Thank you Grandmas!!

With the craziness of me going to Girl's Camp and the Trek, back to back we needed some help with the kids. Luckily my mom was planning on being here for a visit the first week of my duties, and Chad's mom gladly accepted to help us on the second week. The kids had so much fun with their Grandmas, and I don't think they missed me all that much (although they keep wondering if I am going to go camping again - I have assured them that mommy is not going camping for a long time!!). We can't tell you both enough, how grateful we are that you took such great care of our kids, and how much they love both of you. Thank you!! We love you! (Sorry for the lack of picture of the kids with Grandma Farmer - there just wasn't enough time!)
Claire and Grant with Grandma Clayson

Girl's Camp 2009

This year for Girl's Camp we went up to our new Stake camp - Camp Camorah. It seriously has the nicest bathrooms I have ever seen at a campsite. They were beyond beautiful, which was good because after a week of seriously roughing it on the Trek, I was ready for a few amenities. Once again we were so lucky to avoid rain all week (except for Friday morning where we packed up in a downpour, and just threw everything in waiting to get home so we could get warm!). The weather was great, and the mosquitoes were horrible (I've decided I can't get pregnant again for at least a year due to all the deet I have put on my body the last two weeks!). As always we had a great time. We had so much fun on our hike just singing and enjoying the views. We have wonderful girls in our ward, and were so lucky that all 16 of them came. I think that was the biggest camp we have had since our ward was formed!! We had a great time, and I can't wait for next year girls!! Thanks for all the memories.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

I had the pleasure of sharing my birthday with Father's Day, but it was still a wonderful day. The day before Chad watched the kids while I went on a girls trip to Utah with my mom and sisters. We went to pick Amber up from music camp at BYU, but made a few necessary shopping stops along the way. We had a great time! Thanks for the new kitchen towels and purse mom!!

Since Chad and I had to share the day we made a compromise, he gave me a nap, and I cooked dinner. It was so much fun to hear the kids all day tell me Happy Birthday, and how much they loved me. Chad kept telling them I was soooo old, but he is older than me, so there will be payback. They made me a beautiful cake, and gave me a new MP3 player that I have been looking at. Thank you also to Emma and Fam for the wonderful cake and decorations. We had a great time!!

Martins Cove

I had the wonderful opportunity to join the youth in our ward on the Trek at Martin's Cove. It was a great experience, and one that I will never forget. Chad was supposed to come with me, but he couldn't get work off at the last minute, so I went by myself. I ended up being a single mom to 2 decons, 1 beehive, and 1 laurel. Let's just say that it was interesting. No seriously, my kids did such a great job, I don't think they complained and we had a great time. We were lucky enough to not get rained on at all, and had warm weather for most of the time.

We started our trip at 3:00 am at the church (this is where I was asked to speak in church - not fair to ask someone when they are half asleep!). We headed out for Wyoming with a car full of sleeping kids. I drove for about 5 hours and then turned the wheel over to another leader so I could get some sleep. We made it to Martin's Cove, and had our orinantation, and then got our handcarts. The kids were great and so excited to pull that we made it to camp easily. We set up camp, and discovered that there are rattlesnakes there - not my favorite thing.

The next day we actually treked to the Cove, and had a wonderful experience. We also did the women's pull where they take all the Priesthood leaders to the top of a hill and let the women do it themselves. It was a very humblying experience especailly knowing that I was treking for a woman who had 13 kids (wow!!), and her husband died in Nebraska!! I don't know how she did it.

We packed up the next day and pulled our handcarts out and went to a place called Independance Rock. It is this large rock that pioneers would stop at and carve their names on. We found some really old names, and had a great time. Then we drove to the site of the Willie rescue and stayed the night. We got to see the grave of the 13 people who died before being rescued, and walked in the willows where they sought rescue. We also discovered that there were ticks there (lot of them!!), which caused many of the girls a lot of fear, but I think almost everyone made it out tick free!

The next day we made it home, and I was so excited for a shower and to see my kids. Thanks mom and Chad for taking such good care of them!! I will post pictures later. We actually had two photographers there with us and they got some amazing pictures, when I get the CD I will share a few.

9 Months Old

It's hard to believe how quickly they grow, but Grant is 9 months old! He is finally sitting up, and has one tooth in with 5 more coming. Lets just say that he is not the happiest boy right now. He weighs 19 pounds and is 27 inches long. He loves his daddy, and watching Claire and Owen play. His favorite thing to do now is to just sit and watch everything, also watching Baby Einstein. He does not feel the need to move, crawl, roll over or lay on his stomach. I'm not going to complain because he is always where I left him unless Claire moves him.

We're Still Here!!

Hey everyone!! I just wanted to let everyone know that I am still here. I have misplaced my camera, but it is found, just not at my house. I should get it by next week, so hopefully I will have some new stuff to blog about. Hope everyone is doing well - we are great. This week has been a challenge. I started potty training Owen, and after a rough start, he is doing great. He still has a few accidents, but we are getting the hang of things. In amongst the tons of extra laundry that goes with potty training, I have been dealing with Grant who is teething. He has been my hardest teether up to this point. He got sick with a double ear infection, and that second bottom tooth just won't come through. I even got a visit from a neighbor, who is a little crazy, who thought he was crying to long (apparently she was working in her yard, and I'm sure she thought I was neglecting him or something - reason number 5 why I can't wait for my air conditioner - closed windows!) I think he is finally getting over the congestion and throwing up all the time, and hopefully that tooth will pop through soon!

Grant has also decided that it is time to sit. He loves to sit now, and will just laugh and play for forever. I even got him to watch a Baby Einstein this morning while sitting on our bed while I got ready for church. It was so nice!! He loves to sit in front of the mirror and laugh at himself. The kids think it is great, but they still have to be very careful around him because he is still a little unstable. He still doesn't care to roll over, but as long as he sits I don't mind.

This week was also the start of the free lunches at the park. I love it!! I clean the kitchen up after breakfast, and don't have to clean it again until dinner time. It is wonderful. The kids love it too, and ask me every day if we are going. It is a nice break from the house, and keeps my grocery bill low for the summer.

The other big thing that happened this week is that Chad is no longer going on the Trek with me. I am so sad!! He had the time off, but with the economy and lack of guys that work in his store, he can't get the time off. So now I think I will be leading a handcart as a single mom with 6 kids. I think I can handle it. I just think it is going to be raining the whole time, but hey it will be good for us.

Chad and I are still playing softball, and I think we found our groove this week. I am seriously not that great, but Chad is good, and I am glad that he is having a great time. Hopefully our team will win a game soon!

That is what has been happening at our house, along with Young Women's, rain, and watching our garden grow we are keeping busy! Hopefully I will get some pictures up soon!

A Visit to Grandma and Grandpa Farmer's

Over Memorial Day weekend we headed with out friends the Copelands to visit my parents. After a long drive and only one speeding ticket given to Chad we made it without any problems. (very long story!) We had a lot of fun riding four wheelers, eating great food, helping plant the huge garden at my parents, and just relaxing. We barely saw the kids all weekend because they spent so much time with their cousins jumping on the trampoline, or checking on the chickens. I love going there because the kids get a ton of fresh air and give me a chance to visit. We also had a chance to take Owen on his first clay pigeon shooting adventure. He loved shooting the gun (with help), and especially loved pulling the string when anyone yelled "pull." Sadly I couldn't find my camera, so it was left at home, and I kept forgetting to use my moms.

Chad and the Copelands left on Monday, and I stayed with the kids until Thursday. We had a lot of fun. Grandpa took us to see the new Night at the Museum movie, we went to Aunt Amber's band/choir performance, and the kids invented their own slipper slide on Grandma's front lawn. Claire had so much fun playing with her cousin Brittany, and Owen and Parker because good friends. Grant wasn't the happiest baby there, and on the day we were leaving he cut his first tooth, which explained a lot.

On our way home we stopped to see our good friends the Turgooses who moved to Boise a couple weeks ago. The kids had so much fun playing together, and it was great to get to visit with Debra again. I still think you should move back!! We had a fun trip and can't wait to go again.