the 4th

We headed to Idaho for the 4th of July. It's been about six years since we have. The fireworks show in Idaho Falls is amazing. Who would have thought such a little town would have the best fireworks show? I had heard that the show in San Diego was one of the top in the nation. So, I was feeling a little bad to miss it, since I live there and all. But, did you hear that it malfunctioned? Yeah, they all went off at the same time. Glad I didn't stick around for it! It was so fun to be in Idaho with family to enjoy our countries freedom. And...to celebrate Cory's 22 birthday! Alison's girls, Rylee and Ashlyn got along so well with our kids! They really didn't even skip a beat when the saw each other, it was as if they saw each other all of the time. They all had to take turns holding Avila in the pictures. She was quite the hit!

We enjoyed Larry's famous chicken and Myrt's yummy rolls, and lots of other good eats as well, then headed to the fireworks. Macie hated every second of the fireworks, as did Jacob. But Avila, on the otherhand, loved every second! Hopefully we'll be back soon...

Jerry

My dad is a ventriloquist. He's pretty good at it. And, witty, too. He's perfect for the gig. He has a friend named Jerry.  Growing up, we were all a little scared of what we called "the dummy". He lived in a white suitcase, and was just a little scary. It could have been the Night of the Living Dummy that did it for me. I just seriously thought he was going to come to life in the middle of the night and I would wake up with him staring at me. 

Maybe I just didn't appreciate it. I asked my dad to bring out "the dummy" when we were in Idaho. The kids loved it. They weren't scared like we all were. They just laughed and laughed. The adults all laughed and laughed at Dad's good one liners. It was perfect. The first show, Jacob was asleep. So, Jerry came for another visit later one, and he didn't disappoint. Jacob loved loved loved him. He keeps asking if Jerry is coming to visit us when Momo and Pa come. He's a package deal, now, Dad! :-) 

catching up?

No, I'm not going to catch up. I got so far behind that it got too overwhelming. I was so good at blogging, and then life with three kids happened, then life with a kindergartner, then life pregnant with #4, then life with a kindergartner and a first grader, then life with FOUR kids, then a sick husband, then moving, then moving in, life was insane. But, now I feel a little more settled. Avila plays more by herself, life is easier. Not easy, but easier. I still don't have time to blog without feeling guilty looking at my laundry pile or my cluttery house, but we live so far away from family. It's not just my disappointment for not getting my blurb book done, but it's the disappointment of family who don't get to see my kids everyday...the ones who aren't on facebook or have instagram! So, I will post, but I'm not going to catch up, just going from here! 

Wish me luck.

the swing

Avila always loved her swing. From day one, she would sit in it and just love it. But, then the batteries died. What kind of person would design a swing that runs on batteries? I know, I know, there are probably ones that you can plug in, but those were not in clearance at Target! With Jacob, he was so huge and weighed so much, that by about 4 months we just stopped putting batteries in it, and putting him in it, because the batteries didn't last too long, the swing had to work harder to swing his chubby body! But, with Avila, she did stay in it longer. When we moved, the batteries died. Instead of buying new ones, I would just have the kids push her, just so I could get laundry done or whatever I needed to. And they loved it. 

One day, though, Avila started pushing herself. She was so proud! She just grinned and grinned with pure excitement! She was so tickled that she would do it herself. It's perfect. We don't have a yard anymore, sadly, so she gets her swing time in anytime she wants even without a trip to the park! {Yeah, I am a bad mom! :-)}