It's a Grape Festival

The last weekend in Nauvoo they have a Grape Festival that lasts from Friday to Sunday. There are parades, carnival rides, concession stands, concerts, a marathon and more.  The parade was one block south of us on the main street, Muholland. Trent and Connor were on their way back to CA to finish fixing it to rent out. It was very hot and not a very comfortable day, but being new to the area we definitely wanted to participate. 

 

They games they had were for the little kids.  Some games were finding money in they hay stacks.  It was done by age group. 

Carson and Cami weren't too sure about this

Cami enjoyed watching but wanted nothing to do with getting into the hay

At the last minute Carson decided to look

Haylee was way into finding money

Haylee won third place by having the 3rd highest amount of $ found

Another game was the egg toss

Carson and I participated in the water balloontoss

Hunter's broke and he got all muddy

Hunter, me, and Cami

New Town, New School, New Friends

Not only did we move to a new town having to experience a new house and  having to meet new friends but we also had to start at a new school. Haylee has to catch a bus to be shipped to the middle school.  Luckily the bus stop is across the street at the grade school.  Hunter just has to walk across the street to the grade school and we attempted to have Connor go to Warsaw High which was 30 minutes away. 

 

Not having a good experience registering him for classes, we had him try it out for a few days.  While registering Connor for school the guidance counselor wouldn't allow us to sign him up for the classes he needed to be able to keep up with CUSD requirements.  He had to take classes that he took in 7th and 8th grade.  So when Connor home at the end of the week we decided it would be better for him to be home schooled.  So now Connor is attending BYU independent study online.

Off To Nauvoo We Go!

Trent and the boys surprised me and the others by going the southern route, telling me they were headed the central route (through Nebraska).  We headed out Tuesday at 11am after a tasty breakfast made by Verla.  We drove through OK, KS, MO and IA.  We stayed in Keokuk, IA at a Super 8 before heading to our house in Nauvoo.  It took us 12 hours and in the last 15 miles Trent's moving truck he bought had 2 belts break.  Needless to say, I was praying the entire time we were driving since those belts affected the alternator. I breathed a sigh of relief when we got to the parking lot.  When we got into the hotel room Trent then informed me he didn't have any breaks and was pressing on the pedal with feet hoping he would stop.  So glad prayers are answered!!

OOOO-Klahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plain

After Utah we headed to Oklahoma to visit our friends the Andersons.  I baby sat for the Andersons from age 12 to 16 when they moved to OK. Chad their 3rd got married and had a reception I wanted to attend. Mind you Chady was 3 or 4.  Feeling a little old. We took 2 days to get to Oklahoma since it was an 18 hour trip from Utah.

Haylee, Cami, and Carson playing with stickers to pass the time.

Wyoming views

Colorado scenes

Kansas sunsets

Cami enjoying the food at Chad's reception

Chelsea, Verla and Raschelle (Anderson)

Chaddy and his bride Anna

 

The Anderson Crew with Anna's brother and parents

Raschelle's little guy and Carson became pretty good friends.

My girls

On Our Way To Our New Adventure

 Road Trip to Nauvoo...First stop...Utah.  Haylee, Cami, Carson and I drove to Nauvoo with Trent, Hunter and Connor trailing behind us a week later. It was definitely an adventure.  Cami did really well for an 18 mth old.  Carson and Haylee were great helpers too.  We stopped in St. George and had dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Stokes before heading to Papa and Grandma's in Pleasant Grove.  It was a long trip, but the kids did do really well!

 
Heather was kind enough to postpone Baby Jay's 1st birthday party for a few days so we could be there.  It was great being in Utah for a few days to visit with family.  Heather even spent the night with us for a little more sister bonding time...

Camryn, Cami, Lindsey at Jay's party

Austy and Matty posing for Aunt Brenna

Syd and Hay.  Syd stayed the night and the next day we made a cake for Christa's Birthday.

Aunt Christa with Carson, Haylee and 2 of her kids, Sydney and Walker

Baby Jay

Cami, me and Jay.  I asked Jordan to take a picture of us together. 

Jay and mama.  He wasn't a big fan of attention

Jay sharing some cake with Cami

Carson Gregory

Dad, Kim, Linds, Bryan, Walker, Chris and Mom




A summary of the past year

Acknowledging it's been a year since I've posted, I thought I'd update whoever still reads this what has been going on in the past year. 

1. We had a little addition join us January 16, 2012.  Camille Elizabeth. She is so cute and loveable.  Love her family, blankie and pacifier, although we are working on getting rid of the latter.  She is so easy to put to bed and has actually slept through the night since the night we brought her home from the hospital. She tries so hard to talk and tell me things, I just wish I could understand what she is saying.  We love her to pieces and we are so glad she's with us!

2. Carson turned 4 this year and keeps us on our toes.  He is so funny and loveable.  He is constantly telling me he loves me and will just come up and give hugs to whomever.  He is currently taking swim lessons and calls his teacher "Hillary Celery" because when he says Hillary it rhymes with celery.  Don't ask me where he gets this stuff...  He loves to follow his brothers and do what they do.  He is always saying things like "When I get big like Connor..." or "When I grow up like Hunter..." He loves picking up and carrying Cami, although she screams bloody murder! Carson will be attending preschool next year and he so excited!

3. Hunter will be finishing 2nd grade this week.  He still keeps us on our toes and is still working on his temper and understanding that actions cause consequences.  Always a work in progress.  Hunter played Babe Ruth Baseball this year and their team got second place!  He was so excited and all the parents were so surprised!  We don't know how they did it.  Hunter is excited to start cub scouts in a few weeks and pass off as many requirements as Connor.  Hunter will also be baptized July 6th and is very excited about that!

2. Haylee will finish 4th grade on Friday.  Although this year was a trying one for her, she has done a great job!  She participated in cross country, science fair, run for student council, drama and I'm sure I've missed something somewhere.  She is currently taking piano lessons, although she's not too fond of practicing she's doing great at it. Haylee is turning into a beautiful young woman and loves to help me cook.  There are often times where she'll clean the whole house, just because.  I love it!

5. Connor will finish his 8th grade year on Friday then he'll be a freshman in high school.  It's so hardtop believe he's going to be in high school.  I am so not old enough to have a high schooler.  Connor received the rank of Eagle in scouts in December and continues to earn merit badges.  He excels in school earning straight A's this year and almost all of last year earning an 89.6% in one class one semester.  He will be taking a summer school class this summer so he can have an extra elective next year.  He will also be getting his braces off this month, they should have been off a year ago, but his back molars are taking their time coming in. 

I've been working with the YW in our ward and Trent's been teaching seminary.  This last spring we went on a family vacation on a church tour.  Seeing Palmyra, Kirtland, Nauvoo and Independence.  We ended up finding a house in Nauvoo and put an offer on it.  We got it for $12,000 and will be working on remodeling it this summer.  A great investment!  We're so excited!  We loved visiting all the sights, Nauvoo and Palmyra being our favorite! 

Trent's business is sure taking off, keeping him busy as ever!  I am keeping busy with the few hobbies I have.  So that is a quick view of our little lives and will hopefully be keeping up with this now that I have a computer that works! 

Potty Training (Finally)

After months of Carson telling me was ready to go diaperless, I decided to get on the bandwagon.  He had been ready since December, but with the baby coming I decided to wait.  Didn't the who mess of regressing, etc.  As he continued to show interest, I just didn't want to deal with it yet. Basically, it was mom who wasn't ready.  Not because I didn't want him to grow up, but because with a newborn and having those demands and then having to remember to constantly remind Cars to go potty and the nighttime accidents and sheet changing, well...to much for mom at the moment.

So yesterday morning when I changed his diaper and it was totally dry, I decided it was time to buy some (as Carson says) underwares.  So we did and after 23 hours we have had only one little accident in which he was going then stopped himself went to the bathroom, sat on the toliet and finished. He didn't even wet the bed at night! I am truely amazed.  Guess it won't be so bad afterall...