Hello

None of us can believe that summer has ended. We have been so busy, which always seem to make the days roll by more quickly. This was probably the busiest summer that I can remember! It seems like it was one thing after another. Family reunions, lots of friends and family visiting, scout camps, family vacations, working on the new house, my husband's sabbatical, a Yellowstone trip,  a few trips to Jackson and the lakes, hiking, camping, swimming...summer has been wonderful!  A great first summer in the Teton valley, and we can't wait for another! And now we dive into the busy fall months. Fall is my absolute favorite season! I love everything about it; the cool, crisp air, the leaves changing colors and covering the mountainsides like a beautiful quilt, the festive gatherings and holidays, the pumpkin patches and corn mazes, being warm and cozy, the aroma of hot mulled cider and pie, and just being together with my family!  

We have started another homeschool year...Noah (3rd grade), Amelia (1st grade), Hannah (preschool), Hayley (our cute little distraction;). Right now I'm reading these lovely posts about homeschooling that have truly spoken to my heart as a mother. Very fun and inspiring. Well, I feel accomplished having blogged this much, and so I must go tend to my little ones...but I hope you have a wonderful day! I know I will. It's my birthday today, and there is snow on the ground *hmmm*, but I plan on having my favorite kind of day... a long, lazy day at home with some knitting, reading, watching my favorite movie- Dan in Real Life, and baking (pumpkin pie is on the list;)

Happy October!

Life in the Teton Valley...

                              

A lot has changed since my last post...including moving our family, away from everything we have ever known, to the country... Driggs, Idaho in the beautiful Teton Valley to be exact;)

But before I go any further, here is what we have been up to the last few months...
Hannah graduated from Preschool:)

I love this girl. She is bright, happy, caring, loving, sensitive, thoughtful, courageous, adorable, helpful, kind, tender-hearted, energetic, hilarious, and sweet. She is darling and I just absolutely adore her!

                  

And then we had some goodbye parties and BBQ's with friends and family. This was the last picture we took in our backyard. I am going to miss that sweet, little house. It was a beautiful day. *sigh*

                 

And then we packed up our stuff...and headed up north. It was bittersweet, but we feel happy about this leap we have taken.

                                 

It's been kind of a long process, but now that we are here and finally settled, we can explore:)
This is a hike we took up Teton Canyon...it was absolutely breathtaking! And the trails were perfect, and easy for the kids!

                                 

                                  

                                  

Jackson Hole, Wyoming...very fun little tourist stop. 

                              

This is the view from the Jackson Airport...is that gorgeous or what?!

                             

Who doesn't love the antler arches?!

But mostly we have been doing this...

Riding Bikes

Walks

                                    

Crafts...I'm bringing back the fabric covered button earrings;)

                   

And I fancied up my burlap wreath using the funky flower tutorial here

Sewing lessons...I start my little ones early;)

                   

And yes, I am wearing a denim shirt in almost every picture of me in this post...I am obsessed!!!!!

I bought a million from Old Navy here, here and here...and I want to go back for more. It's a disease.

On to more cute pictures...

Art with Sculpey clay

Nature study and notebooking

Cursive... she is practicing on every piece of paper that crosses her path.
                                             

Baking lessons

               

We are finishing up our first year of homeschooling, and I think it went well. We did have to make some adjustments and curriculum changes, but I think we have ironed out all the wrinkles and next year should flow smoothly. We will still keep busy, over the summer, with some of these fun activities plus a little reading and writing.

And since moving my kids have only had each other to play with...I have to admit, I love it! This is what spurred this move...more family time, less distractions.

                               

This is our lot...20 beautiful acres...I will keep you posted on this;)

                               

Oh, and some other BIG news around here...This one is walking! We are over-joyed, ecstatic, thrilled! She is so sweet! We love watching her totter around, and she is feels so big!

                

Well, until my next post, here is our SUMMER LIST 2013:

-Utah Trip

-BBQ

-Oregon Coast Trip

-Washington Trip

-Nature Scavenger Hunt

-Go Camping

-Swimming

-Bike Rides

-Sidewalk Chalk
-Bubbles
-Sno Cones
-Eat Ice Cream
-Farmers Market
-Picnic in the Park
-Stadium of Fire
-Salmon Bake
-Stargaze
-Roast Marshmallows
-Make Peach Lemonade
-Read
-Tye-Dye
-Yellowstone Trip
-Hike
-Ride Horses
-Go Fishing
-Paint Rocks
-Drive-in Movie

What will you be up to this summer!?!?

Well... if you take a trip out this way or see these beautiful mountains, think of us!!

                        


Happy Summer 2013 XOXO

summer and blueberry muffins

our summer has been lovely and fast...too fast. we haven't crossed off everything on our summer list, but who does? it's just fun to have some goals to try and accomplish, but of course nothing ever goes as planned, and so throw in some game changers and everything goes right out the window!

at least that's how our summer was. have you ever seen "Dan in Real Life"? it is one of my absolute FAVORITE movies of all time. at the end, dan says "prepare to be surprised." i have incorporated that into my life. my life functions much more smoothly that way, because i'm not freaking out at every bump in the road. I have learned to let go and let God. have you ever heard that saying? i love it.

 i am a control freak by nature, and so to give it up was hard, but when i realized, i never had control of anything anyway, it was a relief to let that go. now, i trust in my heavenly father and savior, jesus christ, and i choose believe that they are guiding my life for my good. anything that happens after that is what they put in my path to teach me something.

school, is about to start...and i have made a big decision...i am homeschooling my kindergartner and my second grader! i am excited, anxious and a little scared, but i feel very confident in my decision, i know it's what is right for us, and i know everything will work out.

made these with the kids this morning, they were DIVINE!
here is the recipe for these delish blueberry muffins over at blueberry octopie!

hope you have a fabulous end of summer and a fantastic start to your school year! love fall time. very much looking forward to it!