Crafty, crafty

With the little spare time that I seem to find (what with my three part-time jobs, being a mother and the bishop's wife), I really enjoy creating things.  Lately, I've had the opportunity to check a few things off my list.

I get a little sick of the pumpkin, fall leaves, etc. decorations for three months straight and have been looking for two full years for apple/back to school decorations to fill my living room for September, to decrease the other a little.  I have had no success, so Chelsea and I got together to make a back to school wreath.  We meshed about five pinterest wreaths together and got done in relatively good time.

Then, I finally sewed up a Halloween table runner that I have had the fabric for for two years and had cut out for a year.  Once I started taking pictures, Devynee insisted on being my model.

I had to hold her back to get this picture of just the fabric.

I was determined to not buy any other fabric for the back, so I raided my stash for fabrics that were even remotely Halloween colors.  We made it work.

These last two are included purely for Devynee's body positions.

"Camping"

Two years ago, my parents bought a new camp trailer from good friends.  We offered to buy their old trailer from them.  It is a 1984 that technically could sleep eight, but more comfortably sleeps 6-7. We're paying it off monthly so it has been very affordable!  Good thing they are nice!

We leave the trailer at the ranch and hadn't made it out to spend the night all summer.  Finally, Friday, August 29th was the lucky day.  We loaded the kids in the van and drove out for a fun-filled* 24 hours of camping.

As it turned out, our trailer didn't have water in it, so we actually slept in my mom and dad's newer trailer.  Ah well, it all counts.  They both have bunk beds, so the kids are happy as clams.

My brother Jord-man made this good looking sign and now the ranch** feels so much more official.

After arriving, we got a fire going and roasted marshmallows, made s'mores and had some yummy cobbler.

The first thing my girls always do (not Easton, he doesn't like getting dirty) is to play in the really, really, fine dirt inside of the pole barn.  As you can see, Devynee took full advantage of the dirt on this trip as well.

Grandma and Grandpa Wyo joined us just for the evening (no pictures unfortunately).

We got the kids down around 10 p.m. and they all slept great.  However, when the sun came up at 6 a.m. they were all ready to go, go, go!

We had a breakfast of eggs, bacon and muffins (I forgot the key ingredient for the mountain man dutch oven breakfast we were supposed to make) and then the older kids went on a 4-wheeler ride with Ron. Devynee and I threw rocks, climbed on the tractor and sat on it, and did general ranch-y things.

Then, we got out the .22 for a little target practice and a nice gun safety talk.

Easton and Kendree also spent some time practicing their archery.

When she thought no one was looking, Devynee tried to get in some archery practice as well. (Notice that nice, soft dirt she is standing in.  That's the stuff).

Then, we had lunch, one last 4-wheeler ride for everybody and we packed up.

It was a great trip!

*I have a profound respect for my mother after prepping for this trip.  Camping prep is not for the faint of heart.  I haven't had that many lists going in quite some time.  We should have stayed for a week instead of a day, but it was still very fun.
**Snowflea Ranch is the original name of the ranch.  My dad purchased it from a family who had owned it for quite some time.  We do not know where the name came from and there is no such thing as a snowflea (that we are aware of).

Quilt #2 for Baby #4

I decided to go with a chevron quilt for the "fancy" quilt for this little girl.  To be honest, I just wasn't up to making another ruffle quilt.  Also, the ruffle quilts aren't super great to actually use, so there is that as well. I found a new and easier tutorial online that doesn't have you piecing or cutting triangles and went on my merry way!

I'm always surprised how quickly baby quilts come together.  That smaller size really makes things just hum along. I machine quilted this on my beloved Bernina, following the seams, but a little outside of them.  It was perfect. I also did the binding on my machine, I just don't have the patience for hand binding!

First days of school

On Tuesday, August 26th, Easton started his first day of 1st grade!  Due to some major miscommunication last year, he had to switch* elementary schools. He has friends from church at both schools and in true oldest child** fashion, the change didn't seem to effect his enthusiasm for school at all. In fact, he gets to walk to and from school while the weather is good (with kids from the neighborhood) which is infinitely cooler than mom picking him up.

Easton is attending Goins Elementary School and has Mrs. Hall for 1st grade.

Hanging out in line, waiting to go in.

Kendree had to sneak in one last goodbye hug.

Looking like a stud, at his desk table.

After school one Easton's first day, we grabbed ice cream from McDonald's as a treat and enjoyed it on the lawn.  The perfect celebration/official end to summer.

Next up, we had Devynee, who started an in-home preschool with a good friend in the ward on Tuesday, September 2nd.  She goes once a week for two hours and loves every minute.  The class is very young (most will start kindergarten in two years, Devynee won't start for three years) so it is low-key and perfect.

Finally, Kendree had her first day of preschool with our beloved Miss Donna on Tuesday, September 9th. It killed her that she was the last one to start, but on a positive note, it was rainy and chilly, so mom agreed to let her wear her FAVORITE long sleeved unicorn shirt, which has been taunting her from it's drawer for a few weeks. She will have preschool twice a week for 2.5 hours.

And just like that, our world is back to its glorious, structured (albeit crazy) self.

*Our neighborhood has been switched between two schools a few times due to school sizes, etc. He should not have gone to Rossman for kindergarten, but fell through the address-checking cracks.  Also, the school district did NOT update their website to the change, so I was clueless as well.  I could have done a boundary exception and kept him at Rossman, but in three short years, I'll have three kids in elementary school and at some point the boundary waivers would be denied, so we decided to just switch now while he is young.

**As the oldest as well, I think you just get used to new situations and being the guinea pig for everything, so an additional "new" thing isn't that big of a deal.

A little getaway

Next summer, one of the meetings that I plan for work will be held at the Jackson Lake Lodge outside of Jackson, Wyoming.  If it is a new location (it usually is), I normally do a scouting trip as our family's spring break in March/April.

As luck would have it, the Jackson Lake Lodge is closed from the beginning of October through Memorial Day, so a scouting trip when everything is closed up wouldn't be very fun for me. ;)

We tricked talked my sister Erc and her husband Dan into taking the kids for two nights at the end of August and made the trip into a little baby-moon. (We have offered to take their kids anytime as a trade).

So, we loaded the kids up, drove to Rock Springs and dropped them off with Erc, Dan and their kids and went on our merry way. (We traded cars as well, so Erc could haul around five kids and Alayna, her five-year old, thought that was just about the best part of the whole thing.  A van!  Super exciting!)

On our way to Jackson, we stopped in Farson, Wyoming for some of their famous ice cream.  I had the butter pecan in a waffle cone and it did NOT disappoint.  Delicious!

While at the lodge, we enjoyed spectacular views (seriously, like a movie set that you can't quite believe is real) and cold, rainy weather. That was a bit of a disappointment.  We walked all around the lodge and saw the rooms for meetings, etc. We also just relaxed.

View from the lodge, the cloud cover was not ideal for viewing the Tetons.

One day, we drove about 30 minutes down to Jenny Lake, took a ferry across and then did the Hidden Falls hike.  My 31 week pregnant body protested a little, but it was so good to get out and hike.  

Jenny Lake.

The Hidden Falls!

Sunday evening, we attended the LDS branch that meets at the lodge for the summer tourist season.  I was asked to play the piano (that has to happen every once in a while for me to jump start my practicing again) and Ron got to bless the sacrament. It was great to serve where we were needed.

Those pesky clouds almost let us see the full mountains on Sunday night.

And then Monday morning, they covered the bottoms.  :)

Such a great trip.  Got things squared away for work.  A little relaxing in and time with my favorite guy. Thanks to Erc and Dan for making it possible!

August 2014: Random Catch Up

On the last day of swim lessons, Kendree got to ride Shamu! ;)

Silly girls in the tub.  Think they have a little different natural coloring?

A little perler bead making on a warm afternoon.  I'm living my childhood dreams through my kids as I always wanted "melty beads" when I was little and never got them.  In my mom's defense, I don't think I ever really asked for them either.

 Devynee did this number puzzle no less than 15 times during Kendree's preschool evaluation.

Instagram: August 2014

A little pre-swim lesson foot soaking.

The five amigos at the Children's Village.  Apparently my kids need to work on their silly faces.  #Devyneeisjustpouting

Hawaiian Shaved Ice with cousins! (It's a good thing that I just tried this place for the first time, as I WILL be going back).

 Easton and Ron enjoying the Broncos game!  I'm enjoying a quiet house. ;)

 Quilt #1 for baby4 is done!  This will be the quilt that comes everywhere with us.  Love it.

I'd say that someone enjoyed their spaghetti... #everylastnoodle

Two more baby4 projects done! Crib skirt and bumpers are ready to go, now onto the second quilt.

After a lovely two day getaway, Ron and I have to say goodbye to the gorgeous Grand Tetons. #nofilter #jacksonlakelodge

First day of 1st grade!  He was so excited!

First day of school ice cream treat.  Totally worth the mess.

The final quilt for baby4 is complete!  Just a few sewing projects left.  Two months to go. #pleasesomeoneslowdowntime #theendalwaysgoesthefastest

One of my favorite places on earth. #snowflearanch

When you camp, you fully embrace the dirt... #idontknowhowsheseesthruthoseglassessometimes

Find the goggles mom got on clearance [check]. Wear until they are so foggy you can't see anything [check].

The kids loved shooting the .22 and it was a great opportunity to talk about gun safety. #snowflearanch