Getting used to things...

So, my baby girl is in kindergarten. I am having a hard time accepting that she's gone all day Monday through Friday. My favorite moment with her each day now is after school when she runs to me and jumps into my arms, saying over and over, "Mommy! Mommy! I was missing you." Overall, she's enjoying school so far and is proud to tell me anytime she's brave and makes a new friend. She says her favorite parts of school are coloring and recess.

And Kimball is in 3rd grade. Third grade! I remember vividly when I started 3rd grade and how old I felt getting off the bus with my new trapper keeper. Time is flying. Kimball had to fill out several of those all-about-me forms during the first week of school, and I loved several of his answers: 

What is your favorite color? Duke blue

What is your favorite restaurant? Arby's

What is your proudest moment? When I got baptized

And now, this is who I get to spend my days with:

We play trains and cars, go on bike rides, have races, build zoos for his animals, eat snacks, and run errands together. We like to go visit Kimball and Liza at school during their lunchtimes. I miss having my bigger kids home, but I sure am thankful I still have this little buddy.

It's nice to have Mark home with us now that he's done in Asheville and we're home from our travels. Mark's schedule is better than it has been for a long time now that he's a 3rd-year resident with no night or weekend call anymore, so we're getting to have some good family time. He was actually home for dinner 3 times last week--a new record--and the best part is that from all appearances, this better schedule should be the new norm. He and I have been staying up late watching the Olympics the past few nights. It's great having him around. I'll keep him.

Utah!

The kids and I got to spend 3 fabulous weeks in Utah visiting family and friends and home. Mark only got to come for a few days, but he made it to the big Hill Family Reunion, Kimball's baptism, and our nephew Max's baby blessing so we were happy to have even those few days with him there. I started looking through pictures from our trip to post here, and I was overwhelmed with so many happy memories. I'm not going to try to organize these pictures or even explain all of them, but here are some of the moments from our trip to Utah that I will remember for a long long time.

 A tea party with Grandpa

Cooking breakfast with Popsy (and Tuffie!)

Playing at Nana and Grandpa's house with the cousins. I could hardly believe how grown up and awesome my older nieces and nephews are. I loved getting to know them again.








The Lehi Rodeo

 

Reconnecting with long lost friends! So good to see you, Melanie!

Oh how I have missed Yellowstone. Good family time up there.

The kids were all so excited to fish with Grandpa. I'll never forget how Grant broke down in tears as he looked at his newly caught fish and sobbed, "I made my fish so so sad!" We had a circle of life talk, and he doesn't seem to be too traumatized. Love that kid's kind heart.

Visiting Grandma Lambert was sweet and oh so sad. It did my heart good to see her but it was hard to accept that she doesn't know us anymore. I'm thankful for lots of good memories with her.

Always yummy surprises at Nana and Popsy's

We loved spending time up at the cabin in Midway. Beautiful mountain scenery, good food, late night chats, fun company--what more could we want?

Making stepping stones for the cabin was a great project. I loved watching each kids put so much thought and effort into their stone.













I finally got to meet my babies! Here's little Max, and I also loved getting to know chubby Michael and sweet Aurielle and cuddly Noah. I love little friends.

Birthday boys. Kimball loves celebrating his birthday with Gage.

Exploring the new City Creek Mall downtown (and shopping at H&M!) was really fun. I had no idea it was such a cool place!

Temple trip with the Hill fam at the Draper Temple

The Hill Family Reunion up in Bear Lake was magical. It had been 2 years since I'd seen some of my siblings and family members, and that is just way too long. I really needed to come home for this.

Marshall's basketball camp he put on for the boys was awesome. Kimball felt like a superstar getting to play with and learn from his older cousins and uncle Marsh.











Kimball's Baptism! What a happy thing it was for me to watch my Mark baptize our sweet Kimball and to see Kimball's happy glow all evening. Getting to be there at the same church where I got baptized years ago and where I gained much of my testimony was a neat spiritual bonus for me too. It was just amazing to be surrounded by our supportive, wonderful families and some of our favorite friends from over the years. Happy happy memories.

Acting like ducks at the lake at Daybreak :)

Loving time with Nana

Nothing makes me happier than watching my kiddos play with all of their cousins. Grant still talks about his "big cousins" all the time. :)

A few more fun pics from the family reunion to finish off...

So there you have it. I keep telling myself I'm not homesick, but in all honesty my heart was hurting before I'd even boarded the plane to leave Utah. I'm glad I got to go spend time with everyone and remember how much you're all a part of me, even if I don't get to see you very often. Love you all!