end of summer at snowbird

The day before school started and my parents headed back to NM we drove up to Snowbird. The last time we were there was almost two years ago when we were all in Utah for Asher's baby blessing. This time we took a little hike/walk and then rode the tram up to the top. After that we got pizza for dinner.

It was fun except for all the complaining from the big kids. They were excited about the tram but found all sorts of other things to be pills about. Anyone else's kids do this when you try to do something fun?

I need to remember to get out and enjoy Utah's beautiful mountains more. 

Anyway, enough with the chit chat. Let's get to the pictures!

Asher was loving running up and down the trail.

Trying to chase a bug.

Holding hands with Mommy and Daddy

Grandpa packing Miriam. Can we say precious?

I love the shapes kids make when they run.

The kids were being all grumpy so I asked for their grumpiest face.

And then this one. Grace was just being pouty no matter what and Isaac is a goof.

I took another one where Jared is smiling but I liked this photo better.

Ah, they do smile!

I love my parents.

Asher cared more about the various vehicles at the top of the mountain than anything else.

Not sure why I look so awkwardly posed here.

Riding in the tram back down the mountain.

floral friday

From Grandma's garden...

I don't know what these are called either, but they are pretty!

the barker five

Nick (18), Me in my pjs (27), Lauren (25), Michael (23), Hilary (20)

We are so rarely all together these days. It was so fun to spend the weekend together. Now all of us but Lauren live in Utah. I wish she was closer. We would have some seriously yummy dinners together.

And here's our darling girl sleeping with the blankie her Auntie Lauren brought her.

miriam's blessing

Miriam was blessed Sunday at Church in the same blessing dress that I wore as an infant. Miriam's Great Great Grandmother bought this dress 27 years ago. Me and my two sisters each wore it for our baby blessings and now my daughters (and hopefully future nieces) will wear it too. I love how simple it is with just a few delicate details. And how precious is the bonnet? I can hardly stand the darlingness of it all.

The blessing Jared gave Miriam was really beautiful. My dad, my brother Michael, Jared's stepdad Mike, Jared's uncle Scott, and the bishop were all in the circle. I'm so grateful these men could be there for Miriam's special day. Both of Miriam's grandmothers and her Great Grandma Teddy were also there along with all of my siblings.

first day of school!

The big kids headed off to another year of school this morning. Olivia is now a 5th grader. Isaac is in 4th. And Grace is in 2nd grade. Olivia goes to a different school for the special Extended Learning Program so she left earlier than the others. They all packed their lunches last night and picked out their outfits. It was actually a very smooth morning. Hopefully we keep that up!

A quick story: last night the kids all got dressed in their back-to-school outfits and I overheard Isaac say to Olivia: "You look really cute!"  This morning he informed me that she told him she was much to old to be called "cute"! Funny kids. 

And um, are those shutters dirty or what? yikes! It's amazing what you don't notice until you take a picture. 

funny face

Even blurry, I love this.

big eyes

Taken August 11

2 months old

My gorgeous baby is 2 months old today! My family has been in town because we blessed her yesterday in Church. (Pictures of Miriam in her blessing outfit to come soon.) I'm so grateful that my parents live within a day's drive so they can come visit fairly often. And now 4 out of the 5 kids in my family all live in Utah. 2 of my siblings go to BYU and my baby brother Nick just started at the University of Utah today. You can bet I'm going to make him babysit!

Getting back to Miriam... she is such a sweet baby. She smiles so much these days, especially in the mornings. I took all these photos of her this morning after her nap. She was just grinning away at me. She's started cooing a bit too. She's getting chubbier although she's definitely not as big as Asher was at 2 months. But like him, she loves to be held. She sleeps really well at night, usually only waking once or twice.

It's amazing how even though it's been just two months since her birth (a fast two months at that), it also feels as if she's always been with us. I'm so grateful to have her in our family. We all just adore her.