Aunt Samantha Visits

My sister and her husband are spending a few weeks in Casper for his hospital externship as a speech pathologist so since she is only 2 1/2 hours away she decided to make a quick fun filled trip to Laramie to spend the day with us. We decided it would be fun to hike to Hidden Falls. We left earlyish in the morning and spend the day in the mountains. It was fun to have her in town with us... We miss living close to her! Later that night we went to dinner with some of her friends. Mark had something he had to go to so it was just the boys and I but we had fun. We both teared up when she had to go back to Casper because we just miss each other so much and don't get to see each other very often! We had a great day with her though- lovely hike, yummy picnic, love my family!

Glad To Be Home

We made it back to Laramie after our three week vacation in Lyman. Although we had a good time seeing family and catching up with Mark's brother who was gone on his mission in Chili for two years it felt good to be back.

We did all our favorite things including going to the park to swing, sitting in our comfy rocker, and eating food in our high chair ;) The boys definitely missed being home!

Summer {Lyman}

We spent three weeks in Lyman with Mark's parents this summer. Tyson got home from his mission the beginning of June and since we were going to come back for his homecoming address in church on the 19th we enrolled Easton in swimming lessons and stayed for the three weeks in between. Easton went to swimming lessons everyday Monday-Friday for three weeks and we just kind of hung out.

We went to a few play dates at the park and went on lots of walks. On the 10th we went down to stay with Bryan and Megan in Lehi, Utah because Mark and Bryan had signed up for an archery shoot and Peyton's birthday celebration was on the 11th.

The kids got to play at the park with Grandma & Grandpa Gillies which was really fun for them.

We did lots and lots of playing outside this summer!

Thus we took lots and lots of baths between being outside and going to swimming lessons everyday!

When Tyson's homecoming weekend came around we got to go up to Bridger Lake and go fishing and hiking around the lake with the family. We had a picnic and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Tyson served his mission in Chili so for two years he didn't see snow. One thing he wanted to do when he got home was see snow... since this is Wyoming and it can't decide when to be summer there was still a little bit of snow on the mountain.

I love being able to take pictures of my sweet boys in the mountains. The beautiful back drops and the story to tell of the memories we make as a family is priceless. Graysen loves the camera and gives me the most adorable goofy grins!

Big brother was not as happy to take pictures on the tree stump lol

But then that boy could run and he was all of the sudden happier.... he is such a busy body these days and all boy! He wants to be just like his daddy- looking for elk and moose and deer all day long! He carries these adorable yet real binoculars around that he got for his birthday. I think it is pretty cute how much like his daddy he is!

On the way down to the valley we realized Easton's ear was looking infected around the outside edges so we stopped in Urie at the urgent care. Sure enough he had an outer ear infection and since it was Saturday the pharmacy at Shopko in Mt. View was closed already so Mark and the kids and I had to drive all the way to Evanston that night to pick up Easton's antibiotic.

Tyson's homecoming approached and he gave a very good talk in church. I had to listen from the hallway because of course little man needs to be fed right before his talk and then would not calm down enough to go back into the meeting. We got to see Mark's grandma who I have only met in person once before. She has never met either of the boys in person only on FaceTime so that was quite the treat!

Easton finished up swimming lessons at the end of the week. Grandpa Gillies came to watch him on his last day. He passed his class level and gets to move on to the next level next summer. The next day we packed up and headed home. On our way home our car was having troubled again so we will be headed back down to Utah around the 4th of July to look for a replacement and trade in our Altima. Not the timing we had imagined but when you are going down the interstate 30 mph and summer in Wyoming means one lane roads for road construction and you've got 60 cars behind you wondering why we are going less than the speed limit something has to happen!

It was so nice to be able to go spend three whole weeks at Grandma & Grandpa Gillies' house this summer. We loved having daddy all to ourselves and not having to worry about sending him off to class. We are excited to spend the rest of our summer in Laramie before we move on to Baggs.