California Babysitting

I traveled with Nate while he had a few days of scoping work in Southern California{July 19-21}. At the time of him making plans to travel by himself I didn't feel like he should and that's where the babysitting claim comes in. Nate says I am babysitting him. So, maybe technically it can sort of be categorized like that, but that's not my intention. By the time the trip came around Nate's energy level had increased a lot so I probably didn't HAVE to go, but I still did. :)

We brought Eliza along with us. Her first airplane ride. She was a peach on both flights. My mom watched the rest of the kids. {Thank you, Mom!}

Eliza did a lot of sleeping....

...while in this SAH-WEET ride!
Nate "upgraded" to a premium car because it was a smokin' deal.... ummmm, I see why. I have to admit the first half hour of driving around in it I was a bit embarrassed (no offense to those of you driving a Grand Marquis around), but then I realized it was quite funny and I really didn't care.

So we drove to about 20 different church buildings. The most retarded thing was the master key only unlocked one exterior door (which really isn't too uncommon) so we would have to go around and search for it. And when I say "we" I mostly mean Nate. :) Then we had to search for a closet with that same lock to find another set of keys to unlock the doors inside. It was sad to me that they had to lock EVERY single room in the churches. I think there was only one building that most of the doors were unlocked already. And talk about filthy. Yuck! Most were pretty icky, sadly. Nate also had to reupholster a couple small couches at an institute buildinig. Look at him go....

I had hopeful plans to be able to visit a friend while we were there, but in the end we still didn't end up close enough. But we were lucky enough to be able to meet up with Nate's brother, Eric, his wife, Kim, and their family for a quick lunch and jaunt to the beach before our flight home. It was really cloudy near the beach the whole time we were there. I had to go buy a jacket the first night! I was really confused. I could have sworn I was in "Sunny" California!!

It was really fun to visit with our nephews and niece- Bryce, Kensington, Charlie and Hudson. They are such cute kids. And a visit to the beach wouldn't be complete without getting a bit more wet than planned. A rogue wave nearly wiped us all out! ;)

I really shouldn't be allowed in front of cameras. I pull the stupidest faces and close my eyes half the time. Let's move on...

Awe, now that's a face that'll make you smile.... not grimace.
Eliza even had to borrow a jacket from her cousin, Hudson. I thought it was interesting that people were still at the beach in their swimming suits freezing their buns off. There were only a few smart ones who were there in their hoodies enjoying it for what it was worth.

Nate didn't want the rest of our kids to feel left out....
So in reality Nate didn't NEED me there, but we had a fun time just being together. And I promise I was more helpful than I have implied! :)

July Odds n Ends

Haley was ready to go swimming even though we weren't actually swimming for a couple hours after I took this picture. It was all seriousness for her and it's hard to drive and snap a picture behind you at the same time. It probably ranks up there with texting while driving. I promise I haven't done it since!

But alas, sleep overtook her. (I took this picture when we arrived at our destination. Don't you fret!) I love how she fogged up the goggles. (Never mind the food on her face.... sometimes it's all I can do to just get all the kids in the car. Forget all nice and groomed! That's for first time parents... oh yes, I remember those days-- vaguely!)


Nate promised Rachel a campout in the yard so we set up the tent and then Nate fell asleep, then Tye, then Haley, then I answered questions about the universe to Kaden and Rachel. I slept in the house to be close to the baby. Nate thinks I was just making up excuses, but I really would have liked to stay out there.... just not bad enough to make Eliza sleep outside too. :)


Haley decided she wanted to fit in with the neighbor boys. Made me laugh when I looked out the window at them. We are glad our kids have become such good friends with those boys! Apparently Haley has made herself quite at home at their house!

Bath time fun! I always like it when my babies finally sit up and can play a little in the tub. Haley has certainly enjoyed splashing around with Eliza.

July 30 - Nate Update

Well, well, well... it's been a few weeks since I've posted anything. No news is good news most of the time, right? So I guess the less I write, the better. Nate is still doing vision therapy and he's hoping it's working, but he says it's hard to tell. His wrist is doing better, but he still needs his splint on when he does anything too physical. Today we found out Nate DOES have to have surgery on his knee. Boo! He's been doing all the physical therapy the doc ordered, but it didn't do the trick. We knew all along that in the end surgery would be a possibility, but we had high hopes therapy would work. He does OK walking, but if he does much bending with any pressure or kneels on it it hurts pretty bad. He also feels like it's "sloppy" as Nate put it. It's not anything urgent and is scheduled for December sometime when Nate knows work will be slower. If things slow down sooner he may bump it up. The doctor said he has too many years ahead of him for it not to be fixed.... hmmmmm... where have I heard that before?? Oh, yes. When we talked to the oral surgeon. Speaking of which, Nate has had a tough time getting his and the orthodontist's schedule to work so he can get his braces on. So as of now he's looking at September to get the braces on wait six months then have the jaw surgery. Soooo this winter is gonna be a fun one! Just about as fun as this summer has been!!
Really everything has been going well considering. Nate has returned to work, but hasn't had a really tough schedule yet. I went with him to California last week while he scoped some work. When I originally decided to go with him he still wasn't doing super well and I didn't think he should be traveling alone, but his energy level is mostly back to normal (every now and then he has to take a break sooner than he wants) so I just enjoyed being with him driving from church to church. We brought Eliza with us while my mom watched the other kids. This week was a vacation week that was planned before the accident so we've enjoyed some camping and were going to go to Lagoon, but a bunch of us ended up with colds so we didn't go. My ear plugged up on the airplane last week and I ended up with an ear infection. I still have fluid in there messing with my hearing. I am about to go insane with the way I hear (or don't hear for that matter). So we plan to go to Lagoon next week after Nate gets back from his work travels. Hopefully we'll all be well by then. So for now it looks like I won't have much to report on anytime soon. We'll just be playing the lovely waiting game.

Bishop Family Campout

We went to the Smith and Morehouse Reservoir. Very pretty.

On our way there a fire truck passed us by Deer Creek. There was a thunderstorm all around us. Lots of lightning. It was pouring, I mean POURING rain. As we pulled into Heber we saw this fire on the hillside. Everyone who came after us said it was out by the time they came through. Good thing!

Ready to fish! But are the fish ready to bite???

So in the end Brian and Kerstin's kids caught a few then finally Kaden caught one. Tye threw a massive fit when it was time to go and he hadn't caught one (pictured above). The awesomeness of not getting enough sleep.... or maybe it was the heat. I'm not sure which. I guess it could have been both.

Lots of fun crafts.

Lots of cute babies hanging out in their pack-n-plays. (Sorry, mine is the only one pictured.)

Lots of cousin fun! And of course, the boys would make something to torture the girls.... marshmallow guns.

And lots and lots of dirty kids!


It rained a few times, but I think everyone stayed pretty dry. Nate and I used a table cloth at one point to stay dry. Good times! We missed the families who couldn't be there- Greg, Jessee (9 months pregnant) & kids and Eric, Kim & kids (California).

Happy Birthday to Me

(This is the only birthday picture I have.... not my shining moment!)

Another year has passed me by..... 31 is the lucky number this time around. It wasn't so painful. Last year's decade switch was a little hard to swallow. Now I'm IN my thirties. I guess it makes all the gray hairs and wrinkles a little more acceptable (as if I have much say in the matter-- I refuse to "embrace" them yet!). My kids get so excited when anyone's birthday rolls around. I love it! This year I got an ice cream maker. It's awesome. I keep the bowl in the freezer and when I feel like making some frozen goodness I pull the bowl out and in less than 30 minutes I have ice cream.... or sherbet.... or frozen yogurt.... or sorbets. Yum! No need for salt or ice. So simple. Rachel gave me a clue as to what my gift was a week before. She said, "It's cold." I was stumped, although I totally should have known. I had just told Nate recently how I really wanted an ice cream maker.

First Real Foods

Of course, there has to be documentation of Eliza's first go {July 5th} at solid food.... "solid" makes me laugh because it most definitely isn't solid, but whatever! She probably did the very best out of all my children on the first try. Not perfect, but she was ready for more than just milk. She would smack her lips any time she saw someone else eating something. It was super cute.

Now who's feeding her???

Oh, it's Rachel. She's a good little helper.

Now Eliza's feeding herself something solid! (Ha, ha, hee, hee! Seriously, sorry I'm such a dork.)

Haley's turn!

So proud!
I obviously have a larger mess to clean up with all my "helpers", but it's fun for them to try. The boys haven't even cared or even taken notice. Funny how that works.

Tonight as I was outside in my yard picking up a few things the kids left out I happened to walk by a window with the blinds still open and saw Kaden kneel down to say his prayers. Now that's obviously not uncommon for my kids to say their prayers, but what is uncommon is for them to do ALL the things I ask.... ok, more like TELL (make, command, mandate) them to do at bedtime. Before I went outside I told them to brush their teeth, get their jammies on, say their prayers and get in bed..... Ahem... or else they'd be grounded tomorrow and have to go to bed at 7:00 (but let's not go there). On a good night they usually get 3 out of the 4 tasks actually accomplished. So my rambling point is it was just heart warming to see Kaden following directions and to witness it right as he began to pray. Simple as that. And that my friends was my "joy" of the day.

Today's Joy

Today's joy was having hamburgers at the park for dinner with my mom, my sister, Laura, and her daughter Rebekah. Nate has returned to work and is traveling once again. I was missing him and needed something to do with the kids. It was perfect. Oh.... and another joy was the chocolate I just ate. :)

A Good-bye and A Good Buy

See this vehicle?
I've been driving it around for 5 years. That's the longest we've ever had a car. It was part of the family.
At least, that's what I discovered today as I became emotionally attached to a machine and as I watched my children not want to leave it behind. Rachel is crying below and Tye isn't too happy about the predicament.
BUT, in the end we drove home in this and everyone is happy. It BARELY fits in our garage, but it fits so it's a keeper! We've been needing something a little bigger for a while now. We would get so frustrated if we had all the kids packed in and needed to take anything else along. There was just no room in our Tahoe. It's one of those moments where you realize you have FIVE kids and you're driving a Suburban.... we must be adults now.... come on, really? Is that possible? It is used and was really a great deal. It's amazing how the "Suburban fund" gets a little fuller when you get a check for a totaled motorcycle you weren't planning on. Bitter sweet, I guess. It has a lot of bells and whistles which make the kids think it's the greatest toy ever. (Nate and I would have to agree.)