Blogging in the summer...

   Is just not as fun...  I blog, yes for myself, but also for family to see and since we are so close to family-- what's the point??  I keep forgetting that I will want to look back and remember what we did this summer!

  We have been having a great time!  Colton is in heaven playing at his grandparents house in their big backyard (with a fence :)), riding on the four-wheelers, the horses, playing with kids, eating yummy food, and visiting his other grandparents (who just moved to Idaho Falls)

  Mylee is growing up so fast.  She is a squeeler and likes to make noise ALL day long!  She is still smiley as ever and if anyone looks at her, she will always give them a smile.  She giggles and she rolls around like crazy (like across the room).  I already notice how different she is than Colton was, she is always grabbing at everything she can get her hands on (including Colton, and anything that he has--oh and he just loves that ;))  

We are loving being close to family, but we miss our little Moscow life too, our friends, our apartment, our ward, and of course those green rolling hills!  We aren't ready to go back yet, but will probably be ready by the time summer is oveR!

   Matt is busy at his externship and learning a lot, researching a lot, and writing a lot--sounds like fun!! ;)  He is also doing 1-on-1 basketball lessons with some kids around here.  

   I feel like this summer is a HUGE break for me.  Colton is totally occupied playing with the kids all day, when normally I am trying to find things to entertain him with all day...going to the park, mommy and me, indoor playground, the pool, hanging out with friends, etc.  Mylee is also 1000 times easier than she was a couple of months ago when she wouldn't stay asleep during the day for more than 15 minutes. At night time, instead of Matt coming home for an hour or two and helping and then studying, I have him all night plus grandparents!!  :)  

Here are some pictures of the fun we have been up to!!

I love these 3 more than anything!

After his bath one day, he took off running.  By the time I came into the living room, this is what I found him doing :)  

  

Colton is finally warming up to the day care kids, after a month--haha.  

Kudter had a fun birthday party with a blow up toy, horse rides, and 4-wheeler rides

He loves swimming and we learned he can swim all by himself with a life jacket AND water wings!

I love this little girl

LIFE

...I always wonder why certain things happen in life, what are we supposed to learn from it, how are we supposed to grow, who are we supposed to meet.
   I grew up moving (not a ridiculous amount)  but enough.  We moved across the country from family when I was 3 years old to Florida, 5 years later moved up to Chicago, Illinois, and 3 years after that to Atlanta, Ga.  After living in GA for 7 years, I moved back out to Utah to go to school and then Idaho.  A year after I moved to Idaho, my dad got laid off from his job, and they moved back to Utah and have lived their ever since.
   Almost a year ago, my dad lost his job in SLC.  He was very successful at his job and I could go into details about how unfair the situation was, but that is not my business.  He has looked for numerous jobs in other states, wondering if this is where their life was supposed to take them at this time.  About a month ago, they decided they needed to at least sell their house in SLC because it wasn't really helping the situation.  My grandparents at the time were talking about how they wanted to serve a mission, but didn't know if they could leave their home, their house payment, garden, yard, etc.  My parents decided that they would live in my grandparents house for them and take care of it and pay for it while they were able to serve a mission.
  My dad attends weekly meetings  to network with other people who are also looking for jobs.  The guy who runs these meetings said to my dad something along the lines of, maybe it isn't about what is best for you right now with finding a job, but maybe you are supposed to do this for your in-laws.
   I have been thinking a lot about that statement and believe that those things happen ALL the time.  Our Heavenly Father knows what is best for each and every one of us.
  My amazing parents have been praying about what to do, my brother will be a senior this next year and plays basketball and has good friends.  They didn't want to take him away from his "life" in Utah.  However, my sweet little brother has had an incredible attitude about the whole situation and has looked at it as an adventure.  What an example my parents have been to me about going with what you have been given and not complaining along the way.
  I know they will be blessed for being willing to sacrifice their home, the majority of their possessions, (yes, they have sold over half of their belongings)  and their life that they had in Utah.

     We took a few pictures on my parents' front porch for the last time.  Matt is more sentimental about that kind of thing than I am (I have lived in so many houses/apartments--  we counted and it is 23--7 since we have been married-ha)  Anyway, he kept talking about all of the memories we have had in their house...and although we have had some great memories- it was with the people, not the house!

 We went and visited them last weekend with all of their belongings packed up and said goodbye to their beautiful home!  It broke my heart for them, but I know they have good attitudes and hopefully can look at this next phase of their life as an adventure...and hopefully my dad can find a job!

  We will miss our trips to Salt Lake, but have friends there, so we will have an excuse to go back!!

SuMmeR

    We have enjoyed our summer so far! Matt had a couple of weeks before he started his externship and we went to Salt Lake and did some fun things--basically went to the zoo and went shopping :) Oh, and Matt and I got to go on our first date in forever!!  It was fun finally being able to spend some time as a family! We are loving summer and staying busy!!

Miss Mylee

Our sweet little girl at 4 months.  (This post is 3 weeks late!!) Mylee weighed 15 lbs. 6 oz. and was just a little over 25 inches long at her 4 month appointment.  Colton weighed 18 and was 26 1/2 inches so she is a little smaller than him-thank goodness :)  She has eczema all over her poor skin, but is the smiliest, happiest little girl. 

She makes tons of noises and LOVES attention.  I take her to the doctor or the store or anywhere and she smiles at everyone.  She rolled over at about 2 1/2 months and we didn't see it again until 4 months.  She doesn't love being on her belly.  She loves her brother, loves to watch him, smile at him, anything he does, she watches.  Too bad he doesn't give her the time of day! 

She was the greatest sleeper until about 3 1/2 months and has been struggling since, but we're working on it :)

I love being her mom and love that I was blessed with such a happy go lucky baby!!