I see London

Our hotel in London was right next to the London Eye. Because of a 2 plus hour flight delay leaving the States we arrived in London after lunch giving us even less time to explore London. We strolled along the river past Big Ben and the London Bridge and ended up at the Tower Museum. They only had one hour left and the ticket price was hefty, but we made a hasty decision (against the advice of ticket tellers) to go inside anyway.

We practically trotted through the entire thing just so that we could see it all. Inside it housed the crown jewels, coronation clothing, armor, the room that held Ann Boyleyn, a torture chamber ( I couldn't even stand being in the room) and most importantly an old toilet room. (The kids and I had studied the midievel period this year and we wondered about how the person who cleaned up the toilet was called a yeoman farmer. I still don't know what farming has to do with it, but it was neat to see.)

We were all pretty hungry when they finally kicked us out. We really wanted some authentic London food so we found a pub with decent reviews and got our first European meal. Eating was going to become one of our main objectives on this journey.

We got our first realization we were officially abroad when we had to pay for water. Jason ordered a seafood pie and we got a good chuckle when it arrived and literally had a sea creature bathing in a pie crust looking like it was ready to scamper across the table after cleaning under its claws.

Alayna and I had a mushroom pie and Shawn and Sheena had fish and chips. It was all filling and while it won't even come close to some of our Italian meals it was a fun way to end our short stay in London. 

June-know-what? We went on vacation.

End of May was wild. I got in a car crash, our vinyl fence arrived, we were carshopping/insurance dealing, I planned an executed the Krusi family reunion, I attended the Youth Temple Celebration with the youth, (While I was there Dustin and Jason worked all day on the fence) we watched the temple dedication, and then we loaded up the car for our family vacation. Whew! Some days you thrive, some days you survive....

Our first day we drove about 5 hours and stayed in a cabin about an hour north of Missuloa. This was our first time using Airbnb so we weren't sure what to expect. The owners met us at an intersection and led us to the cabin. The cabin was cute and in a secluded spot. I had planned ahead and had Zuppa Toscano made in our thermal cooker. It was surprisingly chilly so the kids thought the soup was amazing. (Rarely to I get kid-approved reviews of my food so I was thrilled).

The cabin had VHS and a old little tv, but kids are easy to please so they watched Shrek while hanging out in the loft. (The loft was where three beds were. I was nervous about that with a sleepwalker and a toddler so Jadon and Micah slept downstairs just to be safe.) This was our view from the cabin. It was beautiful there and perfect weather.

This was the cute cabin. 

There was a train that drove by in the middle of the night. No problem. We are used to that from the Ranch, but Micah loves trains so in the morning when it came by again we all went out and waved.

Crazy window kids.

Look at the mist on the mountains! I so love being right up in nature. It was so needed after a crazy couple of weeks.

We woke up and had breakfast then went for a walk. We didn't stay long because our next adventure was an hour away and we wanted to get to it! Stay tuned!

May the force be with you

May
The chickens finally started laying again. Woot! Woot!

Hermoine hiding in Noelle's room. She isn't going to win any awards for her hiding places.

Oh yea. This crappy thing happened. This is actually a picture for the insurance estimate, but since I don't really have any other pictures of our van I thought I would post it for memories sake. This wasn't my favorite day....obviously. I was very grateful that I had left Jadon and Micah home so only Syd was in the car (on the other side). We were hopeful that the car could be fixed, but in the end maybe things worked out ok. It is sad when you have to part with a vehicle that is working awesome, that is all paid off and that (cough cough) just got hundreds of dollars of recall work done and a brand new transmission.....but we aren't dwelling on that. Much. At least we are trying not to.

When Micah holds my hand my whole heart melts. I am just savoring him as a toddler. Poor Syd didn't get my attention this way because I was carrying around infant Micah. I'm trying to remember always and forever how wonderful little hands, and little hugs are.

This was the day after my accident too so I was especially sensitive about how precious my little people are.

He is just the best.

This is out of place, but the last week of school the kids really enjoyed using the microscope that Rachel and Jesse gave them.

I've been doing Activity Days with the younger girls for the last year. We had a big Father Daughter activity that I got to help plan. Our whole family had to come because Jason and I both needed to be there. The activity went well and I think the girls enjoyed the food and the games we planned.

I also planned a Reunion for the Krusi's. I LOVE MY COUSINS! We started by helping my grandma with some yard work. It is really cool seeing how much we can get done when everyone is helping. Even the littlest walking kids were helping by picking up pinecones and helping plant flowers.

My nephew Jacob is so fun. He has matured into a helpful, smart, and totally witty kid. My mom was combing my Grandma's dog so he borrowed some hair and wanted us to call him Grandpa Snow. It was creeping everyone out that he had all the dog hair in his hat, but he was a riot to watch.

Micah and the kids helping out.;

After we played some minute-to-win-it games we had people show some of things they have been working on. My aunt Hollie so so talented (as are her girls!) She made these awesome quilts.

Her daughters displayed a rug, some pottery, and wooden rings/jewelry that hey had made.

Noelle showed the art that she made for my mom. You can see the purple rug that my cousin made below. (I love it! I tried to commission her to make me one but I think she thought I was kidding!)

This is my Grandma's dog. I love him. He is the prettiest Collie and so fun.

We eat dinner in "The Hollow" It is the same place Micah was blessed. It is so beautiful and is something that my Grandpa worked hard to create. One of the games that we played for the reunion helped introduce some of the ancestors to my cousins. I want them to know about these things because as the oldest cousin I feel like I am the memory keeper. So many of the people that "started" our family they don't remember because they did when they were just little.

Syd loves these trips to Utah. She really loves connecting with adults and adores my Mom and my Dad. The minute that she gets there she has plans for things to do with them. I love seeing the relationship they have.

We were cleaning up after our stay and putting away the pack and play. Micah wanted to get wrapped up in it....until he was and then he didn't like it as much. :)

Just like that May was over and June began!

April Fooling

Most of these pictures came off my phone and are out of order so have patience with me! Spring was crazy this year. First it was warm and sublime. This was early spring at my parents. I can't remember why we were there but I do remember how much my kids love their cousin Jacob. It is so awesome he is just a field away when we visit.

April is General Conference and we did our best to watch while the kids were clowning. around. :) I love that they are getting old enough to listen. It sure makes me have to repent 1/100000 less often. because I don't yell at them as much. Ha!

Jadon must have picked meditation for a punishment. Little stinker. Sure love him!

Sydney begged for swimming lessons. I assumed that getting her there early and adjusted before class would honor her "authoritative energy". It just gave her a stubborn streak. Fail! She stood on the side like this for 20 minutes.

This is the next day. She doesn't know I am taking the picture. She fell for her teacher Jake hard and fast. She couldn't stop grinning.

It is such a relief that she got some good experience. Sometimes these first classes feel like kind of a waste while kids pout and test limits or pretend to some new phobia of the water or something.  It really threw me for a loop when she initially acted like she wasn't going to do it. Glad it all worked out! Yah Jake the swim teacher!!!

Early spring our greenhouse was already growing some nice looking.....weeds. The kids think that I planted them for punishment. Nope. Mother earth did! Ha!

Quidditch on the tramp. Cause what else would you do?

Jadon's birthday I had some friends who moved away facetime him. Oh it made him so happy. It is hard to have friends that you really connect with move away.

We kept the Easter Egg dying pretty chill this year. The kids love their creations so sometimes I have to sneak them and peel them before they go bad.

We set up our new trampoline in the freezing cold one night after the kids went to bed. It was a fun surprise for them. Noelle wanted some rules posted so she wrote these. I love the line, "No rustlng when girls are on the tramp" (Wrestling). I hate rustling too!

Noelle and Jadon were both in a singling group this year. Noelle told me that she had a solo, but I didn't realize it was a walk up to the mike all by herself and sing a line solo. The production was amazing and I was so impressed with all the kids, but when my Noelle walked up to the mike and bravely sang her part I started to cry. When you know your kids micro expressions so well and you can tell they are scared, but do something brave and then feel so proud of themself....oh it is just so awesome. Noelle is such a beauty. I love seeing how she is growing.

Jadon was the star of his age group. he was totally rocking out and knew all the words. He hates it when people point out how enthusiastic he is so I try not to make a big deal of it, but HE IS SUCH A PERFORMER I CAN"T HELP IT!

This is the momma cat to Noelle's cat. I wanted to keep this picture because the momma cat went missing and we were all so sad. She was such a pretty thing and looked just like our cat Hermoine. I hope she wandered to a nice home and is being taken care of.

A picture on Jadon's birthday.

Jason and i went on an edible landscaping tour. It gave us some good ideas and good information.

Uncle Jesse and Aunt Rachel were awesome and had the kids build and paint Owl Boxes for my mom. He is so patient and fun with them.

Jadon loves Missy. Every boy needs a good fluffy dog to hug.

My friends really out-did themselves for my birthday this year and made this. I am so made that I didn't insist on getting a picture together. They also made my birthday cake because they knew otherwise I wouldn't get one.

More of our crazy spring. It was really warm, then it was really wet and cold, then oh Hail! It was just a blustery spring!

I think I was trying to pray when someone decided I needed to give him bareback lessons.

Jason and I got to help usher for the Temple Open House. We were able to do it the day that they had special needs only coming through. It was a lot of wrapping and unwrapping of wheelchairs, and holding doors, but it was a great experience. I love this temple so much! (You can see it in the picture if you look straight behind the falls)

I hosted book club. It was Anne of Green Gables. We had good food and, as always, good conversation. Our book club has become pretty close. I love that loving books and ideas can help form such good friendships. I really have such amazing friends.

Our greenhouse is growing more than weeds now!

More book club...

Jadon and Noelle did a round of Swim Team. They worked hard, but I was still frustrated because Jadon looked like and egg beater in the water and Noelle just wasn't progressing. Jason took some time and worked with them right before the match and they both did awesome. I got to time and it was so neat to watch each of the coaches cheering on and helping the kids. Even the the younger ones don't have to swim very far it takes a lot of courage to do it. I kept tearing up at strangers kids because I was so proud of the all the kids! We forgot to pick up ribbons we don't really know how they placed...but that isn't why we do it. :)

I read a book about arranging flowers and decided to try and do one arrangement a month. This is my early spring attempt.

A homeschool group that we are going to work with next year invited us to an egg drop. The kids had fun planning how to keep their eggs from breaking. Jadon and Noelle picked more complicated designs....I am sure if their Dad had been home that week it would have protected the egg, but as it happened Sydney's design was the only one that kept the egg from cracking. Go Syd! (And Charmin!) After the firemen dropped the egg they gave us a tour of their new station. The kids were so sweet with each other and held hands the entire time.