Judd Family Reunion

 Each year Bart's extended family on his mother's side gets together in Hoytsville Utah .  Here are some pictures.  

Here is a picture of Bart's Grandma Nana in front of the home she grew up in

Here's my little family in front of the same house.  Pauline's cousin lives there now and let us all take of tour of the old house

Each year Bart's extended family on his mother's side gets together in Hoytsville Utah .  Here are some pictures including a picture of my little family in front of Bart's Great Grandma and Grandpa Judd's home.

Emily the athlete

In just the last few months Emily's physical skills have blossomed. 

She's conquered the monkey bars at the Catholic church's playground

One day during soccer I told Emily that if she kicked it so many times we could stop and get a treat on the way home.  Just like that Emily became one of the most aggressive kids on the field.  She got right in there and kicked that ball multiple times.  She showed us all that she is the fastest runner on the field.  I kid you not that girl is made to run.  Many of the team's parents noticed her speed.   After that game Emily has really become a soccer player!

 At the end of last summer Emily told her dad she wanted her training wheels taken off.  That day Bat took them off and she had a few unsuccessful attempts at pedaling without training wheels.  Literally the next day Bart got a job and was whisked away to work and the bike sat in the garage for a while and then it became winter.  This spring Emily begged and begged me to help her learn to ride her now much too small bike.  Being in the first trimester of pregnancy I kept telling her to ask her dad but Sat's were filled up  and the lesson never happened.   One evening I was vacuuming out my car in the driveway and my girls were on their scooters in the driveway.  Without saying a word to me Emily got out her little bike and off she went around and around the driveway without a signal lesson.  I was impressed and she was so proud of herself.    As an end of the school year celebration we went out and bought Emily a new bike that fits her perfect.  Now much of our lazy summer days involve my girls doing circles around the driveway on their bikes and scooters. 

My Sarah

Jane and Bart's sister Sarah have always had this special bond.   To be specific about which Sarah she is talking about,  Jane refers to her as "My Sarah".   So it's especially sad that they moved to Pocatello.  Last Sunday Sarah being the "Super Aunt" that she is got out a couple of tutu's and dressed up and did some ballet with Jane and Emily.   Of course my girls were all giggles to have Sarah put on a show with them.   It was really cute. 

On the way home Emily asks "Where are Joe and Sarah moving to?"  Jane leans over and very directly says Pocatello in the most derogatory voice.  She then said "When I get home I'm going to make Sarah a card so I know how much I love her".   

and Joe..  My girls miss you too.   Who else is willing and has the energy and muscles to throw them around over and over like you do?

Too close to home

A huge fire just started on Boulder Mountain just South of my childhood town,  Teasdale.   It's pretty scary.  When I was a kid in school Smokey the Bear came to our school to talk about fire safety.  I'm sure the ultimate goal was for all of us to live the motto "Only you can prevent forest fires".  What did I get from lesson?  An intense fear that this Boulder Mountain would start on fire.   I started having nightmares and fears that a fire would come down the mountain and  burn down the whole town.    This picture hits a  little to close to my childhood fears.  I hope they get it under control soon.  I love this mountain!

Janed it!

On the flight to California the flight attendant gave Jane her complimentary drink.   Jane took it and guzzled it like she does every time she has a drink.  Pauline who happen to be sitting by her turned to me and said "You know whenever Joe comes home from playing sports and is dehydrated and guzzles a drink, Sarah will tease him that he just Janed that drink".    Later while with my sister Allyson and we were talking about breastfeeding I mentioned that with Jane I was never engorged because the moment my milk came in Jane sucked me dry so fast I didn't have time to fill up.  Pauline then said "it sounds like Jane has always been a fast drinker".    I'd never connected the two before but I'd have to agree.   I guess if it's a talent to guzzle your drinks Jane is gifted in this area!

Kindergarten (check)

Emily is no longer my cute kindergartner.    Her class presented a talent show to all of the parents.  Emily's first choice was to show everyone she can stand on one foot for a long time.  I persuaded her to show her amazing talent of writing and illustrating a story.  She agreed and presented "A Different 3 Bears story" written and illustrated by Emily Richards.   The day of the show Emily insisted that since it was a very special day she got to wear her very best dress with her church shoes.  I think Emily lives by the saying  "Better to be over dressed than underdressed. 

 Emily was so cute up in front reading her story.  I loved it!!!




She also posed for a couple of pictures with Miss Judy, Miss Elaine, and her very best friends Leah and Ella.

The Big 35

Bart turned 35 last week.  He celebrated by having a hectic day at work followed by an evening training.  He didn't get home until after 9:30.  I let the girls stay up late to wish him Happy Birthday which I think made his day a little better.   That night while laying in bed trying to go to sleep, this baby boy in my belly woke up and I swear started doing somersaults.  His kicks were so strong Bart could finally feel him.  I guess he was ready to bond with his daddy.  Good choice of a day to do it!  The next day we were dog sitting Powder up at Bart's parents house and my girls found 2 small heart shaped cake pans.  They both wanted to make their daddy a cake so they baked and generously decorated them with treats from Nona's treat stash.  I also made him a raspberry filled cake with cream cheese frosting.  When he got home from work he had 3 cakes waiting for him.   What a lucky guy!