I got to spend some fun time in the backyard with my kiddos this afternoon and in the midst of splashing in their little pool, Annie collapsed in my lap and let out a long sigh and said, "Mom, you are so fun."  I reminded her that she is my best friend and she said, "I know.  You're my best friend.  I love you."

Who's the luckiest Mama in America?  Me.

Into the Great Wide Open

I got two letters in the mail today.  Not bills, not Netflix, not junk mail...LETTERS!  Two of them.  Two.  In the same day.  Two letters.  Best.day.ever.

About a week and a half ago I made up my mind to quit my belly achin'.  That's right.  No more complaining for this kid about moving to Idaho, living in Idaho, what's wrong with Idaho (except the food...I'm totally still complaining about the Mexican food and probably will be as long as I live here!), my living situation, why my kids are brats...I could go on, cause seriously, I'm pretty sure that all that's been coming out of my mouth lately are complaints.  And I'm getting on my own nerves.
Giving up complaining means that I'm trying to see things with my rose-colored lenses.  That's still a little hard.  But it also means I am relying on my Heavenly Father for help ALOT more.  I'm sort of used to just relying on ME to get MYSELF out of these situations I get into.  Here's what I've learned though...


The thing is, its not like we woke up one day and said, "Hey, lets move to Idaho."  Because you know what that would mean?  That would mean we said, "Hey, let's move to Idaho and sell our house that WE BUILT and quit an EXCELLENT paying job and move away from DELICIOUS Mexican food and a good support system and just step into the great unknown."  That's really not what happened.  For the record.  What we did was say, "Something is missing, something is off in our lives, let's figure out what it is."  And apparently it was Idaho.  Idaho was missing from our lives.  Idaho and money cause we.be.broke.  All the time.  That's a complaint...I'm not perfect.:)  We prayed alot.  ALOT.  So much so that it seemed like God might've gotten tired of listening to us.  But He didn't.  He kept giving me/us the SAME answer every day...and He keeps giving me that same answer.  
I prayed.  I got an answer.  Do I complain that it wasn't the answer I wanted, or am I just grateful to know that my Heavenly Father is constantly listening and answering my prayers?  After all, I'm the one that asked the question...not Him.  I chose to follow the promptings that came after asking the questions.  Do I complain that it wasn't in my "10 year plan" to move to Idaho, or am I just grateful for my agency and that my Heavenly Father trusts me to do what HE knows is best for me?  Do I complain that I'm living with my in-laws, or am I just grateful to have family who not only loves me, but also adores my children, and supports us in all we do?  Do I complain about being broke or am I just grateful that Idaho Milk saw the awesome-ness in Kris that I see every day?
The Mexican food...well, it is what it is and I guess I will be grateful that my Mama taught me a few things.:)

Coming Home

 This is the house I grew up in.  My best friend lived around the corner, three houses down.  Spent 20 years in this house, and another 5 years living next door to it.  This house has been in my family for 4 generations.  Or is it 5?  I'm not sure.

When we told my Dad we were moving to Idaho, he took it pretty well.  Maybe too well?  I was genuinely taken aback by how well he took it.  Two weeks later, he admitted that every time he thought about it, he bawled.  I did too.  Moving is hard.  Leaving home is hard.  Leaving friends and family, comforts, jobs, places...all hard.  Its been almost 2 1/2 months and its still...hard.  All.the.time.  And super lonely.
On July 9, 2013, my Dad and sister arrived in Twin Falls.  About a week earlier, all their stuff arrived.  4 generations of...stuff.  My Dad is the bravest guy I know.  He's been through more than most and always seems to come out on top (or he's been faking it pretty good, which is also sort of awesome).  My dad didn't take too long to decide that if his only grandkids were moving to Idaho, he was moving too.  So along with some serious help, he sold his house, packed up 4 generations of stuff, and moved to Idaho.

My kiddos must be the luckiest little things ever.  They have all their grandparents living in the same town.  Two of them have taken us into their home, with all the love and support you could imagine.  And the other packed up his life and followed us, just to spend whatever time he does have left with them. 

4th of July...Our First Fireworks!

Pretty much my whole childhood I though fireworks were "bad".  RIGHT?!  Blame it on living in a state with a perpetual drought, but I really truly never wanted to light fireworks.  Ever.  The closest I ever got was Sparklers.  No joke.  Even that was sort of horrifying for me.  Even after they legalized the boring fireworks, I was in total fear of actual setting any off.  And as I'm writing this, I just keep thinking how sheltered I have been.:)
Kris is a firework nut.  Loves them.  So of course, since they're not illegal here...we bought them.  And they were delightful.  Kris had to work on 4th of July, so we tested the Sparklers out earlier in the week.  Emily threw hers on the ground.  Annie screamed in terror.  Jack ran.  They are definitely my kids.:)

 The day after the 4th of July, which would be the 5th of July, we partied in our jammies at Uncle Eric & Auntie Leah's house.  Annie did better with her Sparklers, and even Jack and Emily finally warmed up to them (after spending most of their time in somebody's lap).

 Kris & Eric sword-fighting with their Sparklers.  They're like children.:)

 This face!