Half a Decade

How, might I ask, do I have a 5 year old?!?

Wasn’t this just a few weeks ago?

We had a cake and some presents on her actual birthday, and she loved that it was finally her special day. She had asked me multiple times when she would turn 5 every week since her 4th birthday!

Our beautiful 5 year old!

Courtney and Alexis enjoying some cake along with their sister

Her present of Kinetic Sand was absolutely loved.

And inspired some great concentration

This was her first year to have a friend party, and luckily she had quite a few little girls in her class at church. It was a fabulous day.

We had a scavenger hunt outside:

And did face painting (harder than it looks!) inside:

Second cake of the year!

Presents from her amazing friends:

And one that inspired an ear-splitting squeal from Mom and Dad

A Big Move

The week after the 4th we MOVED to Washington!! Robert got a new job with a company there and we dropped everything and left. We put the house up for sale, and rented a house here in Auburn. I love almost everything about the house we are in. My only complaints'? Lots of stairs, and no AC. The stairs thing really isn’t a problem. My muscles adjusted. The AC thing? It was a problem during the summer. Almost every day for almost two months after we moved it was over 80 degrees, and the house was just as hot. Big change from keeping the house at 72 in Utah. It didn’t last long, and I can see how people here forget during the winter and why no one has AC in their homes.


Things were eventful the first week we were here. Courtney pulled a bar stool down on herself and broke a finger. It was a blessing in disguise because it forced me to step outside my comfort zone and get help from some of the ladies in the ward. Now I feel more comfortable reaching out to them for things that I need. Courtney’s finger is healing well, and she seems to have learned that the bar stools are not to be messed with.
The first day:




The second day:



Finger splint and wrapped hand after the visit with the Dr.

Having my sister, brother-in-law, and niece close has been fun! It’s wonderful to see them much more than I have in a long time. I am so excited for Kaylee to have a cousin close by to be friends with. She had a cousin in Utah, but he is a year younger than the twins, so not much fun for her.

Playing in the yard

At a “Music in the Park” event