Meet the Ostrich

One sunny summer day back in Rexburg, the kids and I were making shadow puppets on the grass. Evelyn came up with this amazing ostrich shadow puppet all on her own. We love it when she makes it dance. The video doesn't show the ostrich as well as it should, but it's still a family favorite.

The video was taken a couple of weeks ago in windy Cedar City.

SkyFest 2010

One of the great things about living in Cedar City is that its second name is Festival City, USA. There are no shortages of parades (including a sheep parade coming soon in October) or fairs. We got up early to be at Skyfest 2010 where we got to see 20 hot air balloons inflate and take off. It was a spectacular site! Ben got some good shots:

Handsome Sauce and Handsome Sauce Jr.

Just don't forget the part where I said we got up E A R L Y and this picture proves that we got out of bed and into the car, bedhead and all!

This is a little video Evelyn made.

Introducing the Newest Member of our Family!

A PIANO!!!

This is a BIG deal! Ben and I have wanted a piano since before we knew we wanted to marry each other. We both love to play. I have looked on Craigslist and gone to piano sales etc, etc, etc. but nothing ever worked out until just last week.

Our neighbor friends were over for dinner and before they left, they simply said "We need to get rid of our piano, do you want one?" I almost excused myself to shed a few tears, but resisted and just told myself it wasn't really true. They received this piano for free and they were receiving an upgrade of a piano for free and GAVE us this one.

We count it a great blessing and we LOVE it. Ben and I constantly play it. The kids will fall asleep even if we are playing, so my prime time for playing is right after we kiss the kiddos goodnight. Don't get me wrong, I am no virtuoso (Ben is though!) but I think by the end of the year, I can count myself as Primary Pianist material (playing the piano for the kids at Church).

It feels so good to have piano in our home, it was our missing piece!! THANK YOU!!!

First Day of School

Evelyn requested school pancakes, this was the best we could do. We had breakfast and then waited and waited and waited for 12:45 to come along so she could go to school!

Hannah took a family picture

Hannah wished she could have gone too, but I think she likes the time at home while Evelyn is gone.
Here is our little Kindergartner! She really is as tall as the second graders, but she is still our little girl!

She was happy to have us walk her into her classroom. She said she missed us in her heart but in her words..."I like Kindergarten, actually, I LOVE it!"
We are so grateful for her teacher, Mrs. Ross, who is so kind and seems to love what she does. She has made learning fun and we are so grateful!

Hall of the Mountain King

This is a tradition of Ben's family.All of the kids would listen to Hall of the Mountain King and gradually go faster and faster with the music. Our kids LOVE it and will do it over and over and over and over and over...

This was a few weeks ago so we were not very unpacked yet and the walls are pretty bare.

Hop Hop and Away!

Ben found a praying mantis outside and brought it inside to show it off. Needless to say, I get a little jumpy around bugs, especially when they are inside!

Farewell Dear Rexburg...

I have delayed this post because there is just TOO much to put into it. My heart pours out with gratitude when I think of our time spent in Rexburg. Thank you all for a wonderful 2 1/2 years. We made the best of friends and had the best of times. We will always look back on our time spent in Rexburg with great fondness.

Thank you to so many for your generosity in helping us with our kids and with cleaning, and even lodging the last couple of weeks and days of packing and such.

The following are a few pics of things we did in our last few weeks of living in sweet Rexburg:

4th of July parade in Rexburg, it was chilly but an excellent parade!

We spent the 4th of July with the Woolleys in Driggs. We all had a great time, thank you Woolleys!

Hannah and her cousin, Olivia, were thrilled to see they had the same coat.

We walked to the Rexburg Farmer's Market and Evelyn rode her bike (I forgot to post that, Evelyn can ride a 2-wheeler!). Hannah and Will enjoyed the ride.

Oh how we love the Casalinos and the Farmer's Market! We've missed it since we've been gone!

Evelyn drawing at the Farmer's Market

We love visiting Elsy! She became a good friend and almost like a grandmother to our kids.

We took a short break from packing to see the Blue Angels. I didn't get a picture of them, but I thought every one was cute waiting for them to come. Ben's sister, Nellie, came with us. The kids have been yelling in the van since we've been in Utah, "Newwie, Newwie, NELLIE!" and William says, "Newwie gone. Newwie? Newwie! Newwie gone..." So sad.

Rexburg we love you and miss you! Thank you all for making our time there so special!