Abundant Recompense Copy

Nate and I decided that we could not, in good conscience, send our firstborn to kindergarten without knowing how to ride a bike. So we headed to the church parking lot one afternoon to do the deed. The girls (and Addison) had a great time with trikes and scooters. And then Nate tossed Addison on the bike, got him started, and there was no turning back. The boy is a natural. We'd tried several times in the grass in the backyard, but I guess he just needed a smooth open space. He felt so cool and proud of himself. I think the boots/shorts combo and hat definitely magnify his coolness. And the fact that he was singing his own theme music and cheering himself on as he was riding. It was so fun. Nate could not wipe the grin off his face. As he put it, "a classic dad moment."

Bryn is four years old! Her birthday was at a chaotic time this year with the remodel and my lightning-fast trip to Georgia, but come it did, and we partied. She wanted a party (under Addison's influence, I think), and so we did one. Looking back on it, I don't think I'd do another one for a four year old - a little young, but she had a really good time, and they were all so cute. It was a bird party, because she loves everything bird. Balloons from Daddy. He tied them by her bed so she saw them first thing when she woke up. Bryn's main birthday wish was to go to the farmer's market and get a balloon animal. Daddy made it happen that morning before her party. It's a swan. Our ripped-apart, but stylishly decorated family room and kitchen. Pin the bird in the birdhouse. I think this was the thing about the party that Bryn was the most excited about. We made bird/sparkly/stickery/glittery headbands. A fishing game, just with birds and eggs. They caught an egg then ...

Yes, I'm still blogging about 4th of July weekend. We scooped up Grandpa one day and went out to Antelope Island. It is such a beautiful place. Bryn won the mountain goat award this time around. It was all we could do to keep within 40 feet of her. We did a short hike, had some lunch, saw a buffalo or two, and poked around at the ranch. Picnicking The view really is breathtaking.

While Nate's family was up for the 4th, we went to the aquarium in SLC. It was the first time for all of us, and it was really fun. It wasn't too crowded, and was just the right size so we could see everything without the kids getting too restless. Leah was in heaven. She did high pitched squeals pretty much any time we saw anything. It was cute. After that we went outside and it was raining, which is a big deal. We drove over and had some pizza and played "what am I thinking of." It was a really fun outing. I think everyone had fun. There's actually a new, expanded aquarium under construction. I think it'll definitely be worth a visit when it's done. At the otters there's a little part that you can poke your head up and look at them more closely. You can see Addison and Bryn and the otter checking each other out in this picture. I could've watched the otters all day. There was a touch pool where we could feel sea urchins, starfish, and stingrays. ...

I've been stewing over how to write this post for awhile. It's subject is so tender to a lot of people, and yet I simply can't not say something about it. Someday when I'm old and gray I'll look back on my life through this blog and remember the things that shaped me, and this is definitely one of them. My little niece, Olivia Mae passed away on July 22nd. She was born on the 20th of July. Two days of ups and downs and stress and joy were all we got with her and then she left us. I don't think the details of her birth and life are important to this post, but I wanted to just write a little about what she has taught me about grief and mourning. The sadness that came to me, an aunt who never got to even meet her, was completely overwhelming. I couldn't stop crying when I got the news. I cried like I haven't cried in a long, long time. Sobbed, really. For her and for my sister and her husband and for all my family and for the world. Death is just so terribl...

We interrupt this catch-up session to insert a shameless "my kids are so stinkin' cute!" post. Goldilocks. I put Bryn's new pettiskirt on Leah just to be silly one day and she would not let me take it off. She loves it! The piggies, the baby doll, so much to love. Daddy sometimes has fun when he does baths. A rainbow kitty. Leah is holding and eating her own personal teeny ice cream cone in this picture. Oh. My. Goodness. I am in love here. Aunt Shauna made these matching dresses. Tickling the ivories in their jammies one morning. Rockin' the batman shades. Bryn and Addison up a tree. My kids climb trees! I feel so established. Addison has been notably underrepresented in the above photos, but hopefully this gem, which will surely become a classic, makes up for it. P.S. The swimsuit he's wearing is a size 18 monther. And his little coin slot will not be contained in it. I really do feed the boy, I promise. The song is from Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood . And...