9 Years Old

 Summer at 9:

-loves all things snake/reptile (still--SMH)

-loves cats

-can throw a frizbee like a champ

-loves stuffies & squishmallows

-loves her friends and wants a playdate every day

-has mastered jump rope

-TV: Youtube videos, Lab Rats

-Books: Owl Diaries, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, My Weird School

-loves swimming and just moved up to level 4

-loves gymnastics

-still has a major sweet tooth

-favorite foods: hamburgers, chicken nuggets (nuggs)

Summer got two days of celebration this year.  One with family, and one with friends!

She woke up and came downstairs to find a new snake squishmallow:)

Then it was crepes for breakfast (as usual...notice the clover tough haha)

Mom and Dad got her a gymnastics bar:)

Costco tuxedo cake for cake #1

Just two friends for the party this year; Kiera and Reese

Pinkabella cupckes-yum!

It was SO hot!

Sprinkler under the trampoline--fun!

Such a fun time celebrating our sassy, smart, strong-willed little 9 year old.  

We love you Summer!!

Dad would be proud

Every time I stand outside watering my garden, I think of my dad.  Every single time.  I think of the early mornings when I would wake up and Mom would be in the kitchen or doing her hair, and Dad would be outside watering.  

This year, we've added some more fruit and vegetables to our yard.  Now when I go out to water, I always think "I wish Dad could see all we've done, he'd be proud"  Dad always said that nothing was worth planting if it couldn't be useful/harvested:)

We now have two rows of raspberries

Five blueberry bushes (we used to only have 3)

Two beds of strawberries

Tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins & zucchini

And we've added one more apple tree and a peach tree!

(we now have cherry, pear, 2 apple, and peach)

How did we get HERE?

Mike is FIFTY!!  

We celebrated with a big party with so many friends (of course, I only took pictures before the guests arrived).  We ended the night chatting on the back porch with the last few friends that stayed to the very end, in the soft glow of the backyard lights, while the campfire burned and the kids jumped on the trampoline.  I love nights like this!!

I also made a slideshow of him through the years that we played during the party.

Here's a picture that didn't make it in the slideshow because for some reason it kept turning sideways!  So here it is on my blog at least--Mike and Miley and their complicated relationship haha.

I made a ton of cupcakes!

As I was setting out the snacks, I thought I may have over done it...but it was almost entirely gone by the end of the night!

I had to get a 1973 banner!

Some of his gifts from the party:)

About Mike at 50:

~ discovered a new love of pickleball

~obsessed with sports card trading (started his own business)

~still playing clash of clans (and HayDay)

~teaches Seminary

~still tries to make it to pick-up volleyball and basketball

~loves playing/teaching Tyson and Summer chess

~still stays up too late

~just hit his 10-year mark at Microsoft

I am so grateful to have Mike in my life.  I have now known him for half his life:)  

Now that he's reached this milestone, we can all stop aging;)

Wedding Weekend

 Is there anything more fun than a wedding?!  We were so excited to get to be part of Becca's special day:)...especially since we couldn't attend Amanda's wedding due to covid.  

Jordan and I headed up a day early to help with decorating and bridesmaid duties.  It was so nice to be able to help, and bonus that I got to see all my sisters a day longer.  

Saturday morning was the temple sealing.  So special that Becca's grandpa (Leavitt) got to officiate.  

Then outside for pictures (it was so hot outside!)

While the wedding party stayed for more pictures, we headed to A & W for some lunch and then Mike took the kids 5-pin bowling while I hung out with mom.

Then back to Langley for the reception.  It was such a fun time celebrating Becca and Brody!  It was so special to be together with so many people who I love so much.    

Can't wait for the next one!

Spring Break with EVERYONE

Trying to come up with things to do EVERY SINGLE DAY is a lot...haha, but I think Kya and Clayton had a good break.  I always feel like we have to make it "worth the 12 hour drive"!

We went to Microsoft

(drank all the drinks and played ping pong)

We went to Dave & Busters 

(played all the games and won so many prizes)

We celebrated Easter

(with baskets, egg hunt, church, dinner)

So glad Jordan and Mikel could join us for dinner after work!

We hot tubbed

Played way too much Crokinole

We went to the zoo

(it was COLD)

Hung out at the bonfire 

(and of course made s'mores)

Tried out Top Golf

So grateful Kya and Clayton drove out to hang with us!  

March Madness (It's not just basketball)

 March is my least favorite month of the year.  There are no fun holidays, it seems to last forever, and winter seems to linger and linger and linger.  Luckily there were a few things this March to break the monotony.

We got our fence back

Finally a little privacy back after at least a year of feeling "exposed" haha

I got to take a quick up to Canada for Janae and Alaina's Jazz Gala

Such a fun night with delicious food, fabulous entertainment, and the best company

Lisa's family came for a quick visit for Jason's birthday

Jaliscos, Seattle Underground Tour, Pike Place, Hot Tub, Hilcrest Bakery chocolate cake...I love it when we have visitors!

It snowed/hailed

 I could have totally gone without this one

Our trees started to blossom

Proof that spring will actually come!

We got some Easter (a little early) goodies from the Fifes:)

And they brought Summer a bag full of gifts for her baptism!  She was so happy.

We all got completely slaughtered in our March Madness brackets

I have never seen so many upsets in the first round before! It was crazy.  Jordan managed to win our family competition, but it was pretty sad.

BRING ON APRIL!!