Flake Fun

I have been thinking a bit lately about the way things work out.   Just over a year ago I was really struggling with being in Snowflake.  I was quite unhappy and couldn't seem to get myself out of that rut.  So I had a frank conversation with God about what I was feeling.  That week, at the park I met Esther.  We had similar backgrounds (homeschooled, mission, married to accountants, etc.) And we hit it off.  She was MY friend with no other connections and it made me feel like, yes, I can survive in Snowflake.   We made homeschooling plans, chatted about life and did park play dates.  Fast forward to February. We met up at library storytime and she dropped the bombshell that they are moving to Sweden.  It slightly rocked my world.  But I realized that because of our meeting I have come to appreciate Snowflake and she got me through the last year.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.

Anyway, she is moving on Friday so I'm a bit down about that.  Here are some cute pics. 

James face planted into the stairs and did a doozy on his front teeth.

Leaning literal ropes with Uncle Bruce.

Our new Champion Juicer thanks to Esther

James was thrilled to finally be a twin.

Robin and Rand have taken a greater interest in reading lately.

In the "sloth tree".  The branch is low enough that they can hang on it like sloths.

Love you all!

Nilsson News

 It has been a bit crazy the past few weeks!  It is foaling season and we have four out of five here!  I wish I could say it has been smooth sailing, but we've had a few anxieties.  We had a mama with a blocked udder, a red bag emergency delivery, two foals born two weeks early, one of which came with a snowstorm and the other that has angular limb deformity.  It's exciting and so fun to see all the babies running all over the place.

We are awaiting the true arrival of spring and working in the yard and garden.  The kids have been living on the trampoline and Henry just learned how to do a back handspring and back flip.  We finished our homeschool co-op which was fun and we're almost done with the rest of school and extra curricular commitments.  Addy is getting excited for the high school musical "Suessical."  She is playing the keyboard in the pit and it's proving to be a fun show.  Let us know if anyone wants to come.  It's May 15-18.

Sorry about my random ramblings but that's all for now!

We hiked the Menan Buttes with our 4-H club.  It was rather exhausting but most made it to the top.

We also went to the Museum and saw the Under the Canopy exhibit.  It was fun to see all the real live animals.

Dane loves Stanley!  They are buddies!

This is a photo of May 3rd.  This was on the ground along with a new foal!

This is Miracle!  She is a doll with the most beautiful little face.  We are keeping her!

This is little Storm.  He is so tiny and stocky.  We love his all black face.

I'm feeling slightly guilty showing so many pictures of donkeys when Emma posted tons of adorable photos of Stetson (sigh).

Hyde Happinesses

 Hello all! These last few weeks have been very fun. We’ve celebrated Cams birthday and mine, and both were a blast. We’ve done some rock climbing recently and it’s been a good reminder that I need to get some muscle 😅 the weather has been off and on nice, so when it’s not raining or freezing outside, we are out and running all over. I think the most common thing I hear these days is “wow Stetson is so tan!” He loves being outside. He can open our front door so we have to lock it and watch him carefully so he doesn’t escape all the time. 

I don’t know if it’s been the weather changing, allergies, teething, or what, but Stetson has been sick it seems like for the past 3 weeks. He’s a really pleasant little fellow, so sometimes it’s hard to tell what ails him. He’s been jabbering more and more lately which is so funny to me. He started calling grandma and grandpa “Gaga,” but has now graduated to “gwa-gwa” which is adorable. He’s also learned to be bossy - when he’s ready for visitors to leave, he simply looks at them, says “all done,” and politely opens the door and says “bye bye.” 🤦🏼‍♀️ it’s rather embarrassing sometimes! He also preemptively says “no no no” when he knows he’s about to do something he shouldn’t. We went to Olive Garden for my birthday dinner, and he picked up the salt and pepper shakers and said “no no no” as he tried to lick them. He also does it when he climbs on his kitchen tower and attempts to get into it over the top rail instead of under. He’ll look me straight in the eye and say “no no no” while trying to climb in. It’s hilarious and I often confuse him by laughing instead of correcting. He’s a funny dude. He met some puppies yesterday and wanted to hold allllll of them all at the same time. Other people were holding some of them and he kept going around saying “all done,” and trying to get them to put the puppies back. He sure makes me laugh a lot. 

Cam got a new climbing device for his birthday called a Grigri. It’s an automatic belay device that locks whenever someone falls off the rock so the person belaying doesn’t have to stress too much. We’ve used it once and loved it, so we are for sure going to be climbing a lot this summer! Let us know if you ever want to come! We’re planning on going to the city of rocks one of these weeks! I’m not a very good party planner and Cams birthday was on a Tuesday, so it was very dull im afraid. We did get Angie’s for breakfast and mom and dad joined us for dinner at Costa Vida, but other than a cake, I didn’t do a whole lot! Mom and dad got him a kids basketball hoop so he could play with Stetson and it has been a hit at our house. Stetson wakes up saying ball and wants to play all day long. 

Cam is a much better birthday organizer than I am, so I had a great birthday as well :) he sure knows how to spoil me! 25 is old people! I know it’s not thaaaat old, but I remember thinking that 25 is the year when people are real grownups. Sure doesn’t feel like we’re grownups! 

We also had family pictures done as kind of a dual birthday present for both of us. They are priceless guys!! If you want me to spam your phones with them, I’d be happy to ;) hope everyone has a lovely week! 

Stetson LOVES baths

Playing with chalk

It’s the new style Stetson invented… he did it all by himself 

I got to see my mission president and introduce him to Stetson! I LOVE THIS MAN. He is incredible. I miss his German accent and ways. I wish everyone could meet him! He is the greatest.

Cam and I had a temple picture taking competition. I don’t think anyone won but it was a fun time :)

Stetson has finally conquered his fear of balloons 

Al’s is Cam and Stetsons most favorite store in the whole world. This is Stetson going “where’s dada?” 

His most favorite activity is walking Oakley 

Cams cake, with a “1” on top because I couldn’t find the candles I bought. I found them yesterday ☹️

He loves chocolate milk 🙄

Just a boy and his banana 

Learning how to smell the flowers 

He loves the water “lola”

Baseball watching 

I made homemade mayo and then this bomb sandwich 

This is his friend Halsey: she wasn’t sure what to do with all the love from Stetson. 

Stetsons great grandma and grandpa and his second cousin Peyton

Okay I’m finally done. Thanks for viewing a short story of my life 😂

Flake Fun

Scott has had the last 2 weeks off which was great.  We started off the "vacation" visiting my father in law in the hospital after his heart attack.  He is doing really well now and will be glad to get back to work.

Although we were sad not to make it to Texas, St. George was a blast.  We had fun just rubbing shoulders with those who could make it.

We (read: Scott) put in 400 feet of fence for the legal access to the acreage and completed the culvert crossing to get across the creek onto said acreage.  

The lizard that we caught.   It was a pretty chill little fellow.