - 5.30.21}

I honestly never thought I'd be someone who just takes her kids to the lake to hang out for the day, but I love that this has become a new favorite summer activity. 

I am so glad we have this little spot so close to us and that it's just so easy to load up our beach toys (never thought I'd have a tote of "beach toys" in my garage either) and the kids and run to the lake for the day. 

The girls had their May Day program at school this week. It was really hot and the boys were pretty restless, but it was so fun to watch the girls do their little performance! And now that that's over...WELCOME SUMMER! 

We had to find a laundromat in Utah County that had enough machines for us to wash many sleeping bags at once. At said laundromat, there was a little coin machine that I let the kids pick a prize out of. Eli picked this...awesome?...tattoo! Haha! // Gardening season is upon us! Snotty noses and dirt do not mix well! 

I caught Lyla just lounging on the side of the garden box like this. She is such a glamorous gardener! // Alya caught a fish at Yuba!!She's so proud of herself! 

I love nights like these!!! // He is such a ham!!!

So is she! // Like father like son. My heart could explode! 

I mean!!!!

We went over to the Scandinavian Days festival. The kids got to sift for some gemstones/rocks/fossils/whatever was in the cup they dumped into the makeshift river! 

Admiring their collections! (Lyla//Alya)

Happy birthday Matthew! This guy is truly amazing! He has been through some really hard things and puts up with a lot from me. He works so hard for us and even though I give him a hard time about how often he goes hunting without us, I know that he loves to spend time with me and the kids and tries hard to give us opportunities to do things as a family. I hope he had a good birthday. (Also...that looks like too many candles on that dessert, doesn't it?! We can't be getting that old!)

 

{5.17.21 - 5.23.21}

I love Eli's morning hair! // Today he is Spiderman, a superhero and a triceratops! 

Some friends of mine invited me to go on a hike down in Capital Reef this week. We hiked about 7 miles and then rode bikes back to the truck. 

The hike was beautiful, but the bike ride kicked my butt! 

(Lisa, Ashley, Erica, and me!)

It was such a good day though! The sun felt amazing, it was so good to talk with friends and it was a good distraction for me. 

Being in nature truly is the best therapy, in my opinion! 

These kids can be pretty good therapy, too! // The sky looked like our moods this week. But it sure is beautiful. 

The boys looked so handsome for Crystal's funeral. // Leave it to Axel to have everyone laughing! 

Grandma and Grandpa will be serving a mission up at a scout camp this summer so we took a drive up to the property to take a look around. Everything is so green and pretty! The sky still seemed to reflect how we were all feeling this week. 

Feeding Mr. T with Grandpa!

This week has been a rough one. I'm so grateful for my family and the knowledge that I have that we can be together forever. We will sure miss Crystal but that knowledge brings me comfort. I love my kids so much and only hope that I am doing a good job for them. I hope that they too, will always have a knowledge and testimony of the gospel.