Preparing For Back To School.

We have one more week until school steals these kids away from me for six hours a day! I can't believe the time has come for school to resume, and in all honesty I'm not quite ready for it. Living in the east where winters can last longer would love for summer to last a little longer. Plus I've been enjoying spending my time with these kiddos, but I feel that one major reason why I don't want school to start so soon is that time with Lexie is running out! 

Yale University Art Gallery.

With summer coming to an end we decided to sneak in a day trip to the Yale University Art Gallery. These spontaneous day trips have been so much fun for the kids. We love New England, and all that this part of the country has to offer, and the fact that it's only a two hour drive makes it easier for us to travel there. If you follow me on my Instagram you can still catch a glimpse of our day spent here on my Insta stories!

Arthur Ashe Kids' Day!

After telling the kids how much fun we had at the US Open last year the kids have been wanting to go a game, but instead we decided to attend Arthur Ashe Kids day in Flushing, New York. Kids day at the US Open is for kids up to 17 years, and even though they didn't have any fun games for Lexie she was fine with watching some of the pros playing tennis on the grandstand. The kids had so much fun, and we pretty much spent the entire day here. We arrived at 10, and stayed until 5pm!

Little Letters To The Places We Love In New England.

Dear Lakeside Diner, 

My kids and I have fallen in love with you. Your expansive windows with the view of the lake makes it a better place to enjoy while eating good food. Your burgers, and fries, and breakfast are absolutely delicious!  Those old fashioned donuts are amazing! You truly are one of our favorite diners in the east coast, and next time we come we will make sure we bring Jon! 

Summer Is Not Over Yet!

We have two weeks of summer break before school starts, and the kids have been taking advantage of summer being outdoors. The weather hasn't had any rain in the forecast lately which has been perfect for the past couple days!  Our interest in watching the total eclipse yesterday went from a ten to a three when we realized that Lexie had plans after tennis practice to do some volunteer work until 2pm, and we didn't have any eclipse glasses. I'm sure we could have made some with a cereal box, and Reynolds wrap, but in all honesty I'm not sure if they would have worked.

Beach Day In August.

With the weather finally being sunny without any signs of cloud coverage we ventured out to the beach, and this time brought Jon with us! Even though he has weekends off we always have an engagement to go to, and end up doing something else that doesn't involve the beach, but I was determined to have a beach day with the family. Jon hasn't gone all summer, and when we told Noah that papa was coming with us he was all smiles, and couldn't stop jumping! 

Spread Love With People Of Every Race.

Crazy things have been happening lately all over the news in regards to what happened in Charlottesville a few weeks ago, and with the recent events that took place in Barcelona. I didn't want to believe it. It's so heartbreaking, and sad. Now, I'm not one to talk about politics, or current events on line, or in a public forum because in our family we discuss matters at hand within ourselves.

In The Kitchen With Noah.

Family home evening can definitely be a benefit to do every week because it will teach your kids to have the desire to bake, and by the time they are ten they will have learned how to bake on their own without any guidance!! No joke! Every week the kids always want to bake or make something that's sweet, and since our kitchen is always stocked with flour and sugar, and chocolate chips I don't see why not! 

More Summer Please!

Last year when we moved here I was pretty anxious for the kids to start school, but this year I'm just not ready for it. I know it has to happen, but I wish that summer can last until October, and that we can start school then! Clearly we love summer, and exploring. and making the best of our days. There's something about being outside in the warmth of the sun that brings smiles to our faces, and lots of giggles. I have loved our summer so far even when our car is in the shop. We count our blessings for train stations, that will get us to the city, and Enterprise when we want to travel further. 

How My 7.5 Year Old Teaches Family Home Evening.

Now that Noah is an excellent reader, and getting old enough to understand why we have family home evening we figured out a way where he can teach a lesson that's simple, requires him to read, and relates to the gospel principles. My mother in law sent us this book for Noah's birthday last year along with some action mormon figures, and he loved it! It was a perfect tool for him to teach family home evening from, and now that he's much older he always, always wants to read from that book.

A Reminder: 14 Years Later.

"Marriage is the foundry for social order, the fountain of virtue, and the foundation for eternal elation. Marriage has bene divinely designated as an eternal and everlasting covenant. Marriage is sanctified when it is cherished and honored in holiness. That union is not merely between husband, and wife; it embraces a partnership with God. "Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other. Children born of that marital union are "an heritage of the Lord." Marriage is but the beginning bud of family life;parenthoodis its flower. And that bouquet becomes even more beautiful when graced with grandchildren. Families may become as eternal as the Kingdom of God itself. 

~Elder Russell M. Nelson

Kellogg's NYC In Times Square.

It seems that the only time I'll take pictures around Times Square is when I have company visiting me, but because it's been a while since I've taken any with the kids I decided why not! They are getting older, and it's nice to see photos of them as they grow throughout the years. Especially in a city we absolutely love. We've been there so much that I feel it's unnecessary to capture every New York moment especially in a place that is so touristy, but because the Kellogg's store is located in the middle of times square we decided to venture out, get some sugar in our tummies, and take in some of the sights. 

A Simple Day Trip To Philly!

When we moved to Jersey nine years ago I remember the first thing we did was going on a lot of day trips! A lot!! I remember the first few months of living here we went to New York a couple times which included going to the Bronx Zoo, statue of liberty, and seeing Wicked on broadway. We also went to the D.C. Temple right away, and the National Zoo, and also went back to familiar territory in New England where we have family still living there.

Day Trip To Doylestown & The Kids Castle!

If I ever moved to Pennsylvania where I wanted some major peace and quiet the one place I would probably choose to live would be in Bucks County. There have been many, many times we have driven to Easton whether it's to go to the Crayola factory, or eat at Cici's pizza, and driven past Doylestown, but never stopped. Like Mystc in Connecticut, there are many quaint shops to shop at, and great restaurants to eat in. 

Sunday in Dumbo & The Brooklyn Flea Market!

Having the Ross's visit New York all the way from Utah was a perfect excuse to skip church and meet up with them this past Sunday. We hadn't seen them since 2004 back when we were neighbors living in our tiny basement apartments in Sugarhouse. The only kids we had back then were Sierra, Lexie, and Trace, and now we have four kids each! I can't believe how fast time flew for our kids and to see both Lexie and Trace as teenagers together was surreal because the last time they saw each other Lexie was four, and Trace was two! It was so nice getting current pictures of this gem of a family! 

A Little Letter To Summer From Our Beach Day!

Dear Summer, 

I can't believe we are already in the month of August, and I want you to know that even though it has been raining off and on since summer started that we are not giving up on you to have more days of sunshine! We have only been to the beach twice since school let out, and even though the kids and I are humble about that we can still use a few more beach trips. Especially since we were recently kicked off the beach  due to lightning, and rain. My husband hasn't even gone with us yet, so please please hang in there at least until school starts! We love the beach, and the sunshine, and splashing in the waves looking at hermit crabs, seashells, and eating beach snacks such as watermelon, grapes, and cantaloupe.

Sunflower Fields Forever!

Ever since school let out and summer began my focus has been on making sure the kids have a productive summer, but ever since our car has been in the shop, and how much I've been talking to family, and close friends I realized that not everything has to be accomplished on one's summer bucket list. This summer has been fleeting like no other and in all honesty all I want to do is pause time. Time because my kids are getting older way too fast. Time because I feel as if I missed out on certain things with my two oldest daughters as opposed to my two youngest.

Teaching Noah.

After serving in the nursery for the past nine months at my church I am now serving as a teacher in the primary. The best thing about this particular calling is that Noah is in this class so having him as one of my students makes it extra special. Especially since he'll be turning eight in three months! There have been many times where I have pretty much taught all my girls when I used to teach in the past whether it was in the nursery when Chelsea was a toddler, in primary when Sierra was five, and in the Young women with Lexie, but this is the first time where I'll be teaching Noah true principles of Christ through lessons in a church setting.