Education Week and the Rexburg Temple

The first weekend in August was Education Week at BYU-Idaho. My sister, Ashley, was so kind and agreed to watch my kids for me so I could go! Yay! I was beyond excited. We went up to Rexburg a day early and spent the night so we could all do a few things together before she was left with all 5 kiddos by herself. We took the kids to the park to eat lunch and then headed over to the Splash Park. Carson and Brooklyn both actually splashed in the water - which is a huge improvement for Carson! Normally he likes the idea of water that will splash him in the face, but when it comes down to it he would rather avoid it. This time he played in in (granted only a little) and they both had a good time.

Right next to the splash park is a carousel. We took the kids on it after they were done swimming. Carson was scared about falling off for some reason so he had a death grip around my neck. Brooklyn was ready for her nap so she wouldn't let me put her on a horse and also had a death grip on me. I was a little ready for the ride to be over by the time it finally was. :) Carson did laugh the whole time and loved it as long as I didn't move. Silly kid!

 

 I was able to attend some absolutely amazing classes at Education Week. I prayed for weeks beforehand that I would hear the messages I needed to hear, and those prayers were certainly answered. I was able to attend classes on marriage, finances, sharing the Gospel through social media, motherhood, healthy meals on a budget,  and several others. Jason was able to come up on Friday and attend classes as well. He went to different classes then I did and it was fun to hear about the things that he learned and felt while we were there.

Friday evening, Carly and Will came up to Rexburg so we could all go to a session at the Rexburg Temple. It has been a long time since Jason and I had gone through the Rexburg Temple and it brought back a lot of sweet memories for me. When we were very first married and didn't have kids, we would go to the temple together every week. We would sit in the Celestial Room for a long time and ponder. Now we rarely are able to attend the temple together (we normally go by ourselves - since the kiddos came along, ya know?) and we go to the Idaho Falls temple now. Anyways, it was good to be back "home" in the temple that will always be special to me. 

The temple session was AMAZING. It was the first few days they had changed the movie and it was an entirely different experience. I always love going to the temple, but I definitely left inspired this time in a different way.  It was so fun to be there with my sisters and our spouses. I love my family!! Saturday morning we were able to go back to the Rexburg temple and perform baptisms for some of our family, including 2 of our grandpas on my mom's side of the family. It was awesome. 

I love the temple. I love the Gospel. I am so glad that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and I know that it is the true church. I know my Savior lives. I know that He came to earth and atoned for my sins so that I can return and live with Him again someday. I know that families can be together forever through the ordinances made in the temple. I know I'm not perfect, but the Gospel gives me the hope I need to be a little better everyday.

War Bonnet Roundup Rodeo

The last few years we have made it a tradition to go to the War Bonnet Roundup Rodeo the first weekend in August. It's always a lot of fun and pretty entertaining. This year we got a babysitter so Jason and I could go by ourselves. Jason had been golfing all afternoon in the MelaMasters tournament for work so he looks like a golfer in our picture. It's always fun to hang out with the hubby and do something fun. Love you, Jason!

Snake River Youth Jam

I love our town! They always have activities going on, especially during the summer. Last Friday was the Snake River Youth Jam hosted by the Idaho Falls Arts Council. It was a huge event down at the river promoting arts and music for kids. The entire thing was free and they had so much stuff for the kids to do! I got lots of great ideas for fun, easy crafts I can do with the kids during the long winter months too. We went with Carson's friend, Halle, and had a great time. The Church always sends lots of volunteers, so a lot of youth from our ward and missionaries from our area were there helping out at the booths. Way to represent! This is something we will look forward to every year!

Our beautiful view down on the river

 

Beating on the barrels and playing the guitars!

Making maracas and wrapping pine cones with yarn

 Hula hoops, bubbles, and playing with streamer sticks we made

Spin art and hand print birds

BYU-Idaho Alumni Night

Last week was the BYU-Idaho Alumni night at the Chuckers game and we decided to take the kids and go. They had a tailgate party at the park right next to the baseball stadium before the game. It was a lot of fun and we got to see some old friends of ours and even won a water bottle in a drawing! The kids had fun running around being crazy.

We didn't stay very long at the game - only about an hour or so. The kids (Brooklyn) were having a hard time sitting still and it was a pretty slow game. We did eat some snow cones and Carson followed the mascot around. He kept saying, "Bird, Bird! I'm over here, Bird!" It was pretty cute. I sure do love doing things with our little family. Jason and I talk all the time about how much fun we have with our little kiddos and how they are our best friends in the world. There is no where I would rather be than with my sweet family - how lucky am I that I get to keep them forever!

Photobomb by the Chucker's Bird

Block Party

Last week our neighborhood had a block party and it was a ton of fun. Everyone brought their own meat to grill and side dish and we met in the middle of the street. We had a bounce house for the kids to jump in, fire pits for marshmallows and hot dogs, homemade root beer, and a cotton candy machine for the kiddos. It was a blast! It was fun to chat with our neighbors and just hang out for the night. Carson's friend, Halle, was over for the day so the two of them played and ate enough cotton candy to have a sugar rush.

We love our ward and our neighborhood. We have the best people surrounding us and it is going to be so hard when we have to leave them. We just try not to think about it. :) Thanks for the great night, everyone! It was lots of fun.

T-Ball

This summer we put Carson in pee-wee T-Ball for ages 3-5. He was on the Jade Jaguar team and he was #7 (very fitting for my 7/7 boy). I remember going to my brother's t-ball games when he was little and it's always so cute to watch them play. Carson's team would have 30 minutes of practice and then 30 minutes of a game. Carson would do great during practice and loved it, but after about 30 minutes he was done and ready to go home. He did like batting most nights so we could usually get him to do that, but fielding was another story. Haha! He also really liked the treats after the games. We weren't able to make his last few games because we were out of town, but it was a good experience for him and hopefully it will be something familiar next year if we decide to do it again. Plus, he looked so darn cute doing it it was totally worth it. :)

Melaleuca Picnic

Like every year, the 3rd weekend in July is the Melaleuca Family Picnic! I took Jason to the picnic with me before we were even married, so it's kinda a summer tradition. This year is the first year I am not considered an employee, which was a little weird. We went early this year so the kids could play before most of the people showed up. Carly and Will helped with the kiddos on the few rides they actually went on.

We love the picnic because there is all you can eat snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn, soda, BBQ, and ice cream cones. Brooklyn was super excited about the cotton candy when she saw it. Silly girl! She was so sticky and messy, but she was having fun so I didn't mind.

Brooklyn also has an obsession with my glasses and decided that she wanted them while I was holding her. Jason happened to snap some pictures while we battled it out. She won. 

We had a great time and lots of fun. Thanks, Melaleuca!