May, Part One--Utah!!

My blog is back from the dead. I'm going to catch things up in the next couple of weeks.

I love May in Montana. The weather begins to warm enough to venture outside again. 

We had the grand kids for a few days, and headed to the playground to wear them out. I think they got confused and wore us out instead.

These little buggers have way too much energy.

We decided to move on and let these two wear us out for awhile. I love that they play together, Krew with his fighting men, Myla with her princesses.

Almost no one knew it yet, but Jessica was in the early part of pregnancy. You know-that part where you want to sleep, eat, and throw up. Jessica has been pleasantly unsick with this pregnancy compared to her others, which off course, makes one sick with worry that something is wrong. 

Krew's last day of first grade happened during our visit. He wasn't very excited. 

It was super easy to get a "last day of school" picture of this calm, unhyped-up kid.

He does a mean happy dance.

It's ok to be sad, Krew. Second grade will be here

 before you have a chance to take a summer breath. 

It breaks my heart to see him so unhappy.

We'd actually came to Utah to attend the wedding of my niece

in the Salt Lake temple.

Jorden and Krew were on a long-ago planned opening-day-of-fishing trip in Island Park. Can you believe they went fishing when they could have sat around admiring flowers, discussing bridesmaid dresses, and hanging with in-law relatives?

Poor Krew, having to fish with Dad, Uncles, and Grandpa B. He's probably cold and wet. He's obviously miserable pulling that fish out of the water.

Seriously, does this look like a little fella's dream come true? I think not! They're probably gagging on the fish smell and straining those muscles to hold up that puny fish.

The REAL fun is in Utah, playing hand shuffle with Grandpa J. and Uncle Cliff,

greeting the newlyweds,

cutting the rug with mom,

and Grandpa.

No smelly fish in sight!

While I was in town, I rebound Krew's baby blanket. It's getting pretty worn. Good thing I still had some matching fabric. Also a good thing he turns eight next year and gets a new quilt!

 I love that Krew has used it to near oblivion. 

After Myla showed me how to take a selfie it was time for us to move on.

Stan and I hopped back into the car and enjoyed a long drive and some incredible scenery as we headed to our next stop.

Up next: au revoir to Oregon

March 2016

After that fabulous, but much too short visit to Portland the first week of March,

I returned to my other life.

You haven't lived unless you've listened to a recorder concert lately.

The music teacher enhanced our enjoyment by making sure these kids played all 26 songs they had learned. And then she had them play a few of them twice. Remind me to write her a thank you note. 

Here's a picture I have no explanation for, other than Makayla is adorable. And she has a blue mystery object on top of her head. I must have still been in a recorder music coma when I took this picture, cause I have no idea what that blue thing is.

Hailey and Makayla were thoughtful enough to dye a bunch of eggs

which we promised never to eat. Shh! Don't tell but we took them on a little road trip with us the next day.

We drove over to Boise.

Stan's best friend from childhood, Alan Gergen, was sealed to his wife, Juneanne in the Boise temple.

We had way too much fun together.

We had a beautiful, nearly snow-free drive to Boise and back.

Our favorite gang of elk were wandering around. A gang--isn't that a grand name for a group of animals?

The drive through Idaho is always interesting.

We managed to hit Nielsen's Frozen Custard coming AND going. I've had serious and unpleasant withdrawals now that I don't have anyone to visit in Rexburg.

Hailey had a couple of dental visits this month. Hailey's greatest anxiety in life is the dentist. I took her the first time, Amy the second. I did at least three weeks' worth of serious cardio exercise holding her down and talking her though it while the dentist removed two baby teeth that refused to be pushed out of the way by her completely grown-in permanent teeth. 

The second visit was for a cavity, and they tranquilized Hailey into near oblivion for Amy, then I picked her up and took her back to school. Next time I get the second appointment duty.

The school called about fifteen minutes after I dropped her off to say she couldn't stay awake. 

It seems the dental tranquilizer really, really, works. She spent the rest of the day with me doing various levels of this:

About the time school was over, Hailey finally regained consciousness. Hmm. I wonder how that timing happened?

She is currently having a "green machine" obsession.

Our most significant family event of the month was Grandpa's birthday.

We put together some food 

invited some old friends (including McKay's grandparents on the bench),

and partied!

There were quite a few well-wishers, including family and friends,

  the sister and sister-in-laws,

the brothers and brother-in-law,

the kids,

the original Joneses,

and all the rest. Happy birthday, Dad! Here's to 90 more!