For starters, an update

I've looked over my life of late, and found something is lacking. And... it is THIS! I'm back, at least for today. I've been reading several old posts from past years and really have enjoyed the remembering. So, I thought I better recommit to remembering the stuff that's happening right now. But it's hard to know just where to start, ya know? I mean, we're in the middle of a very fast-pace summer right now, with plenty of trips and outings and things that could deserve a post of their own.

I guess for now, I'm just going to throw up a bunch of pics and talk about things that I'd like to remember. Sounds interesting, right? So...

Hmm... This first pic is sideways. And I've spent long enough trying to figure out how to turn it. So you just get a sideways picture of me beside a beautiful little waterfall on a back path at BYU campus. I got to go to Women's Conference this year for the first time, and really enjoyed it. I went with BFF Kerri, and her mom and Sandy. Such a fun girls trip, with so much to learn. I went to so many good, applicable, uplifting classes and enjoyed being with friends.

But I have to say, actually, just before I took this selfie, I had been kind of teary, having some moments of serious reflection about who I used to be, who I am now, and who I still want to become. Honestly, it had been a long time since I'd had that kind of introspective reflection time on my life. I've gotta say, it was kind of hard remembering some awfully lonely times I had when I was a student at BYU. But it was also inspiring, thinking of all the things I learned there and how my education prepared me for so many things I have done so far in my life. Definitely worth remembering!

Next, here below you'll see my snazzy Craigslist Fitbit, only $40. I got it right after Women's Conference, and have been LOVING it these past couple of months. So fun to track how many steps I'm taking. At first I was pretty obsessed, and did lots of dancing in the kitchen, taking one more trip up the stairs just to log a flight, etc. I think I've eased into a better rhythm now, and I know what it takes to keep me feeling good most days. If you're on the fence about Fitbits, I recommend snagging one on Craigslist and giving it a try! I even got one for Brian for Father's Day (also off Craigslist) and he's hooked now, too! Hard thing is, he always seems to get more steps than me and burns more calories than me. So, although we're married and in love and all, it's a little rough having him as a Fitbit friend, turns out.;)

Here's Millie, in her pony jammies (my personal favorite). This girl! She's been telling everyone lately that she actually prefers to be called "Mills." Yep, even cashiers at the grocery store, waitresses in restaurants, etc. Lol! It even morphs into Millsey, sometimes. (Who knew we were so big into nicknames?!) She loves to be the star of the show, and always, always has a song to sing about everything. She knows most of the words for the Moana song, and Let It Go. And then she also makes up her own tunes and words every few minutes. Natalie has started to ask her to PLEASE NOT SING for at least a few minutes at a time. lol!

And, just a couple more of this cutie, just for fun. See how long and curly her hair is getting?! I love it! Only, I trimmed it a few weeks ago, and I think we may have lost some of that gorgeous curliness, too bad.

 She's my favorite cuddle bug, and climbs in bed with me often on these quieter summer mornings.

 Say CHEESE!!

This is a special memory for me. I felt really strongly about taking our kids to the temple open house for the Idaho Falls temple, so our kids could see where our family started, where we got married. We didn't have a free weekend in May, so we took the kids over and stayed at my parents' house on a Tuesday night, then took the kids to the temple on Wednesday morning, meeting Mark and Dalana's family for the quick tour. Then we headed back to get Natalie to a dance class that same afternoon. It was a really short little trip, but I am still so glad we did it! I had some really special feelings while we were there, remembering our wedding day and the peace of being married to Brian. So grateful for our covenants and the blessings they bring to my life. Just this past week, as we were driving home from Rexburg, our kids all shouted out, "there's the IF temple, remember going inside?!" I hope they feel a little of how special it is, too.

Except, well... I have to say, Camille wasn't really so thrilled about that tour... They had her wear booties, and it was NOT making her happy. She's still not really over it. Traumatized by the booties, poor girlie! lol!

Here's a pic of my little cuties on Mother's Day this year. They all brought home candy bars for me from church, which was so nice. But I was trying really hard to not go crazy eating all the wrong things, so I let them have the candy bars after all. They thought it was a win/win situation... Happy Mother's Day to THEM, too! My friend, Cori, made gourmet cupcakes for all of the ladies at church, so my own guilty pleasure was a delicious lemon cupcake. mmmm....

Another sideways picture. You'd think Blogger would have figured out a quick way to fix these by now, huh? (I say, knowing it surely couldn't be a user malfunction!) Anyway, this was a fun end-of-school activity I got to do with Natalie. Her kindergarten class had a fieldtrip to the zoo and to a play-place, and I went along as a chaperone. It was fun to spend some time alone with my girlie girl. We got a Costco sundae to share afterward, so good.

While I'm talking about Natalie, I better also add these cute ones from her dance recital day. She was sooooo excited about her performance, most especially for her costume and make up. She even got to wear mom's special lipsense lipstick stuff, so it could stay on the whole evening, so fun! She did great and is really quite a talented, flexible dancer.

 Isn't she funny?! ;)

These four are having quite the summer of fun together! We certainly have our squabbles and occasional tantrums and tears. But for the most part, I'm really grateful my kids seem to be learning to play well together and get along spending time together. Actually, this pic was in the midst of a group outing with lots of Bishop cousins at a mini reunion we had in Rexburg over Memorial Day. But I thought it was cute that the girls all got flowers in their hair. And Spencer was mocking them, but it looks like he's joining right in, being cute. Love my kiddos!

Might as well add a few more of the fun pics with cousins that we took that day, while I'm at it. Because, cousins truly do make the best friends. :) I'm really grateful that my kids get to spend time with lots of their cousins. I still cherish soooo many wonderful memories I had with my own cousins growing up, and still have a closeness with several of my cousins, because of the time we spent together as kids. I hope and pray my kids are forming those kinds of friendships with their cousins. I know they sure have a lot of fun when they get together!!

Three men on a couch, girls won this round!!

Here's my darling girl, Samantha, with Camille sitting in a locker at Samantha's new school she'll be attending this fall. She's turning into such a grown up girl these days! Goodbye grade school, she says! What to tell you about her? Well, I've NEVER seen any kid read as much as she likes to read. And that's saying A LOT, because I grew up with THE champion reader, named Wade. But I think she may even outread Wade, given the chance. She stayed for a little over a week with Mark and Dalana in June, and she picked out several series of Cooper's books that she HAD to read while she was there. Did you hear that? Not several books, but several SERIES! Poor cousins didn't get so much playtime with Samantha for all her reading.

 She's also really enjoying her academic/intellectual side. At the end of school, she took the top ranking awards in Math, Science and English. Super exciting! She is VERY eager to start middle school and is excited because her school offers some advanced classes in math, history, science and English. She's hoping to be invited to join them all. of course. (We won't tell her how nervous Mom is about the whole middle school thing, kay? I'm sure it's just my own insecurities and flashbacks coming into play!)

On to Spencer Boy... What can I say about this cute boy? Well, he's growing like a weed!! He's passed Samantha by an inch or so, and loves it when people think he's the oldest or ask if they are twins. He's 9, and he's growing into size 12 clothes now. All 10s are getting a little too short in the legs. Crazy!! He's always hungry and gets into a little bit of trouble opening snacks that aren't his, from time to time. Just comes with the territory, when you have hollow legs, I suppose! He's loving being outside this summer, whether it's on his bike or getting in water or just helping in the yard. He also really likes scouts, and computer/tablet time. He's very fascinated with geography and geology still, and has enjoyed our National Parks visits these past few months. These cute pics were taken at Yellowstone, by a very colorful geyser pot, he specifically requested this one below...

I also love this one of him and Samantha. They don't always get along, but when they do, they both come up with some really good ideas. Just this week, they decided to start a business washing out people's trash bins in our neighborhood. Only one customer (besides Mom) so far, but they're hopeful some of our other neighbors will be interested through the coming weeks.

Love my boy!!

So this one below is a happy-sad one for me. This is my Dalana sis-in-law and me, together on Memorial Day at my favorite place, Mesa Falls. It's happy because I just love her like a sister. And sad because I miss her! They moved to Rexburg last fall, and I'm afraid I still haven't fully adjusted. Especially on these summer days when we're at home, looking for something fun to do... Oh, I just miss the good ol' Dalana days. Grateful that we still see them quite often and talk on the phone occasionally. But I'll tell you right up front, it's definitely not the same as having an everyday friend.

And then, here's this guy, what to tell you about him? He had a verrrrrrry busy spring working, and so far has also had a very busy summer playing!! Seriously, he knows how to pack it in, whether it's hours and hours (and days and weeks) of working like crazy... Or, he finally got some time off -- most of the month of June, to be exact, as well as the first few days of July. And he's been packing it in, trying to really enjoy the break from the grind. It's been fun spending some really quality time with him, for sure! We took a weeklong spontaneous family trip to Mt. Rushmore, then he went to Scout Camp for a week, then we went to Hawaii for a week together with my Hone siblings and parents. (Do I sense some future blog post ideas, perhaps?!) Well, I love him. I am, naturally and thankfully, finding him to be my truest, dearest friend. So grateful for Brian in my life.

Well!! I have literally THOUSANDS of pictures I could (and should) put up here. So much to say, so much of this good life I'm living, so much worth sharing and capturing and remembering. But I'd say this has been a nice start for an update, since it's been sooooo very long, huh?! Enjoy, and... Bye for now!