.it's coming on fall.

and just like that summer is over.  I have to admit a part of me is going to miss the warmer days, which is saying something because I detest heat, but having little people, those warm days are a breath of fresh air from the humdrum of the house.  Fall and is my favorite still by far, but the idea of being cooped up in a house on cold days with wound up children gives me just a slight bit of anxiety.  But it is what it is, and we have really enjoyed these past few weeks of summer.

The yard and garden have completely transformed in the year we've been here.  With much thanks to my mother and her green thumb we actually have flowers and trees that are growing abundantly.  Finn and I have waited eagerly for these dahlias to open up, and it was worth the wait...aren't they beautiful?

Over the summer, our neighborhood does group park days.  These were much look forward to at our house giving us a change of pace and a chance for the kids to play with all the neighbor kids.  Our last one was at the end of August up to Silver Lake.  I love being out in nature with the little dudes!

 and we love having our gaggle of neighbor kids!

 Roy and I were finally able to celebrate our anniversary with our sunset dinner and sailing excursion.  It was sweet, even if I did get a bit sea sick towards the end...I have no stomach for boats apparently.

8 years with this handsome boy!

seriously so beautiful!!!

At the end of August, I started dabbling with our cnc router that Roy got.  I started making a few things, and received such positive feedback from friends and family, that I started looking into doing this as a side business.  I still can't believe how much it has taken off in the last three weeks, just by word of mouth.  I'm hoping to get things set up soon for an etsy shop and see where it goes from there.  I feel like I'm supposed to pursue this for whatever reason, and hope that it does well.

At the beginning of September we celebrated my Grandma's 90th birthday.  She is amazing, and loved by so many!  I'm blessed to call her mind!!!

Eisley made some giant leaps this month as well.  She finally took up walking, and has mastered it fairly quickly, she also somehow bypassed our child gate system and took her first tumble down the stairs...followed the next day with her first dose of pink eye.
She has recovered from both and is as spunky and happy as ever.

Finn started his second year of preschool, and has had some anxiety about it.  He tells me he doesn't like big groups of kids, and so he stresses out every time I drop him off, but when I pick him up he always says  he had a good time...so there's that.  I'm hoping it gets better as the year goes.

We family reunioned it up in conjunction with my Grandma's birthday and had a good old time.  Since my parents are on their mission, me and my sisters took on a lot of the work and planning.  It was A LOT of work, and we definitely missed the expertise of my mom and sister Kay, but I think it came off pretty well.  As you can see, being 90 does not stop my grandma from doing much.

 We played, ate, and danced ourselves silly!

We are still taking full advantage of the warm days by getting out and playing.  E and Ms. M had a skinny dipping session and really enjoyed splashing each other.

 E is mastering her hand eye coordination.

 One of the biggest things to happen this month is my first actual girls night over since being a mom.  So for the first time in nearly 5 years I had no babies with me during the night. It was very much appreciated and I love that I have good friends that will do things like this with me.  It wasn't actually very restful as we stayed up until 2 talking, but it was something I could get used to.

 Meg's latest thing is taking pictures.  My phone is loaded with blurred images of everyday life...like catching E in a falling moment.  It's pretty cute!

 Finn has been getting into puzzles a lot lately, and we recently acquired 5 new ones from a neighbor.  We spent a rainy afternoon together while his sisters slept.  Those are moments I won't trade for anything.

Meg is growing up too and now sleeps in her own big girl bed.  She tells me every night, "this my new bed mommy.  you like it?"  She also insists on sleeping with everything she can humanly scrounge up before bed ie. books, jewelry, dress up dresses, stickers, toys.  I go in after she's fallen asleep and clear the clutter so that she can actually sleep.

This is just a sampling of all the happenings this past month, but it's wonderful to look back and see all the goodness that is apart of our lives!

.waning summer.

It's been an incredibly busy summer for us...but considering we still have three very young kids it was still very low key in most ways.  

sparklers with Finn on the 24th

Roy has been gone a lot with scouts and work this past month so we definitely appreciate having him home when he is.  The last week of July he spent a week up at Bear Lake with the scouts and had a good time keeping everybody alive, but he was ready to be home by Saturday.

saying good morning to all of us one day

August 4th we celebrated our 8th anniversary.  We had big plans to go sailing and actually spend a night out together, but it totally flopped when we had to re-schedule our sailing date, and I got sick.   Instead we settled for a Temple date and dinner on Saturday.  It feels like life has been giving us a lot of different turns lately so we are learning to go with the flow and not be terribly disappointed when things don't go as planned.  

8 years ago when Roy was a model and we were babies...in a lot of ways.

 The kids have been busy playing and living up the summer weather.  We love having good neighbors close that have kids that come and go as they wish so that there is always someone to play with.  E stays with me most days while Finn, and his tag along Meg play.  Her mullet is finally long enough for two little pigs and it is the sweetest thing ever.

She was screaming at ants when I took this picture.

 The end of the summer brings a lot of activity in our neighborhood.  We have a carnival, harvest fair, and a neighborhood block party, all within two months.  We enjoyed our night at the carnival letting the kids sugar themselves up and running until they dropped.

When Meg was asked what she wanted painted on her face she just said, "pink".  

 Finn is always wanting to go to Grandma Caroline's house because she has the best toys and feeds him well.  She invited us out to her parents house who live out on a lake for a picnic and swimming.  Let's just say it was a little slice of heaven.  Lots of toys, water, and food to keep any kid happy.  We couldn't get over how incredibly awesome their set up was.  We will be spending many more summer days playing out there!

the kids playing with Laura on the private beach

Besides a pea flop earlier this spring, our garden has been producing like mad.  I find growing things so satisfying and I'm so happy that all this food is so healthy for us.  My kids love eating carrots and cucumbers straight out of the garden.  And I can eat all the cherry tomatoes I want.

We continued out summer fun this past week with a trip to the county fair which is just down the road from my parents house.  We were lucky to have my sister and her kids come to help me out with the littles.  We had a lot of fun even in the VERY hot weather.

E especially loved the sugary goodness of the cotton candy.  She was covered from head to toe in a pink glaze by the time we got home.

 Finn really enjoyed it the most. He was excited about all the animals and things to see.  He even road one of the smaller kid coasters at the carnival.  He was smiling so big until it actually started going.  Then his face instantly went to surprised terror as the ride screamed around.  He never cried, but was more then eager to get off.  He opted for the kiddie train ride that went around in a small circle topping out at snail speed next.  He declared it to be just the ride speed...that boy kills me!

the petting zoo was a big hit with this blondie!

To finish the week out Finn and Roy went to a monster truck rally.  Boy heaven!!!  While the boy's played with big trucks, the girls and I went and got PINK frozen yogurt...a most happy night for all.

School starts for Finn in a mere two weeks so we are soaking up these last few free days of summer,

.the ride.

lying in bed this morning I was thinking of all the things I had to get done and things I would like to get done, when I remembered that it's been a few weeks since I had posted about our happenings.  In that small amount of time a lot of things have happened, some good, a lot not so good.  July actually started off really well.  We bought a new truck because we needed one that could haul not only all 5 of us but scouts and other various occupants instead of just one adult.  It was a hard decision but one we felt needed to happen.

We usually try to avoid crowds at all costs, especially with young children in tow, but this year we decided to try another parade.  It was a hard sell after a lack luster showing at the last parade we attended, but the kids were super stoked about the idea so we caved.  It was magical for the kids, with all the loud music, floats, and loads of taffy.  I thought for sure I would have at least one if not all in tears at one point of another, but they were excited and mesmerized by the whole crazy thing.  

our neighbors and their kids came with us and together these 5 had a most excellent time!

Even E loved watching all the craziness with daddy in the wagon.  All together a most enjoyable evening!

so happy for good friends

Meg especially loved the princesses (city royalty), and the ponies.

Our 4th of July was another great day.  We started off the day with our neighborhood parade and pancake breakfast.  Meg had her wave down, and Finn rode under his own power, which was a vast improvement from dragging him all the way down the parade route last year.

daddy and his girls

 We spent the rest of the day relaxing and having a bbq with my family.  The night was capped off with a pretty epic fireworks show with all the neighbors launching ariels simultaneously for about 45 min.  Finn loved it all, the girls were ok as long as their ears were covered, and Roy managed to be hit twice by shrapnel.  All in all a pretty perfect day!

 Roy left for Wyoming the next day for a job.  That night he called to inform me that he had barely made it because the truck's transmission was shot.  The next day he took it to a mechanic in the town he was working and and received the heavy estimate for the repair, $4200 for a new transmission and two days to fix.  Blow to the gut!  As Roy called to tell me this I looked outside to see this massive hail storm ripping through the neighborhood.  It's funny sometimes how the weather can so well mirror our own emotions.

                  
 Our situation felt like a deluge of financial stress, and I felt utterly vulnerable and scared not knowing how this would all work out.  But the truck had to be fixed and Roy needed to get home, so we scrounged together the last of our savings, and a credit card to make it all happen.

The next day I took the kids up to the canyon for a small hike because I needed to feel some amount of peace with a little perspective.

By the middle of the week E was teething and running a fever so she was pretty miserable and wanted to be held 24/7.  Just so you know that's impossible to do with 2 other kids in the mix.  So there was a lot of crying on her part...YAY!

 Oh but don't worry,  Thursday I woke up feeling queasy and by 8:00 I was throwing up and trying to keep the kids from killing each other.  I cried from pure frustration at the week from hell.  Thank goodness for family close by.  My sister came and picked up Finn that afternoon and kept him until well past 6.  The girls slept for 4 hours that afternoon, and by 5 my body had dispelled whatever bug I had.  Roy drove in around 8 that night with the "brand new" truck, and a speeding ticket in hand...awesome!!!  

Friday we still managed to go camping as we had it planned moths ago.  It was nice to get out of our funk and be outside with our kids.  It's still very stressful to camp with young kids, and Meg was especially difficult as she is always so busy and doesn't sit still for anything.

hammock swinging

canoeing with daddy in the morning.  a perfect example of busy pants Meg.  Roy said she would look from side to side and then grab the paddle and try and paddle with roy the whole time.

We got home Saturday afternoon exhausted but happy.  We got things kind of put back in order at the house and were just putting the kids to bed for the night when Roy noticed that the AC wasn't blowing out cold air.  By Sunday morning our suspicions were confirmed...the AC was definitely not working.  Nail in the coffin of our week.  By this point I was just adding things to the heap...like I knew there was more to come.  Again we had lovely friends who came to our rescue by having us over for dinner, and having family come over to check out the unit.  I know God blessed us with really great people in our lives, but sometimes you forget that until the crap hits the fan.  By Tuesday we had the AC fixed with a $10 part, I had a part time job at home to help offset the cost of the "new truck", and there was some compensation from Roy's work for the car.  

I know we all have weeks, months, or even years like ours were you feel that the universe is against you.  Those are the times when I know that God is in charge and that all of my efforts are for not if God has other plans.  It's those times when you feel like you're at your lowest and you don't have any answers to what lies ahead, that you can see God the clearest.  I know that He knows me and my families needs and that he will provide.  It never happens in the way that I plan, but it always works out, and always better then I what I plan.  We are indeed blessed beyond measure, and all that we have and all that we are is because of Him!

.summer starts.

Summer is upon us and so is the heat.  Most days I hunker down in my basement and only venture outside if need necessitates me to go somewhere.  The last part of May we had unusual amounts of rain and it kept the temperature very cool, which is what I prefer.  So having long stretches of triple digits, like this past week, is kind of hard for me to take.  But with the heat summer also brings long busy days and warm nights, which are also pretty great!  We have been staying busy going to neighborhood park days, trips up the canyon, bbq's, visits from grandparents, and indulging in summer treats of popsicles and watermelon.   Life in general is good.

The wee one of the bunch is starting to really show some personality...some of which is very strong willed.  She has finally started cruising around furniture, and even started walking behind a baby walking toy.  She is a very difficult eater at the moment which causes me some stress, but overall she is a happy dumpling who loves to play ball, and chew on garden bark (I have no idea why???).  I wish I had a good picture of her giant teeth she now has 6 of them.  We all get a kick out her smile, and even her ugly cry sometimes because of her ginormous teeth.

 Roy's parents came to visit us for a couple of weeks and so they got to see Eisley for the first time in person.  She of didn't really want anything to do with them, which kind of broke me heart.  It also didn't help that she had a cold for about 4 days while they were here, so she was extra clingy to me.  But she does give the best snuggles when she is sick.

Little miss M is as busy as ever, and is really starting to enjoy her little world around here.  She requests all things pink and purple, and really likes watching shows.  She is limited most days to just a few, but would easily watch them all day if I let her.  She latches on to anyone who will give her attention.  Daddy is a favorite person whom she can hold onto and love.  Most of the time its all sweetness like this picture on our way to church, but sometimes it can be a little suffocating.

 Roy and Meg take watching frozen very seriously.

 While grandma and grandpa were here, Meg was in heaven.  Someone to color with her whenever she wanted

 And carry her down to the river in the canyon.  Like I said this girl loves to be loved!

Her hair is getting longer and I probably should cut it sometime, but I just think it's so pretty.  I even got her to sit still long enough to do this crown braid one day.  She loved it and kept saying it was Queen Elsa hair...go figure.

Mr. Finn is really growing up so fast.  At the end of May he magically decided he was done with diapers at night.  It has been a total success!  I love that we have one COMPLETELY out of diapers.  He loves building as much as ever, and has really taken off with his lego obsession.  His source of income to pay for his little lego sets come from picking up pinecones in our front yard.  That tree produces copious amounts of pinecones, so he is constantly picking them up for 5 cents a bucket.

 Finn is not a natural risk taker, which I'm completely ok with, but he is slowly stretching his legs as it were and trying new things that are a little scary to him.  Our mini park in the neighborhood is a favorite, especially when grandpa is there to help navigate the monkey bars.

 Among other boy things he loves...throwing rocks...especially when we go hiking in the mountains.

 Finn is my eater and will often eat as much as his dad.  I was a little shocked by this sudden up take in appetite, as he is my first born.   I fear the quantity of food he will consume as a growing teenager...oi!

Last Sunday we celebrated the summer solstice.  We let the kids stay up late watching for the first stars of the night.  They loved eating popsicles around the fire and playing with flashlights in the dark.  It's fun to start doing some family traditions as they get older.  I look forward to spending this summer with my little family!

.little yellow dress.

Meg loves Sundays for one reason...she gets to wear pretty dresses.  When I tell her its time to go get dressed for church she inhales loudly and excitedly says, "ohhhh, princess dress".  She has this sweet yellow dress that we have tried, unsuccessfully, to wear to church about 8 times.  The one and only time we actually made it to church with the dress on was the week that she took off a poopy diaper at the end of sacrament meeting...you do the math.  For what ever reason, spilled juice, food, or pens, we just can't seem to get to church with that dress on.
Today we are attempting our 9th try.  Here's to an uneventful Sunday (fingers crossed).

baby gigi, doggie, her "phone", and the yellow dress

.so much.

Another new month is here, and I have missed  A LOT from April that I so wanted to get on here, so I will just have to do another recap.

April brought Easter, Conference, and Eisley's first birthday all on the same week.  It was beautiful to spend time with family and listen to the words of our Prophets and Apostles.  It couldn't have been a better weekend!  The older two helped dye eggs and especially loved finding them.

Meg in all her pink glory!

have I ever mentioned this one is ALL girl?

I love this little blondie!!!

 The Easter baskets were a big hit, but the most enjoyed gift of all was the hungry hungry hippos game.  I love that they are finally getting old enough to start playing games with us.

We spent the rest of the day over at my parents house with family and enjoyed being with everyone for the annual Easter egg hunt and lunch.

releasing the kids out for the hunt!

 E turned one and is growing.  She is my chunkiest baby yet and is actually in the 5% for weight...that's crazy for our kids.  Her one year check up was the longest dr. visit I've ever had, and of course I decided to take all three in the hopes that it would be quick.  We waited over an hour before we saw the dr, and then it took us another 45 min, before she got her shots.  Needless to say my nerves were frayed, and the kiddos were totally antsy.

Naked and happy for the first 20 minutes, and then it all fell apart!

 She also decided to crawl about a week after her birthday, and is now very proficient at getting around and into things.  She is growing and is curious about everything.  When we take walks she is always looking around, and discovered the other day that we were above her.  What a sweet thing she is!

 April also brought an impromptu snow storm to Utah.  It was such a lovely morning after the storm that Finn and I got out to build a snowman.  I enjoyed it a lot more knowing that it wouldn't stick around past noon.

Finn and the snowman with their carrots.

 Meg's hair is finally long enough to braid, and is way more effort to do then I would like.  I have loved having a boy for that reason...no doing hair, but I'm going to have to get comfortable because I have two girls.

Finn got his first real bike, and it has been wonderful!  We go on walks all the time now that I don't have to figure out how to haul three littles.  I think he loves the freedom of it all too!

Too cool for school!

My parents received their mission call to Nauvoo IL and went into the MTC at the beginning of May. Their very generous neighbors the Giffiths had ALL of us over for a farewell dinner and FHE.  They have a most excellent pool that we all played in to our hearts content.  We are such a tight family, we are going to miss having my parents around for the next 18 months, but we know it is where they need to be.

One last family shot on Mother's day with the kids and Grandma Tiede.  What a blessing these people are to me!

We got to spend some time with our friends the Dalhgrens at a jump park the other night.  Finn and his buddy Lilly had so much fun together.  When I see Finn's face like this, I can tell his soul is happy, and that brings me the greatest happiness!

It's been a busy crazy month, and it's only getting busier it seems.  I think I'll take a cue from E and sleep when and where I can.