In the end of April, I took Eliza's preschool class on a field trip to the Idaho Falls Zoo. It was crazy, but I think the kids had a good time. Later that week, I was able to be a chaperon for Maren's field trip to the Museum of Idaho Dinosaur Exibit. Being a chaperon is not the best way to experience the Museum (or where ever the fieldtrip is to), but it was a lot of fun and I think it made Maren feel special.
In the end of May we finnished up Eliza's preschool for the year with a graduation ceramony about the same time Maren had her last days of first grade. At the very end of the month and leaking into June, Jon left for a week long National Drug Court Convention in Nashville, TN. He seemed to have fun, but missed the kids. Of course, the kids missed him. Henry kept talking about daddy being on an airplane the whole week long.
The Fun Begins
On the 2nd of June (while Jon was gone), Emiline perfected rolling over from back to tummy. She started to really giggle as well. My sister-in-law Suzie and I also made and canned most of 6 flats of Strawberry Jam.
Then we flew the nest and left on our summer vacation on the 10th of June. My sister-in-law, Theresa, and her family volunteered to watch our dog, Lady, while we were gone. Jon had quite a bit of vacation time he needed to use from work, so we planned a 1 1/2 week long road trip. We left early Sunday morning and drove the 5 hours to Ben's home in Riverton, WY. We made it in time for lunch and to attend Sacrament meeting with him. The kids were all tired of sitting which made for a fun meeting. Some of Ben and Jeanna's friends from out of town were coming and we needed to get back on the road, but it was so nice to see their beautiful home and enjoy the yummy hamburgers and cheesecake.
We made it up to Rapid City, SD. We stayed there in a hotel for three nights, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights. While there we visited Mt Rushmore, Reptile Gardens (a reptile zoo), the Journey Museum (had a lot of dinosaur and Indian displays), a cement Dinosaur park, and Storybook Island (an amazing park for kids). All of it was so fun, but Storybook Island took the cake! I can't put up enough pictures or write enough to give an accurate account of the experience. There were themed play areas like "The Three Little Pigs", "Peter Pan", "Noah's Ark", "The Cottage of the Seven Dwarfs", "Rapunzel's Tower", and lots more. They had a live children's theater with actors who sang and put on a play for the kids, a train to ride on, an old firetruck and train engine to climb on and explore. It was so fun!
We left Wednesday morning for Burlington, IA and got to the hotel late. Thursday morning, we went to see the cemetery where some of Jon's 'Robbins' ancesors are buried, then spent the rest of the morning and some of the afternoon touring Nauvoo, IL. We drove to Girard, IL and spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights with my sister-in-law, Martha, and her family. They joined us on Friday for a trip to the St. Louis Zoo. My girls loved the butterfly house there and all the kiddos loved the carrosel. Saturday, we went to the Illinois State Museum with Jon's mom. Sunday, we went to church with Jon's dad and Sally, then went to Petersburg, IL with them to stay at their house for the remainder of our trip.
We had a tea party with Grandma Robbins, visited with Sally, and enjoyed wonderful breakfasts made by Papa (Jon's dad). One night we went to Pizza Hut for dinner and got to watch a smoking car pull into a nearby parking lot before it burst into flames. The fire truck came and put it out, but it was quite the entertainment. Henry loved it. We left there about 5:30 am on Wednesday morning and drove straight through back to our home in Idaho. We got back about 4:30 am Thrusday morning and spent the day resting and settling back in. It was a fun trip.
The following Monday (the 25th) Henry turned 2 years old. Emiline had learned to slowly roll all over the floor space she is given. Jon's sister, Beth, and her family moved to
Pocatello at the end of June. (This put 4 of the Robbins' six sibblings within about an hour drive or 5 sibblings within about a 3 1/2 hour drive. All of the 22, soon to be 23, grand kids are 13 years old or younger.)
July was filled with Family! It was so fun to see everyone and spend so much time with family. Jon's cousin, Manda, came up from Arizona to stay for a little over a week. She arrived at our house on the 28th of June and stayed with us until the evening of Saturday, July 7th. Jon's sister, Martha, and her family came out and stayed with Suzie for almost 2 weeks (June 30th until July 11th). This provided a Robbins' kids a reunion of sorts. We packed as much fun as we could into those days. We had a cook-out up the canyon, watched fireworks, stayed at the Boone Lodge before driving up and touring Yellowstone National Park, attended Robby's baptism, did temple work for Jon's Grandparents, went boating on the lake, visited, and visited some more.
We really enjoyed our time together. We had about a week break and then Jon's Mom came out to stay for awhile. She house hopped and was able to enjoy a more layed back and one-on-one experience with each of the families. It was really fun to spend that time with Mom Robbins. She left today from Michael's house in Utah for her home in Illinois. We hope she has a safe trip back.
Last night, Jon finally got to go down and see Beth's new house in Pocatello. She had Suzie's and Theresa's families, as well as our family down for dinner and to celebrate Jon's upcoming birthday. The kids all seemed to have had a great time and the food was DELICIOUS! Beth made chicken burritos with ALL the toppings plus two beautiful cheesecakes! Beth really went beyond the call....and her house is beautiful. We really enjoyed the visit.
August. We decided to tear up part of the garden and make a mud pit. Maren loves it. Eliza doesn't. Henry isn't sure. Emiline has no idea it exists. We had some cousins over one afternoon and had loads of fun with mud and popcicles.
Maren has kept the toothfairy hopping. She lost her two top front teeth about a week apart from each other.
Today Maren and Eliza decided they wanted to give each other a make-over. Maren started on Eliza's hair which was quite tangled and the tears started. I came in to help and we got the girls all done-up and had a photoshoot.
Now we are going to enjoy a fairly quiet week and a half before we head to Utah to see my folks before Maren starts 2nd grade on the 27th. I have decided to not do a preschool with other people's children this year and just focus on Eliza. We will focus on reading and simple math.
We have had so much fun this summer. I am sad it is about time to give up all the crazy fun for the more predictable school days.
She and Eliza spent a lot of time designing and coloring clothes. 
The Maren, Eliza, and Henry loved going out to help Grandpa feed the animals. The big girls loved playing in the creek. Grandpa built a swing from a tree limb that hung over the creek and a temporary teeter totter. The Girls spent a lot of time outside playing. Henry spent every minute we would let him outside. We enjoyed seeing Andy and his lady friend, and Rebecca with her little boy. We had a nice visit. 
On our way home we had to visit a old favorite hiking spot of Jon and Sunny's. It was in the parking spot here that Jon proposed to Sunny. The kids enjoyed the first half of the hike up to the waterfall and Emiline slept the whole trip up and back. (For those who Henry has a harder time opening up to: This picture is my Henry.) 
When we got back we put up the Christmas tree and spent as we could getting ready for Christmas in one way or another. Henry moved into a big bed and gave up the binky. He is doing great and feeling very big. He has started showing a stubborn streak when it comes to asking nice for things. He was refusing to say please for anything. After a lot of tears and a lot of time not getting what he wanted he is beginning to see that one little word opens up a lot of opportunity. 
We tried to make a snowman, but the snow was not sticking together well. This angry snow blob was as close as we were able to get. (He has an icicle nose.) We made snow angels and I pulled the kids around the yard in the sled for a bit. 
We spent New Years Eve having Pizza and playing board games with the kids. Then Jon and the two littlest kids went to bed and Maren and Eliza and Sunny stayed up to watch movies and Time Square celebrate the coming of the New Year before heading to bed. Yesterday was Maren's first day back to school. She is looking forward to Friday since they are having a show and tell and a game day. We are glad to be getting back into a routine and glad to welcome in the new year. We hope 2013 is a great year for all our Friends and Family.
