Everyday life.

To start out with I  absolutely HATE that I didn't take my NICE camera on this trip.  I just am sad I don't have GREAT pics to document the summer.  That being said I didn't take as many pics and I would have liked and the ones I do have are NOT any good.  Anyway, I wish I could show you the "booby traps" that Weston made, and the special fort the girls hung out in as they pretended to be Mermaids...the kittens, the horses, the geese, the moments that needed to be captured are not.....but I do have a few pictures of the everyday in Idaho. 
This is the kids (mostly boys) playing foursquare.  They took it very serious and play by the "real rules..." and it looked fun to me, but I really didn't play much. 

 

Here is some of the fun to be had.  My kids liked "chores" as much as anything and really love being on the farm.Jake and I made dinner one of the nights.  It was delish...I must say so myself. We made boneless chicken wings and salad.  Mom made homemade jam and rolls.  Simple and wonderful!! 

The HOT cook.   

A trip to Snoasis with Aubrey and her cousin Jacobie. 

Next we have a little breakdown close to our last day in Idaho...These seemed to happen due to lack of sleep.  My poor kids really didn't get enough sleep because I never wanted to take the time to put them to bed.  In all seriousness...the kids were absolutely wonderful 90% of the time.  I felt so happy to see cousins getting along and building memories. There were so few fights and quarrels.  Everyone seemed to have a friend. 

The annual trip to see Samantha in the Heyburn Cemetary.  I love that she is there. It feels like home. I love that she is placed at the foot of my Grandpa Peterson's grave.

 

 

 

 

Fun with the girls!

One of my favorite things about going to Idaho in the summer is catching up with dear friends.  This summer I got to go see Rachel Nibarger...but I didn't get a pic of us.  I also got to go see Jamie Page...one of my dearest friends from college and beyond.  It was great to see her as well as her whole family. 
 

Here is Susan...loving on Tina's newest addition Parks.

New friends

Then I went to lunch with Jaimee Orton.  Spencer tagged along and was actually really annoying...but it was week two with little sleep...so I let it slide. :) 

 

  And of course I consider my sister's and sister-in-laws some of my favorite friends of all.  We decided to do a girls night and it turned out that everyone could make it!!! First we had fro-yo...then painted glitter toes.  Great night with wonderful ladies.

We even talked Mom into coming.  She usually comes up with an excuse to work quietly in the background...but she came and we love her! 

 

 

Baptism and Baby Blessings

So the night before the big day of 3 baby blessings and 1 baptism...I decided to spend the night with Tina.  Nick wasn't there and it was just fun to have that special time with my "bestie" Tina Marie.  Aubrey spent the night with Ty's family so it was just mostly the boys and little Melrose. 
I love this next picture.  Such handsome boys ready for the special day.

I didn't even get pictures of the babies...but we had 3 babies welcomed into our family in a matter of weeks...so they decided to bless Wade Jensen, Parks Smith and little Aura Peterson all on the same day...and throw in a baptism of little Rachael Harmon to top it all off.  It was a great meeting and I feel so blessed to be apart of such a wonderful family with the Gospel in our lives. 

 

This is my youngest sister's little girl Claire who was blessed a few months before.

 Later that day the kids all danced with each other.  Weston was being a the "strong guy" and picking up all the girls.  He was sweating like a beast and making everyone soooo happy.  Fun day.,

 

 

 

 

Fourth of July

We started our Idaho trip close to the fourth.  I always love to take the kids to the Rupert Parade and it didn't disappoint.  It was too hot like usual, but my kids just love the candy and goodies they get.  I love the horses and floats you only see in these small town parades.  That night we went to my parent's home teachers' house...and watched fireworks.  I heard they were great but I was totally shocked at how long and wonderful they really were.  It was great to be so close and to have all my kiddos stay awake this year.  Love celebrating the fourth in Idaho!

 

 

Get a load of all these cousins.  This is what it looked like A LOT at Grandma and Grandpa Peterson's house.  In fact, usually there were more.  This is just 4 of the families. 

 

 

 

Family Vacation 2012....coming soon.

 

So I am currently in St. George UT and on our way to AZ tomorrow.  I have hundreds and photos and lots of fun memories in my heart.  Can't wait to blog and share some of the joy.  Here is a picture we had taken at Temple Square in the family history center.  Love this little fam!!

Happy Day!

The Watkins had planned to have a fun pool day to celebrate Father's Day this year.  So we had it Sat. instead of Sunday.  This made it fall on June 16th which is our oldest daughter Samantha's birthday. Samantha would be ten years old today.  We wanted to do something simple but fun to celebrate her birthday.  So we bought some balloons and had all of her cousins write little notes and draw pictures to "send up to heaven."  Our kids were really excited that she would get "balloons on her day!"
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weston was just drawing the last bit of his picture when his balloon popped.  He was super sad.  We taped it together and sent it up with Cicily's balloon.  It said "Dear Samantha, I miss you.  Why did you have a hole in your heart?  Love Weston."

Aubrey's balloon

 

We sang happy birthday and let the balloons go.  I was doing really good today and feeling at peace about the whole thing...until then.  I couldn't sing because I just miss her so much and I felt like we have missed a lot more than birthdays with this sweet girl.

So I cried.

 

 

Watching the balloons fly in the sky...I feel that she really does know how much we ALL love and miss her.  I know she loved her little love letters from home. 

Weston started crying as they flew off and said..."I miss my sister sooooo much mom."  He is such a sweet soul and talked about her throughout the day.  He told me tonight he just cries easy when he misses things.

When we got home from swimming we ended up just writing little notes on our feet.  I don't know what started it...but it was fun and the kids loved their "secret note to sis."



Aubrey

Weston

My little blessings!

 Today was a Happy Day.  I will always have a hole in my own heart for our Samantha Lee...but the Lord has been good to me and our family and we know it.  I know we will see her again.  What a great thing to look forward to after this life.  In the mean time...I will be grateful for all I have.

Daddy Time

 

One thing I LOVE about Jake's job...is sometimes he can work from home. So the other day, for a little break in the day...he decided to make sugar cookies with the kiddos. They had so much fun making the dough and rolling out the different shapes. They were delicious too!  I love that Jake can cook and that he likes to be with our kids. TWO awesome things about my honey. Love you Jake, and I appreciate all you do for our family.