Summer

Summer and toddlers....sigh. Justin and Megan watch the older kids go outside and stand at the window and cry because they can't always join them. Megan yells "Emma!" "Emma!", Justin collapses into a devastated heap (dare I say tantrum?). Jake absolutely loves to push or pull Megan and Justin in anything with wheels, and even the swing, but he needs supervision, constant supervision. I should drop everything and play all day everyday outside with all the kids, but I really do need to do the laundry and all the other fun stuff that seems to be double over summer vacation. The twins have figured out how to escape out the door to the garage, I am constantly in fear that they have escaped. They do seem to stick together when freed. Annie and Emma have been very good to spend some time chasing them around the yard, Annie only occasionally forgets she has been given a responsibility.


If only I were magic, I would twitch my nose, it would all be done, and we could play all the day through.

All the pleading to go outside is simply exhausting for poor Meg...

Buzz

Jake and Justin are ready for Summer with their newly buzzed heads. Now, if Summer would just hurry and come...

Wedding Day

When I was pregnant with Justin and Megan, about 20 weeks in Dr. Davis told me my cleaning days were over. We were fortunate to meet Chalice--a house cleaner extraordinaire. She cleaned and scrubbed until the twins were born, and has continued spending a few hours a week helping me get everything done.

The day I met her she began telling me the story of how she planned to never marry and live with her parents forever. Well, this year on Valentine's day she had a major change of heart. She started dating Nathan and within weeks they were engaged. Chalice was very nervous about the wedding ceremony and all the planning. One Tuesday she was telling me she needed to find someone she didn't have to pay much to perform the ceremony. "Travis will do it for free!" I found myself blurting out...

And so it began--Chalice and Nathan wanted Travis to marry them and they wanted to be married in our church. Mother's Day weekend was the big day. Travis did amazing. There were 200 people there from Chalice's church and wow was Travis nervous! Chalice brought me the pictures today and I thought I would share.

Memorial Weekend

I really look forward to Memorial Weekend. This year we (well, Travis) really needed to stay for church, so we left for Grandma Amy and Papa's after church on Sunday. About half way there Travis got a hefty ticket for speeding in a construction zone. I told the kids to cry when the police came to the window, they failed miserably.

On our way through Pocatello we stopped to place flowers on my paternal grandparent's grave. I love every year telling my kids about Grandma Sara and remembering her as I share with them.Then it was on to Rigby and some pictures to help everyone keep smiling:

Monday morning we took Papa and the kids and visited the cemetery where Travis' brother and sister are buried.

Here is our Justin Jeffrey with his Uncle Jeff's gravestone:

Emma Jane with Amy Jane's gravestone:

In the afternoon we headed to Idaho Falls to see Grandma and Grandpa Kraupp's graves, then we went to the park and the zoo.

It has been a while since one of Maria's kids didn't run from Uncle Trav and his kisses! Blake seems to tolerate him pretty well

This octopus ride was hilarious with Jake. We rode together and he instantly broke into a sweat and started yelling "this is not fun!", honestly I don't think he thought he was going to surivive. By the next day it was the most fun he has ever had.

This may be my favorite picture of all time of these two. Look at her pinch his cheeks! Oh, the power of example...

Jake thought the best way to keep Justin on the carousel was to hold him around the neck!

"Man, they're busy" Grandma seemed to be found continually muttering this to herself :)

Funny, we showed up a couple of weeks ago to surprise Grandma Amy for Mother's Day and she cried when we left. This time she was sure helpful getting us out the door. I never knew she and Papa could wave so vigorously.

Thanks for a great weekend! We'll be baaaaaaack!