My friends Abby and Asher

When we went up to Idaho for the summer break, we hurried up right after Andy's last final. We were hoping to get more time with my sister and her family before they had to go to Utah for another family reunion. We don't see them often and Emma adores Abby. Our time overlapped a little over a day. Because we were talking as much as possible, there weren't any pictures from that. Luckily, things were pretty hectic in Utah so Sheree brought Abby and Asher back to spend a little more time with all of the family. Emma couldn't have been happier. I'll admit, I was pretty excited as well. When they came, Grandma and I took them out to the garden to play in the dirt. Don't let Emma fool you. I think this is the only time she played in the dirt and it is because I dressed her in clothes that I told her to get dirty. Jackson, on the other hand, is more than obliging on getting dirty. Inside and out. Can't keep that kid from putting everything in his mouth including the dirt.
Right after playing in the dirt, they all wanted to try out the slide and pool to clean up in. Of course, they just stripped down there to enjoy themselves. There was a lot of shoving but a lot of games that they incorporated into the whole arrangement. Go down the slide, into the pool, run through the sprinkler, sit on the bench and then come back. Asher took it one step further as his last accomplishment each time was to find Emma and hit her on the head. I don't know what it is about those two but they seek each other out. Maybe it's the age. Maybe it is because they feel threatened. Maybe it will get better. Maybe?
We thought it was hilarious that Asher's diaper could get so big. It hung down between his knees and bobbed behind him as he ran. It didn't seem to bother him and it didn't slow him down. What I would give to be a kid again and be comfortable no matter what.

It was fun and Emma still asks everyday where her friends Abby and Asher are.

We made things

We are trying our hands at different things that we hadn't tried before. It started with the glider chair. We are planning on selling all of our furniture before moving home after school. Needless to say, I wasn't happy at all when the washing machine ate the cushion when I was cleaning it. We have a wonderful woman in the ward that is a wizard with the sewing machine so she taught me the quirks of my newer sewing machine and taught me the very basics of reupholstering. We looked to match the fabrics but it would look horrible to be off so we decided to contrast. I was pretty please by saying, I did this all by myself. Now I know why Emma always says that.Andy was very lonely while we were in Idaho in the summer without him so he started woodworking that I have been meaning to do but at this point have to wait as we can't move it. He made a beautiful kids' picnic table. The kids really enjoy it. Unfortunately, with temperatures about 110 degrees, it is sitting outside by itself right now. Here we were enjoying popsicles together. It was a week long tradition that we want to start when the weather permits.
Andy is a huge fan of the food network and loves to try recipes that I highly question. Our neighbors invited us over for birthday cake and Andy volunteered to bring these. When they heard the explanation of it, they just laughed and agreed to it. I think they thought he was joking because look at it! Who would think to take twinkies, cover them with chocolate, Heath bar, and marshmellows? Can we say diabetic shock? They actually were pretty good but I only could eat a couple of bites because, well, I think the description explains that. Only Andy's stomach that will eat a car battery could eat two of those in one sitting.
So when we take the long ride to Idaho, I always look at the kids with their heads in a precarious position since they fell asleep. I decided that I was going to whip up some neck braces to help them with that. I knew Jackson would have no part of it but I wanted one for him in case I could sneak it on him or something. He thought they were so funny. Emma would not leave them alone. It would always be on her in one way or another. Here she is as our little Star Wars princess.
I have to finish with what grandma and grandpa made. Emma and Jackson loved the garden. They loved eating all of the vegetables. I have kids that I have to ask them to eat other things because they have had way too many veggies at one meal. I guess I can't complain but I think it is kind of weird. Jackson loved wiggling into the dirt and going to it in the garden while Emma would sit on the sidelines and play making sure to tell us if any part of her got dirty. Dainty little Emma.