Fall Update #3 - Reunion - Batch #1

The weekend before school started again, my immediate family had a reunion. We rented a cabin large enough for all of us in McCall, Idaho. It was right across the street from the lake. We had beautiful weather, and tons of fun! We played board games, had a Wii Sports tournament, played at the lake, did crafts, and visited local art fairs and farmers markets.

Mike tried to coax Emily into the water. She didn't want to go.

Mike tried to coax Hyrum into the water. He didn't want to go.

Emily was unimpressed and spent half of the afternoon sulking in this chair.

She spent the other half the afternoon sleeping in this chair.

Hyrum and Piper built sand castles and dug holes together.

Isaac tried to outdo everyone by building the tallest sand castle.

Sherwin, Jacob, and Ethan rowed the raft out into the deeper parts of the lake.

Hyrum thought the boat looked like fun, and agreed to go on the water on the condition that he got to wear a life jacket. Once in the raft, however, he chickened out. This is Mike, Hyrum, and Isaac in the raft.

James and his youngest, Maecy.

Mom and Ethan.

Blogger was being a pain and wouldn't let me post more pictures, so the next post will be batch 2 of pictures from the reunion.

Fall Update #2 - Visit from Dad

This summer, my dad's side of the family had their annual reunion. It's usually a pretty big deal that lasts several days with camping, lots of games, and a live auction. Lately, they've started holding it at a camp only about 40 minutes from our house in Pocatello. I was really hoping to go to the reunion since I haven't seen my Grandma Page or my Aunts in a few years even though they lived near by when we lived in Shelley. I wanted to go even more badly after I found out my dad was coming from Pennsylvania to attend. Except for a very brief "hello" at my Grandma's 90th birthday a couple of years ago, I hadn't seen my dad since I was pregnant with Hyrum. Unfortunately, Emily was sick with an ear infection, so we weren't able to go. Instead, my dad came out to visit us at our house. It was nice to see him again. The kids (and our cat) loved getting to know him.

Fall Update #1 - 4th of July

So, I knew I was behind on blogging, but I didn't realize I was this far behind until I checked my blog today. Well, needless to say, there's a lot to blog about, and since we're college students at midterm, little time to do it. Because of this, I've decided to break it all up into segments I can write between classes.

Since my last post, I finally moved back in with my family in Pocatello. Yay! I aced summer term and got onto the Dean's List. Yay again! We spent the next few days just getting settled in and unpacked, so there's not much else to report there.

My oldest brother James and his kids came to Idaho for the 4th of July. Well, actually James and his youngest daughter only passed through on their way to Montana, but the other kids stayed at my mom's house. Hyrum and Emily were so excited to spend some time with their cousins and enjoy a picnic at Grandma's house before we headed to the fireworks in Idaho Falls. If you've never been to the fireworks show in Idaho Falls, you should try to go at least once. It's the biggest fireworks show west of the Mississippi. I kid you not.

Hyrum, Emily, and Piper eating outside at Grandma Crooks's house. Piper and Emily wanted me to fix their hair the same so they could match.

Short video Mike took of the kids eating.

Hyrum and Isaac reading a book together.

Hyrum, Emily, and Mike looking for a spot to sit long the Green Belt. The kids were pretending to ride horses, but Emily got camera shy and stopped doing it as soon as I took out the camera.

Hyrum and Emily at the river before the fireworks started. I love the sky and the temple in the background.

Hyrum and Emily bundled up watching the fireworks. They were cold.

Part of the fireworks show.

Mike actually got a better video of the finale, but he filmed it sideways. I couldn't figure out how to turn it without having it shrink down too small to see well, so this will have to do. If you want to see the other one, check out my youtube account (KittyJaypea).

Well, off to meet my accompanist. More later!

Moving... Again.

So I haven't written an update since before Mike's Google blog. I do have a legitimate excuse this time though. First, we had finals for winter semester all while looking for a new apartment in Pocatello. Then a few days after the semester ended, I started summer term. Then, once Hyrum got out of school, Mike and the kids moved to Pocatello while I moved in with my mom to finish the summer semester. Well, Thursday was my last day of school, so I finally get to post all the videos and pictures we've taken and haven't had time to post. I'm so glad to have the rest of summer off, and I'm so glad to finally be able to move back in with my family! Be sure to check out my posts on Hyrum's field trip to the zoo and Hyrum's Spring Concert. Nothing much to read, just videos and pictures.

Our old apartment in Shelley.

Our new apartment in Pocatello.

Hyrum's Spring Concert

Hyrum's school had a spring concert. Both Hyrum and I are short. I was standing against the back wall of the gym and Hyrum was standing on the front row, so I could barely see him when I zoomed the camera in all the way. Sorry for the shaky camera work. It's especially hard to stabilize it while zoomed in that close. Emily couldn't see him at all, but had fun dancing to the songs.

Not to be outdone by her brother, Emily asked me to video her dancing. She got a little camera shy for a while, but got over it quick enough.

Zoo

On Hyrum's last week of school, Mike and I volunteered to help out with their field trip to the zoo. Here are some pictures and videos.

Emily loves zebras. Listen close, and you'll hear her say, "They're my zebras!"

She also loved this goat. Before I started the camera, she was hugging it through the fence.