At least for today, running is better than chocolate!

After five days of being stuck inside because of the cold, this afternoon was sunny and 55 degrees so I was able to run again! Even though it had been less than a week since my last outdoor run, it felt so good to get out in the sun and to move. I couldn't get enough so I kept running and running, and when I was too tired we started walking, and when we were bored we called a neighbor to join us. Running is such an important part of my life- I feel so strong and happy and free when i'm out there and such a feeling of accomplishment after I'm done. I'm grateful for a healthy body and for the warm, pretty summer months when I can go outside every day. Winter always helps me to appreciate the perfect days even more. Hopefully the thought of another running season will get me thru the next several months...

Shoes & bows

Lyla has decided that she hates wearing shoes or socks which is going to make the freezing winter so much fun... She also can't handle having a bow or headband on her head. Paul held her hands in this picture to keep her from ripping it off. I'm not bitter at all that I spend hours making cute bows for her to wear and they only stay on for 2 seconds :)

Does anyone have any tricks for keeping either socks and shoes on her feet, or bows/hats on her head? I'm thinking we'll need to figure both of these out before we can go outside during the next few months.

BYU Game!

We went to the BYU vs San Diego game a few weeks ago and had a great time! My parents were nice enough to watch Lyla and it was so much fun to be in Provo and to watch an exciting game. The weather was perfect and I felt homesick as I watched the sea of blue fans and remembered the many fun years spent there, and as I looked at the gorgeous mountains outside the stadium. Idaho has been nice so far but there are still so many things about Utah that I miss. I'm sure that with time it will feel more like home here in Idaho...

Josh and his darling fiance- Alisha sat in front of us. Such a cute couple!

Paul's brother Jared came with us which made it very fun!

Guess who's crawling???!!!

Dear Teething...

Oh unwelcomed guest, why must you stay so long? Isn't 2 1/2 months enough time to do your job and leave us in peace? In the beginning it was exciting to think of the fun we would have introducing new foods, but right now my half-asleep brain is trying to remember what benefits teeth even have. 1:00 am can be such a dreadful time, as can 2 am and 3 am and 4 am... I spend so many nights angry at you for hurting my little girl- my bloodshot eyes watch her struggle and my exhausted arms can barely hold her as she screams and wiggles in pain. Is there any end in sight to this current predicament we find ourselves in?

- A desperate mom

Updates

Cute picture of Lyla with Paul. She's been pretty stranger shy lately and usually has to be held by me all the time, but sometimes she just wants to be close to daddy. Last night she woke up because her teething is bugging her and she just wanted Paul to hold her. Every time he tried to hand her to me to feed her she would scream and scream and reach for him! I was a little worried but it was pretty cute too. We're so excited that the Grossarths have moved to Orem!! Lyla and Kaitlyn are starting to enjoy playing together.

I know I already wrote about Tyson leaving on his mission, but I just found a few more pics of the day he left. He's in Guatemala now and doing so well!

Lyla and I went to Lake Powell with my family while Paul was at a conference in Salt Lake. Lyla did so well the whole time and seemed to really like riding in the boat. Every time the engine got loud from going fast, she would fall right to sleep and take a nice little nap. She and I got on the intertube behind the boat for a few minutes- can't you tell how much she liked her lifevest? :) Apparently this one isn't the best design...

The weather was so nice and the water was perfect!

Summer isn't summer until we swim in my parents pool!! I really miss living near them and swimming 5-6 days a week. Lyla loves playing in the warm water.

Grandpa thought it would be fun to take Lyla down the slide.

I guess she isn't a huge fan yet... maybe by next summer she'll like it better.

Paul's mom and brother Justin came to visit us for a few days. We had a great time together- this is at the driving range.

They all hit for awhile and then Paul had me try a few. As I walked up to get ready, Lyla just started laughing and laughing. I was a little offended that even my little girl knows how bad i am at golfing! :) After that though she would crack up every time anyone hit a ball- I guess she liked the noise. We tried to record it but only got her to laugh once:

Summer Fun

The summer has been a good one for us- the only problem is how fast it's going!! We visited Utah a few weeks ago for my brother Tyson's last weekend before his mission. He's going to Guatemala and although I was very sad to say goodbye to him, he's doing so well in the MTC and he'll be a great missionary. He has such a positive attitude and is so excited to share the gospel with others because he knows how true it is and has felt the happiness it brings in his life.

While we were down there we hiked to the Timp caves with my family. It's a hike i've always wanted to do and we had fun together despite the heat and the steep trail. Lyla was such a good hiker and Paul was a good sport to carry her the whole way!! The caves were so interesting and a nice place to cool down!!

For our last family night together Tyson wanted to go bowling. We all used bumpers except for Jared and Ty- and they still got the highest scores! :) Lyla was a trooper even though she stayed up past 10 that night! (Don't tell daddy...)
The day before Ty left we drove to Salt Lake and did a session. Alyssa and Cass were so sweet to watch Lyla. It was so perfect to be inside the beautiful temple with my mom and brothers and to feel so much love for them. I'm so grateful for my family and for the amazing plan which will allow us to be together forever!
We also watched the Joseph Smith movie. What a perfect thing to do right before leaving on a mission- after seeing the sacrifices of Joseph and the saints Tyson said that a two year mission seems like the least he can do to build the church. I definitely need to find more ways to do my part as well!
Here are some random pics of Lyla- Alyssa had fun taking pictures of her with big glasses on. She kept trying to rip them off so it was a game to try to snap a picture before they came off.


Little missy has become so active and full of energy. She's not quite crawling yet but is getting close. She's been kinda fussy lately about only wanting to be held, and usually it has to be by me. She then crawls all over me and doesn't stop moving- little monkey! most days after playing with her for awhile I end up like this because she wears me out!

Paul and I decided to make an apple pie for our new neighbors. It was my first time so he did most of the work but it was fun to cook together! We've gotten several new neighbors this summer and they are in the process of building a house next door. It will be fun once someone moves in, but right now it's annoying because the big machines frequently wake Lyla up from naps or keep her up at night. A few times they've even worked until 10 at night and I've come close to marching over there with a screaming baby to ask them to stop!

Sweet angel...Allison gave me the best onesie that finally fits Lyla- it says "when I grow up I want to be a tax accountant like mommy." I actually hope she doesn't decide to do that, but I love having her wear it.

One day Paul was playing with Lyla and she kept just staring up at him- so precious!
We took Alyssa to EFY in Logan and we all had to try the Aggie ice cream while we were there- so yummy!

My mom and Cassidy then came to stay which us for a few days which was so fun! We walked around the falls and took some pictures. Then we painted our toe nails- even Lyla's!
We went to the Idaho Falls museum and enjoyed dressing up there.

Playing in a teepee

It was so much fun to have them stay with us and I miss them already! Luckily we have a few more summer plans for the next few months! :)