Idaho Falls Temple Rededication

Jonathan and I went up to Idaho for the rededication of the Idaho Falls Temple. This is a very special temple for my family because my grandpa Machen helped build it after he came home from his mission in Tahiti. It was a wonderful weekend.

It started with Ruby not going to sleep on Friday night.

We played for most of Saturday while Chris and Annie did yard work. Ruby fell asleep before dinner.

We were able to watch the youth cultural celebration about the area and the temple. One of the songs they sang was about potatoes. It was very Idaho! Afterwards, we roasted marshmallows in the backyard.

Sunday morning, we went to the second session of the dedication. It was wonderful. I kept thinking about my grandparents and their example of temple service. My life would be bleak without the blessings of the temple. It gives me real hope for the future both for the coming years and after I die.

I can't wait to go inside the temple again!

My Elder Machen

Spiritual Enlightenment: Honorably Hold a Name and Standing - This talk helped me understand the importance of the temple for me as an individual.

McMillan Family Reunion

On the first Sunday in August, Jonathan and I were able to go to the McMillan family reunion in Rexburg. We went to Sacrament Meeting with Chris's family before going up to the reunion. Ruby stood with her head on Jonathan's leg for about five minutes. She is the sweetest little girl!

Our next stop was the Burton Cemetery to find where more of my Machen relatives are buried. The first Machen's I found were ones that I knew. My great-great grandparents! I feel so blessed to know more about them than just their names.

Then we finally made it up to the reunion. It was great to meet more of my Machen and McMillan cousins. I love this picture of 11 of the 16 McMillan children. My great-grandma is Evalyn, their youngest child. I am grateful to be part of such a wonderful family.

Before we went back to Utah, Jonathan made paper airplanes with the kids. They made it clear that we were had been gone long enough.

I hope that we can go to the reunion again next year.

MIA

It's been a long time since I've posted anything, but we really haven't been up to much since we started serving as ordinance workers in the Provo Temple. When we finish our shift, we are exhausted both physically (from climbing all of those stairs!) and spiritually. I know with time we will be able to handle it.

The temple was closed for the General Women's session of General Conference as well as the General sessions the following Saturday. On the 26th, we had an Easter family BBQ with our Patterson cousins. My cousin Kinzie's son Mike refused to speak for at least an hour. Instead he would write notes on napkins. It was hilarious!

For Conference weekend, we went up to Idaho for our first trip of the year. In between sessions of conference, the kids showed off the new mat for their trampoline. Jonathan and I may or may not have been kindly asked to get off because we bounce too high.

During Ruby's nap, I painted with the big kids. I feel bad for not doing this sooner. Clara loves doing any kind of art project. I promised the kids that from now on I will bring paint supplies with me.

Seth's paintings had a very clear theme - military. When he grows up, he wants to be an Army Engineer.

The red plane blew up the first green plane, so a second green
plane blew up the red plane.

This is an aircraft carrier on the ocean.

This is a practice battlefield.

Clara's paintings were much more colorful. I love how she signed her name on the first one.

Clara is the one with red hair and Annie is the one with blue hair.

I love how her flower looks!

The next day after breakfast, Clara told me that I needed to come and take a picture of her and Ruby hiding in the couch.

During another break, we played outside. Ruby could have spent hours on the teeter totter.

After dinner, Annie made a delicious early birthday cake for me!

I love Ruby's solo at the beginning!

As much as we love serving in the temple, it was nice to have a break!

Independence Day

It has become our tradition to spend our Independence Day up in Idaho with my brother's family. This year, my parents and Garrett started their trip in Orem with us. Then we made the drive up to Idaho Falls a few days before the best holiday of the year!

Ruby enjoyed her time in the pool with the big kids, until they started splashing too much.

The morning of the fourth, we headed up to the farm to play and shoot some guns. It was so cute watching the kids drive around. Clara enjoyed being driven around by the boys.

Then the guns came out.

I was very happy that I was able to hit one, especially since I wasn't wearing my glasses! Jonathan fell in love with the 

The kids had to do some more swimming, but this time they could slide into the pool.

We got to our spot to watch the fireworks a bit early, so the kids pretended they were Jedis with glow stick light sabers.

We had great seats for the show, as usual!

I am so grateful for this country and all the wonderful freedoms that so many have sacrificed their lives for.

Back to Idaho

I'm still not sure how March and April past without a trip to Idaho, but it did. This trip was long overdue! The kids were extra crazy because it had been so long.

Seth and Clara thought it was so sneaky for them to hide behind the couch.

Clara's sagging because her pants are too big, but they are purple
and that's all that she cares about! Annie is resolved that she
needs to hide them until Clara grows into them.

Ruby has changed so much since February! She is getting so mobile and can go from laying down to sitting like it's no big deal.

Ruby was all over the place! She crawled up next to me and was super smilely. The next thing I know, she snuggled up next my leg snoozing away. It's exhausting being the baby.

 Before dinner, Jonathan and I took the big kids to the Army Surplus Store. I'm not sure who liked it the most, but we were really lucky that Seth and Clara are such good kids. They found all sorts of little things and I was ready for them to ask us if they could have it, but they never did. They would look at whatever it was and then put it away and move on to the next thing that caught their attention.

They went crazy over anything that was gold colored.

I love this picture even though it's blurry.

I'm sure if my dad had been with us, he would have bought these hats for them.

We ended up taking enough time that Chris and Annie were able to have a quiet beginning to their dinner.

Sunday morning Clara was looking at the pictures in the front of her scriptures. She recognized the picture of Jesus, but not the others. Jonathan and I told her about the other pictures and then we read some scriptures. Don't worry Dad, the first one I had her read (repeat) was 1 Nephi 2:15.

Sunday morning scripture study.

The kids are really patient with us in the mornings. We sleep in the bedroom in the basement and the kids are kept upstairs until we are awake and we don't wake up as early as they do! After we finally did make our way upstairs Seth immediately went downstairs. Since I forgot my earplugs, Jonathan slept on an air mattress in the playroom. For the kids, it clearly was a toy to be played on. I laid down and at least for 30 minutes the kids were laying down with me.

Seth's pretending to be asleep.

 Ruby thinks she is ready to be a big kid and eat real food. She devoured the roll that Chris gave her for lunch. During Sacrament meeting at church, Ruby was offended that Jonathan and I didn't give her any of the bread and started to whine at us. 

The best trips to Idaho include a visit to the farm. We had dinner with Annie's wonderful parents. As with all of our trips, it ended far too soon.

I am resolved to visit sooner than not so the kids won't be so crazy!

Our Mini Valentines

This winter has been so mild that we decided to head up to Idaho for the weekend.

Ruby has grown up so much in the past three months. She is such a sweet and happy baby.

We gave Clara her late birthday present. Since it was Elsa's crown, she needed to put on her dress.

Idaho has seriously beautiful sunsets!

After the big kids went to bed, Annie and Chris ran some errands while we cuddled with sleepy Ruby.

Before Church, the boys did some important reading about Lego Star Wars.

After Church, Clara needed to put on another princess dress to twirl around.

Ruby loves playing with Uncle Jonathan.

Seth thought it would be a good idea to climb on us when we were relaxing on the couch. He just ended up getting squished.

After we got home from Idaho, we hung up all the Valentines we brought home and even got more from California.

It was so nice having so many Valentines this year!