Doing What You Do in Summer!!! June and July

Fourth of July!!

Unfortunately I didn't get that many pictures of what we did on the fourth of July!! Ben was home and we enjoyed a hot day in a little lake called The Edness Kimball Wilkins Stae Park.  It is more like a pond.  Anna had been teething the night before and she didn't feel well so we kind of took it slow.

Eli and Dad sword fighting

Lydia gathering starts of a Russian olive tree into a bouquet.

After the Fire works!! We went to an amazing show up by the Casper events center. There were huge fireworks and lots of noise.  The show lasted for a whole half an hour.  The kids, needless to say, stayed up way past their bed time.

Face Painting!!
 We went to a festival and Lydia wanted her faced painted so badly. I decided that we would try it at home instead of wait in line.  My sister was also an inspiration in this project.  She paints her kids face frequently as a fun activity.

 A dragon if you can't tell.

Spiderman

Ward Campout at Ayras Natural Bridge.

     Lately we have discovered that there is some beauttiful places to visit around Casper.  This is an amazing natural bridge that is surround by camping sites and a really cool park.(that of course I didn't get pictures of) Ben got of late from work and it is about 45 minutes from Casper. We ended up getting there about seven.  The ward provided a great dinner and some fun desserts and then we walked around.   You can walk on top of the natural bridge and  under it.

 On your way to the top!! 

 A great picture of the kids and dad and the Bottom.

 Anna loved it  all!! She loves that out doors and will sit  and look and rock back and forth.  She just bubbles over with excitement

Swim Lessons

 Eli and Lydia both went four days a week for two weeks.  It was  great for them to get into the water ever day.  It boosted their confidence. Now when we go swimming Lydia will practice arm circles and monster kicks. Eli tries to swim under the water.  Eli's instructor was super patient and caring with the preschoool aged kids. The last day of swim they all go to go down the slides with thier instructor.  The also gave them a free swim pass so we went back as family and played on the slides so more.

Waterfall

The hike to the waterfall, or Roatary Park, is really just a walk up a path. It is a beautiful way to escape the city and to enjoy the outdoors without a long trek in the car.

.

So for a little explanation on Eli's face... He was playing in the yard and there was a hang plant hook on the fence that he tried to swing from.  He fell flat on his face.  His nose bled like a waterfall.mmm No it really wasn't funny and I am glad that it wasn't worse that just some scratches and a bid goose egg bump.

There are paths all around the waterfall that you can hike on. 

Lots of hikers, at this point, proceed to take off their shoes and play in the water fall.

Martin's cove- June 6th

We drove two hours to Rawlins to go the dentist.  That is the closest provider in our area. So on the way back we stopped at Martin's Cove.  We were able to get a great tour and understand more of what the pioneers did for us.  Someday soon we will do the five mile round trip hike into the cove.  As a youth I remember coming to the cove and hiking and trekking. The cove was the most spiritual part in my memory.

Switched to one hand cart. There was a little gravel trail that you can pull carts around and there even is little handcarts that the kids can pull.

The Covered hand cart.  Never had a chance to ask if the pioneers actually had covered hand carts.

Alcova- June 6th
Alcova is a lake 30 miles southwest of Casper.  It has great sandy beaches.  This day the water was a little cold. Well actually a lot cold.  The wind which almost blows constantly in Casper, and makes it more chilly than it looks.

The kids working to bury their legs.  They wanted to have mermaid tails.

Anna wanted to eat the sand.  She kept eating it no matter how many handfuls she tried.

A scenic view of the lake

Muscle flex

Warm sand feels good after a cool dip in the water.

Free Fishing Day- June7

The duck pond was exclusively stocked full of fish so that everyone could fish it that day.  Ben went in the morning and scoped it out, and caught several fish.  When we later that day, I am sure the fish were full. They weren't biting, and of course we experienced more cool wind.

Birthday Pie 
I had a great birthday! We had stake conference that day and it was raining. We took and nap and then had a wonderful coconut cream pie.
Ben wanted to catch goofy pictures of me blowing out the candles.

March 18th
Lydia read a  little BOB book to Ben over the phone tonight.  She is such a big helper with Anna. Tonight she feed her some mixed vegetables while I cleaned the kitchen.  She and Eli play so well  together.  They play Narnia. The become characters out of The Chronicles of Narnia movies. Lydia becomes Lucy or Susan and Eli is Edmund or Peter. Eli has been using a belt as whips.
Yesterday they threw each other surprise birthday parties. Of course they pretended that the party was a surprise. Lydia made a cake and finger sandwiches out of Legos. Eli made little ducks out of Legos. The had fun setting them up around the house and decorating for a party.
We have been having school almost every day. The kids are learning to read and are learning math.
Ben took Lydia on date the other night. They went to a restaurant just for dessert.  Lydia had a deep fat fried Oreo sundae and Ben had a nutter butter sundae. She was glowing and felt so special.
 Major events in March

Snowman building.

Also in March we went swimming.  Casper, Wyoming has a great recreational center.  The swimming place has a kid section, two water slides, a lazy river and lap pool. It is great place to burn off energy.

This Little Piggy

We had a bit of trauma at our house.  Anna woke up from her nap, fussy and I thought she was just teething. Then I was blessed to see that around one of her little toes was wrapped a strand of my hair. It was wrapped so tight that her little toe was getting not circulation. It was purple and the skin was starting to split.

Day 1 right after I was able to get the hair untangled.

​

​

Day 2- This morning..

Tonight- the night of day two

Anna has learned how to pull here self up on the table, couch, and dishwasher. She also plays with the stool and likes to stand up next to it.

She also has learned how to sit all by herself.

In her Easter dress.

​

February 19th

Anna turns six months in Februray 20th. She is growing so fast.  She is able to roll over from front to back and back to front. She also turns in circles and scoots herself with her feet.  She definitely will have blue eyes but her hair is little darker and thicker than Lydia' when she was that age. She talks with her tongue. Which means she often has it sticking out. Even in different directions and mimics the tone of voice that we all make but says instead,"blah, Blah blah blah blah." When she sticks out her tongue she will only sticks out a little and the bends it up or to either side She is such a patient girl and will hardly ever cry. Even when she wakes in the middle of the night.  She will just start talking in her way.  I wish I could really understand what she is saying. i imagine it is something like," Hey, mom? Are you there?  I am getting a little hungry. I will wait for you though."  She will wait for a while and then sometimes falls asleep. I remember reading once you should let them cry out for you before you get  your baby,  and then you know that they are really ready to eat, sleep, or need you.   I am not sure that would work for Anna.

Lydia and her first lost tooth. A major event in February.

Eli is such a cowboy.  At the dollar store when i said the kids could have a toy, he chose a gun with a case.  He has been wearing it on his belt ever since.  He is excited to get dressed so he can wear his cowboy gun.  Right now he is playing cowboy  and Lydia is the banker. His eyelashes a realy dark and thick. He often talks with them. He will accent an exciting adventure or activity by closing his eyes with a little scrunch and nodding his head. Other times he will blink his eyes fast to express himself in a different way..   He loves the outdoors.  I told them to say their prayers the other morning. Eli said his loud enough so I heard him.  He said ," Heavenly Father please bless me that I can go fishing.... then there was a long pause.... and please bless Lydia and Anna and mom to stay home."  He really wanted to go fishing with his dad.  They went...

Lydia is still a dress up queen. She is learning how to read and her writing skills are improving.

Another major event in February.  We went to Salt Lake City and stayed with Veralyn and her kids.  So much fun!! Ever time those kids are together they adopt each other.  They take care of each other and play like siblings.  It is so fun to watch. Veralyn is such an amazing women.

Veralyn also has an amazing collection of great dress up and toys.  The kids could play for hours.

Christmas and Moving!!

Christmas was a long awaited season until we learned of Ben's upcoming transfer in his job.  We loved where we were, but we knew that in order for him to finish  his apprenticeship in October he would need more training on energized power lines.  He was transferred to Pinedale, Wy.  We also knew that we wanted to be together as a family.  I know that having him come home every night really helped build our relationship as a family. Time is a interesting concept and I have learned that when he is away time can slowly pass by or when he is home it goes so quickly.
After he came home  we spent a few days together. Lovely days. Then Christmas came and we had a magical morning.  After the unwrapping of all the presents and eating breakfast we started taking down the tree. I remember telling a friend, "We took everything out of one box, to put it in another and tape it up.

 We went sledding that afternoon.  It was sunny but fairly cold.

Christmas horses. 

The day after Christmas we had a group of people show up to help load the truck. I think with all the help we were loaded in an hour. We then took a while  to clean up.
The kids our extra patient and travel well. I know it must seem crazy to people at how often we move. We work hard to stay together as a family.

The we left for Idaho Falls. We spent some time with cousins.

 And Papa and Grandma

Eli wearing his camouflage coat and spider man suit and train whistle. He found the spider man suit in Lindsey dress up box.  He really had fun with something.

We also went to Star Valley and saw Great Grandpa and Great Grandma.

 We got to ride horses.  Which Eli enjoyed so much, but his favorite thing is was playing with Great Grandpa.