Some New Family Pictures

We recently got our pictures taken...by a pro!!! First time ever!! We have NEVER paid to get them taken before. All of our pictures are done by Travis or I, severe ameteurs. Actually, we didn't have to pay for these either because we have really, REALLY nice people in our ward back in Yakima that bought us a surprise photo session at a ward auction a while back. Seriously the nicest family ever!!!

These are a few of my favs.



Aren't my boys so cute!



Trying to get Mity to smile.



Mother daughter shot.




My handsome hubby and I.

Raspberries.

We scheduled the shoot right during Mity's nap, which is really too bad, because she is usually way more smiley than this. But that is okay. We got some cute shots of her anyway.

There's a hint of a smile. (Note to self: ALWAYS schedule photo shoots as soon after naps as possible.)

Awww...brother-sister love.

My sweet boy is getting so big.

He is only 3, but I swear he acts like he is 5. He says the darndest things. Today at a little neighborhood get-together, I went to check on him and found him wrestling (VERY aggressively I might add) with three six-year-olds. At first I was worried about him because they were all ganging up on him, and it was pretty rough. But I just let them continue when I realized that he was the aggressor and they were all having tons of fun. A couple of the other boys were yelling, "Hey, you little guy! Let go of my friend!"

Anyway, he has been obsessed with death and blood lately. Today he asked me, "Mom, do your bones have blood in them? Or is the blood just outside of your bones?" A little creeeeepy if you ask me.

We are BACK in the blogging world!

So, I'm just doing all my catching up at once, so scroll down to see all my new posts.

(and you can stop complaining now, Amy!)

Well, we left our beloved Yakima and moved A LOT closer to home. We sure do miss our wonderful ward, our friends, and all of the delicious fruit, but it is so nice to be closer to family.

I've had lots of people wonder why I have not announced where we moved to on this blog...SERIOUSLY, people!!! Haven't you ever watched any documenaries on serial killers?! They are watching you when you least expect it, like right NOW!!! You have to be on your guard at all times!

Let's just say, I am pretty darn close to home, where ever that may be.

A family picture a week or so before moving.

Spending time with our good buddies, the Lichfields. Saying goodbye to them was the hardest part of all.

My best chum, Kathy.

Grant was like a brother to him. He talks about him all the time.

The family reading a bed-time story in Yakima.

Booger bubbles!!!

After church pictures.

Now that we have moved, Travis follows doctors around pretending to be one of them. Sometimes when we are arguing he says, "Did you go to med school?" Seriously overconfident, right?

My beloved brother, Jason and I and Mitty.

Russell's cousin, Josh. Popcicles on a hot summer day...mmmmm...



Josh again.

And look who came to visit!!! Yay!!! Our goodest Yakima friends!

The beauty of a house with a nice, big backyard.

Miss you Lichfields and Yakima 2nd ward!!! Hope you are all doing well!

We love you, Great-Grandpa Ward!!!!

A sad thing happened on August 1st. My grandpa Ward passed away. I lived a couple of miles from them all growing up. It's been pretty hard. We all really miss him. It was especially hard visiting Grandma at the house the other day with him not there. His hats and work coats and overalls were still hung up all over the garage. His tools were all sitting unused in the shop. It almost seemed if I should be able to walk in and see him there.

But I know that it was right. He had a stroke a few months ago, and his health had been deteriorating since then. I will say that he lived a very full life. It's not like he has been laid up for years. I'm sure that is how he wanted it to be.

It has been hitting me lately that there are not many men like Grandpa left. He was a farming man. A very hard-working, don't come in till dark, farming man with wiry muscles and strong hands, not from lifting weights. Just from working hard on the farm. Those are the kind of men that I was surrounded by as I grew up. A lot of the men that you see around today just don't measure up.

Favorite Memories:

Grandpa used to tease us by letting us stick our fingers near his mouth so he could growl and try to bite them. He also used to get a kick out of our squealing when he made his teeth fall out.

When he sealed Travis and I, he was so sweet and emotional. I often saw him tear up the last few years. He was very close to the spirit.

Till we meet again, Grandpa!!

My! Look how they've grown!!

Russell and Amity. Two peas in a pod!




Awwwwww...




Amity sits up by herself. (If you put her in that position.)




Amity explores at the lake. She loves the water! And this is even cold IDAHO water.




Eye of the Tiger, Russ.




Bob and Jolene! Close your eyes!!!! Russell rock climbs.




What a cutie!

Russell has gotten into gardening...in his underpants...the neighbors really appreciate it. I don't garden in my underpants.

Amity eats solid foods- with GUSTO!!! And lot's of smacking noises. Wards sure love to eat!

Russell's first dance with a girl at the church picnic. That's his friend, Zora. They've had a long-running romance.

Amity thinks Russell is soooooooo funny!!

What a looker!

Watch out! She spits!

Amity: Muscle woman!!! She does this all day long. Jillian Michaels, eat your heart out!

Just chillin'.

Amity has been scooting/crawling in little circles for about a month now. We are still waiting for her to just go for it and get some real distance.

Oh, how I love my husky little girl. Definitely not a dainty little thing.

Getting ready to go from tummy to bum all by herself.

Oops! Fell over!

Amity is usually very good natured. But she can still get pretty mad sometimes.

A HOUSE! A REAL HOUSE...with a yard and EVERYTHING!

Hello. Sorry it has been a while. Here are some recent happenings:



Tantrums.



Don't poke your eye with that sucker stick, kid.



Hikes in dark caves.



Climbing around on rocks near waterfalls.



Working out our muscles.




Sneaky little boys waking up before mom and dad and toasting almost an entire loaf of bread. I know...dangerous...we tried to rig an alarm system on his door, but it didn't work. We are going to have to put a stop to this!!

And now...for the best part...YAY!!




I had to drive all by myself with two kids to look for a new place to live, and THIS is what I found for a really great deal!!! We are so excited. No, we are not buying, but this is going to be a great place for us for a couple of years. I am sooooooo happy. Can you just imagine how spooky I could make this front porch at Halloween?

Just a few of my very favorite parts about this awesome house:

This.

This huge garden plot and shed.

Huge deck with built-in seats and flower boxes.

This isn't even half of it. This place is so great and our landlords seem like such nice people. Plus it is out in the country and right near the church and school. We really are blessed to have found this place. We had been looking for months.

Anyway, we sure will miss Yakima. It has been a wonderful place with wonderful people, but we are excited for the big move!