SEPTEMBER 2019

LABOR DAY -  This Labor day took on a whole new meaning as I was awoken early that Sunday morning to texts saying that my sister Sydnee was in labor and heading to the hospital.  I didn't know for sure if she would get sent home or not, so I went back to bed for another three hrs but at 5 am she was checked into the hospital so I jumped out of bed and raced down there to hopefully take some pictures.  Sydnee thought the baby would be born within the hour but it turned out it was more around noon so I had plenty of time to take some pictures.  It was pretty amazing to be on that side of a birth and it definitely leaves you in awe of a female body and the miracle of birth.  For effect I took all the pictures before the birth in black and white...

It's all fun and games until those contractions start kicking in, but you haven't got your epidural yet... I do not miss that feeling!

Then all the pictures after the birth in color because seriously the magic of birth is like going from black to color.

This little guy was seriously the chubbiest, squishiest, cutest thing.  It was so amazing to see this miracle from my vantage point as a fly on the wall. 

It was pretty cool that Austin's mom was the nurse on duty on delivery day.  It made it super special and fun to watch her so excited for another grandbaby as she took care of him.

There is nothing like the bond between a mom and their child.   It is so powerful.  It was so beautiful to watch Sydnee just naturally bond with her new son.

Not to take credit away from how awesome dad's are when they get to meet their children for the first time as well.  It was equally sweet to watch Austin during the delivery process and to see how nerve-racking, emotional, exciting, and wonderful the experience was for him too. 

Sydnee and Austin are such great parents.  They decided to name their 6th boy Dodge Lorenzo Rasmussen.  Sometimes they call him Dodge and sometimes they call him Enzo.  Here are all the pictures from the hospital.

Josh had planned to make a prime rib dinner for everyone Sunday afternoon while Mal & family were still up so it was great to let the Rasmussen family have some time to themselves and go get some lunch. 

Then we all went down to see the Rasmussen's.  It seemed like a good idea to go down and support them, but it may have been a bit optimistic to fit that many kids in a small hospital room and retain any order whatsoever!  Luckily Sydnee is such a chill, go-with-the-flow type of mom and was super excited to show everyone Baby Dodge.

I have to smile at the irony of our family situation with this next generation.  My parents had 5 daughters and 1 son.  Now with everyone married there are 5 son-in-laws and 12 grandsons.  (Only 4 granddaughters!) 

Here are some sweet pictures of my little family holding their new cousin straight from heaven.

Baby Dodge handled it well for awhile.  I was looking at him toward the end when we were getting ready to go and he opened one eye as if to say, "Is it safe yet?!"  Can't wait to see what this sweet little boy's personality will be.

The next day which really was Labor Day we spent moving the rest of our stuff into our house.  John/Coleen & Jake/Megan and some of their kids came up and helped us move things in and put together beds and so on.  Megan, McKenna, & Ava all organized the kitchen which was so awesome.  We were continually surprised as we got more and more of our stuff in and it fit!  I was for sure certain we would have to get rid of at least half of our furniture.  The only piece we don't have room for is our old brown leather chair, but once we get the cold storage room finished it will be great in there (which will be our play room/game room.)  There isn't a lot of storage space, but I've truly been shocked that everything else has a place!  A lot of our pieces fit just exactly so we must be meant to be here. I want to make mention how a few days before Mal, Trevor, and Abby all came over and unloaded two trailer's full of goods.  They were so helpful and only left us with a few dings in the wall.  wink wink.

BLACKFOOT FAIR RODEO - Tuesday Jed was roping with Jake at the fair rodeo so we went down that night after Ava's game.  Her game was against Rocky Mountain and so she got to play against Avery which was fun!  RMMS beat Rigby in two sets but other than that it was a fun time.  All the Berry's were there and Susan came down.  So that is fun for Ava to have so many fans in the cheering section for her!  We had to hustle home and then down to the rodeo.  The kids and I walked around the food vendors for a little bit.  Some things I remembered from growing up we tried and they weren't as good as I remembered.  Our favorite things were scone bites and eggrolls.  We didn't really have time to walk around and see the animals or go over to the rides so next year we will have to make that a priority because quite honestly, the Blackfoot Fair is probably the best state fair we've ever been too (including Western Idaho, Illinois, & Kentucky.)  It was really fun to actually watch a real rodeo for a change.  Kasen & Kinsley loved it.  Ava was restless to get home so she could get ready for school the next day. 

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - September 4th was the first day of school for Rigby.  Ava started 8th grade which will be her last year at middle school.  Kasen started 5th grade which will be his last year at elementary school.  Kinsley started 3rd grade which was the year Ava started when we moved back to Idaho.  Time really does go by so fast.  The kids were all nervous so Jed had given them back to school blessings the night before.   Erica called me the day before and offered to pick up Ava and take her to school with Kylie which was a really huge deal for Ava to not have to walk in alone.  It was really great for her.  K&K rode the bus home and were all smiles which was great.  Ava had practice after school, but she texted me to tell me her first day was awesome which was such a relief.  One of her biggest fears was that she would have to eat lunch alone, but the volleyball girls invited her and some other girls invited her too so that made her feel so good.  

AVA'S 14TH BIRTHDAY - Ava's birthday fell on a Friday this year and also happened to be Rigby's Homecoming.  So the volleyball girls rode on a float in the Homecoming parade.  We took the kids in to watch and man I had forgotten how sports in these small towns is literally life.  I swear 90% of the floats were football players from HS or grid kid.  Afterward we went to Fizz Bizz and got Ava a birthday drink and then she had decided that she wanted to go down to Olive Garden to eat rather than go to the football game.  So Jed & I took her down to eat and Kasen babysat. 

For Ava's bday she got a new desk in her room, a new computer chair, a new bedspread, and some other stuff.  None of it had arrived yet so as she was opening up what we did have I told her that we had another really big exciting thing for her but it wasn't going to be here for a few days.  We are always teasing Ava about how we bought her an octopus because she knows we will never do that.  So I was building up the suspense and then to tease her (like we always do) I said we got her an octopus.  I thought she knew it would be a joke, but she was so excited she started crying tears of joy.  So then we had to tell her - actually no we didn't.  It was like a flashback to my childhood birthday when I thought my dad got me a pony.  Luckily Ava forgave me!

That Sunday we invited everyone over for cake and ice cream.  It was really fun to have a full house to celebrate Ava.    Ava is such a kind and sweet girl.  She truly is a special person with a very wise soul.  One of my most admired qualities Ava has is her obedience and her ability to self-correct.  She is growing in to such a beautiful young woman, but what's even more wonderful to see is how beautiful she is on the inside.  Ava has had to do a lot of hard things in her life already, but she continues to look outside herself and grow kinder and kinder.  Both Jed and I feel so lucky that we get to be her parents and we talk about it to each other all the time.  

GETTING SETTLED  - Jed was able to bring his horses up from Jake's and the boys were all excited about that.  Kasen had been practicing roping the dummy more and Dallin just copies whatever Kasen does so he's out there with a rope pretty often.  Jed roped with Jake a few times and Kasen even roped a real steer off a horse this month.  

I finally went and bought groceries.  It had been a few weeks.  Ever since Ava started volleyball practice and games 3x a week it was just easier to eat out.  I'm not sure I'll ever eat Rigby's fast food again for another few years after how much we ate it this month.  So our receipt for groceries was a little bit long.  Longer than Dallin is tall to be exact!  

We took time one Sunday afternoon to go visit the Rasmussen's now that the baby was home.  The kids played American Ninja Warrior on the Xbox and they were pretty funny to watch.  Kenny just creamed everyone on a different boxing game.  He was so proud of himself.

We've had to go shopping for a few things like a lawnmower/washer & dryer, etc. and just getting things put away takes some time.  Dallin is a pretty good helper but I've caught him a few times just asleep somewhere.  We've had the cousins over a couple of times in the afternoon.  Dallin could play with his cousins everyday all day long if he could.  He went  with me in to wash some clothes at the laundromat.  It was definitely not quite as nice as the one in Meridian we went to before we moved.  I was like "Dallin don't touch anything" and so of course he touched everything.  

FOOTBALL  - Kasen has been playing flag football this year.  It is definitely not as competitive as over in Boise area.  Most kids come out of the womb here and their parents already have them signed up for grid kid.  The flag league is 4th - 6th grade so Kasen is one of the better players and knows the most about football on his team.  He said to Ava one day that it was just a lot of responsibilty to be the allstar of the team. lol  Jed got roped in to coaching Kasen's team and he does such a good job and I know that it has helped Kasen a lot with his confidence through the years to have his dad there.  Jed has also gotten a lot better about his yelling too so it's been good for him as well. John and Coleen will come up to his games at the middle school on Saturday mornings.  One day John came alone so we went and got ice cream afterwards.  Dallin sneak-attacked everyone and was trying to eat their ice cream when they weren't paying attention.  It is nice to be able to see John & Coleen more often.

Jed has been down to Jace's football games nearly every weekend which I know he enjoys a lot.  One week I was sick so he took Kasen & Dallin.  Another week was pouring rain so he took his dad.  This last Friday we all were able to finally go down.  Jace is a great athlete and fun to watch.  It was Firth's homecoming against Ririe and they beat them 54-0.  It is crazy it is Jace's senior year - like I said time just goes by so fast.

POTATO DIG & FARM CLEANUP -  September 21st was the farm's annual potato dig.  It was a wet weekend but the rain held for the potato dig.  The ground was super muddy though and I'm not sure my van interior will ever be the same.  I took my camera up to capture some of the magic.  

 

I can't believe how much I love taking pictures.  It was so fun to try and capture everyone busy out in the potato field.  My favorite pictures are the ones where no one is paying any attention to me whatsoever and then I yell "Hey" and I get them off guard.  I also like to catch moments that are unscripted like the moment of Jody talking so calmly to Kent. 

Here's a few of Kent overseeing everything.  I was looking through my lense at something and then all of sudden Garland walked into the frame.  I hadn't thought about him for about 20 yrs.  He looked exactly the same.

 

Some of my favorites of these two farm cousins.  These boys don't have any problems playing in the dirt together.

These next few pictures totally make me think of the saying: Not All Who Wander Are Lost.  This has become one of my most favorite phrases over the last little bit.  As a mom I feel such peace lately being still as I watch my kids make their own choices.  I haven't always been like this.  It's much easier to demand and control, at least for me.  This moment was a perfect example.  We got to the farm to pick potatoes.  You can tell by Kinsley's face in the first few minutes she was having second thoughts about "working"!  She started to wander.  My first impulse was to make her come back and stay on task.  I held my space for a few minutes before reacting.  In that space that calm feeling came and whispered, "Let's just see what she does."  So I watched and she wandered.  But sure enough she came back in her own time happy and willing to work.  She more independent, and I more trusting in her.

Jed was sorting through some potatoes and he said, "Look hon it's a Russian nesting doll potato."  I hope Dallin will always be thankful that I kept his sister's pink, sparkly cowgirl boots for him to wear out in public to so many events. :)

A few pictures of Josh and his crew. They are troopers - wanderers in a strange land for sure and one that is much colder than Houston!

I was so touched at how many people showed up to pick potatoes.  So many people told me so sincerely how much they appreciate my parents doing this for the community year after year.  I had no idea.  I always thought it seemed less effective because potatoes are so cheap at the grocery store.  It was nice to be reminded that people just love service and are drawn to it.

It is so awesome to be able to participate in some of these events we've heard about for years but lived so far away to come to.  I love making new traditions, but there is something special about sharing your childhood with your kids too.

Afterward we went back over to the shop for some cleanup.  The cleanup essentially involved most of us standing there as Kent hauled rocks over to a flower bed they had made.  Then they pulled an old grain thresher up on to the rocks and put up a new sign.  It looked really great.  The kids climbed up on the thresher and we all cheered when the 15 men finally figured out how to make the sign level.  Then we had burgers from the grill and went home.  It was a good little farm party.  The best part was watching all the kids play.  Kids and farm dirt should be a requirement for a full childhood I've decided.

Syd's family was able to meet us at the shop.  With all the recent rain it was plenty muddy and dirty and wet.  You could just see the wheels turning in all the little boys' heads as they would look into those big puddles.

Kent taught Dallin how to get mud off his hands with dry loose dirt and Josh did his best overseeing job walking around holding the shovel.  At one point, one of the hired hands came up to me and said in broken English, "Your brother is holding a shovel you better take a picture of that one!"  He was laughing so hard at himself he could barely get it out.

Sweet pictures of some sweet kids playing together.  I love that they all love Kolie the dog so much.  I think by loving Kolie, they feel like they are loving Grandpa.

The sky was stellar for photography this day.  I've been a lot of places and I'm always impressed at the frequency at which the Idaho sky can make me catch my breath.  We got all the employees out in front of the new plot for a picture.

How many people does it take to position and hammer in the new sign?  haha.  It took quite a few.  Then a picture with all the family.

A couple pictures of Kent.  He was super nice and patient with the kids throughout the day.  He's two months in to his 3 year stewardship.  I wonder if he'll still like any of us by the end of it. 

I was so impressed with the cleanliness and organization of the shop until I went into the office and looked at the books!  Syd and I both showed up in our sweatshirts from the St. George half-marathon we ran together almost 13 years ago.

Ava and Dallin couldn't resist some snuggles with Baby Dodge for a few minutes.  Kinsley was just ready to eat and totally confused when she realized we still had to cook all the food.

Once the food got passed out it didn't last long.  The grossest food always tastes so good covered in windy dirt on the farm for some reason??

THE REST - The last few events of September involved more volleyball games, the weather turning arctic, and me starting another semester of school.  I started working out at my friend's gym and she offered me half off to babysit during one class a week so I took her up on it.  Oh and probably the most scary of all was Ava and Kinsley putting makeup on Kasen one afternoon.  haha  Dallin then sneaked off with the lipstick and went to town.