Happy Birthday James

We celebrated James birthday in Idaho because it's always more fun to celebrate with cousins. First we went to "Blast off" where they had a huge playground with tons of things to crawl through and huge ball pits. James loved it.

Then we had a car party.  Daddy and Grandpa built some amazing ramps to have races outside.

We had a car pinata

Kate and Olivia and Rebecca and Jason drew this amazing car map that is like driving across the United States- We saved it to hang in their room when we finally get to move back.

James got tons of presents- Thanks everyone since we haven't been on the ball enough to write thank-you's

And topped it all off with a race- car cake.  James was very happy to have his special day. 

First Laugh

The Navajo people have a tradition that whomever makes a baby laugh first has to throw a huge party for the rest of the family- extended family included.  They usually slaughter a sheep and have a huge party. We have adopted this tradition, but toned it down a little.  While we were in Idaho my niece Kate made Carrie laugh for the first time.  She and I made carrot cake (her choice) for a little party.  Carrie loves Kate and Olivia (and just about anyone else who will hold her without making her fear for her life... ie Spencer and James)

Yellowstone

We went up to Idaho for the first few weeks of June because my sister and my parents just left on their missions. While we were there we took a trip to Yellowstone. We met up with Gabe and his family and Emilee and her family and Natalie and my mom came, so we had quite a crew. We chose the coldest day in June, it was freezing, but we still managed to see a lot and have a good time. Carrie was glad to stay in the car with grandma.

All bundled up- it really was that cold

Natalie scaring Spencer on the hike.

Mystic Falls, this was a fun pretty easy and short hike with a great view at the end.

The caterpillars were hatching, and they were everywhere

James and Ruby were in-separable the whole time we were in Idaho, which was actually really nice.

The brave ones (Devon and the boys and Gabe's family) camped over night.  this was the boys first camping trip and it got down to 25 degrees and snowed, so I guess they are ready for scouts.

Thanks for taking us camping daddy

By the falls

The weather turned nicer and they got to see a lot of wildlife the second day.  They saw bison (of course) a whit fox, moose, beavers and more but that's all I can remember.

Kindergarten Graduation

This year Spencer went to a private Seventh Day Adventist school. We thought it was a good experience. Here is his teacher Miss Lydia. Spencer really liked his teacher.

They sang a few songs at the graduation, Spencer's knows quite a few classic "gospel songs" now.  He stopped singing so Devon could take a picture, how considerate.

The boy to the left of Spencer was the only other kid in his class.  Mostly that was nice. 

Spencer got awards for being a good citizen and a super reader.  He was very proud.

PS here is James with his preschool teacher Ms.  Morris.  He loved preschool.  He also had a graduation, but Devon couldn't come and I was holding a baby, so sorry James, I don't have any pictures.

Mystery Valley

For the annual staff trip this year we went on a tour of Mystery Valley. I have wanted to go there since we moved here, so I was really excited to go. It looked totally different than I expected, different than Monument Valley, which is right next door. Here come the pictures.

We rode in these big trucks with school bus type seats.  We made quite a few stops where you could climb up steep rocks, which the boys thought was great.

At one place you could climb a ladder and then be boosted by daddy to a high cliff.

"James, look at the camera!"

Pretty amazing formations, how did all of those holes get there?

A different view of Monument Valley

We found a very clean horse skeleton, here's the spine.

Spencer using ancient pottery for a nose, maybe that's what little kids did back then too.

Samantha taking a picture of Spencer, I thought that was pretty funny.

Yes Spencer you can do that when you are as old as Steven.  This is called "Honeymoon Arch"

James playing our guide (and neighbor) Larry's drum.  Larry played and sang for us.

Spencer got tired of waiting for us, so he went off on his own and gave me a heart attack.

What would we do without Daniel and Samantha?

I am really tired, also this hole is big enough to take a nap in.

 Our one family picture, not that great, but it's the only one we've got!

 

These are the trucks we rode in.

The tour was great, we had a lot of fun and climbed a lot of steep rocks with a baby strapped to my front.  On the way back it started to get super windy and rain and hail.  That was especially fun in these trucks, but it did add to the experience.  We had a great time, I love living where my boys get to experience so many different things.

Spencer is 6!

 Spencer turned six on May 14th.  Here he is in his clothes from Grandma Gosney holding up his Spiderman from Grandma Coombs.

This is how James felt about Spencer getting all of the presents. Spencer was really good to share, but James was just mad that it was someone else's special day.

This is what Spencer really wanted, a Razor scooter.  He rides it all of the time, inside and outside of the house. 

We also did a pinata

And fruit pizza

And invited all the neighbors because that's what Spencer does, invite everyone, sometimes when I don't know that he did.

We will miss these people, about half of them will be gone next year.  I guess that means we get to make even more friends, the old and the new.