June Joy

Peanut, River, Haven, Cabell, Summer, Valley, Shauna, Blake, and Cora came to Idaho for their Spring break. It was awesome! This is the kids at the zoo. Our babies were in my double stroller, Blake and Valley got Shauna' double, and we just had fun. I love when cousins come, and it has been a great year for cousin time. Because we knew Tanner was going on his mission in August and Marsha and Shauna were going to med school in July, we packed in as many cousin things on the Sheide side as possible.

I also decided it was time to potty train Brooklyn a week after her birthday. Because she is one of the stubbornest people on the planet, and because she has a strong opinion about everything she does (including what she wears, how she brushes her teeth, which sippy cup she uses, etc.), I thought potty training would be terrible. It wasn't actually that bad. Not great (Lucy standard) but not awful.

She'll thank me for preserving this memory one day. She still uses a stool all the time. I'm just glad she doesn't make a big deal about not having it when we travel.

Lucy asks me to take pictures of her every day.

In our first trip to Island Park for the summer, Isaac caught a frog. He was elated.

I love this shot. Island Park is one of the prettiest places on earth.

Doug helped Isaac catch a fish in the little pond off Yale Kilgore. We usually strike out there, so this was cool. I think we ate the fish, but can't remember.

Whole field of wild flowers. Indescribably beautiful. My Grandpa's favorite flowers were wildflowers, so I always think of him when we're surrounded by wild flowers.

One of the very best things about the summer was swim lessons. I put Isaac and Lucy in 4 sessions of swim lessons, and finally let Brooklyn do the last session. This was her on the first day, just wishing she was swimming, too. We did the indoor session first when the weather was still a little unpredictable, but did the rest of the sessions outside, and loved it.

After swim, we'd go to the YMCA so the kids could have free lunch. I loved that it was free, and also loved that the kids were exposed to a bit more variety during lunch time. Isaac dearly loves chicken burgers thanks to summer free lunch programs.

In the middle of June, I went to the BYU-I Online Faculty Conference for a day and a half. I brought Cason both days, and he was INCREDIBLE. Other people can gush about their children and I may roll my eyes. But Cason was out-of-this world good. As in he'd nap, wake up, smile at me, and fall back asleep. It was a joy to be with him, and the conference was great. Some of my friends in the picture have been working with me for almost 5 years: Trish Hopkins, Raegan Hritz, Heather Carter, Carmen Rindfliesch, and then three people whose names are escaping me. These are all the English TGL's and Heather, our Instruction Manager and Carmen, our AIM.

Jessica and her family came to stay in Rexburg during the faculty conference, so we got to babysit their kids while they went to a banquet. Kate was so cute about reading to Brooklyn.

This is another one of my favorite things about summer in Idaho. Each week, and more if possible, I'd meet up with Torri Black, Anya Wilson, and anyone from my ward who could come (usually Sarah Evans, Andrea Nielsen, and Heather Martin). We let our kiddos play and the girls sit and eat and chat. It is so lovely there.

In June, we found out that our renters of three years were moving, and we needed to decide what to do with our house. We put it up for rent and to sell, and were blessed to find a buyer. It was stressful, let me tell you. I am so happy to be rid of that house, even though I loved it.

And Douggie caught a fish in Island Park and sent me a picture. . .

And we went to the temple and visitor's center as a family. June done! By the way, I had no idea we took so many pictures!