(Very) Adventurous August

We moved into our new house this month! It's really hard to write about it after-the-fact because all the feelings and emotions we had from waiting, and everything we had to do to get there has all sort of melted away now that we're living here and making it into our home.

Picture courtesy of Jayda McGary, age 3

It was definitely a process. The wrong kitchen cabinets were installed so we had to wait for the right ones to be made. Closing got pushed a couple times because of those cabinets as well as the bank. It never felt real. It never felt like it would ever really happen until...it finally did. 

We had it super easy though. Our house was built in just over 3 months while many homes take WAY longer and have to pushed out much more than one week. After signing thousands of papers Brad and I celebrated by brunching at Great Harvest Bread.

The day before we closed on the house our new neighborhood had a potluck and while we were there I hurt my back picking up Taylor! It was pretty bad. I couldn't stand up straight. I was walking like an old lady. I was really worried because we were supposed to start moving the next day and I couldn't lift anything. 

Picture courtesy of Kallie McGary, age 5

The very next morning Brad was able to get me in to see a chiropractor that he went to high school with. By that same afternoon I felt well enough to get our stuff cleared out of my in-law's house while Brad drove to Boise to get our stuff from storage. 

The day after that Brad got back to the new house with the truck, we got moved in, and by some miracle even made it to church the next day wearing regular sunday clothes, not just the overalls and tennis shoes we could find.

A couple of my Florida girls came to visit me in Rexburg this month. Molly's living in Connecticut now but while visiting her parents in Washington she drove on over to Idaho to see some family members but more importantly, to Rexburg to see me. Jill drove up from Utah to meet us and it was so great to see them! 

Jill, Molly and Sophie, me and Taylor

Can you tell how Taylor warms up to people?

Molly's oldest child Sam was another one of Kallie's best friends in Florida. She got to see Donny last month and Sam this month; it's too bad they couldn't all have been together at the same time! They would have loved it so much.

They had a great time

Kallie's in kindergarten! 

It's been a change having to wake up at 7am everyday...but Kallie has loved every single day of school.

Having friend Annie over to play. And this is the table Brad made! We love it.

Trying on her sister's underpants. At least they match.

With friends Zayden, Zoe and Evie

Taylor is a jumping maniac

This train has an interesting caboose...

Convinced Kallie to ride a rickety kiddie roller coaster :)

Kid Quotes


Jayda: Hello, police officer? I need your help. Something is really stinky.


I asked Taylor (#3) to come to the bathroom to brush her teeth. She dropped the toy plate and hamburger bun she was playing with and started walking to me but then turned back, picked up the bun and moved it to the plate. She started walking to me again but then turned back, picked up the bun from the plate, put it in her mouth and walked to me again (this time all way to the bathroom).


Kallie told me she slipped off the bunk bed and hurt her bum. I cuddled her and sent her back to bed. When she got back to the bedroom Jayda asked her, "Did Mommy kiss your bum?"

Jazzy July

Over 4th of July weekend we drove to Boise and camped at Lake Cascade with a few of Brad's siblings.

When camping, Taylor only makes it halfway through the night before she starts crying and only goes back to sleep when I put her in my sleeping bag and cuddle her. It's so sweet, except for when she's snoring directly into my ear.

Well, my girls have the ghostly white legs of the bunch

4th of July Parade

My niece Chloe

The kids loved seeing this little girl riding a horse by herself

It's long but watch the whole thing.

We took the kids to Crest Creek for a hike

Playing with cousins

Jayda and her friend Annie

Took the kids to Rexburg Rapids

None of them wanted to take this picture.

Kiddie bench

Saryn's birthday ice cream cake

Drove to Kelly Canyon to pick huckleberries

Picking raspberries

Fell asleep while podding pees and watching a movie

They love having Annie over

My dear friend Robin from back in Jacksonville visited her parents in Utah so the girls and I drove down to see her adorable family. As we were driving down the highway the "check engine" light popped on. We reached the exit we were supposed to take, got off onto the cross street and then the van really started acting weird. I came to a stoplight and then when the light turned green I pressed the gas but the van was really sluggish and moving slower than it should. I saw a hotel straight ahead and drove into the parking lot. As soon as I pulled into a spot the van died. 

I called Brad back home and he got on the computer and found a dealership close by me as well as a company to come tow the van. Thankfully, since I made it to my intended exit Robin was really close by so she came to pick us up from the hotel. 

The dealership said they were completely booked that day and couldn't even guarantee looking at the car until the next day. Well, we had stayed overnight at my sister Hayley's house in Logan the night before and left all our stuff there. So it was either Hayley bring our stuff to us and we stay at a hotel, or Hayley pick us up and we sleep at her house but then come back to SLC to get the van (and proceed to again drive north home to Rexburg). 

Robin's middle child Donny was one of Kallie's best friends the whole time we lived in Florida. 

Kallie's two months older than him and look how much taller he is now!

However, not only was the dealership able to look at the car that same day, they also fixed it within a few hours. It turned out our steering wheel fluid had been leaking and flooded the alternator so that needed to be replaced but we had just replaced it a year ago right before we moved from Jacksonville to Rexburg so it was still under warranty which means it was FREE! 

We hung out with Robin and her kids while the van was being fixed and were able to head back to Logan that same night like we originally planned.

Skylar was born after we moved to Idaho so this was our first time meeting her! 

She is the cutest little cupcake.

I guess the whole "Taylor waking up halfway through the night and coming to sleep with me" thing isn't just camping. It's anytime we're away from home.

Furniture shopping

Kid Quotes:

Kallie: I wish Taylor could go to a baby school because one of the babies could be the teacher.

When Kallie was taking the plastic wrap off a piece of cake she said, "I almost ate the cake with the plastic on." so I asked if she thought that would taste good and she said, "Not for humans but monsters would like it."