Truman's 4th Birthday

Our boy is 4! This kiddo gets crazier and funner every year! Never a dull moment for sure! 

Truman had been wanting to go to the zoo all year long so that's what we did for his birthday this year.

 The Stevens came too. It was loads of fun.

Grandpa Kirk and cousins

 More good times with the cousins.

On his actual birthday we made the customary sign and did cake and presents.

Hard core pirate right there. 

Iron Man!

 Woa!

Not my best decorating job ever, but he loved it.

All Hallows Eve

Stellar pumpkin carving skills, thank you very much. Kellan and I spent an afternoon doing these (we had time so why not?). The kids picked the designs they wanted and helped where they could. Kellan did the ninja turtle and batman all on his own, he's more skilled than I am. 

Pre-Trick or Treating

Truman loves all things ghost. They're spoooooky! This might be my all time favorite kid costume because its nothing more than one of my brothers old under shirts and some face paint. 

Miles the Lion

Libby and Sara both wanted to be pretty witches. We have a lot of princess dress ups so we just added cheap hats. Libby decorated hers. Sara did not. She's anti pink and anything the same as her sisters right now so she had to make it her own. 

Anne wanted to be Snow White and didn't see any problem with having red hair. I think it works.

Secretly hogging down their stash.

The Anne-Girl

Miss Anne is 9!

 Grandma Mai sent her this cute outfit. She loves it and calls it her ballerina outfit. Grandma Mai also sent her a rainbow loom which she has loved! And Grandma Evel gave her money that she spent on a new watch.

At school she got to be the VIP for the week and got the have a spot light on Friday. She took a poster with pictures of herself and got to answer the kids questions about her. She made sure to wear this outfit and she ate up the attention.  

 We had cake for her the weekend after up at my sisters house in Wellsville. She felt a bit under the weather but it was still fun. Also, for her present she requested to go miniature golfing, so Kellan took all the girls while we were there in Cache Valley. I meant to have him take the camera, but alas, I forgot. 

I know everyone says it, but I cannot believe how fast these kids of mine are growing! I really only get them for a few short years. Its actually kind of scary! Time just goes faster and faster with each year. Anne is such a great kid! She is a tough, resilient girl and I can see why Heavenly Father sent her to us first. She holds us all together and I don't know what we'd do without her!

Shool

Life sure has a way of surprising me. The one thing I don't prepare for or consider is usually what happens. 

Kellan had a great summer. He really enjoyed his internship and learned a lot. Then it ended and the company had a hiring freeze and even though they loved him they couldn't keep him. 

We really weren't too worried though, we knew something would work out and Kellan had a couple of good prospects for new jobs. I was sure something would happen before the new school year started. 

So we drove back the weekend of my sisters wedding and Kellan chased down his new leads and then nothing happened. The leads fizzled. We were staying with my parents and I was sure we'd only be there a couple of weeks. 7ish weeks later, we're still here. 

My parents have been so kind and patient to let us stay as long and we need. I had prepared to go anywhere, except moving in with my family. I know its not much, but for me its probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do. 

That being said, we know this is were we're supposed to be right now and that something is going to work out eventually. Kellan was able to transfer his classes to the Price extension and is working on his last two classes. It seems like every few weeks he gets a new batch of good leads for jobs and chases them down. The kids are really loving living with the Grandparents. Especially after a hot, hot summer cooped up inside. The cool weather, sand-box, trampoline and ample space to run around outside have been a dream come true for them. I miss my kitchen and my privacy, but so does my mom. We're making it work and we have loads of blessings. 

Finally two days before school started I got over my denial enough to enroll my older girls in my old alma mater. Good old Cleveland Elementary. They have loved their teachers and I'm really gratefully they are thriving in spite of  that 7:10 bus stop. They also love being 2nd cousins with just about everyone in their class. Not really, but there are a lot of us in there. Its like a little Jonesie reunion. 

Sara's first day of 2nd grade.  

 Anne's first day of 3rd grade.

They're pretty good pals. 

This girlie did not go to Kindergarten. We've been going back and forth on that decision since January and finally decided to not. She couldn't be happier and is loving her extra year of running around naked with her boys. 

The grand Grand Canyon.

On our drive home we decided to swing around the Grand Canyon. It was a couple of hours out of the way but we figured we never know when we might get the chance again. It did not disappoint! We only had time to take a short hike along the South Rim, but was worth seeing. Anne was especially sad we couldn't take time to check out the visitor centers and learn all about it.  Hopefully we can plan a whole trip down there someday and really get to see it.  

Official family pic.

I'm pretty sure a couple of Asian girls were taking pictures of our red-heads as well.

                               

Somebody needed a Waaaambulence. "I haaaayyyyte hiking! I don't want to go for a walk! My legs hurt! I'm scared of looking over the edge!" Poor Libby, forced to spend time in nature and walk after 4 hours in the car. 

She didn't mind so much by the end though and had to admit it was pretty impressive!

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

Our summer in Phoenix was hot! When we left Logan at the end of May it was barely getting warm enough to play outside. Then we moved and it was too hot (110-115 degrees everyday) to go outside. We had literally been cooped up inside since November. Add that to being far from home and lonely and there were some days I didn't think we were going to make it.

We were so blessed though, especially by those who had been in our situation before. One friend in particular, who was also new to the ward, took time to get to know me and invite us to their home and neighborhood pool(we didn't have one). She could have spent her summer making friends that weren't leaving in a few weeks but she knew I needed her. Our kids played together so well, and loved being with them so much! It was such a life-saver! 

Also, I was able to get some affordable swimming lessons for my kids through a lady in our ward whose daughter taught them from her pool. My kids were the whole class and she was able to do them in the evenings after Kellan got off work. I wish I had gotten a picture with their swim teacher. She was the best. By the second lesson my older girls were swimming across the pool. By the end even 3 year old Truman could jump off the diving board and swim to the side with only a bit of help.

  

Swimming with the Hookers. The last couple of weeks we were at the pool with them every Tues. and Thurs afternoon. We lived for it!

There were so many tender mercies this summer. It was a roller coaster of good and bad for sure. Our kids became such good friends and I know Kellan and I became kinder and more patient with each other and them. We learned to trust Heavenly Father more and to just take one day at a time. I know its where we needed to be this summer and I hope we make it back there again someday!

Baby King

A couple of weeks ago our Miles a.k.a. Baby King or Mosey, turned 2! He's our first baby king to turn 2 without being dethroned by a new younger sibling. He's just about the sweetest baby ever. This summer its been so fun to watch him turn from a mellow sleepy baby into a busy, goofy little boy. He's really become one of the kids and the older ones love including him in their play and mischief. All of a sudden he can talk and he doesn't hesitate to make his needs known. He's also learned that if Mom says "no" Anne or Sara or Libby will say "yes". In one day he learned to climb out of the crib and open doors which means he doesn't nap long or sleep in much anymore. He gets up and goes. He's just about the funniest sweetest thing ever! If only I could slow him down!

Miles has the sweetest smile ever, but as soon as I pull out the camera he usually puts his stone face on! So glad I got a couple with his smiles!

Opening his carefully wrapped present;)

Assembling his bubble gun.

Anne was so proud of the monsters inc. building she made for him. 

Bubbles!

He was alright with others operating the gun for him for about 5 minutes and then he was the only one who could touch it. You've got to protect your stuff when your the youngest! 

Happy Birthday Miles!