Fair and Rodeo

It's that time of year again... FAIR!!!! We love the fair and rodeo--fried food, cows, pigs, bunnies, and cowboys--who could ask for a more fun weekend!
Karson and Kate are obsessed with horses!!! I can't get enough of them dressed up so cute--I think I say every year that Karson is the cutest cowboy EVER!
I really think I have the cutest kids ever!!!
Oh Kate--So cute!!! We ran into one of Jason's cousins who said, "I think Kate is the best dressed little girl and the rodeo." I think Kate can pull off anything and look adorable--she is just a walking sassy, beauty--love her!
One night we took just Karson to the Rodeo with Jason and I--he is such a good kid and is getting so grown up!!

International Folk Dance Festival

We had the opportunity this summer to host dancers for the International Folk Dance Festival. It was sooo much fun!! We hosted a mother and her son from Belgium. They are the cutest people ever--my kids totally fell in love with them and they with my children. It is so neat to build relationships with people from all over the world!
Anne dancing with Lia--I really couldn't have asked for a neater lady. She adored my kids and was oh so helpful. I feel so blessed that I was able to meet her and become her friend.
Ciaran and Karson. These two had so much fun goofing around together!
Anne and her two kiddos with my little family.
For the opening social we went to Steadman's water slides--so fun!! Karson and Kate couldn't get enough--we had to peel them off the slides to go home.

Scheeler Reunion

My grandma's family get together for reunions every other year. They are held all over the country and we haven't gone since we were dating. This year it was in Boise, so we were happy to be able to go, but sad because my grandma wasn't there. We started the reunion by scattering her ashes up at her and Grandpa's favorite huckleberrying spot. There was a fire there last year, so it was not as beautiful as normal, but still a place filled with lots of memories of Grandma. During the reunion we went and toured the old penitentiary in Boise. It was interesting and the kids had fun being little "criminals."

I love Claire's face here--she was trying to look mad or scary--too cute!!

Bonding

I spent most of June getting ready for this... My family reunion. I hosted it at my house. My family lives all over the country, so it is always so nice to get together. We had some wonderful moments, but I think my favorite was watching the cousins bond--they had so much fun together, especially the boys!! It was so nice for Karson to have some boy cousins around, I just wish they lived closer.
Claire really bonded with uncle Brian. He was so cute with her, and she loved him lots, which if you know Claire, this was a big deal--she is very picky about who she likes.
We took the fam up to City of Rocks for some hiking, climbing, and picnicking!

We made these shirts for the 4th of July and wore them to a wonderful picnic and fireworks show hosted by Chad and Bonnie. They were so nice to invite my entire family to join in the fun!
The morning of the 4th we went to the parade in Albion. It was so cute and short, and there was a lot of candy involved, which equals happy kids!
We also got to go boating right out our back yard. We had a blast--until the babies fell in the water--I'm pretty sure I was more upset than the kids--I have a tendency to over react when it comes to my kiddos safety.

Silly Kiddos

I set the bowl a little too close... Lia had fun covering herself and Bumbo with it--doesn't she look guilty :0)!
Aubry and I were shopping awhile ago in Twin. She came running into the store cracking-up. The girls were posing as manikins in the window--where do they come up with these things!! I was pretty impressed by how long they held still--too cute!
Karson is either turned into a little clown or he's just bored this summer---probably a little bit of both. Cookie dough glasses and a funky bedtime ensemble are just a few of his latest! What a funny kid!

New developments

This sweet little thing is 6 months old!! To say that it's gone fast would be a total lie...it's been hard and crazy and fun...Some things I want to remember about Lia at 6 months:

*She has the cutest smile and is happy most of the day!

*She gives the best kisses.

*She loves her brother and sisters!

*She has the cutest chubby, kissable cheeks!

*She rolls from her back to her tummy and is starting to scoot to things.

*She hates to sleep at night.

In other news...Claire is potty training. She decided to do it on her own last Wednesday and is doing pretty well. The first few days she was amazing and the last two have been a little rocky, but I think she's getting it, and I will be so happy when we're through this annoying phase of life.

And finally, the news that will be changing my life the most for the next few years... Jason was called as the second counselor in our bishopric this past Sunday. Even though he will be away at meetings more, and up on the stand during sacrament meeting, I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed him and our family with this opportunity to serve. I am also very grateful that I am married to an amazing, righteous priesthood holder who was completely humbled, but willingly accepted this calling.

Easter

Easter is one of my favorite holidays!! I love to reflect on the Savior--His life, His atonement, and His resurrection!! I also love to teach my children about these things and help them have a better understanding of our purpose here on earth. This year I am especially grateful for my eternal family and my knowledge that families can be together forever!
One of my favorite things about Easter is new spring dresses!! Here are the kids on Easter Sunday all dressed up in their cute Easter clothes! Bonnie bought all the little girls the cutest dresses and my mom made cute little flower purses that matched perfectly--it's so nice to have grandma's that spoil us! Karson also got some new cute duds! We took the picture below at Chad and Bonnie's Sunday afternoon--we joked around that it was an Easter miracle that all the kids were looking in the direction of the camera :0)!! I do have to say that Chad and Bonnie have the cutest grand kids--and that includes Kiley's kiddos who aren't in this picture--they were missed!
Saturday we began our festivities with a super yummy Easter breakfast with the Joneses. That was followed by our annual adult Easter scavenger hunt. It is by far one of our favorite Easter traditions. This year a lot of the clues were scriptures--thank goodness for smart phones :0)!!! Chad and Bonnie came up with some awesome clues that stumped us--leading to Jason and I losing to Jared and Abby for the first time EVER!!! The kids then got to have a huge Easter egg hunt and all got tons of eggs!!! As you can see in Karson's basket...


Watching Claire and Gracie hunt for eggs was one of the funnest parts of the day--they were SOOOO cute--talking and helping each other search through the grass for the eggs, naming their colors as they went--they are both getting to be so smart and grown up!
The Monday before Easter we dyed eggs for family home evening. The kids had fun decorating them with crayons and watching their pictures show up on the eggs when they were dipped in the colors. Lia had fun watching! She is sooo cute these days!