My first time blogging from the new house! We've got a lot to catch up on.
late June/early July
We were blessed to have Dan's older sister, Carla, and her family visit us. My children were so excited to see cousins without having to drive 8 hours! They got to see the unfinished new house, eat birthday cake (for Jordan), and watch the movie Brave in our awesome basement set up. My kids, especially Danny, kept telling them what was going to happen next, so they got a whole lot of spoilers. Luckily we could all laugh about it.
Baby turned 3 months old and is still an active little one. Not so easy to get a picture of anymore. (:
Enjoying a nice summer evening on our swing set. The new HOA doesn't allow metal swing sets so we gave it away. The children were getting too big for it anyway, but I almost cried seeing it go. I have so many happy memories of cooking dinner or doing dishes and looking out the window above my sink to see my children playing on the swing set.
Sharah L. was nice enough to take this picture of our family at the annual 4th of July breakfast. It was our last activity to attend as members of the LHC ward. (Danny & Michelle were grumpy in this picture b/c we had just told them Daddy was going into work that day to make up for our trip to Utah.)
Somehow this is what our bed ended up looking like more than once this summer.
Michelle practicing being a baby doctor on little sister.
My wonderful mission companion, Julia, came out to visit her brother and we got to spend a morning at the Butterfly Pavilion with her. It was simply a joy to be in her presence again. I'm happy my children got to meet such an important person from my time as a missionary. (Last time I saw her was in Washington DC for her wedding last June.)
Sandstone Ranch had summer family fun night complete with s'mores that we absolutely did not want to leave. We literally left when the people in charge did. Something about farming and the past seems so right for small children to explore. We hope they do this again next year.
This summer Kaelah & Michelle attended princess camp and Danny took gymnastics classes. Princess camp was a dance class that included a craft and story time associated with a Disney princess. Danny was more than happy to go to gym class now that he's old enough to not need a guardian to go with him. We also enjoyed a few trips to open gym with friends but didn't get any pictures of that. They all love the freedom of choice and hanging out with friends open gym provides.
There are moments when I think Kaelah is the best big sister in the world. This usually is only associated with her little sisters. Poor Danny. Here M & N are watching her draw with chalk on a little tiny chalk board.
Last but not least, I got to attend Hannah's farewell recital before leaving for her mission to Brazil. What a grand feeling it is to watch my Laurels head off to college and then off to the mission field. By the end of the year 3 of my YW will be in foreign countries spreading the marvelous news of the gospel. I look back on the 10 years since I have been in Taiwan and maintain it was the best decision I ever made. I hope they feel the same way 10 years after they are home too.
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