Nothing better...

 I have so many pictures, obviously many and most off my phone and instagram, but I need to put them all in one place. So much has happened in our little, but growing family.

So there is nothing better in life than.........

  ...The beginning of new life, Milo David Lafeen, born Sept. 20, 2012.  7lbs, 11oz, 20 inches long.  Health and happy, with 10 fingers and 10 toes. 

....A happy husband and 3rd time dad who is happy and  ready to catch a baby, just in case he might need to.

...2 little, 18 days apart, 2nd cousins.  Quinn T. Howden born 9-2-12.  These 2 adorable little boys added to the Petersen great grandchildren. As seen above:  Quinn, Ellott, Hyrum, Milo, Wyatt, Molly, Jack, Kate, Braydon.    

 ...Excited brother and sister getting ready to go meet their new little brother. They were at grandma and grandpa's from the night before and had waited all day for the time they could go to the hospital.  I just have to laugh at this adorable pose.  Hyrum acting all cool and Kate all excited, but in real life all you have to say is "cheese" and she is ready for the camera.

  

...Having a professional photo-op.

...Welcoming home a cousin.  Paul Hardcastle arrived home from South Korea, after serving a 2 year Mission.  His parents and sisters were so excited, along with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.  

...Having wonderful adult kids.  We were able to spend time together in Jackson Hole, during the yearly Jackson Hole outing.  We had a beautiful condo. Kim and I were so grateful for all of their help in caring for 2 little kids while their mom and dad rested and came home with Milo.  5 days is enough to wear out 55 year old people, who understand and remember why being parents is for the young.

 ...Having your heart warmed by little kids who love each other, who cry if the other crys, who want to play and be together, or struggle to get the whole holding hand thing just right, who make us grateful for sweet little people and want more to join our family.

... For having extended family that we can share time with.  This is just part of the Hardcastle group that meets yearly in Jackson.  This is at our traditional huge breakfast, after some were lucky enough to hear the Elk bugling. 

 
 ...Watching 2 little kids entertain themselves with logs and dirt.  They were playing a made-up game of "2 little Caterpillars laying on a log, one fell off and then there was one", we played it over and over again.  They were, of-course adorable.


 ...Proud Grandpas.

 ...More Kids and dirt.

 ....A spontaneous outing to the Brigham City Temple open house.

.... A lovable 16 year old family member.  We had to put Simon "down", what a horrible term, but he had gotten very weak, and couldn't hold his own weight for more than a few steps.  Kim and I had been watching him and getting more and more concerned.  The many problems he was having, we knew, were not treatable.  

Simon was given to Gordon when he was 11 or 12 years old and he quickly became a good companion to both Gordon and Matt.  All of us loved him, me maybe not so much at times, but he was a lovable happy pet and great with the grand kids   We knew it was Gordon's decision  but both he and Matt knew he couldn't go on and face another winter in this condition.  They both watched him very crossly all weekend.  I really didn't think it would affect me like it did, but as a mom, I hated seeing my adult sons so emotional and upset.  Life is hard with a lot of challenges, and we are grateful for them all.    

 ....A loving mom, mother in-law, grandma and great grandma.

 ....A grandpa who is willing to get on all fours and play with the grand kids.  This was at a park on our long drive home from Jackson.  The kids needed to get out of the car and I think Kim needed a play time rest too.

 ....Just playing...

...Being entertained by electronic devices no matter where we are.  Paul's plain was delayed and Hyrum needed a diversion.  As always the I-phone works.

....Date Night.  We tried a new restaurant in Farmington, and  ended up enjoying an outdoor concert as well .  

Nothing better than...New life, very young life, middle life, older and older life.  Nothing better than family no matter the age or place.

My Summer Vacation Part 1

These are a few memories of our 2012 Summer.  Family, family, work, shopping, family, work, birthdays and holidays.  Add a few plays for entertainment and a trip or two just for fun.  This is only part one, part two will be even more pictures.                                                          

I gave a Relief Society night lesson on writing our own personal history.  It was really fun to prepare and to give and motivated me into starting my own history, so it's on it's way.  It's fun and sad at the same time to write about all the "stuff" that went on in my life...so far.  Kim said I can't finish, because that wouldn't be good!  









Kim and I had a nice, but long memorial day weekend doing all the family grave sites.  I often work, or for other reasons we can't get to them all, but we started in Am. Fork and ended in West Valley.  Each brought nice memories even though the day was cloudy and rainy.  We ended with dinner with Melanie, Justin, the kids and Karen and Wade having dinner.

I think these are fish lips

Memorial day was a great family bar-b-q at our house.  The weather was perfect the guests were even better, I think everyone was there.

See how cute the kids are.  And this was just 3 of them.  We also celebrated a birthday or two.

Justin provided some impromptu entertainment by making big New York Street bubbles.

Fathers day was spent at the Hardcastle Cabin.  Home made ice cream, yummie yummie food and good people.  I think I have actually combined 2 cabin activities, the ladder was from the cleaning day and the others were from Fathers day.

I was lucky enough to spend about 3 days with other RS sisters working on a service project.  Sewing and crafting.  I love it when I can have days like this.  Visiting, laughing, eating and just getting to know each other better and doing fun activities.

Hyrum had his first sports activity, baseball with Grandpa Lafeen.  I was lucky enough to get to 2 or 3 games, because they were all played down in Harriman.  He was a typical 3 1/2 year old, sometimes more interested in the grass, hat and sun than the game,  But he was fun to watch.

I visited a Pirate Ship with the kids,

Watched Wade, Jodi, Jessica, Hyrum and Kate participate in a 5K.  Then breakfast in the park.

24th July with a few Hardcastle's, Karen and Wade.  Not much to do for the ever growing Sam and Jack, but it's good to get together.

Picnic and a walk/hike/drag kids around Mirror Lake.  We left 94 deg weather to needing a jacket, 72 deg weather.  It's a great place to live when you have such beautiful mountains and surroundings so close to home and to be able to just suddenly decided to go without any previous plans.

Birthdays, birthdays, birthdays.  It seemed like every Sunday dinner has been a birthday celebration, and double lucky for us we have Melanie to make our cakes and treats, and Hyrum to help blow out the candles.    I Love Love Love our Sunday dinners.  They are a lot of work and at times frustrating, but worth it.

I got to watch the kids at their swimming lessons. 

A picnic at the Howden's and then we were all treated to a Shavey Jones shaved ice.  

We tended Oden (no pic.) while Matt and Jenn went on vacation.  Simon seemed to enjoy playing with his cousin dog, but by the end of the week Simon was tired and could hardly walk.

It was the Summer of Plays.  Wade and Karen invited us to go to Cedar City, St. George, to see Scappin, which was so funny, and then onto the Spelling Bell, both of which we really really liked.  They had access to a nice condo with a pool, so it was a nice weekend. They took us to a great Stake House, Anasazi.  It was unique, where we cooked our own stake just how we liked it.     

We also went to My Fair Lady, in Logan.  We took Charlene and went to Maddox for her Mothers Days gift.  Then the next night we went to Wicked at the Capitol.  There was a big bunch that went.  Becky and Rich, Gordon and Jessica with her Parents Sue and Tim and sister Tanna, and Jodi.  It was a fun evening and a great play.  

It has been a great summer.  I've worked and worked, but between all those days we've been able to be with family and friends, have great get togethers and fun activities. By the end of next week our ever growing bunch will have 3 new great grandsons, and a return missionary grandson soon. Mom is always missed, but is felt in all our activities.  I always hope we can stay close as our separate families grow.