On our way to China!

Well today is finally here!! It seems like so long ago that we made the plan to come to visit Ginger in Beijing for a week, and then a week in Taiwan to visit Mike's mission areas. We're just waiting in the Seattle airport for our long flight to Beijing! Luckily we got to salt lake in plenty of time because I had to do the dreaded "back room search with the rubber glove"...yeah, not fun, but not as invasive as I thought. Like i didn't have to strip and Mike could come in too so that helped. So a few things to know before you fly again...1) don't wear clothes with"bling", like the back pockets of my jeans made the full body sensor go off, then 2) don't put on lotion before you go because most of them have glycerin which is also used to make bombs...just a few helpful hints.  :-)

Anyway, just yesterday we found out my sister couldn't watch the kids this week and that our flight was changed and we had to be at the airport 6 hours earlier than we were planning, but everything is going great now! Mike's family and my other sister have pulled together to take great care of the kids. Mike gave us all blessings before we left. Carter had a hard time not laughing as Mike tried to gently keep his hands on Sadie's head, but it was so sweet and comforting to receive. We know we are so blessed to be able to do this, and we are excited to visit Mike's mission 10 years since he's been home. His Chinese is still amazing and I am ready to just smile and nod and say "Shishi" (thank you)  :-) I'll try to post when I have wifi, but if not check back in a few weeks for awesome pictures and stories.

Visiting Oregonians

Last Sunday we were lucky enough to have Mark and Jenn's family visit. They were in town because Alyna is going to snow college this fall and they had to pick housing, etc. Mark of course had to work, but it was so fun to see them! They're kids are getting so big! We were even able to have some friends from Nebraska stop by, as well as Cindy and Colin. It was also Jenn's birthday so we just packed lots of catching up in a short amount of time. For once my kids didn't put up a fuss and just played with. The girls actually had fun dressing up Savi and putting makeup on her. Can you tell by their skills that they're all under the age of 10?  ;-) We wish Oregon was right next to Utah so we could see them more!

Family pictures

We have a great home teacher, and he is starting to take professional photos. He offered to take some for us before our trip to Asia, and he did an amazing job! Especially because it was windy and the kids were seriously crazy or fussy. These are just a "few" of our favorites, but I wanted to get them posted before we left. Contact Sean via email if you need some great outdoor family photos! sean@mtpllc.us

Adding to the family...of "toys" that is

About a month ago we added to our family, with a new 4-wheeler! We've had a "toy" fund for awhile and it was in the 5 year plan, but Mike's dad did lots of research and found a great deal on a 2014, so we just got it at the beginning of our plan. ;) It's actually a lot more fun than I thought because it's so easy to drive, even for me, and it feels pretty safe. Terry got his first, and they actually took it and the snowmobile all the way to the cabin! 

After we got ours, we took it out to this place off Baccus highway and had a blast! The kids love it, especially Sadie. She gets all excited and tries to move her body and yours towards it anytime she sees it. She starts whining when someone else gets on it without her. It's so adorable! 

Here is the first dirt. :) Totally worth it.

We took both out for Cheri's birthday at 5 mile pass and she and Ange loved them! They were driving them all around and having a blast. The kids did a ride or two, but they actually just loved playing them in the dirt. It was a perfect day! I think it was a great investment and we're excited to be able to enjoy them. 

New chairs!

We bought our kitchen chairs early in our marriage and we got them at a deal, but we didn't think of kids eating on them and not being able to wipe them off. No matter how much we cleaned them the microfiber just kept all the drops of food and liquid. So after 6 years we finally found the perfect fabric and replaced them! It costs about $25 for all 6 chairs and we were able to just put the new vinyl type of fabric over the existing microfiber. Our lives are so much better because of it. Now, onto the next project. :)

9 months!

I can't believe it, but Sadie turned 9 months just last week! She is such a sweet little girl. She absolutely loves other kids, and especially babies. She makes lots of noises at church until I take her to the baby she sees so she can give them a soft open mouth, but not slobbery, kiss. Then she'll get so excited that she might hit the babies after. :) Carter and Savi can't get enough of her. Carter is kind of the quick hug and squeeze, usually just enough to make her fuss, and then he takes off. He's been saying things like, "Where that little baby is, I am!" Savi actually plays with her and tries to help her stop fussing. Her and Katelyn can make her laugh the hardest. She has recently learned to crawl all the way up the stairs. We didn't teach her, but she doesn't want us to teach her how to go down yet. She mostly just avoids the stairs once she's up them so we haven't had any falls...yet. She is still not sleeping through the night, but she does sleep pretty good with just a bottle around 3 am. She is just so sweet and happy when she does wake up in the morning that it usually melts away the lack of sleep from my eyes. ;-) She's still a mommy's girl, but she is doing better since she can move more.

Such a fun dad

I don't know about you and your spouse, but Mikey is definitely the fun one between the both of us. :) Being with the kids all day I feel like I have more "things" to do with them, like eat, baths, dress, homework, etc but Mikey gets to do the fun things with them. Anyway, I know that I can do more, but I also like my time to do dinner with only 2 hands. ;) Plus, I know I can't beat rides on fun things like the tote gote and motorcycle.

Great Friends

We have been very blessed with great neighbors and good friends for our kids right in our circle. When we first moved into our house I was pretty sure that this was our first house, but we would move on in like 5 years. Now, it's been 5 years and I honestly can't think of living anywhere else! If we did though it would have to be at the back of long circle like we are now because it's the perfect place for little kids running around. Anyway, Savi have a couple of girls that are just her age...actually they are both older than her, but she towers over them in height and personality. Chloe and Gracie are a lot more soft spoken, but they get along pretty well...most of the time anyway. :) Sadie can't wait to be apart of the group, but of course when I get Sadie to look and smile, which is hard to do, Savi is pulling some crazy face...so silly!