May

We didn't get all the painting done before moving in (although everything got done where there was going to be new carpet) so Justin took a Friday afternoon off so he could finish.  We love that he is close enough to do that!  Brynn and Stockton got to help out a little.

This was the hardest wall.  The edge was rounded going from wall to ceiling so Justin was worried about taping a straight line.  He did an awesome job.

We went to Plain City the first Saturday in May.  Justin was attending the state credit union convention in Layton so we had a day with cousins.  We got some ice cream at the new ice cream joint/bakery in Plain City.

Chloe, Abby, and Molly

Later that night, the kids went to Ben's baseball game with grandma and grandpa while I went to pick up Justin.  While there, Abby fell off the monkey bars and broke her arm.  Poor girl.  Molly came home crying because she felt so bad so we channeled her sadness into something a little more productive.  I helped her and Gavin make a poster for Abby and we all signed it.  They hung it up on Bryce and Erin's mantle so she could see it when she got home from the hospital.

Here is a glimpse of our street: Crazy Acres Road.  It is a dead end so not very busy at all.  I love hearing Brynn say "Are we on Crazies Acres Road?" anytime we turn onto our street.  She says it like it's all one word.

Brynn was playing around in Ivy's carseat one night, trying to be funny.  She ended up falling asleep in it so really, we got the last laugh.

The next night she fell asleep on the chair.  This makes bedtime so much easier and is much preferred over taking a nap at 5 in the afternoon!

Brynn sits by Ivy in the car and sometimes holds her hand.  You can't see it, but Brynn is actually asleep when I took this picture with my phone.

This girl is the cutest.  We love her to pieces.

Someone requested some pictures of our yard so here are a few.  Justin and I have always dreamed of having a big yard and have talked many times about settling for a smaller house or an older home for a bigger yard.  We really didn't think we would be so lucky to actually stumble across something with a decent-sized house and a big yard.  We have 1.69 acres total.  About 1 acre is pasture and the rest is the yard.  The grass needs work and I plan on tearing out all the flower beds and gradually replanting.  But the trees are plentiful and we sure love them!  Definitely the biggest selling point for us.

Looking off the deck into the south side of the back yard.

The other half of the back yard.  That little building is Justin's shed/woodshop, also a huge selling point for him.  For me, as well, because it means I will always be able to park in the garage and there will never be sawdust all over the kids' toys.  There is also a dog run for when we someday get a dog (I'm not overly-anxious for that).

Front yard.  The entrance to the house is right there on the left.

 A couple views of the backyard.

 

The north side of the house (backyard looking toward the front).

 The very back corner of the yard.  Looking south.

 Another view of the front yard, also looking south.  That's the front of the house and the garage.

 Mother's Day window art.

Mother's Day morning snuggles.  The kids and Justin made me breakfast in bed and then we had some relax time.

I love this picture.  Ivy rolled over for the first time the day before and everyone is anxiously watching to see if she'll do it again.

And Mother's Day before-church picture.  Stockton really had a rough morning with more than one meltdown so he didn't join us for the picture.

He was all cheered up by the time church was over so I got one of just him and me when we got home.  Love my boy.

Sweet sleeping baby.

We moved before the Payson temple was dedicated and are back in the Provo temple district but we did make it down to the open house.  We took the kids out of school and went on a nice Tuesday morning.  The temple was so gorgeous.  It was beautiful in more of a modern way and I just loved it.  As soon as Ivy can be left for a longer period of time, a session there is one of the first things I'd like to do.

 

We were happy that Ellen came with us.

 

Justin gave me a trampoline for Mother's Day.  He said it was so that when the kids are driving me crazy, I can send them out to jump.  How thoughtful of him. :)

Brynn still loves to get her nails painted.

Ivy's hair was exceptionally crazy this day.

As Ivy's hair has started to get longer, it has calmed down a little and doesn't stand straight up anymore.  Except for this one day.  It was so crazy!  Then I realized that maybe it was long enough for a little ponytail at the top.  Yup.

Nice outfit, Brynn.

Stockton's Valentine's date with me was to go to breakfast.  Good thing there is at least a Kneaders in Heber.  We went there and I enjoyed their french toast while Stocky had some pancakes.  Yum!

Good thing our master bedroom comes equipped with a place for all of Justin's bobbleheads.  The kids love sorting these and dusting them with Justin.  It was one of the first things unpacked.

4 months + 1 day

Stockton was excited to get his yearbook from Rees in the mail.  Molly got one too.

Every couple of weeks or so a fort is built at our house.  Now I can send them to the loft to do it and it doesn't make a mess of my family room.  A win-win for sure.

Cleaning out the fire pit.  Justin spends a lot of his time in the yard.  He loves it and is living his dream.

Brynn was so patient...she finally got her last Valentine's date with dad.  They went out to lunch-to McDonald's, of course.  She even got a happy meal.

Matt and Camille came to visit and see the new house.  All of a sudden, Justin and Matt were cutting down a tree.  It's okay, it's one we didn't want anyway.

Ivy.

Ivy and her sisters.

We didn't go anywhere for Memorial Day.  We had too much to do at home.  We did take a break from working to try out the firepit.  Justin made us some tin-foil dinners and we roasted marshmallows for dessert.  We got a little rained on but not enough to spoil our fun!

Are you sick of Ivy pictures?  Too bad.  Here are two more.

Stockton's last day of Kindergarten.

Here he is on his first day, last August.

Not much has changed...he even wore the same shirt, although it wasn't on purpose.  He loved Kindergarten and is looking forward to 1st grade. (1st grade?!!)

And Molly's first day photo.

And last day.  Can't believe how grown-up this girl is getting.  She had a big year- baptism, a new sister, a move.  Looking ahead now to 3rd grade.

Molly had to go one day after Stockton was done.  Brynn took a nap that day and Stockton had a hard time entertaining himself.  He needs one of his sisters to play with.  We built a small fort so he could stay busy until Brynn woke up or Molly got home.

Molly loves Ivy.

Good morning, baby!

I finally got the saucer out of the basement and cleaned it off.  Baby Ivy was excited about it!

More yardwork.  Justin spent a whole Saturday trimming trees (we have 60+ just in the yard and 125 if you include the pasture).  Stockton really loved using the pruning shears to cut the branches into small twigs.

While the boys were hard at work, Molly and Brynn found an excellent climbing tree.

Ivy came out and watched me rake and enjoyed the sunshine.

Ivy update, 7/14: 

5 days away from the big 6 months!

-Ivy is taking longer naps.  She still takes plenty of short ones but has been sleeping for longer stretches of time when we are home.  She is taking three naps each day typically and usually at least one is longer, anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 hours.

-Has found her feet.

-Started eating rice cereal a couple of times each day.  She really seems to enjoy eating solids.

-Can sit on her own, although she is still supervised while she works to get stronger.

-Smiles at everyone.

-Has started grunting.