Shamed!...... And the month of August

Okay I have been dutifully shamed by several of my other blogging friends who have posted all their latest news and vacations (especially those who were on a similar vacation and now back home to Korea) into finally posting about our summer. So y'all need to check as far back as May to see what we did this summer. (And I thought graduating college would release me from writing that paper.) Post will be made as soon as I can.

In the meantime....

So far August has been a crazy month for me as a mom of four. We had to shop and prepare for our first day of school, Michael's birthday, and a custody suit from my son and ex-husband...all in the same two weeks. Jay was still in Wyoming and although he made it back for the birthday, the other stuff was cared for by me. It must be some sort of law somewhere that when husband is gone, wife must suffer in order to really miss him.The custody suit is still in the works. I am fighting it even though Michael signed a legal document saying he wants to live with his dad. Hopefully I can keep him from that. He has no idea what it is like to live like his dad chooses to live and to be that poor. He only knows that he loves his dad and doesn't understand all the hardships. Thankfully my sister was visiting and she and my mom were awesome!

Here are a few pictures to capture the good moments:

Michael before 1st day of school. It is O' dark 30

I have an awesome flash on my camera, Michael is now a freshman in high school. WOW!

Joshua before 1st day of school into 2nd grade

Elliott before 1st day of school. Elliott is in 4th grade this year.

Beth before her first day of school in Kindergarten.

The three little ones. I have no more kids at home during the day.

Michael's 14th Birthday

Too cool and suave to have a birthday party! My little man isn't a little man any more!

Oooh Yah!

Chug! Chug! Chug!

Michael is 14! He is developing into quite a young man. It is hard for me to treat hi as such sometimes. I guess it is difficult for all moms to let their little ones grow up. He is very funny and is on his way to becoming the next great artist or novelist. Michael has struggled with the idea of church this year and I hope this next year he will find his way back and understand that while not often fun, church is necessary and hugely important to living our lives. Aside from drawing and reading Michael still enjoys building with legos (which he'd like to start doing less of because it is a kid thing), enjoys video and computer gaming, dungeons and dragon and other role playing games. He is also very interested in (Shh don't tell anyone I told you) GIRLS! I don't know if I am ready for it. We have talked many times together over one girl or another and how best be her friend. Michael is very excited about being old enough to attend dances now too. Michael is very responsible and is a good babysitter when we need him and loves to tease his siblings. They don't seem to annoy him as much as they used to.

Blogging Hiatus

I am going to have to take a break from blogging for a while. There is a lot going on in the Haderlie family right now, some good, some not so good. I am just too busy to write, but when it is all said and done, there will, I hope, be some nice new pictures for y'all and some funny bits of my wit, and maybe some parenting wisdom.

Baptism in Wyoming/Idaho

The next stop on our "Funderrific" vacation was in Wyoming/Idaho. We had two main reasons for visiting. First, this is where Jay's family resides and where Jay grew up. His parents still live here in the house Jay grew up in. It is a great trip for Jay and us to see what his life was like in the small town of Freedom, where EVERYBODY is family in some way and the time era is at least 10 years back from current times. We had a blast. We went to Jackson Hole and caught up with a friend. We celebrated Joshua's baptism and pioneer day with family. We fished and camped. We lit fireworks and road four wheelers and horses. We enjoyed nature in a way we can't here in the city. We barely escaped with all of our blood due to a mosquito infestation throughout the area. Here below are some of our pictures and videos of the weeks in Wyoming/Idaho.

Beth and Jay enjoying our cross-country drive

Scenery along the drive

Emma, Rachel, and Rebecca Summers. It was fun to visit with them in Jackson Hole. We had great fun at the Ripley's museum, eating lunch, and going to the indoor pool.

Elliott, Beth and Joshua enjoying Ice Cream in Jackson Hole while Michael and Jay are on the Alpine Slide

Sulpher Springs near Freedom

Jay and the kids swam in this. YUCK! The smell of sulpher still permeates their swimwear.

Joshua ready to be baptized by his father Jay and confirmed a member of the church by Jay with Grandpa Haderlie, Uncle David and Uncle John in the circle.

Josh with Grandma and Grandpa Haderlie

Mountains scenery from Jay's parents front porch.

Michael lighting fireworks with a punk stick. OOOOOOooooooh!

Joshua practicing his smoke bending skills.

Camping at Big Elk Creek (pronounced crick) at the Palisades Reservoir

View from our campsite

Beth and my favorite flower, daisies.

Taking this photo was very scary! The hike up was steep and two of the kids had to be heavily assisted. I made us stop before we got to the very top.

Wouldn't be a trip out to the Mormon west without Seagull Lillies.

 

All good vacations must end sometime. Here we are saying goodbye to Mom and Dad Haderlie a serious picture and a funny one below.

  

At the Gyser in Soda Springs. This gyser had to be capped because it threw off Pld Faithful's timing. It goes off every hour.

Josh King of the Rock at Soda Springs Gyser

Look they really do love each other. Without them this vacation would have been entirely different. I love my kids and all their unique personalities. I am truly  blessed to be their Mom.