Pioneer children

We continued volunteering at This Is The Place this summer.

We rarely get pictures while we are in the village because we try to keep any technology tucked away. It was nice to have family visit and shoot some photos for us.

Grandma and Grandpa Ottley with us at the Charles C. Rich home. Love you, Grandma and Grandpa.

During our Rich reunion, we made the entire family dress up and come with us.

Alice eating snack outside the house.

This day, I took the children to the school house. While the others were practicing the Deseret Alphabet with chalk and tablets, Alice found this doll and played "mommy" for a while.

The amount of pictures of each of my children tells a story. Alice is always in my arms or by my side, so almost all the pictures are of her. Jane wanders around the yard and house helping with chores, watering the plants, and playing with cousins. She keeps busy! Jack is hardly ever around. He is either coming or going, always planning the next adventure to the Indian village, train park, or the General Store. There's been something for everyone this summer, and we've loved our time there once again.

Early Summer Fun

Our summer has been so full, blogging got knocked completely off the priority list! But, I have taken SOME pictures, so for those of you who we don't see or text constantly, this might be news to you!

Our Alice turned Two years old in May. She's turned into our little parrot, repeating everything we say. Then saying it over, and over, and over. TWO definitely has its challenges, but it's also my favorite stage of each of my kids because everything seems new and exciting. I love it.

It's hard to believe our "made in Thailand" baby is already TWO.

Jane had her very first dance recital in June. I had no idea if she would love it or burst into tears and refuse to go on stage. If Jane was a character in the "Little Miss..." series, she would be"Little Miss Unpredictable".

Luckily, she loved it.

Jane also had another first... her first lost tooth. I don't remember losing my first tooth, so I made sure we recorded it in her journal because it was a good story. (She lost her 2nd tooth exactly one week later, almost swallowing it along with a grilled cheese sandwich!)

We went on a short hike with the Hillmans during our reunion, which was made even shorter because there was still SNOW in mid-June. Seriously.

Jack has been loving scouts. This year, his troop did Aeoronopolis. It's basically where you build an "airplane" and race around the gym. He was taking it very seriously, except when it came to the pit-stop where you have to snarf a saltine cracker and water. He doesn't like to eat quickly. Other kids were running off with their mouths stuffed full, and he was standing there chewing each little bite. His book might just be titled "Mr. I'm in no hurry".

We had a fantastic 4th of July this year. A spontaneous getaway, small town festivities, and great friends/neighbors for fireworks and s'mores. Alice even enjoyed the loud fireworks once our neighbor busted out her ear protection. This may just be my favorite 4th of July photo ever.

My girls have done a LOT of chalk art this summer. The usual masterpiece always includes at least one Rapunzel. This one had the genuine hair length.

Alice loved her first golfing experience during our Rich reunion. She was much better at looking cute than actually golfing.

Jeff and I ran on a RAGNAR team sponsored by his company. Except for losing one runner during his first leg, it was a perfect weekend. We ran, we ate, we got a little bit of sleep, and had a great time with a really fun team. One thing we didn't do... take pictures. Pathetically, this was our best photo.

Jack wanted money for scout camp so he could buy things that break. My words, not his. He and Jane sold snow cones for 2 afternoons and he earned as much as he needed. It was one of his first entrepreneurial ventures, and I was amazed at what he learned from day one to day two. They had a great time.

Jane finished up her online preschool last month. We LOVED it and would recommend it to everyone. Although, in some ways, I wish I would just have kept my mouth shut because the waiting list now holds over 400. Darnit. These are the characters, Rusty and Rosy, that took her through her lessons. She was so thrilled to graduate! On to Kindergarten!

A good day

Jack is now EIGHT. On April 30th, 2011 he was baptized. 23 years to the DAY that I was baptized myself.

(Alice just had to sneak into this one)

It was a good day shared by family and dear friends.

Things Jack does now that he's SO grown up...

Goes to scouts each week. He even rides his bike to his den meetings (with me watching him from the porch!) He could hardly wait for this rite of passage. And he's counting down the days until his day camp in July. What could be more fun?

He used birthday money to buy a pocket knife. He's been waiting for this day since he was five. Scary? Yes.

He has his own scriptures and scripture case that he loves.

He's having "the guys" over for a movie/play/end of school party that will most likely go later than 8pm. Hoping we don't regret that one!

He mowed a big portion of our front lawn this week and only missed a few spots!

And, he helped Jeff move a sprinkler head on Saturday. You wouldn't believe how excited he gets when Jeff asks him to help!

He's a big 8 year old, and we're loving every minute of it!

Here's a peek at his Harry Potter birthday cake, which I'm pretty sure is my favorite cake so far. They were pretending to be scared of The Monster Book of Monsters. Except Jane, nothing phases her (when she's not hot, cold, tired, hungry, or has lost something. Love that girl). How could you be scared of something that tastes so good anyway? Notice the Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and the Golden Galleons. I was trying really hard to be creative. Thank you creative moms that post ideas online... it was FUN.