I just had to share these cookies. I helped a give a shower for a friend. The gal that I helped had the cute idea of doing a onesie theme. We found these cookie cutters online and made and decorated them. I think they turned out so cute. What do you think? Oh, they were yummy too!!!
This is my other niece born June 28th. I have seen her a few times, but the other day my brother and his family came out for a visit. When I saw her sitting in her car seat I couldn't believe the size of her cheeks! It gets better. I changed her diaper and she has these skinny little legs and arms. Then you focus in on the belly! It is so chubby. I just love chubby babies. Isn't she so sweet?
We were asked to be a ma and pa for the pioneer trek this year. Of course we said yes.
Side note: For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about here is a quick run down. Each year our church has a youth conference for youth ages 14-18. Once every 4 years they have a pioneer trek. Three days of wearing clothes from those days, pulling a hand cart with your belongings and being in charge of 10 youth (5 boys and 5 girls)
It really is so much fun and I was counting down the days. The day arrives and we had activities at the church before we left to Big Bear. We drive up there, unload, get our sack lunch and we are on our way. I just have to say right now what an amazing group of kids we had. Never once did they complain about hunger, tiredness, being dirty, they don't like so and so, and so on. They all pushed (in fact neither Craig nor I had to touch the cart unless we were at a tuff spot). I have never seen a better example of teamwork.
Our first day started off up hill. I kid you not our kids ran up the hill with the cart. This was no little hill. It went on forever. We had to convince them to wait on the other members of our company since we had the radio if there was an injury.
Here are some highlights:
Rocky Ridge: I taped this and they worked so hard together, but I think they got the idea of just exactly how hard it was for the saints. This was a very spiritual moment. Each set of families went up and then came back down very solemn. No one was hoopin' and holerin'. Very solemn.
: After a long rest and lunch we were off again. All the men were then taken off to fight. Which left us women to do the pushing and pulling. I wish had a picture of the hill we had to climb. The rumor is they accidentally kept the men to long which led to the women going farther than had expected. We climbed this hill (me and 3 of my "daughters") with everything we had. At one point I thought there is no way we are going to make this. I stopped and listened to the words of my girls and they will probably never realize that they were my inspiration. They encouraged each other to go on, not stop and to not give up. As we were almost to the top the men came running down and my girls said, "Don't touch the cart! We want to finish this ourselves!" WOW!!! If we could just encourage each other each day and have the determination to get through life's hard struggles we together can make it.
Each night there was dinner, a fireside and then family home evening with our families. I truly grew to love these kids. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to go on this trek and have a greater appreciation for the saints that had to travel across the wilderness in the dead of winter. These people had to amputate their own toes and fingers along with their children's. These men and women had to bury their little ones in the snow and continue to move on. Some women were left to take care of their families alone because their husbands were to weak to carry on. But, they did not stop. The pressed onward because they knew the truthfulness of the gospel and knew that what they were doing was the right thing. I am forever grateful for their sacrifices and that I could have a small taste of what they went through. I am so grateful to be a member of this church and to know that I am a daughter of God.
We had such a fun fourth. It started out with our pancake breakfast at church. Then we were off to the annual parade. We have never watched, let alone marched in it, so we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. We sat in the sun for 2 hours! My poor fair skinned children. Matthew's face was so red his eyebrows were glowing! Note to self: next year have sun block!!! After the parade we were off to our first BBQ of the day. The kids had a blast swimming and playing in the bounce house. We hung out for awhile and then left for our second BBQ of the day. We tried to keep ourselves and the kids in the shade as much as possible. How do you do that when swimming is involved? Craig is still trying to figure out why his scalp got so sunburned because his hair is surely not thinning at all! I think I know what Santa will be putting in his stocking this year ;) Anyway we all had a blast eating yummy food and enjoying the company of our friends. And as usual the kids slept GREAT that night!
We had a very busy week off. Being the slacker that I am I don't have pictures for everything. Here is the run down anyway. We spent time swimming, play dates, UCR botanical gardens, ward beach party, tour of the fire station, and the movies. Did I miss anything??? All I have pictures of are from the botanical gardens and the fire station. I did have my camera at the beach, but never used it. Oh and I had my 3 1/2 year old niece for the week because my other brother had his baby! (Another post for that one)
I remember when Allison started kindergarten her teacher did this. This year I decided to record it. I got most of it until my finger got to tired and stopped holding the button.
I think they do this to make all parents cry. After the story is over they have the child come to their parent and we are supposed to kiss their hand. Then we give them a hershey kiss (which was handed out earlier). After that it is our cue to leave. At that point I bend down and give him a hug and cry silently to myself. I then pull it together to give him a kiss. (You know you can't have him seeing you falling apart.) I stand up tell him to have a good day and he grabs my leg so tightly and says, "Don't leave me here mom!" I have never had a child do that. Leaving him that day was one of the hardest things I have done. I knew over time he would be okay and he was. He now goes to school everyday with a skip in his step.
Tell me, does it get harder with each one? I thought it would be easier.
Did you watch Matthew the whole time? Do you think he is going to have a hard time sitting still in school? He surely can't stay in one place very long at home!
We live in a year round school district. So for us that means our track gets one week between the new school years. We packed a lot in during that week (posts to come). I just wanted to post these pics of my kids on their first day of school. I can hardly believe how fast they are growing.
