Read it!

Who finished reading the Book of Mormon?

This family!

We celebrated yesterday with a much awaited family trip to iJump.

Birthday Girl

Happy 4th to my sweet Marlee Monkey.

Love you to the moon and back.

Can't believe your FOUR!

things she loves: dolls, the egg game, fruit, the trampoline, all things princess, 

alligator (gatorade), her doll house, magnatiles, music, play-doh and dorothy gail

Team USofA

It’s raining. It’s becoming an expected afternoon ritual around these parts. Rain, rain and more rain. I think Idaho is confused. But the rainy change of weather has forced us to slow down a bit this week. It’s been a very welcomed change of pace actually. Aside from a much needed grocery store run, gymnastics and Jace’s Kindergarten screening I don’t think we’ve left the house. It’s so not typical of me, but it’s given us time to recharge and relax. We needed that.  

I can’t believe it’s the fourteenth of August. Thirteen measly days and school starts up again. Shesh. And Jace is going to Kindergarten! It’s such a different experience and feeling for me than it was when we were in this same place with Brynlee. Jace is ready, and I'm more comfortable with what is to come. I’ve been here before – and I survived. We were reminiscing at dinner last night about when Brynlee went to her Kindergarten screening. She fought tears, and hid her face, and grabbed on to my arm for dear life. Jace actually ended up going into her screening with her because she wasn’t feeling brave enough to do it herself. He sat next to her and held her hand and gave her courage. Jace, on the other hand, marched right in there. He wasn’t shy, or hesitant, and certainly didn’t need my encouraging words to boost his confidence. He seems so much bigger and older than Brynlee did in that stage of life. And I guess he is. He turns six next month. I can’t believe it! I’ve got my fingers crossed that he and his little buddy, Kyle, get to be in the same Kindergarten class though. I think that was one of the hardest things when I sent Brynlee to Kindergarten. She didn’t know anybody in her class prior to school, and meeting new people has always been fairly intimidating and overwhelming for my kiddos.

I think I’m still going to try and post my capturing summer pictures even though the last one I posted was on June 15, and it is now August 14. Oops. Lame that I didn’t keep up on it. I’d hoped to do better but I think, for the most part, I still took pictures every day. I just never got around to actually posting them. But for the sake of journaling I think I’ll still take the time to complete it. Just for me. 

But first a few pictures from the 4^th of July. Because I never posted any of those either. And because it’s one of my favorite holidays. And because it’s raining. And because the kids have friends over, and Marlee’s asleep, and it’s either post 4^th of July pictures or do the dishes. And I certainly don’t want to do the dishes.

you should have seen her inhale that cotton candy.  it was quite impressive.

the loot. an absolute favorite thing about the 4th of july party in my parents town.

it was so, so hot at the parade. there was about 2 inches of shade right in that corner. we all squished for refuge from the sun.

my kids learn all of their bad behavior from uncle jake!

i bet your insanely jealous of our smashing good looks.

jake let the kids take turn starting the fireworks. my favorite part was watching how fast they would run away after starting it.

also, notice brynlee's shoes. jace lost his at the firework show earlier that evening, so they would switch brynlee's back and forth while starting the fireworks. But seriously, how do you lose your shoes while watching fireworks? #takestalent

the third one

The weekend before the Pioneer Trek we headed to Payson, Utah for our M Family Reunion. Family Reunions on this side of the family is a relatively new phenomenon. My sister-in-law, Gretta, put together our very first M Family Reunion back in 2012. And here it is 2014 and we are still going strong.  I hope they continue on for much longer, mainly because Spence is 1 of 12 siblings. Twelve. As in two more than ten, 6+6, a full dozen. And although there are always a couple that don’t make it to the reunion, it’s almost a guarantee that on M Family Reunion weekend a large portion of his large family is going to be largely gathered together in one large place. It’s the whole two birds, one stone theory. But in this case it’s 12 siblings, one reunion. It’s convenient. It’s also loud and a bit chaotic, but aren’t all family reunions?

This year my sister-in-law Anna put together a carnival themed par-tay. My kids had so much fun. There were bouncy houses, carnival games, face painting, cousins galore, and a money dive in grandma’s pool. Plus, grandma and grandpa’s freezer was stocked clear full of ice-cream treats. So you know, rad.

And then on Sunday afternoon we hiked into The Grotto in Payson Canyon. And although our picnic got rained on, I’m glad we went. It was so pretty. The next time we go to Payson I plan on hiking it again. It’s an easy hike, kid friendly, and it ends with a waterfall.

And then on our way home we stopped by Sarah’s house for a quick visit and some Dutch Oven dinner - a Francis Family specialty that I (not so) secretly hope they make every single time we stop by at dinner time. It’s that good.

My brother-in-law, Heinrich, was the unofficial Family Reunion paparazzi and took a million and twenty-seven pictures. Which a girl like me appreciates. Here are a handful of those pictures.

And here’s to M’s Family Reunion 2015. Let’s keep this new tradition rolling.