Remember When...

We spent a week in Utah.

In May.

It's (almost) July.

But that's just the way my summer is going (more on that later).

I didn't even take my camera (terrible I know) so thank you to the rest of the family for documenting our trip for us.

Noah and Paul did a lot of hiking (Grandma too).

We all did a lot of biking, or bike trail walking, or falling asleep in strollers depending...

We spent some time at the Children's Museum, always a favorite with my kids.

Especially this one, who loves the "dramatic" play.

(Surprised??)

We went to Boondocks for the first time, it was a huge hit.

The only thing that could top that is Uncle Jeff's boat : )

Here's the captain, himself.

The water was freezing and Alex was the only kid to get in that day - it lasted a whole 15 seconds.

Uncle Jeff is really cool.

Your cool too, Paul.

And Avery is just cute.

(Not sure my in-laws would agree, after a few evenings alone with this clingy girl...)

The best part of the trip was, of course, all the cousin and family time!

6 Gunn grandkids (and one on the way!)

Not an easy picture to get.

Speaking of which...

We got family pictures taken while we were there.

It was a marathon event and we all...couldn't wait for it to be over.

But it was worth it for these:

Thanks for setting it up Lezli.

And for paying Noah to cooperate : )

It (sorta) worked.

Paul and I also got to see a few of our closest friends while we were in town,

Andrew and Amanda (she took the family pics!)

and

Mike and Anna (whom we hadn't seen in years!).

We ate great all week long.

I got to spend a day with my sister and her cute kids

AND

even a couple of hours with my parents, who were leaving town just as we were arriving.

AND

it just so happened to be my birthday that morning.

It was a great week that went by all too quickly and we miss everyone already.

Thank you Gunn Family, we love you!

There's a first time for everything

Being a resident wife has really pushed me to new heights - remember when I did this?

Today I grilled.

(And made Noah take a picture of me doing it.)

So here I am, on Father's Day, posting a picture of myself and touting my own accomplishments.

Really though, Paul would NOT want a picture of himself and some sappy love note on the blog

(or at all really)

and it's Father's Day, so he should get what he wants, right?

Which is exactly what he got.

You want steak on our "new" (got it for free from a family that's moving away) grill?

You want to watch the US Open instead of grilling it?

You got it.

(Ok, so maybe I was nervous and asked for lots of detailed instructions, but he still got it.)

Happy Father's Day hon.

And way to go me.

And hurray for a grill!

Happy Father's Day to our dads too.

We sure love them.

I'm still not used to it

We have all shed our fair share of tears lately. Saying goodbye to family in Utah, only to come home and say goodbye to several close friends who have become like family...2 down and more to go.

It's been rough.

And then there was last night.

When we discovered that Alex had done this

to her beautiful hair.

As you can see, it was quite traumatic (and not just for her).

She was not the only one with tears rolling down her cheeks last night.

I still don't understand why she did it...except that I know most kids do at some point.

But she loves her hair, always wants it longer and has even been asking me to (attempt to) style it lately.

She was devastated when I told her we would have to cut it.

What did she think was going to happen?!?

I showed her what it looked like in the mirror, as we hugged and cried.

She was wailing, "I look like a weird-o!!!!"

She sobbed and sobbed as I lay by her in bed, convinced she would look like a boy or be bald.

I kept assuring her (through my silent tears) that she was beautiful, that she would still look like a girl, and that I wouldn't let anyone make her bald.

As she finally starting drifting off to sleep, her hand would wander to those short pieces of hair and I heard her whispering to herself, "What do I look like? What have I done?"

It was heartbreaking.

And so, first thing in the morning, we were at the "big girl" salon.

(this picture still makes me feel a little sick)

doing this.

She wasn't too happy about it

but, when it was all said and done she decided she likes it!

"Mom, you were right and I was wrong! I'm not bald!"

On the way home she listed off for me every girl she's ever known who has short hair.

She really did some serious damage though - and I couldn't bear to have it cut to her ears all the way around her head...so it's a little...asymmetrical shall we say?

At least this side looks good.

We'll just have to keep getting it trimmed while the other side grows in.

Goodbye, to the old

And hello to the new!

Good thing this girl is so adorable.

I sure love you Alex!

You'll always be our beautiful girl.