In September

Brea, Kaven, Emery, Duncan

We had cousins come to visit and were lucky enough to watch them while Brandon when to the Utes football game.

Brea

Kaven, Brea, and Duncan

Elcee and Brea

Elcee is a little nervous about her first solid food.

She did great with the help of her older sister Emery.

 We went to The Utes stadium during the Health Fair.  Tim was doing a rotation at the University of Utah Hospital and the people he worked with had a booth there.

Standing in front of the stadium, excited to go in

 

 
 

We celebrated my birthday in Delta.

My present from Tim (it was material to make my Halloween costume)

Sweet Little Elcee

Snuggling with her Daddy

Oh how I love this SWEET little happy bundle of joy.  She has been such an easy, lovable baby.  I feel bad that I have not written much about her because of my lack of blogging and the focus on what the older kids are doing.  She is just my little sweetheart that is SO CONTENT and happy.  When ever anyone in our family is feeling down or stressed, I just quietly put Elcee next to them or in their arms and she just brightens them right up.  If you can not tell, she if VERY admired in this family.  I have a friend from Napal that takes her little girl/s to the bus at the same time as I take Emery.  She once told me that seeing Elcee was the highlight of her day because she make her so happy.  She said that she talks to her husband about Elcee all the time because she loves her so much.  I thought that was pretty kind to say, yet I had to agree that her happiness is pretty contagious.  Most any time you look at her or start talking to her, she will smile and giggle at you.  Needless to say, it is super easy to get a good picture of her.  Very rarely do I take more than one or two pictures of her in the same setting.  Oh, how we love her!  For the first half of her life she was such a Daddy's girl and loved it when he held her.  When he would put her to sleep he would always sing/hum the song Clancy's Theme (Man From Snowy River) to her and she would go right out.  I don't blame her because I love her Daddy's voice as well.  Once we got back to Salt Lake City and Tim got SUPER busy again, he wasn't able to hold and help out with her as much, so now she is both a Mommy's and Daddy's girl.  She still loves her Daddy dearly though.  It is not surprising that here first word was Da Da.  She also totally admires her brother and sister.  She always wants to be in the same room as them and just watch super closely at what they are doing, and laugh and smile at them as they play.  Most the time she is totally a part of what they are playing.  Like this morning I caught them playing with Emery's tea set on the floor and Elcee had her own place setting as well.  They were all just sitting in this cute little circle.  I just LOVE being a mom!

She started sitting up at 4 almost 5 months old

When ever she wakes up from her nap, this is usually what I find when I go in to get her.  Kaven and Emery hear she is awake as well and run in to be by her.

Watching Mommy cook dinner.

She likes playing in this play set, but likes it the best when we are outside.   I think she lasts longer in it outside because she likes watching all the kids playing.

Watching Mommy get ready for church.

Emery fed Elcee her first solid food at 5 months old.  Emery is such a good little miniature Mommy for her.

My Emery Girl is in Kindergarten!!!

Emery waiting to meet her teacher for her assessment before school started

Emery with her teacher Mrs. Bradley

I know I am a little slow in posting this as I know that she has been in school for about 2 months now but I just had to have it in my records. 

Emery is my big sweet helper and I have to admit that I was quite worried about sending her to school.  There was much anxiety months before she even had to go.  We would talk through lots of things about school and the bus and I guess she could tell that I was worried because she would keep telling me, "Don't worry mom, I am going to be just fine." The actual day of sending her off went really well. She was SO BRAVE and EXCITED.  I guess I just needed a brave independent kid for my first child because I am so timid.  She will plow the way for me and the rest of our kids in everything we go through in life.  What a blessing!!




 

I of course had to make her take this picture for information sake.  You can tell she did not want this picture taken. 

I took her to the bus stop quite early and took a bunch of pictures.

Emery picked out her outfit for her first day.  She REALLY wanted to wear her pants with sparkly pockets and her long sleeve penguin shirt.  I told her she might be hot but she didn't seem to care.

Kaven Elcee and Emery waiting for the bus.  I think Elcee is super excited too.  She is such a happy baby!

Waiting for the bus some more.  Kaven of course had to bring his school bus, he always has to have a car in his hand.

She met a new friend at her bus stop and held hands with her all the way to her playground from the bus.  It was pretty cute and comforting for probably her and me.  Things are always WAY easier and doable if you have someone to go through it with.

Smeetea (Yessis little sister), Yessi, and Emery waiting for the bus

 I have actually loved having this family wait at the bus with us every day.  They are from Nepal and we have become great friends.  I love talking with their mom Monju everyday.  She is still learning English and I love learning about their culture and country while getting to know them.

Off she goes, take a big breath and be brave for her.

 I just couldn't handle sending her off without knowing she got there safe.  So I used the excuse that I wanted to take pictures on her first day at the school.  There she is leading the way for everyone, even thought she does not know where she is going (that's my girl).

Getting off the bus at her school

Posing for some more pictures for me.

Walking hand in hand with her new friend Yessi to their playground

Waiting in line to go to class for the first time.  She is actually second in line and all full of confidence.  A bunch of other kids were crying and super nervous.  Not my Emery girl, just what timid Mommy needed. 

Home at last and first one off the bus, I might add, happy as can be.

She came home SO HAPPY and ready to do homework.  She told me that she wants to do her homework right when she gets home everyday (hopefully that attitude lasts).  She gets a color everyday for her behavior in class and purple is the best color.  She REALLY wants to get a purple everyday so she can get two tickets put in the class jar.  At the end of every week the teacher draws a name and that person gets to pick from the treasure box.  So far she has been doing really well with only one bad day.  She still does her homework super well.  She gets it done quickly but not so fast that she is not taking care in her work.  What a sweetie she is, it sure makes it easy for me to help her.

In August

We took a trip to Bicknell 

We visited one of Daddy's rotations and on the way we stopped at this cool place where there were tons of rocks and boulders to climb all over on.  The day was perfect with cloudy skies and little bits of rain here and there (Tim's FAVORITE kind of weather).

Kaven, Elcee, Tim and Emery in a cool cave.

Emery found some dried up bones.

Dallas and Elcee watched while Kaven, Emery and Tim climbed all over/under the cool rocks and boulders.

Elcee hanging out in the car when it started to rain a little.

 Once we got to Bicknell, we stopped in the Pharmacy where Tim worked and met some of the people he worked with.  We also ate at a SUPER yummy burger place.  On the way home we stopped at Fish Lake and skipped a few rocks. 

Emery, Dallas and Kaven checking out the place.

Learning the art of skipping rocks with Daddy

The Losee Family came to visit us in Annabella

We went on a picnic up Monrovian and did some Geo Cashes

Along all the stops the girls: Kamri, Emery and Nykel decided to decorate their minivan with sticky notes.

We saw turkeys cross the road

And sweet Jenny held our little Elcee while we hung out at the old farmhouse we were staying in.

My Sister Camrin came for a Visit with her Kids

Kaven, James, Duncan, Brea, Dantzel and Emery hanging out in the apple tree in the yard.

Emery, Casey, Dantzel, Kaven, Duncan, Levi, Whit, and Heston having a sleep over in the upstairs of the Annabella house we were living in.

We took a ride up the mountain in the back of my Dads Truck

Right before we left Kaven biffed it and hit his face on the couch, which was rather bloody.  He decided he couldn't swallow because of this so Tim had to hold him over the edge of the truck (moving very slowly, I might add) to spit when he was getting rather drewly.

We saw so many deer and elk (the point of this ride).

We also viewed a beautiful sunset which was much more amazing in real life.  This picture does not do it justice.

We went to the Fair in Richfield

Grandma Bug-a-boo (Rhonda Hills, my mom) with a bunch of the grandkids; Emery, Whit, Anna, Elcee, Kaven, Dantzel and Heston.  We were watching Levi and Casey show their sheep. LOVE this picture!

Papa Jay (Jay Hills, my dad) with Anna during the show.

Showing their sheep

Kaven's FAVORITE show he has ever seen.  He thought this was SO COOL.

Kaven and Emery checking out the pigs

Emery got an egg in the small animal pavillion and made sure it was safe through out the whole fair.

Kaven watching the reptile show.

 I am SO grateful for my parents, family members and friends making an effort to see us many times while we were living in Annabella.  It was great to see everyone so much and be near ones we love!