Baby Blessing and Father's Day

After being in Boise, the girls and I gathered some ideas and made a trip to Ikea.  They helped me pull things together and now I feel my home is more inviting.  I had hoped to get it all done before Ammon and Cora had the baby blessing.  My coffee table is on back order, I home it comes in soon. 

 Ammon's parents and brothers stayed with us for the weekend of Father's Day.  Cora picked up Ammon and Braydon on the Friday, Ammon's birthday.  Our EQ was having a shooting activity.  They got home and he left with Dave.  Later Cora and I went down to meet them and bring birthday cake. 

Saturday we moved cows.  It was great to have them there.  Ammon and Cora drove on of the truck as we went back and forth.  With less cows it went faster and was fun.  All went smooth. 

After we got them all moved, we did a few chores around the house and meal prepped for when Ammon's family arrived.  Cora makes a great pizza.  She served that Saturday night. Cora has great in laws.  They were wonderful to be with. Sunday was J's blessing.  They had decided to do it after church at our house.  (Dave had said that he would like a new tie for Father's Day this year.  I found an awesome one).  Ammon gave a beautiful blessing.  J was not happy until they sat her back up after the blessing.  

Leah got some great family pictures of them.  I will share when she is finished editing.  Blake was able to call and it was fun to have all my kids talking together.  Leah and Braydon don't often get to join the call because of their work schedule. It ended up being a beautiful weekend. 

Some other happenings this month.  Leah had a work conference in Toronto.  Braydon was still out there.  Leah's clinic took everyone to a Blue Jays game.  Had a box and bought them all merch.  They invited Braydon along.  They even made gf food for him.  

Months ago it was announced that Blake's mission would be splitting.  He got the new last transfer that he would be staying in Freetown.  He is happy about the assignment.  He really like Makeni and his MP and wife.  He is now ZL 1.  He isn't companions with the other zone leader, but they get along really well.  His companion was transfered to the new Bo mission.  He was transfered out the next morning.  Blake was in a trio for a few days until his new companion arrived.  He is training again.  Very happy about that.  His comp is from the DRC. He speaks French and so their communication has been interesting. But Blake said he is wicked smart and will get it quick.  

Dave's work bought tickets to the local baseball game opener.  It was a family event so the girls came with us.  Dave enjoyed showing off his little granddaughter to people.  She did well and was happy through most of the game.  

The Oilers are in playoffs for the Stanley Cup.  We aren't hockey fans.  But since a Canadian team made it in and had such a great comeback we started looking up scores and highlights.  Leah's boss gave her his sign in info and she invited us to come to her house to watch game 6.  Dave didn't really want to go, also didn't want to stay by himself.  I had just planned to have a fun night with my kids.  Dave ended up coming, Leah made us pizza and salad.  It was a good game. We had a great evening and will be watching game 7 on Monday all together.  

Back in March we were asked to fast and pray for rain for the next two fast sundays.  We did and of course many more prayers.  It has been awe inspiring to see the rain we have gotten and when we have gotten it.  The Lord know exactly when we need some more and sends it.  The fields are greening up and hay looks good for the cows.  We have been truly blessed and prayers have and continue to be answered.  God is not only good, but great.

Hello May, Goodbye May

We got to spend a lot of time with the girls in May.  Leah's office was closed for conferences and stuff and both the boys are still working hard in Toronto.  It has been so fun.  Lots of walks and chats and late nights trying to get the littlest girl to sleep.  She is growing and starting to smile and talk a little.

The Bean Buddies got together one night.  Dave and I went to bed long before they were done for the evening.  Just like old times, except a crying baby in the mix.  I told J that Maycie was going to be her friends' mom so she needed to be happy for her. :)

Leah has started taking some official pictures.  Also started an Instagram @windypeaksphotography 

I have had her taking our family pictures this year.  She is hoping to do some grad and family pictures for others as well.  She is just starting and looking for volunteers to practice with. But I have been very happy with all her stuff so far.  She did awesome pictures of the Hatch's (see June post coming soon)

Dave's dad had rented some cylinders before he passed away.  Every few years the farm gets a notice to pay the rent.  When I saw it this year, I started thinking of ways that we could return them and not have to keep paying rent on the empty things that we were not using. Dave agreed and in the end we took his truck on a day trip to Great Falls to return them. He was worried that his truck would not make it.  We started early in the morning and just took it easy.  2 hour wait at the border, but we made it and it was a fun trip.  Rained and blew a ton, but we got them returned and Dave took me to Fuddruckers. 

The next weekend we went to Boise for Ty's homecoming.  Leah came with us.  We had some very sketchy hotels and they were pretty horrible.  The trip was fun and Kita's house was luxury.  We left as soon as Leah got off work on Friday and drove 1/3 of the way.  The next morning we got an early start, Dave wanted to see the Teton Dam.  It was really neat.  Unbelievable that they never even got it filled before it collapsed. We made a stop after at Reed's Dairy, which was awesome as always.

It was a lot of fun to be with my siblings again.  Kita's house was so cozy and inviting, I was inspired to make some changes and update my place a bit when I got home.  Saturday evening Kita had brought in a food truck, Sunday was fun.  Kita had given us all instruction of what to do right after church, but we got waylaid and Taylor and Erin did it all.  I was not much help.  After a fantastic brunch we headed back on the road. The next morning we made a quick stop to see the Helena temple and then on home.

For some reason I had a crazy headache most of the weekend.  It was so nice to have Leah along.  Leah is always fun to be with, but so helpful this trip as she chatted with Dave and helped deal with the lunch.  Love my kids.  The older we all get it is just more and more fun to see them become their own families and the directions they take with their lives. 

I have been doing more MOA.  Really enjoy it.  I will be having a lot more work days in the summer as I fill in for people.  We still get to see lots of the girls and love every time they come out. 

Dave's job is gong well.  They are always throwing new things at him and he is great at getting the most efficient way to do things figures out and organized.

Cora is such a great mom.  She finds joy in everything J does.  She just has fun and hasn't let it change her life.  She is determined that she is going to be an outdoorsy girl.  Cora puts her in her carrier and goes for walks or to the park or just sleep in her seat outside every day. 

Blake is really loving Makeni.  He is the JR Zone leader.  He has he enjoys that but hopes to train again sometime. His comp is an interesting dude, they had no water of power for 20 days.  His last baptism they had to haul water for.  They pumped it and hauled 58 buckets of water. 

I know I keep saying this, but I love how Blake has just embraced the changes and his happy and doing all he can.

There are the highlights from May.  Or what I can remember anyways