August 2014

Lydia with friends at a "girl's camp" she went to for a few days

My adorable little 21 month old.  He plays hard when he's awake and always naps well :)  What a blessing Porter is in our family!

This is how Jon trains for hunting season.  90+ degree walk pushing two kids and toting another in his new hunting backpack.  It looks like the kids are more tuckered out then he is!  They sure are good troopers!

Horsey rides from Dad are a favorite of all the kiddos, especially this one.  He LOVES to rough house with anyone willing and Dad's almost always willing.  As soon as Porter hears Dad come thru the door he goes running.  They are definitely great buddies!

Zerin has become an excellent raspberry picker this year.  Being the sweet child that he is, he loves to share the raspberries he picks.  Porter's always first in line-- he LOVES raspberries!

A frog the kids caught in the backyard

Lydia and I took a girl's only trip up to the Starlight Mountain Theater in Garden Valley.  We stayed for two nights and watched Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Sound of Music.  It was lots of fun hanging out with my adorable daughter!

We watched a play Wednesday night and Thursday night.  During the day Thursday we drove up to Silver Creek Plunge.  What a beautiful hot spring!!!  It was absolutely wonderful!!!

Hyrum bought himself some new clothes and let Zerin give them a try.

We bought an end of summer clearance pool and how nice it has been!  We'll only be able to use it for a couple weeks this year, but it will be well used and enjoyed for years to come!  I love swimming pools!

This girl uses the pool the most.  Zerin takes a little coaxing to get in, but once he's in he turns into quite the little swim bug.  It's fun to watch how excited he gets!

Lydia's selfie

 On a sad, but also happy note, this month brought the passing of my dear Grandma Hansen.  Since May she has been suffering from Dementia that was bad enough they had to put her in a care home.  Living with a mental illness is no way to live.  I'm sure most people would agree they'd rather die.  Thankfully, Grandma did not have to suffer too long with this condition.  Her health decline rather rapidly and she passed away peacefully at home on August 21st, her 64th wedding anniversary.  I love this photo of my Grandparents because it shows the great love they have for each other.  After 64 mortal years together they are now temporarily separated.  I know their love and their marriage will last for all eternity.  I look forward to the day I am reunited with Grandma,
as she has always been one of my favorite people.  I have always felt a closeness with her and have numerous fond memories of our times together.  She was a friend as much as a Grandmother and I look forward to spending eternity with together.

When I was pregnant with Lydia I was doing some hypnobirth sessions.  In one sessions the therapist asked me to go somewhere in my mind where I felt complete peace and comfort.  Instantly, I found myself on my Grandmother's couch.  Her home was always a haven for me.  

I was blessed to spend two years at Rick's College, a summer and a fall living in Idaho Falls, and then another year and a half at BYU-Idaho with Jon after we were married.  Those years provided me many opportunities to spend time with my Grandparents, which I always cherished.

 A small portion of the 50+ grandchildren.  I believe they said there were 112 great-grandchildren with four more on the way.  And MANY more not born.  That's quite the posterity!

These two are my favorite!  They have been one of my greatest gifts and the memories I have with them are priceless! 

 That yellow apron there is AWESOME! (I'm so glad Aunt Joni found it, I haven't seen it in probably 26 years but I knew exactly what it was as soon as I saw it). Grandma made that for a reunion we had in Montana when I was probably 11.  Grandma assigned all the cousins a little sister or brother.  I remember I was assigned Brianna Downey and she was the cutest!  I was so happy to get to spend time with her.  After we'd taken care of our little sister/brother we could go to Grandma's apron and pick out a surprise.  Grandma was so much fun and made that reunion amazing for us cousins!

Sweet Grandpa offering the dedicatory prayer over Grandma's grave.  I love seeing my cousins in the background.  It strikes a cord of deep love in my soul and testifies to me of the truth of eternal families and how important they are.  Families truly are a gift from God!

My Mom and her five sisters after they dressed her.  To be honest, I was hesitant to see my Grandma because of how sickly she had become.  To my surprise she looked absolutely beautiful!  The weekend was busy and fun, just the way my Grandma would've wanted it.  Lots of time bonding with family.  Saturday evening we had a family dinner and funeral service.  Sunday we all went to Grandpa's ward and later that evening all the cousins got together for dinner at the park.  Sunday evening was the viewing and then I spent time with cousins for a few more hours.  Monday was the actual funeral, graveside service and luncheon.  Then we headed home.  The weekend was so wonderful I didn't want it to end.  Thank you, Grandma, for living your life in such a way that has led to countless blessings for your posterity.  You are an amazing woman and I love you with all my heart!!

Zerin swinging at the park in Rigby.  The one just down the road from Grandma and Grandpa's old house.  This park has always been a part of my life.

More cousins at the park.  The weather was beautiful.

Cole, Olivia, and Porter with Jon

Zerin's shake had solidified a bit and came crashing down on his nose when he tried to take a drink :)

This is a picture of Jon with his boys the night before he left for his 10 day hunting trip in Alaska.

Hyrum just as cool as ever!

A cute little Zerin selfie :)

Our "His Story" timeline for our new homeschool curriculum, Latter-Day Learning.

This was a wonderful experience!  Starkey Hot Springs is only about 20 minutes from our cabin in Council but it has not been open to the public for many years.  Whole Foods purchased it about a year or so ago to bottle water and has recently opened it up some to the public.  I believe they've only had three kid swim days and we happened to be there for one of them.  We all had such a great time! (Hyrum had gone camping with Dawson this weekend so he was not with us).

Zerin and Lydia are quite the little fish!  Porter was a great sport also.

The building and everything about it reminded me of something you'd see in White Christmas.  Quite nostalgic for me :)

Jon requested this belly shot.  Almost 31 weeks.  I've felt pretty good since the nausea passed.  I think the fact that I've exercised throughout has helped tremendously!