Summer, Oh How We LovED You... (recap of months long gone.)

We have been (I have been trying to get this post done for months.) living it up this spring/summer. With Richard home from school and not working yet, we just play and play and play! However that all came to an end this past week when Richard started his internship (July 5th); which is the greatest blessing. Maybe we will be able to get out of school with a few dollars left in our savings accounts afterall. :)

We've have had lots of fun. Everything's better when he's with us!

Here's what we've been up to...

Richard built the kids a sandbox. In Santa Monica every park had sand and the kids loved building sandcastles and such. Here the parks are full of bark, so our sand toys were getting lonely. Daddy fixed that but not without the help of Bubba. When Sarah saw the sandbox, she very emotionally said, "Oh, it's so beautiful!" They spend hours in it everyday.

We went bowling one afternoon. Sarah had been before but it was Luke's first time and he loved it. Of course he would, it involves balls. Obviously we need to keep our day jobs. Doesn't look like any of the Atchleys will be going pro anytime soon. :)

Richard's mom's side of the family are fierce at their family history. He has some cousins that have put together 3 huge volumes of family history. While Richard was reading our latest version, we discovered that his Great Grandfather, James Johnson was both in the House and Senate here in Idaho. How cool. I worked as a capital tour guide while in college and knew that they had pictures of all of the previous House and Senate members hanging around the chambers. We headed to the capital for a fieldtrip.

One morning we decided to drive 2 hours east of us to Twin Falls to see Shoshone Falls. We received a lot of snow this year and had heard that the falls were running very high. Shoshone Falls is larger than Niagara Falls and let me just tell you, I have never seen it so full. It was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!! As you can see we got very, very wet. Drenched really. I was wringing my hair out as if I had just showered.

We really had a fun few months. The kids and I have begun to adjust to the new work schedule and I guess it makes us look forward to having dad home even more than before!

We miss you love!!!

My Ballerina Girl

In July Sarah attended a dance camp for the week. I'm not sure who loved it more...her mom or her! :) After it finished we quickly signed her up for a class in the fall. She took her dance class from Dance Unlimited; the same dance studio I attended a hundred years ago. Actually one of her teachers I danced with when I was in high school. Crazy how things go full circle. My ballet girl was so cute and does pirouettes and plies all over the house now.

RELAY FOR LIFE 2011

Relay for Life has come and gone. Cindy and I drove to Rexburg for the grand event held on June 25th. Team Sister's For Sirri had a WONDERFUL time. We raised $828.25 for the American Cancer Society. The event however, raised $45,902.35.

The theme for the event was Relay Like a Rockstar. Lisa and kiddos all looked fabulous, green hair and all. Cindy and I made costumes the night before, however only parts of our costumes ended up on, as we arrived shortly before the festivities began. Bummer, but now I have something for the kid's dress-up box.

We sold homemade rainbow kettle corn, caramel corn, and purple berry popcorn for our on-site fundraiser. Sirri and her friends sold it like we were at a baseball game. It was a big hit, but we're already dreaming up some "real" food to sell next year. You can only eat so many treats and hot dogs in one night, even when you are walking all night long.

The luminaria ceremony was amazing and the track was lined with luminaries in honor/support of those who have and are battling cancer. Lisa-Marie did a great job decorating the luminaries that were purchased for our team.

Sirri and her friends stayed up until 4:30 in the morning and consequently missed her baseball games the next morning as she chose sleep instead.

Cindy and I made a quick trip of it, arriving Friday evening and heading back Saturday morning after catching a few hours of sleep, but we will do it again!!!

Happy Birthday to Me, and I Guess America Too :)

I say that jokingly, as I am so grateful for this wonderful country we live in, but for now my kids do think it's all about me and I think that's pretty fun!

I think this was one of my favorite birthdays. We had a lovely day biking, which makes any day better. We went to 2 different bagel shops because I had been planning on bagels for breakfast for days. Luckily we found one that was open and boy was it good. There's something about a sesame bagel smothered in cream cheese that just tastes so yummy. We met Cindy and Travis along the greenbelt and rode for hours. We took advantage of the kids getting along really well in the bike trailer and just kept going. We played at Municipal Park, then grabbed Subway for lunch and ate that at Julia Davis Park. Sarah decided to ride her coaster bike from there. We allowed it, assuming it would only last a few minutes, but boy did she surprise us AND make this bike loving mama, SO, SO PROUD!! She must have ridden her bike 4 miles. Those little legs were cruisin and everyone on the greenbelt thought she was darling--I agreed every single time! :) Finally after she kept complaining that her bum was hurting and she was dripping sweat we convinced her to get back in the trailer. She learned all of the greenbelt ettiquette and was quite the pro at moving over whenever she heard, "on your left".

After our bike riding outing that lasted 6 hours, we headed home where my fabulous husband presented me with an ice cream cake that he and Sarah made me. I am not much of a cake fan, but Richard doesn't think it's a birthday without it. I had mentioned that I had never had an ice cream cake but would enjoy that, so he whipped one up for me. After we had some pre-dinner cake, we headed to Cafe Rio and then met up with Cin and Travis again for the fireworks show. We met some of their friends who had spots saved right up front. It was amazing how cool they were on the front lines.

It was a perfect day!! 35 is going to be a good year!!!!

Happy Father's Day

We spent Father's Day camping at Lake Cascade. It was a wonderful, albeit rainy weekend. If it weren't for mom and dad's new camping trailer we would have packed up our tent and headed home early. But since we had somewhere to hang out while it rained we stayed and enjoyed ever moment. My parents, Cindy and Travis and our family went. Richard and the kids swam the first evening we arrived (while I looked on) and it ended up being the only opportunity they had. We rode bikes, cheered on triathletes, and celebrated all things dad!! Since we weren't going to be at our ward on Sunday to see Sarah sing we practiced our own performance for Richard and unlike the primary singing we were able to video it; that's a plus, I'd say. (if i can ever get the video to upload, you'll get to see it...cross your fingers cuz it's cute!!)

Dad (Larry)--You have always been the most supportive father and I am so lucky to call you mine. I appreciate that growing up and even now, you put us first. Thank you for teaching me all you did. Thank you for taking us fun places and teaching me to enjoy so many different things. I am one lucky girl!!

Richard--You know this, but I could not do this without you! You are a wonderful father and would do anything for your kids and me. Actually, if I think about it, you ARE doing that now. Did you ever imagine yourself back in school at 43?! Thanks for doing what you have to in order to best take care of us. You make us proud. You spend every free moment playing with or reading to our children. You bake with Sarah and teach her all you know. You build sandboxes and paint play tables. You pull bike trailers miles and miles and miles and encourage Sarah while she rides her own. You teach Sarah and Luke to love the scriptures and pray over all things. We are so fortunate! You were worth the wait!! WE LOVE YOU RICHARD!!

Where'd She Learn This?!

(Do you see her pulling the strap down?)

I kept my giggling under my breath, as not to encourage this kind of behavior, but seriously she's 3 and it looked cute for just a bit. But, really, where'd she learn this from?

Surfin Safari

My sister called him, "the cutest little surfer dude, you've ever seen."

I'm NOT going to argue with that!!!

Just For Fun...

We've been working with Sarah Jane on her letters and she's getting pretty good at them. She enjoys practicing in her workbook, but thinks it's even more fun when we use pudding. See that tongue there? My sisters and I, my mom, and my grandma all have that same trait when we're concentrating and I love that she does too.
Sarah has begun coloring inside the lines and all of a sudden has begun drawing things that actually look like what she's drawing. A couple of Sundays ago, I picked her up from Sunbeams and she was working on a picture that had about 9 faces on it. They actually looked like faces and I assumed that her teacher drew them for her, but no, it was all her. The cutest part was that she could tell us exactly who each and every one of the faces was.

We've been making and eating Popsicles like crazy. These ROYGBIV popsicles are the greatest. (don't add the fruit juice though--totally not needed!!!) There are still many of these in our summer plans as Idaho shows us just how hot the summers can get. :) We're trying to beautify our sad yard. It's working slowly but surely. We've planted a garden. It's growing and we're excited. Sarah calls us "farmer girls". It looks darling and I love staring at it out my kitchen window while I do dishes. Richard built a sandbox for the kiddos and they love, love, love it!

We're discovering that our grass is on top of rocks and the more we water the lawn, the more they rise to the top, so occasionally Richard and the kids head out and fill up buckets of these rocks. If only we were wealthy and could rip our entire yard out and begin anew...one day. :)

And Richard and Sarah had fun with her hair one evening after baths. She thought she looked fab-u-lous!!!!

Let's Go Back To Easter...

This was the first year we colored eggs with the kids and of course they loved it. Thankfully I read my friend Taryn's post before we dyed eggs, because had I not Luke would have been dying eggs along with us and what a mess we would have had. But luckily, my smart friend only gave her little one a cup of water and it was apparent she was happy as could be with that setup. So that's what we gave Luke, and he was pleased as could be!!

Day planner

Sarah is a walking day planner and enjoys verbally checking things off our list as we do them throughout the day. On our way home from spending the evening with my parents on Monday night this is what I heard coming from the backseat...

**Play with Braden---cchheeeccckkk
**Movie with Papa & Grandma--cchheeeccckkk
**Peam (how she prounounces it--love it!) & Larry's (GnG)--cchheeeccckkk

Silly Girl

Sarah Jane makes me laugh and I have to remember this forever...

"I want cereal for breakfast today. I want Cheerios and strawberries (Special K), but I don't want the chicken cereal." HUH? "I don't want the chicken breast cereal."

Warming

OOOHHH, it was in the high 60s today. WE ARE HAAAPPPYYY!!!

Sarah & Luke received this pedal less bike for Christmas. Sarah tipped over a couple of times when we first received it and she's been hesitant to get back on it since. Lately she's been praying to Heavenly Father that He will help her be able to ride it without falling over. I love that, and it touches me so much every time she talks about asking Heavenly Father and Jesus to help her.

Tonight Richard and the kids went to the park and Sarah rode the entire way and was so excited that she made it without tipping over. How glad I am that she's learning young that They are there and do help us!!

Everybody LOVES Cafe Rio

Too Many Movies?

Do you think that when you point out the moon to your daughter and she says, "I want to sit on the moon..." that maybe, just maybe she's watched one too many movies, especially when you ask her what made her think of such an idea, and she described this picture perfectly...

Each One Better Than the One Before

In January Richard and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary. We were able to leave the kids with my parents and I surprised Richard by taking him to McCall for the weekend so we could see the winter carnival. We stayed at the Ashley Inn. It was gorgeous but made even better by a phone call my Uncle John made to the manager who is a friend of his. I had reserved a Suite and when we checked in they told us they had overbooked the suites and they had to move us to the Governor's Suite. It was gorgeous. For the winter carnival it's tradition to keep your Christmas decorations up until after the opening weekend of the carnival, so our room had a red, white, and blue Christmas tree. We did lots of things, all of which are some of Richard's favorite things, that we find difficult to do with our children. We went to a movie in an old theater. They were playing one of the Narnia movies--love those! We went skiing. We haven't done that since our honeymoon in Banff 5 years ago. We ate out at restaurants (we do this with s & l, but it's not fun and relaxing), slept in, and checked out all the ice sculptures. We really enjoyed ourselves and more importantly each other's company.

I truly mean it when I say each each one better than the one before; each year, each week, each day, each event, each memory. Everything just gets better! I feel very fortunate to have met Richard and most importantly to have been sealed for time and eternity in the temple. What a wonderful gift we've been given! I look forward to the next 5 years (and beyond) and am excited to see what they have instore for us as a couple and as a family.

I love you Richard!

Payback...

Sarah had a movie date with Papa and Grandma again last week. PnG love their movie dates with our cute girl and purchased 10 new movies the other day at Shopko. Last week Sarah watched a Dora movie with them, more than once I believe. ;) When I came to pick Sarah up from their house I left Luke in the car because I needed to grab her quickly and run home so I could deliver dinner to someone in our ward. Grandma came outside to tell Luke hello and to wave goodbye to us. When we were backing out we were yelling and waving at her. With all of our distraction Grandma had a little accident and fell. She's okay luckily, but I thought I hit her with my car somehow. IT ABOUT GAVE ME A HEARTATTACK and so we decided no better way to help her feel better than to return the favor and heartattack her. Fun stuff and it brought a smile to everyone's faces!

We LOVE you Grandma and are glad you are feeling better, but you better not scare me like that EVER AGAIN!! :)

13 not 3

I guess overnight my girl turned 13. Today is our day for Music Makers. 10:30 rolled around and then 10:45; noone else had come. I told Sarah and Luke we'd do it ourselves and that it would be just as fun. Sarah responded with, "No mom. It won't be fun without any of our music maker friends. When will they get here? We can't do it without our friends!"

Sarah has always loved and cherished her friends and I believe she will be quite the social girl when she grows up, but when did it not become fun to do things with just mom and little brother?

Luke and I started singing and dancing and soon she joined in. We ended up doing everything I had planned (minus the parachute as it's too big for just the 3 of us--we'll pull that out when daddy gets home) and even added some of our other favorites in, but afterward she told me it was no fun! Her smile said otherwise though. Little stinker! Guess she's just preparing me slowly for what's to come?!?!

Music Makers

There are many things we miss about California but are quite happy here in Idaho. Change is hard. But change can also be good.

In California we always kept really busy with our friends; we had park days, running at the beach, weekly Disneyland outings, music makers, Thursday play groups, holiday parties, beach day, etc. We never had to look very far for something super fun to do. Well, things aren't quite the same here, but rather than sitting around thinking the grass is always greener on the other side, I did something about it...

I started music makers here. I put it together and lead it every week which I find fun (lets the teacher in me out) and we have it in my family room. I had to be super creative with the instruments since we're a little tight on funds, but it is coming together wonderfully. I never know how many people will be here but it's always been a blast. Everyone's kids (mine included) love it and talk about it all week. That's just what I was hoping for and in the process the kids and I are making friends and come summer, maybe we'll have some friends that will want to keep us just as busy as our CA friends did.

Sarah helped me make the sand block instruments and I must say I've never seen others quite as cool as ours. We also have rhythm sticks made from dowels, and tiny boxes of sugar baby candies covered in colored duct tape. I am working on jingle bells and drums. I purchased a parachute and have been able to round up enough fun, inexpensive manipulatives to use for movement and parachute.

WE LOVE MUSIC MAKERS!!!

FORTY -THREE

My hubby's 43. While I do tease him about it, I don't really think he's old. Oh, except when we go visit him at school and I see his classmates. That does make him look old!! But I love him to pieces and am so lucky to have him!!

We had balloons, streamers, and a banner Sarah loved making for him. I was sad when it had to come down.

As I am sure I have mentioned before and will probably mention every single year, a birthday is not a birthday without cake for Richard so I try to make him happy with something spectacular. :) This year a majority of what he talks about at home are circuits and wires, and a bunch of mumbo jumbo I totally don't understand, but I thought I would try to make a birthday cake that tied into all things electrical engineering. It seemed so fitting for this time in his life.

I know nothing about circuits and so before you think I am so creative, etc, etc, I copied this from a cake I saw online and if you're a computer/circuit junkie, I know it really wouldn't make anything work in the real world but it made Richard's day!

That's all that matters!!!

Thanks to my parents who had a slumber party with the kids that night so we could go out to a movie and sleep in. Ahhh, it was like it was my birthday too.

And I'm sorry if you're sad that I didn't do some flowery post about all of your qualities, twinkly eyes, and stats for your birthday...there's just not enough room! :)

Just know I love you!!!

No, WE love you!!!

Spring Break

Since Richard is a student we decided we better do something big and grand for his spring break, as that's what you do over spring break when you're a student. While we know Cabo or Maui or even California would have been super fun, we figured we do something even more fun; potty train Sarah Jane!

We tried to potty train Sarah many, many months ago and it was a big old disaster and so I was fearful of potty training and the fact that Sarah would say, "Mom, I just love my diapers too much" didn't give me much hope either. I really thought it was going to be a nightmare. Luckily, it wasn't!!

We started off by letting Sarah pick out something she would like to earn. We went and took a picture of her with her prize but didn't purchase it that day. Her Snow White dress had to be earned. She was so excited when she finally got to bring it home.

The potty training went well. Our biggest struggles were getting her to transition from her little potty to the big potty. We finally just had to take the little one away and spend the morning locked in the bathroom. We also decorated her toilet with Dora Stickers. Once she went once it was never an issue again.

For the most part, it was a painless process and we're so proud of her. She proud of herself as well. Whenever she goes (still) she'll ask if we're proud of her and then say, "I'm SO, SO proud of me too!" Makes me laugh everytime. And although in all honesty we would have rather been on vacation somewhere tropical (we're really missing the sun), we know we're too poor for that right now and are happily saving money on diapers so that maybe next year we can make it to Cabo! HA HA--if only it were that easy!!

18 months of Awesome!

(Don't mind the flower jacket...we went to grandma's and wanted to go to the park but i forgot jackets, so he borrowed his 4 year old cousins jacket. look how well it fits this big guy!)

On Sunday (the 3rd) when Richard reminded me of our whereabouts 18 months ago, I was floored at how quickly time with this little guy is going by. Everyday is a joy with him in our home. His smile lights up any room and his giggle is infectious. He's super laid back, just like his daddy; except when provoked by his sister. Hmmm, when I think about it, that's also, just like his daddy. :) He is learning so much everyday and wants to be just like Sarah. He's in love with books and if he turns up missing I can almost always find him behind the couch with a basket of books. We love that about him. When he wants you to read a story to him he gets his book, and then backs up into your lap. You know immediately what he wants. Reading is his favorite past time with his Great Grandma Bigelow and I believe she enjoys it just as much as he does, if not more! Luke has 16 teeth and knows how to use them. Sarah usually has marks to prove it, poor girl! He's quite the dancer, rocking out to everything from hymns to hip-hop. He "talks" constantly. While we are beginning to understand more and more of his words, he usually gets what he wants with his grunts and finger pointing. He loves balls and being outside. If he has both together, all the better! He's an explorer and finds something new and interesting on every outing. His eyes are still blue as can be and I swear they twinkle. He's the best cleaner upper; just start singing the Barney cleanup song and you've got yourself a hard worker. He listens well. When he's done eating you know, as he throws whatever is left on his plate on the floor and pushes himself away from the table.(we're working on this) He's a climber but does seem to be outgrowing that stage, kind of! He loves to have his neck smooched on. We sing him I am a Child of God at bedtime and whenever else he needs calming; works like a charm. He's just begun giving full, fledged, arms around the neck hugs. Melts his mama's heart every time!

We love, Love, LOve, LOVe, LOVE having him in our family.

HE IS JOY and brings so much of it into our lives.

How blessed we are to have him in our home!!!

STATS:

30.4 pounds

33 inches long

19 inches circumference of head (runs in the family)

90th %ile

smart

silly

smoochable!!!