Hello? Are you there?

I have been missing in action the past month or so. I really thought that once I graduated that things would slow down but I was so wrong. I finally feel like I am going to be able to be on some sort of schedule. I started a new job right after graduation at the Blackfoot Medical Center. I really enjoyed it there. I worked with some amazing people who really made me feel welcome and taught me so much. But my family fell apart and I had to quit that position. My #1 job is my family and they needed me. It's funny how things work out, about 2 weeks later, I was offered a position at Portneuf Medical Medical Practice. I work in the float pool which means that I get to work when I am availabe and as an added bonus the pay is better. I started this past week and really think that I will enjoy it there as well. My experience in Blackfoot has helped too because they use some of the same programs and I have been able to show them some of the tricks that I learned at the clinic. Well, enough about me.

My brother came to visit from Texas in early June and my little sister Emily took pictures of our family. Here is one that she took of my little family. Unfortunatley, the only picture with all of us looking at the camera is the one that Hayden decided to scowl in.

The kids seem to be getting bigger every day. Hayden finished the 2nd grade. At the end of the year he received an award for the most improved reader. He wasn't bad at the beginning of the year, about 80 words a minute but still his score improved to 190 words a minute. He got a medal from the Elk's and we were pretty proud of him as well. The only picture that turned out was the one of him getting up from his seat. Oh well, it will have to do.

He has been working with his dad each summer and has earned himself a motorcycle. I have very mixed feelings about my son flying on top of a motorized vehicle but Shawn assures me that some of his best memories are of riding his motorcycle with his dad as a child. We are both adament about the helmet rule which helps but I guess I will just have to continue to feel sick whenever he is on it. Here is a picture of him on the day that he got it.

Hadley finished Kindergarten and will be starting 1st grade in the fall. She is such a good big sister. Hunter loves her so much and she is constantly helping her siblings. Here is a picture of her taking Hallie down a slide during the Blackfoot Pride Days.

Hallie has hit the terrible 3's. She is a little bossy, a little demanding and a lot cute. It's so hard to get mad at this little darling. Here is a pic of her in her "cool glasses".

Hunter is also growing too fast for my comfort. He will be 6 months soon and can balance on his own when he is sat up. He loves his brother and sisters. He has an amazing smile that he shares all the time and is finally sleeping through the night (HOORAY). We are all so happy that he is part of our family.

Shawn had surgery on his little finger at the beginning of June. This is on his "good" hand which means that he had to take time off of work. He was just put back on light duty tonight. It was an injury from work so at least he was compansated while off. We have been so busy yet still have not got much done. Hopefully my next post will be of an amazingly fun get away that and I will have remembered to bring my camera and actually pull it out too.

Kids rolling down the hill at Jensen's Grove.

Just keep swimming

One of my favorite lines from a movie is Dory from Finding Nemo, "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming". That seems to be my mantra lately. My head is just above water but that's the side that I want it on.

I have been so ridiculously busy and blogging hasn't even been on the list of things to do. 4 weeks left of school WOO HOO!! So here are pictures of some of the happenings the past few months.

Hunter is getting so big.

He is so smiley and really a good baby

He looks a lot like Hayden but I also see my dad in him too

Hayden turned 8 in February, I'm a horrible mom and didn't post anything about it. He was baptized on March 20th. We also blessed Hunter that day. Hayden didn't even mind sharing his special day with his brother. A special little story about his baptism. We had originally planned on doing the baptism/blessing on Hayden's actual b-day. At the beginning of February my dad let us know that he was having neck surgery and would have to be on bed rest for 6 weeks so would not be able to come. When I told Hayden that his grandpa couldn't come he immediately said, "Then I'm not going to do it. I'm not getting baptized without my grandpa. We'll just wait until he can come." Can I tell you how proud I am to be his mother. He truly understands the importance of family. We had so many show up to support us and I am truly thankful for our wonderful family for the love and support given.

Dad & Hayden

Hayden & Hunter in their matching

outfits on their special day

Hadley decided to cut her hair. I have to say that

when I saw the hair fall to the floor after the first

cut it took my breath away but we love it.

She also lost her first tooth!

Here are some pic's from our Easter egg hunt

at Grandma & Grandpa Humpherys

Hallie had a blast this year

Madison & Carter hid the eggs

Here is my amazing Mother-in-law She is a saving grace. I cannot say enough about the woman that she is. She has helped so much during the past few months by feeding my family and helping watch kids etc. She also has the funnest traditions for our family like the easter egg hunt where she fills eggs with $ for the kids. What an amazing example of unconditional love she gives to us all.

Cousin Trae, our little Easter bunny

Shawn & Trae snuggling. This does not usually happen

so I had to get a picture of it

We had to put our sweet, old dog Lloyd down last week. He had cancer and was in pain. It was so hard on our family and we are thankful for the time that we had with him. Lloyd was 11 years old and we all loved him so much.

We went camping at Downata at the end of March. It was cold but a lot of fun. Here are some pictures of the kids. We didn't get the camera out until after Shane & Nicole left so we didn't get any pictures of Nash & Sloane but they were there too.

Hadley in her bed. She loves that silly hat

Shawn and Hallie dancing in our trailer

These are from a baby shower that my friend from work, Jessica, threw for me and another co-worker who is expecting in April. Here is the super cute cake that she made. What talent...

This is Jess holding a game that we played

So I know that I am missing a ton but these are just a few pictures that I got off my camera in a hurry. May cannot get here fast enough. School is done for me on the 6th. Cross your fingers that I can endure to the end.

Last bit of summer

Seriously, where has summer gone? School starts this week for all of us. Hayden & Hadley on Wednesday and myself on Thursday. Many of my friends are sad because their kids are back in school and they will miss them. I guess that I'm not as kind because I am estatic that my kids are going to school. I love the schedule that school provides, mostly because I don't have to make it.

Here are a few pics of us winding down our summer.

Hallie finally figured out how to pedal her tricycle.

She is hilarious! She puts on her helmet and is off.

Sometime the helmet is right, other times it is backwards.

She is really good about staying right in front of the house too.

It is always amazing to me how much kids pick up on a copy.

Hallie always puts her bike on its side like her brother & sister.

She gets off, picks it up and puts it on its side.

Hadley has kept up on her photography passion.

Here are a few pictures of summer play as seen by Hadley:

Her brother on the trampoline

We've also had fun at the "beach".

Jensen's Grove is 5 minutes from our house and the kids love to

go swimming and play in the water.

Hallie still only likes her feet in the water.

Here she is coming to tell on her sister for getting her too wet.

We've had a great time this summer. It was super short for myself with school and I am really looking forward to next year when I don't have class all summer and will even have a new family member to enjoy it with.

Camping w/ the fam

This week we went camping in Island Park. We were going to go to Palisades and bring the boat while sleeping in a tent. I put the kibosh on that one. While a tent sounded just wonderful, I prefer the camp trailer. So off we were. We camped at Buttermilk campground near the Island Park resevoir. Our site was just across from a set of docks. We brought Lloyd (the dog) and he had a blast fetching a stick from the water. Shawn and Hayden ordered the book The Summer of the Monkeys and Shawn brought it with us to read. It was really kind of fun sitting around and listening to him read the story.

The next day was a busy one. We first loaded up and went to Big Springs to feed the fish. There were seagulls everywhere trying to steal the food from the fish. The kids had a blast feeding both the fish and the seagulls. I, of course, left my the camera in the car during this so no pics.

We decided to unload the 4-wheelers and go for a ride. Hayden drove his and the rest of us (that's right 4 of us!) piled on Shawn's. Lloyd ran next to us. That poor dog got more exercise in this one day than he has got the entire summer. We wore him right out. He fell asleep sitting up several times that night and the next day.

It was a beautiful ride. We saw so much beauty. While on the ride, we crossed an old railroad bridge where people were putting in to float the fork. Shawn and I had made this float 10 years ago when Lloyd was just a puppy and we thought it would be fun to take the kids on it as well.

So off to Mack's Inn to rent a boat for a float trip. I forgot how long of a float it is. We started out strong. Shawn and the kids attempted fishing while I paddled the boat (we hit the shore several times-oops)

We stopped one time to try and let them fish from the shore but that didn't last long. The weeds were as tall as Hallie but that didn't stop her from exploring. Hadley was so sweet and helped her back to the boat.

We got back to camp with just enough time to make dinner and get to bed. We were all tired. Lloyd could barely it up the two steps in to the camper. The next morning, Shawn made us breakfast. That's right- I said Shawn made it. Now if I could just get him to cook at home.

The kids played and picked me some flowers while we packed up the camp site. It was a short but super fun trip. Hopefully we can do this again soon.

Summer in a nutshell

Well, it's Wednesday, didn't make it on Tuesday. So much has happened in the last few months and I have had almost no time to write about out. Here is a quick overview of our summer.

Hallie-

She is talking up a storm and wishing that she was older. She wants to be out front riding her bike with her brother and sister but hasn't been able to because Mom has been glued to her computer with school work. She loves to swing and jump on the trampoline. We visited Grandpa Humpherys up at Grand Targhee and she did not enjoy her horse ride with Dad.

Hallie and her friend Kaitlyn earlier this summer

She did not enjoy one second of this ride

Hadley

Hadley turned 5 in May. Unfortunately it was also the first week of school for Mom so it was not blogged about. She played her first year of t-ball and did very well. Mom was the assistant coach (not the best, sorry Heidi). She and her brother have found a group of kids in the neighborhood their age and are little social butterflies. She rode Sheila (the horse) all by herself up with Grandpa this summer and is looking forward to doing that again.

Our cute little softball player

Riding Sheila

Five yrs old- going on 15

Hayden

Hayden finished his first year of coach pitch baseball and unfortunately hated it. He found it boring. We may try one more year just to make sure that it wasn't just a bad year for him. He finished the 1st grade. Mom got to go help with field day the last week of school and she had a blast with him. He finally lost his first tooth in May. He has had fun playing with his friends this summer. He also had fun riding horses with Grandpa and rode all by himself.

Riding Reba

Jungle Day

1st tooth

Shawn

So busy. He is again this summer working 3 jobs. He is still working his regular patrol work week, working on marine patrol- 2 drownings so far this summer in Bingham County, and curbing. The 30+ days of rain this summer have put him behind and he is now doing double time to catch up. No pictures of Shawn, he's way to busy to sit still for a camera.

Hilary

School, clinicals, helping with Hadley's t-ball and trying to keep up with my beloved children. Notice housework not listed? Our poor family has noticed and now that school is out, I have to pick up the pace and get this place put back together. I finished the semester with two A-. I hate that stupid minus.

Look what I've got.....get it??

That is all that I'm writing for now. There is way too much that I skipped but I will try to keep up for the rest of this wonderful summer now that I can fully participate. Until next week.