Spring and Summer 2015

Spring 2015:

Two Trips to Moab.

Above Photos - Dead Horse Point State Park

Next set of photos - Hiking Trip to Corona Arch.  

Didn't quite make it without a hiking backpack to carry Syver. 

Cool Park in Moab near Aunt Jo's House. 

My Grandma Jody passed away on April 2nd.  It was her 60th wedding anniversary.  Her husband, my Grandfather, Tom, passed away in 2007.  We will miss her sparkle.


Birthdays!
Oden Turned 5!

Quickyn Turned 7!

School Ended!  Both our children's teachers were absolutely amazing this year.  They will be greatly missed.

Summer 2015:

This summer we decided to spend time as a family since last summer we didn't get much time while Bill was studying.

June trip to see the Spiral Getty in the Great Salt Lake.  With a stop-off at the Golden Spike National Monument.  This was also our 9th Anniversary trip.

The pink salt under our feet was so interesting and just plain awesome.  From far away at the parking lot there appeared to be a ribbon of pink water against the blue, but it was the salt.  

The "sea foam" was actually salt foam.  It would turn into salt crystals in our hands.

Went to see some family in the Pocatello area.  Stopped off at a little reservoir for some fun and cooling off.

Bill's Grandfather, Karl, passed away on June 16th.  He will be greatly missed.

Spent a LOT of time in Grandpa Buff's pool!

Went to the Oregon Trail Center in Montpelier Idaho.

We also visited the Soda Springs Geyser in Soda Springs Idaho.

We Play Unplugged Brag Badges - This summer we got involved in the collecting of brag badges through the we play unplugged program.  It was so much fun!  We rode the bus, planted flowers, made things out of duct tape, had a bike race, learned to sew, bowled, made a fort, went on a road trip, went on a picnic and a hike, ran through the sprinklers, drew pictures on the sidewalk, roasted marshmallows, made oobleck, learned to play the ukulele, recycled, went camping, walked a mile without stopping for a break, learned about bees and honey making, made an emergency plan for our home, and buckled our seatbelts.  Each time we finished an activity we could pick up a brag badge.  So much fun and so exciting for the kids.  They learned and experienced so many things and got a reward for it too!

Willow Park Zoo

Now school is back in session and we are ready to learn and grow.  Quickyn started Second Grade. She is ready to jump right in and hasn't lost a beat from all the summer heat.  She is confident and sure of herself.  Her favorite thing about Second Grade (so far) is the ticket system.  She aims to get 7 tickets so she can have a pop in class!  Something I don't even let her indulge in at home!  I don't doubt her determination to succeed on that goal.  Oden started Kindergarten.  He loves having some time away from home and I truly feel it is helping him grow and expand in this world both physically and mentally.  He says his favorite part of the day is opening his lunch to see what's inside!  Oh, and recess!

Mom is enjoying having two days a week with just little Syver at home to keep her company, but to be perfectly honest, she really misses Q and O.  The best part of the day is seeing that bus pull up to the curb and those two smiling faces come running down the sidewalk.

Bill has started his TENTH year of teaching!!!  He's been amazed at how many of his students this year have been saying, "Thanks Mr. Chandler" at the end of class.  He thinks it might have something to do with the generation.  I think it might have something to do with his teaching style.  He gets better ever year.

Happy End of Summer to you all.  We look forward to the coming harvest and holidays.

2014 End Credits

2014 was a long difficult year for us.  We made it through!  Here are the highlights:

Oden turned 4.

Quickyn turned 6.

Syver turned 1. And hit all the milestones, sitting, crawling, walking and getting lots of teeth!

Quickyn lost her first tooth. And another one right before Christmas.

Bill went back to school over the summer to get some more credits.  It was hard, but it was so worth it.  Now he wants to work on his Masters Degree.  If it weren't for Grandma Grandpa Buff and their backyard pool I don't know how we would have survived!

Oden started preschool.
Quickyn started first grade.

Halloween was fun.

Christmas was crazy!  We all got so sick!!!!!

Discovered that Bri has something called Panic Attack Disorder.  Wow!  We've been through the rigors with this one.  Still trying to understand and cope with the fact that someone can have a panic attack for no reason at all, at any time, in any place.  We are learning and doing our best with the situation.  A big thanks to our family and friends for their love and support.

So, another year behind us, another year in front of us....

what's going to happen is anyone's guess!

Depression.....enough said

Five months....FIVE MONTHS!!!  

Where have I been for FIVE MONTHS!!!

Here, but not here.

     There, but not there.

     

          Trudging along in life, but not really living it.

Five things Depression takes away from me, that it has no claim to:

     1)     Energy

     2)     Desire

     3)     Time

     4)     Security

     5)     Peace

Dragging through the muck to get them back is slow and exhausting work.  But, eventually there comes a moment like sunlight through the storm when I feel a sparkle of my original mind.  And then, ever so slowly those moments become a whole day full of sunshine and silver lined clouds.  And then, I start to find my way out of the muck and into the random puddles with the hope that a clear shore lies ahead.  

Thanks Dad, for putting it ever so perfectly, "Oh, like a wheelbarrow, you gotta push it." 

I've been pushing even when the pushing didn't get me anywhere.  I keep pushing because I refuse to sit down in the muck beside my wheelbarrow and sink.

Thanks to everyone for words of kindness, support, love and laughter.  Thanks for helping me keep those sparks of myself alive.  

I love you all dearly.

I Wonder

I wonder if the world would be a happier place if every set of stairs had an adjoining slide.

Bill shared his dream from last night of a four story house he was remodeling.  When they ripped up the stairs there was an older spiral staircase underneath and a slide beside it.  I like this world of slides and stairs.  I'm so glad he shared and gave me the thumbs up to share with you too.

Next time you build decide to build a house I highly suggest including a slide/stair combo in your plans. 

Spring Break Agenda

What We Did for Spring Break!

 

 

Woke up happy to be together!

But sometimes needed our space.

Made cool spiraly pictures with the Spirograph.

Did some laundry!

Played at the Whittier Center Adventure Playground and had a picnic.

Sewed up a quick dress.

Celebrated Oden's 4th Birthday!

(Completely forgot to take pictures at G & G's house,

 so took some at home while we had an ice cream party)

Went to a Princess Tea Party

 

General Tom Foolery

And took a much needed nap!