"Houses are built, homes are made"

You know how each year there seems to be one thing that defines the entire year?  Like one thing that pretty much sums it all up?  I remember one year felt like a year of vacation for us, it was really fun.  Well this year (or well over a year) definitely feels like the year of  projects.  I feel like I'm ALWAYS working and NEVER accomplishing.  Well, here's a fun little project we have been working on.  It's a step in the right direction... I think.  

Turned this...

Into this...

The Dog Days Of Summer

Brinley wanted to play in the sprinkler one day and she ran right in and got her umbrella.  I thought it was funny that she wanted to "play in the sprinkler" but didn't really want to get wet so I just grabbed my camera, but she just started posing.  And now I think the posing is funnier than her umbrella idea.  

Oh Summer, we're sure going to miss you.  I feel like we didn't get enough in this Summer, but when I look back we were ALWAYS gone!  ALWAYS playing!  I guess you just can't ever spend "enough"  time with your kids and right now I'm, well I'l just be honest... I'm really really sad.  I'm sad that Brinley's going to kindergarten and I'm sad that you only get 5 years with your kids and just like that, it's gone.  I'm sad because I remember crying when Brinley turned 2 because my time with her was half up.  I'm sad because that feels like just a few months ago.  I'm scared that I haven't taught her enough.  Not so much about school, but about life.  I read a blog the other day of a girl that we grew up with.  Her name is Alisa.  She's fighting cancer.  She just had to send her three perfect little boys to school and she wrote, "Days like this, I have to wonder if what I told them is what I've taught them.  I hope they are kind to the world even when I'm not there to prompt them."    I thought, that is exactly how I feel! 

 I'm not really a jealous person, I'm pretty content with who I am and what I have, but I'm so jealous of the moms that get to walk their kids to school, so jealous!  And I'm jealous of the moms that get to greet their kids after school with a fresh batch of homemade cookies.  Now I can go into all of the reasons I work and the fact that I really do like my job and have a great job and how me working does not mean that my husband can't or doesn't provide for our family on his own and it doesn't mean that because I work by choice I want other people to "raise" my kids or that I don't want to be there for them or that I'm not there for them or that I care about money and things more than them.  It does not mean that I don't love being a Mom and love my kids more than anything else in the world.  It doesn't mean that I'm not a good mom.    All it means, is that I recognize that my job is a blessing and it feels like the right choice right now, but that doesn't go to say that I never get tears in my eyes at work because of what I'm missing out on. Yes, sometimes I feel guilty about my choice.  Sometimes I cry to my Mom.  Sometimes I cry to my husband, but in the end I love my girls as much as humanly possible whether I'm at work or at home.

I don't let Brinley pick up on the fact that I don't want her to go to school.  She's really excited so I try to be excited for her.  When I look at these pictures of her, I realize she's probably more ready than I think.  She looks confident, she looks friendly, but most of all she just looks happy.  What more can we ask?  Really, I just want her to be happy.  So even if she doesn't know how to tie her shoe, I believe she is ready.  Even if I'm not.

Yeah, we're dirty

Dustin promised me he would run a 5K with me... he hates to run!  My work sponsored us for the Stomp The Mud out of Child Abuse Mud Run on Saturday.  I had fun getting dirty with you Husband.

Little Fish

Today was Brinley's last day of swimming.  She's doing great!  So proud of the little fish and thanks so much to my sisters for being Brinley's "Mom" when I can't.  

Canoeing

The other Caziers invited us to go canoeing with them at Tony's Grove. So fun!  We roasted hot dogs, ate way too much of Whitney's yummy fruit salad and got home too late, but had a blast.  

More Camping

Our trailer is almost completely re-modeled.  YAY!  I've really missed camping with my family and honestly didn't think we would ever be able to camp together again.  We we all able to go to Emigration (except for Troy).  I was glad my parents could go.  We spent a day at Bear Lake.  The kids had fun.  Nuff said.

Lemonade For Sale

Brinley had another successful Lemonade Stand.  Thanks to all of those that supported her.  She worked really hard to get everything ready.  She has learned some really valuable lessons and has quite the little college nest egg.

It's a beautiful life!

So, we were sitting at my parent's one day talking about how we wanted to go to Colter Bay... 

We pulled our trailer and stayed the first night at Allred Flats in Alpine.  We hadn't stayed there since Brinley was just a baby.  

We spent the next four days at Colter Bay.   I think as a child I took it for granted, don't get me wrong I always loved it, but I don't think I understood just how luck I am.  I would dare say now that it is one of the most beautiful places on Earth!  We love it! We had so much fun and this was defiantly a trip I will forever cherish!  My parents and Grandma were able to find a place to stay and spend most of the time with us.  The first day a deer hung out in our camp ground with us.  We biked quite a bit, spent quality time with my parents and Grandma and played in the water.   Every morning I would go for a little run and bike ride.  I love getting up before the rest of the world!  One morning we all went for a little bike ride to the lake and Brinley hopped in with her pj's on.  

(How many people does it take to change a baby?)

 Lunnie was content to just eat rocks.  Silly baby!

 We all loved the water, it was surprisingly warm.

Can you believe this "pucker" face?  I love it!  Makes my day!

 Wrapping Mom's arm is quite the job.  I know they were wondering why I was taking this picture, but I thought it was so cute to watch my Dad take care of her.  Couldn't ask for anyone better.  I'm so glad they have each other.

My parents took us to Bar J Wranglers one night.  We had a lot of fun with them.  So glad we were able to spend this time together!

I'm not sure how I went this whole time and didn't get any pictures of my cute little Grandma, but it was so fun to have her with us.

The peanut butter trick

"Mom, somehow I got gum in my hair and I don't know how."

"BRINLEY, How did you get gum in your hair?"

"I don't know!"

"Brinley!  How did you get gum in your hair?"

"Well, I was just trying to make a necklace with my gum and it got stuck."

The peanut butter trick didn't work.  We ended up cutting it out of her hair.  

1st Annual

We have camped quite a bit this summer, but I miss camping with a group.  I miss camping with family and we have never camped with the Caziers so we put together a little camping trip.  It was SO MUCH FUN!  My girls are the only kids so poor Curtis and Whitney always get bombarded because Brinley just adores them.  It really was a blast and we had a great time staying up chatting with Curtis and Whit.  I really do love my in-laws.  I married into a great family.  Now hopefully we will make this an annual thing. 

The Splash Pad

Took the kids to the splash pad.  I love that we have options like this.  Amanda and her kids came with us.  Oh how we love summer!