Labor Day hike

On Labor Day, we spent the morning and afternoon hiking at a place called
Purgatory Chasm. It is such an awesome place to hike. We've done it once before,
but as you can see, the kids have changed a little bit since then. Unfortunately, it took
us three years to get back to there. Fortunately, it was still as fabulous as the first time.

Summer storm

We had a fabulous summer storm this morning.

When the kids saw the rain pouring down, Matt immediately picked up Nate,
holding him in the doorway so he could experience his first rain storm.

From the look of things, I think they both thought it was pretty cool.

Man hike ~ Part three

Okay, so the last day before Jacob returned home had nothing to do with hiking
really, but it was a part of the package, so it is getting included with the trip.
A day out on the boat, taking turns waterskiing. Jacob was in heaven.

Take a look at the height on those will you?
It is like no one told him he is the old man of the group.

Man hike ~ Part two

There isn't much explanation needed for these photos.

One dad and six brothers backpacking in the Uintas.
No cell phones, computers, work or distractions.
Just talking, laughing, sharing and climbing mountains.

Jacob told me after it was two of his favorite days ever.

Man hike ~ Part one

The day after we returned from Maine, Jacob had the chance to fly to Utah to spend several days with his family. His youngest brother was scheduled to return home from his mission for our church toward the end of July, and his dad and brothers were planning a backpacking trip to get away and just be together for the first time in two years.

Here they are right before they left.

And here they are on their way.

Thanks so much for these pictures, Jess!

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck?

Nine months

Last week this little sweetheart turned nine months old.

He's been crawling for several weeks, his eighth tooth is seconds away from breaking
through, he spends his days trying to get his siblings to laugh at him, but mostly, he just
makes us happy. Just over two years ago, I was told we were incredibly lucky to have four
children and that five would not be a possibility. I thank my Heavenly Father everyday
the doctors were wrong. Because not one of us could imagine our family without him.

I'm a mother

About eighteen months ago, our family started listening to the Harry Potter series on in the car. And loved every second of it! It took us a while to finish all seven books because we only listened when we were all together (well, at least a majority of us--Jacob is seldom with us on the way to and from church, which is when we did a majority of our listening). But on our way home from our Maine vacation we finished it and all felt a little (okay, a lot) sad that it was over.

Today I was thinking about how much we enjoyed listening to these books (Jim Dale is, without question, the greatest reader of audio books) and thinking about how the book ended and I realized something.

*Spoiler alert*

I love how the books end. Of course I love how Harry Potter defeats Lord Voldemort. I got teary reading that part the first time and got teary listening to it again. But the part that made me even more emotional? To the point I had to turn toward the window so that everyone in the car didn't wonder why I was such a mess?

The part where Molly Weasley takes on Bellatrix Lestrange. The part where she pushes her daughter and her friends out of the way and tells Bellatrix in no uncertain words to leave her daughter alone. And then, in defense of her child, takes out evil personified.

Yeah, that part.

I'm a mother.

And there's nothing in this world I would rather be.

Our Maine vacation ~ Together

Our favorite part of the vacation? Just being together. No question.

...The end...

Our Maine vacation ~ Beauty

Like I said, Maine is gorgeous.

...Stay tuned for more fun...

Our Maine vacation ~ Nathan

If there ever was a boy who loved his daddy, our Nate
would be him. A week without dad going to work
is definitely his idea of a fabulous vacation.

He surprised us by instantly loving the lake.

Can you even stand this face? I know.

Man, this vacation thing is a bit exhausting.

Good thing I have a great pillow.
Any other nine-month olds you know that can drive
the boat with one hand? I didn't think so.

We sure adore this boy and are grateful he is so darling

and so fun to take on vacation. Oh, and just for the record,
it's pretty likely this is the cutest picture ever to be taken.


...Stay tuned for more fun...