Fort Collins Open House

This morning we decided to take our kids to the Fort Collins temple open house even though we didn't have reservations. We got there around 10 and were taken straight back to a room where we waited for only a few minutes before we began watching the intro movie at the church. The spirit was so strong in that room and I couldn't help but tear up a few times as I held Landon close to me on my lap and watched our other two sitting next to me. I loved having our family together and helping our children learn more about the temple. 

When the movie was over we walked over to tour the temple. Like every other temple it was beautiful and the craftsmanship was stunning. I loved walking through it with our children and explaining the rooms to them as we went. I know they didn't understand most of it, but I have no doubt they were still able to feel the special spirit that is felt within the walls of the temple. Following the tour we walked through the outdoor tent and let the kids feel the different sample pieces displayed that were in the temple and of course took lots of pictures. 

August Bunko, PJ Night

Tonight we had bunko at Chandra Croft's house and she chose a PJ theme for this month. Of course this was right up my alley! It was another fun night getting to know these ladies more. 

Family Day & Backyard Camping

August 20th

This morning we started off without any real plans for the day and we ended up having a fun family day together. The maintenance guy called early this morning though and said they wanted to come install the vents this morning if we were home, so we knew we at least had to stay home until that was done. The guy showed up around 9:45 to get started and finished around 11. While he was here we hung out outside with the kids. They rode bikes for awhile, then we ended up in the backyard playing soccer with them. I also managed to mow the front yard quick too and sweep off the driveway from where all the rocks were. Once the maintenance guy was finished we decided to run to the bank quick so we could get a document notarized. Once that was finished we realized it was lunch time and conveniently we were parked right next to a McDonalds, so we treated the kids to lunch there. After they ate they were having fun playing on the electronic games they had there and on the play land while Steven and I actually got to have some adult conversation. It actually felt like we could have even been on a date! When we left the library Mason kept asking to go to the library, so I was going to have Steven just drop me and the two older kids off there while he took Landon home for his nap, but then we decided we'd just all stay there. Mason of course only wants to go there so he could play Minecraft on the computer, but the other two love playing in the play area. I got some new books for Mason to read this week, checked out a tablet for Emma to play games on, and got a couple movies for Steven and I to watch. Steven was amazed at all the different devices options that they offered people to use and check out. 

When we got home from the library, Landon went down for his nap and the rest of us had some quiet time watching the movie Planes that I'd rented for the kids. After nap time we decided to do some backyard camping with the kids and Steven got started on chopping down part of one of the dead quakie trees in our backyard so we could use it for firewood. Of course this job wasn't without a run to the hardware store for a new saw and axe! While Mason and Steven ran to the store I helped the other kids get in swim suits and set up our new little pool for them to play in while we gathered up all the wood.

The water was SO cold. 

 Once we got all the firewood stacked up and ready we set up the tent and got beds ready for the night.

The kids were having a blast playing in the tent and were actually getting along out there for a long time while I was in making dinner. I decided this was my kind of camping, the experience of a fire and sleeping in a tent, but with all the convenience of being home to prepare food and use the bathroom! As the sun started to set Steven got the fire going and we roasted smores. Mason and Emma devoured theirs, but Landon only took a couple bites of his before he decided that he'd rather just eat individual pieces of graham crackers, mallows, and chocolate. In the end they all ate way more sugar than they should have and I was afraid they were going to be sick!

 I designated Steven the champion marshmallow roaster cause he could make them beautifully, golden brown just like I like them.

 As it started to get darker we went inside to change into pajamas, said a family prayer and then headed back outside to put the kids to bed. It was about 7:45 when we laid Emma and Landon down, and about 8 :10 when we put Mason to bed, but they talked and laughed together till after 9 before they all of a sudden became quiet and went to sleep. It was a beautiful night and Steven and I enjoyed some alone time by the camp fire to just talk before we headed into the tent to sleep. When we got in there we found Emma's sleeping bag all in a twist and unzipped, Mason wasn't even in his but rather wrapped up in the quilt that was supposed to be over him and Emma, and Landon didn't have any blankets on! Once we got everyone fixed up and covered for the night we climbed into our sleeping bags. 

Pretty Landon

After Mason was off to school today the other two were begin awfully quiet in Emma's room so I peeked in to see what they were doing and I found Emma doing Landon's hair making him all pretty. You got to love having an older sister!

Mason's First Day of First Grade

I'm not sure who was more excited/anxious about Mason's first day of school him or me! I swear I hardly slept last night and I heard him moving around upstairs by 6 am! He was so excited to go that he was dressed and ready to go while his siblings were still eating breakfast. Once we were all ready to go I made sure to get his first day of school picture and then we were on our way to Tozer where I made him get more pictures in front of the school, by his classroom, and lastly with his teacher Mrs. Schwindt.

He was excited, but I could see his nervousness on his face as I gave him one last hug good-bye. I have been looking forward to this day lately since him and Emma can't seem to go one hour without fighting with each. However, as I gave him that last hug, kissed his head, and said my good-byes I was fighting back the tears. We watched him head outside to the playground to play with the other kids and then headed back to our car to got home.

The house was oddly quiet today without him home and I can tell it's going to take some time to get a new routine down with the other two. Just before 3 I had to wake Landon up so we could go pick up Mason. We were all excited to hear about his first day. He was all smiles and said school was good. He liked taking his own cold lunch to school, but said he waited to long to start eating and didn't have enough time to finish all his lunch. He loved that he got 4 recesses and said he made one new friend, but he couldn't remember his name. It doesn't sound like they did much school work today, but more just eased back into the school setting. He's already talking about when he goes back tomorrow, so I guess that's a good sign.

It's still a little unreal to me that he's in first grade, he's just growing up so fast!

Bowling with Steven's Work

Steven's work rented a couple bowling lanes tonight for everyone to get together and bring their families too. It was in Fort Collins so the kids and I had to meet him there and after driving in the traffic there I'm even more convinced that I don't want to live there. Anyhow we made it to the bowling alley and the kids were excited about bowling. We mostly just let them each take turns and after we finished two games we decided we'd better head home since it's Mason's first day of school tomorrow and it was already 7 o'clock. 

Daddy helping them bowl.

Me and the kiddos. 

Father's Blessings

Tonight for FHE Steven gave all the kids father blessings to get ready to return to school. He started with Landon, who got us all laughing during it because he was shushing us even though we were all being quiet. We pulled it together and Steven gave him a wonderful blessing. Emma was next and sat so reverently during her beautiful blessing. Mason was last and again another wonderful blessing. I'm so incredibly grateful that my husband and their father is a worthy priesthood holder and able and willing to give them blessings at any time. The priesthood is a wonderful blessing to have in our home.

When Steven was finished with their blessings he jokingly asked the kids if he should give Rosco a blessing too, and of course they said yes. He didn't but we instead talked to them about the story of the pioneers when one of their oxen fell down while crossing the plains and how they gave it a blessing to heal it. We asked the kids what they thought happened to the oxen and Mason said, "it was healed" and Emma said, "Jesus came down to make it better and told them to get a car!" Oh my gosh we laughed so hard! She just couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that they didn't have cars back then. I just love hearing the things they say sometimes. We finished up the night with brownies that dad made yesterday and called it a night.

Sock Hands & Wall Sits

While doing laundry today Landon insisted on putting his socks on his hands and was having fun playing with his sock hands! He really does have me wrapped around his little finger and always knows how to make me smile.

Later on today the kids and I were doing a few workout moves and I taught them how to do "wall sits". Mason kept trying to hold his breath while doing them as well which was funny. I was thinking maybe I'll start making them do this instead of time outs!

Sunday Pictures

We've been here a month now and I figured it was about time I take some pictures of the kids in front of our house here in Colorado. I love when they are all dressed up for Sunday and look so cute. They were of course less than thrilled to take pictures, but cooperated for candy!

I should have taken a picture of Steven to, but I didn't. He got to talk in Sacrament meeting today about the temple and eternal families and he did awesome! It was a really great talk and I felt like it was the perfect subject considering what we've experienced lately. Also, the Fort Collins temple will be dedicated in a few months so there has been a huge focus on the temple lately. I can't wait to take the kids to the open house next month and get our first look inside.

Emma's Imaginary Friend

Yesterday Emma was telling Steven and I about her imaginary friend named Ella. I don't remember what all she told us about Ella, but the thing that did stick out was that Ella comes up out of the toilet when Emma wants to play with her. She told us that Ella could come up out of our toilet and talk to us if we wanted! She was so serious about it all and I was having the hardest time not cracking up laughing. I so wish I would have had yesterday's conversation recorded, but since I didn't I tried to get me to tell me about Ella again today while I recorded her. The conversation certainly wasn't as good as yesterdays, but I'll still take it. She cracks me up with her imagination, her seriousness and just the cute way she talks.

Yard Work

We've officially lived in Colorado for a month now and we celebrated by doing more yard work on a house that we are only renting!! The yard was in such awful shape when we arrived last month and needed some serious TLC. Over the last month we have spent countless hours outside pulling weeds, trimming bushes and trees, spraying for bugs, laying weed barrier, and finally today we finished off our yard projects by filling in the flower beds with landscaping rock. We'd ordered 10 tons of rock and were worried beforehand if that was going to be enough, well it was more than plenty! We filled everything we wanted to with rock and still have at least a ton if not 2 tons of rock left sitting on our driveway! The rock was delivered at 8:30 this morning and we started moving it right away. 

Our kids were being good little helpers. 

We had asked our ward here for help, but really didn't get a great response so we figured no one would show up to help. However, to our surprise the two families we had dinner with a few weeks back showed up to help us around 11, just as we were starting to tire out. It was exactly the kind of boost that we needed to help us finish the job and with their help we were able to get it done so much quicker. By 12 we'd finished up and they all took off. 

We were so incredibly grateful for their help and service to us though. The yard looks a thousand times better and I just hope that the owners appreciate all the hard work we've put into it!

Here are some before and after pictures of the yard now that the rock is all in. 

Front of the house

The back left corner of the yard, was a huge weed pile before, now it has nice fire pit for us to enjoy!

This is along the back of the house.