In a big nutshell

Yes, this blog is long. But hopefully the pictures will say more than I will. It took it being the end of August and the night before Whitney goes to school to finally get myself to sit down and blog/journal about the end of our summer.

Whitney and Travis continued to swim. Yes, this is my 5 year old doing a flip off the slide into the pool. No fear.

We snuck ito the mountains for a fun dinner and hike. The kids wish they could do this everyday. Poor Travis still pleads to go camping every night. Maybe next summer kid.

Our 24th was great - the usual: Parade/snowcone time, rides, playground, friends, bbque, fireworks. Oh, I can just smell the beautiful fragrance of firework smoke. mmmmmm ;)

The end of July we finally shoved life out the window to enjoy a week in Idaho. This is without question my favorite time there. I think we all felt a little bit in heaven. Whitney got to ride on the horses, Travis got to go camping, Aaron got to play on the four-wheelers, and I snuck in a mountain run. Nothing like breathing in fresh mountain air and gorgeous scenery when you run!

The kids loved the new addition to Grandma and Grandpa's - the playground. They loved that all of their cousins came up to play - thanks everyone for coming and visiting - it made our vacation complete!

After camping, Whitney came home looking like a chimney sweeper. Pic doesn't even do justice!

Travis got the best present ever. Cleats. We went to the store for Whitney and he was devestated that he wasn't getting a pair. Honestly, lip quivering, devestated. I broke down and bought him a pair under the condition that he did chores and was really good to earn them. This kid never behaved as good as he did the week after we bought them! It is now a morning ritual to go play soccer in the yard, cleats and all. Hailey thinks it's pretty entertaining. I'm pretty sure she's thinking "just wait 'till I can play guys, I'll show you how it's done." Oh - and Travis' favorite version of soccer is called football soccer. You are allowed to tackle at any point in the game. Pure boy!

Pretty sure my kids could have a popscicle every 10 minutes of the day.

Hailey continues to grow.... and get more personality!

She wants everything around her now. Everything I grab has two little hands reaching for it also. Grocery shopping is getting interesting! She's eating too - with bannanas ranking at the top of the chart of likes now.

Love her excitement for life. Yes, I'm a spazz in the pic. That's normal.

We attended the event of the year. I swear the Demolition Derby ranks up there with Christmas for the kids. They talk about it every time we pass the stadium. Which is pretty much daily. Doesn't Travis look in heaven :)

We've had fun visitors the last couple weeks. Jeff and Selly came and thouroughly entertained our kids. We miss them! I love this picture, my kids couldn't be happier to have buddies to play with.

Then Lindsay and Jared made it back and stayed with us for a couple days. Whitney and Travis were pretty bored when they left and all their friends were in school. I've tried to fill in, but I don't do justice.

Grandma and Grandpa came to dinner. Here's Whitney with her BFF Grandma R. I loved that my kids decided the next day at lunch that Grandma and Grandpa needed to move into the house behind us so they could go over and play anytime.

And, lastly, Whitney started soccer. Kindergarten soccer is hillarious to watch. (not as fun to coach - since I'm the coach). Whitney loves it and is doing awesome. It's fun to see her doing "big kid stuff." Travis can't wait 'till his turn either.

Of course we could talk about the rodeo, swimming, flowrider, fruit height days (where Whitney kind of won a prize :)), going out to eat, Aaron's first football game coaching (they won!), and much more. Life has been busy, busy, busy. But we'll call this good... 'till tommorrow.

sheesh

Alright, now I know what comes after me getting sick ... I infected my computer. Well, actually, it's worse. It's dead. Blue screen of death and all. Luckily Aaron's friend was able to get the pics off - which is really all I cared about. So the last month has been a true detox of cyberspace from my life. Which truthfully, was a blessing.

No more computer at the table at lunch.
Instead, me and the kids have had really deep conversations :)

Such as, "Grandma should live next door"
"Lindsay is going to pop out our cousin"
"What superhero's do"
"What dad's doing right now"
"What sport is the best"

So, although this post has no pictures, and has done relatively nothing for my journal. Know that life is great here. Hailey is 5 months today! "Car Smashing" (Demolition Derby) is only one week away. We have played, and played, and spoiled the kids. Aaron started coaching. I got my flowrider fix. I can't even think about Whitney going to Kindergarten in 2 weeks without getting sad. Backyard soccer is in full swing. And last but not least.... can time freeze now? Is that to much to ask? Just for a week, or month?

You'll hopefully hear from me next time from my fixed computer :)

four months and mostly healthy

So, it's been a while. Mostly because I've been on a streak lately - a sickness streak. It's been almost four weeks staight now. First the flu, the night my husband leaves out of town of course:)

Then a freakish eye virus (still thinking it was a funky version of pink eye - but worse) for two weeks. Two weeks of red, leaky, gunky, aching eyes. After a week and a half and feeling pretty much half blind I went into the ER. They gave me anti-viril drops and after about 3-4 days I was in a lot better shape.

Then, as my eyes recovered, I got a nasty cold. Middle of January, coughing attack, loose your voice kind of cold. So... even though I'm coughing as I type I'm mostly healed. Here's hoping to my streak coming to an end!

Despite the set-backs I think we've still packed in a lot of fun. Here's what we've mostly been up to:

#1 by far has been backyard swimming. It happens frequently. I love watching the tricks my kids come up with and watching them play the day away in the sun with water.

#2 Playgrounds and smore campouts. We've visited all kinds of playgrounds since at some point during the winter Whitney turned into a monkey and Travis got a little more brave. At this paticular "campout" Travis commented on all the smoke going into the sky and then added as he looked up "Jesus isn't going to be very happy."

A common scene on a hot afternoon:

Add in a Rodeo, campout, splash show, magic show, rafting, and a reunion - I'd say we've done all right so far.

For the 4th we went up to my Parents house to celebrate (on the 3rd). Amy and Bryan and fam were there as well as Jeff and Selly. They were nice enough to all0w an eye infested woman come and celebrate with them. My kids were in heaven with all the cousins, aunts and uncles, grandma and grandpa. We went to the parade, did some mega-super sliding, and of course, after a great bbque went to see the fireworks. It was quite the fun day.

My mom and dad took Hailey on her usual evening walk to get her to sleep. This scene was to much of a kodak moment for me - pictures didn't do justice though.

Everyone chilling before fireworks.

Jeff, Selly, and Avery.

My kids in their fourth of July get-up

After the 4th we had a Rasmussen Reunion in Park City. Due to my eyes and my slacking ability I have a total of zero pictures. I'll have to post about it and hopfully steal some pics from family. All I can say is I love my family and we loved every minute.

AND FINALLY - TODAY HAILEY IS 4 MONTHS!!!

She continues to be my happy girl, who loves being held (surprisingly even lets others hold her sometimes!), watching kids, and taking baths. She is very observant and doesn't want to miss a thing that happens around her. She continues to be my best baby sleeper at night
- probably since she sleeps little during the day. Everyday with her is an adventure. I love watching every bit of her personality and enthusiasm come out of her!

3 months!

Alright, we made it to 3 months! This is a big milestone for me, since I usually count down the first 6 months - year. But since Hailey has been a great sleeper at night, I find myself really enjoying the baby stage. Who knew sleep deprevation was such a factor. Thanks Hailey for lighting up our home! I can't imagine life without you.

many faces of Hailey

Yes, I know this is a minute and a half of a baby sitting in a chair. Perhaps it shows how easily entertained I am these days. But it cracked me up to see that my daughters facial expressions changed every two seconds. The noise isn't me drilling into the floor either - it's a vibrating chair. So there you have it, for those of you who haven't met Hailey yet, this is pretty much her in a nutshell.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

nature hike/walks

After the memorial day weekend adventures Grandma and Grandpa Hoopes (and Neal:)) were nice enough to take Whitney and Travis on a little hike. I was so grateful! I got a great nap in, enjoyed the quite, and even snuck in a little cleaning. The kids had a blast. They love every second of exploring bugs, rocks, dirt, and sticks. What great grandparents my kids are blessed to have!

Travis with his walking sticks.

The first thing travis told me when he got home was "I got to hold a monarch!" wow - didn't expect that to come out of his mouth, and for him to actually know what it was.
Love that Neal's hood became the bouquet vase

Whitney's bouquet. She would pick weeds everyday and do this!

Whitney was pretty excited to show me this picture. She thought it was cool that Grandpa let her do this. She's our acrobat - this is just a warm up :)

Whitney with the monarch

Blessing day/Weekend

Memorial Day weekend we blessed Hailey. The fun began Friday - Whit and Trav were pretty excited for the cousins to come and for the party to start. I was glad it was good weather all weekend so the party could be held outside :)

We started out painting our rubber fishies (no rubber ducks to be found) Friday night.

Then Saturday after playing at the park we started the fishie race.

Here's the kids lined up watching their ducks. It was fun to see the excitement on their faces.

Our fishermen.

Poor Neal - he ended up in the water when his support branch broke while attempting to save a stuck fishie. Although, I thought this was the best entertainment of the race.

Saturday afternoon we tried a new hike called the Payson Grotto. This hike was definitely short and sweet. Perfect for a bunch of kids.

At the grotto

Hiking above for a view down on the waterfall

The crew coming down, the kids had a blast with playing "follow the leader"

The trooper - doesn't she looked thrilled.

Hailey is probably my easiest baby yet. But easiest blessing day yet - definitely not. Of course she usually falls asleep right in time for church - so I figured she'd be nice and asleep for her blessing. Not even close. She was so tired that she slept in, and instead of being refreshed was overtired. Despite her crying/screaming through the blessing -and the rest of church - and the rest of the day we managed. While trying to keep her happy at church I laid her down in the seminary portion attached to our building. She was happy for maybe ten minutes and we got to talk. Tears came to my eyes as we talked and I was filled with such an appreciation for this girl. When I was pregnant I remember going to her room, all set up for her. It was quiet and vacant. I pictured what it would be like when she came. I could feel how excited she was to come. Now that she is here there have been several nights when I've paused by her room, watching her sleep and enjoying the joy she has brought to our house. Every smile she gives me reminds me how blessed I am to have her as a daughter.

My dad was so good - so willing to put up with a fussy girl so that I could enjoy company. Thanks Dad!

Bethany made these awesome floral arrangements for us from her floral design class. These kids were in heaven all weekend. They were pretty disappointed that company had to leave Monday.

All in all it was a great weekend. I really had a great time with family - thanks everyone who came to support us! Monday we played some more, but between taking care of everything the last 3 weeks (Aaron herniated a disk in his back), getting ready for company, callings, yard work, Hailey not feeling good =crying, and the weekend activities - all the while nursing and night feedings- Monday I hit the wall. My body was done.

Now, a week later, things are back to norm. Me and Hailey are recovered, the kids are still partying with neighbors, and summer is in full swing! Thanks again to everyone who made Hailey's day special.