Mommy and Mia time

 

 

 

This is the type of stuff we end up doing when all the boys are at school.  She is a funny little girl.  I spun the wheel, she did whatever I spun.  I tried to talk her out of this game because there were no other kids around to be on the mat with her, but she didn't care.  I am actually really enjoying the one on one time that we get.  She is good at entertaining herself, so it's not like I'm constantly playing games or entertaining, it's a bit of both.  A good balance.  And when all else fails and we already played, she has cousins next door!!  :)  I'm happy for this chance to build a relationship with her and have the time to be with just her.  Although, she may be enjoying it a little too much because I'm having a hard time getting her to go to school happily 2x per week.  As she says "It's more fun at home with mommy"  haha  :/    (Score for me, but she needs to go to school)

Yellowstone

It has become an nice little tradition for us to go to Yellowstone with my Aunt and Uncle every summer.  We've been doing it for quite a while now, even the kids expect it and ask when it's happening.  :)  We arrived Thurs night when the sun was setting.  So just enough time to set up tent and make a fire to roast marshmallows and make smores.  :)  The next morning was rainy, so we debated on going on our hike or not, but in the end we decided to go for it.

 

 The rain stopped right when we started hiking, so it was perfect weather for hiking.  A bit overcast and not too hot.  We found a patch of wild raspberries that everyone enjoyed.  Last year it was huckleberries, this year raspberries.  Yummy!

 I forgot the name of this bridge, but if you'd stop on it, you could feel the wind moving it. 

 It took forever, but we finally made it to this pretty beach!!  Everyone was tired and HUNGRY!!  :)  Diego has learned when Colleen says the destination is "just around that bend" it is actually just around the next bend, and the next, and the next for a few more miles.  hahaha

 Bones of an Elk...we think

 I almost threw up when I saw Alessandro carrying around this hair ball from a buffalo.  I made it get rid of it after this picture.  No way was I going to let that thing end up in the bags and in my house eventually!  Eeeewww

 Saturday we were a bit worn out from the hike the day before so we decided to take it easy and go walk around some hot spots and see some geysers.  They were beautiful.  Stinky, but pretty.  :)

 We had to wait forever for this buffalo to get off the rode.  He actually stood in the rode blocking traffic as he waited for the female and baby to cross.  As soon as they crossed he got out of traffics way.  I found it interesting to see how they acted with family.  I have never seen so many buffalo together.  It was awesome.  There were hundreds of them and we'd sit and watch them walk together as a family, roll around in the dirt, and we even got to hear them!  I have never heard them before.  It was really cool.

 These two are just a couple weeks apart in age, so it's always fun when they get together.  They both wanted to be the leader on our hike and I think that competitiveness is what kept them going.  Crazy girls.

Lost Tooth

Luca lost his first tooth!!!

 

 

Fishing with Grandpa

Dad had asked if Udine, Diego, and Alessandro wanted to go fishing with him and Ben and his boys.  At last minute Udine had to cancel because a meeting came up at work that he could not get out of, so I decided to go.  I don't think I've been fishing with my dad since I was in high school, maybe even middle school.??  Anyway, it was a good time and 3 of the 4 kids got to reel a fish in, so it was exciting.

 Alessandro and his fish...it jumped out of their hands, slimed Alessandro's mouth and flopped on to the boat floor after this picture.  ;)

 Diego and his fish.  This fish jumped back in the water one sec after getting this picture.  I was worried I missed the moment, but I didn't.  :)

Apparently I didn't get the fish in that picture above.  But that is the one Packer caught and dad kept it to cook.  Diego volunteered to gut and clean the thing.  I think his words when it was all said and done were "Gross...I shouldn't have said I'd do that"  or something to that affect.  hahaha

Happy Birthday Mia!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS MIA!!

 

  

 I gave her the doll house my grandpa made for me when I was a little girl.  It has been a huge hit.  Although, the 30 year old furniture is not holding out, so I think I need to suck it up and purchase some new furniture for her.  ;)

 Grandma and Grandpa stopped by and got to stay for some cake.

 

Mia is such a funny little girl.  She loves to try and be like the big kids.  Whatever they are doing, she thinks she can do also...run as fast, bike as fast...she tries her hardest to keep up.  She is a great little player.  She will sit and play with her toys, dolls, whatever it may be forever and it's so fun to watch her imagination as she does.  She just started playing soccer and it couldn't have happened soon enough for her.  She is loving it.  She enjoys school, but constantly reminds me she wishes she were in kindergarten because that would be more fun since they have recess.  She is finally showing an interest in her numbers and letters.  Her speech is coming a long way.  She is still in speech therapy, but I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't need it by the time she does start kindergarten.  :)  She is in a stage where she will only wear dresses.  It drives me crazy, but I am learning not to buy stuff without her looking at it first because it just won't get worn.  Who knew a five year old would care so much!!??  She loves to play with her siblings and cousins. She constantly tells me she wants to cut her hair like her cousins Cali and Anna.  Her favorite foods are beans and rice or fettuccine alfredo.  Anything else is hit or miss, but those two dishes she can out eat me.  She is such a fun little girl and I'm so glad she has joined our family and brought a bit more emotion and mood into this boy infested house.  haha  We love you Mia!  Happy Happy birthday!!!

First Snow Fall

This was back in November but I am playing catch up with my posts.  :)  The kids were so excited that it actually snowed.  Diego was so mad at me because all of their winter gear was still packed away at Peter's house so he got too cold.  Oh well.  Everyone else had fun.  Even Jamie went to make a snowman.  I ran out to snap pictures but then ran back in to get warm.  :) 

 

Guatemala/United States

This week on Tuesday December 18th was the mark for Udine being in the States as many years as he lived in Guatemala.  I think it has been a strange realization for him.  He left for his mission at age 18 to serve in AZ and has never gone home to live again, just to visit.  He has now spent as many years speaking English as he did speaking his native tongue, Spanish.

I wish our stuff wasn't all in storage because I'd love to show a picture of him and what he wore his first winter in the states.  Well, not true, he had been in the states about 3 years, but it was his first winter in a cold state (Idaho).  I think he wore every article of clothing he owned.  hahaha  Now I think I get colder quicker than him!!