Kelsi did great on the hike when the trail was wide...but at times it got narrow and she DID not like it. But we made her face her fears. :) Sorry that it is sideways.

Family Hike

We have been doing a lot lately, have had a lot of company, took family pictures, went to a fun bridal shower, spent a lot of time on the lake and our family went on another little hike together last week and Kelsi was a lot faster than she was 2 months ago the last time we took her. She had a LOT of fun for the most part. You will see in the couple videos that I will post that it wasn't always sunshine and rainbows...but she did manage to hold a BIG leaf! Small victories.

Learning to eat with a spoon

Before Kelsi was born, I used to say that when she ate, I was just going to strip her down and let her have at it. That really hasn't been the case. I hate it when she gets dirty, but last night I was trying to get dinner ready and she really needed to be pacified, so I warmed up some spaghetti and meatballs and gave her a spoon. She has done pretty well with a fork, but hasn't mastered the spoon yet. Here is her work of art.

She actually did a good job of getting it into her mouth. She got really dirty when she tried to pick up the food that fell off her spoon and then shoved it into her mouth and then wiped her face. Silly girl.

ENJOY!!

The Lake

We have really enjoyed the opportunity to be out on the lake this summer. It took Kelsi a few trips before she gave in and she now LOVES to be in the water. She gets upset when we have to leave. She doesn't really like it when you touch her floatie though!

Bday Party

Kelsi went to her cousin Lauren's bday party this weekend. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREN! Here is Lauren as a beautiful butterfly.

They had two floaters there and Kelsi loves to sit in them, preferably when there is no water around.More face painting on my hilarious sis in-law JalynThey had a slip and slide that Kelsi just kept running over to get sprinkled on.


Jalyn took her in the bouncer and she hated it. She whined. Surprised anyone?

And, the best part of course....shoving the cupcake into her face.



PS On a side note, just another funny story about Kelsi. On the way home from church yesterday we had to stop on our road for about 15 minutes because an ambulance was blocking the path. John and Jalyn were trying to pass the time and started whistling with blades of grass. After they were done, they tried to give it to Kelsi and she freaked. GRASS????!!!! I don't know what it is about vegetation that scares her so bad. Even if I have her window down as we are driving up to the main road she scoots as far away from her window as she can in her car seat because she feels the foliage outside is going to touch her. WEIRDO!!!!!!

Kelsi and her "Be" aka Baby

I realized that Kelsi didn't have a doll. She has a stuffed bear that she carries around sometimes and gives kisses, so I decided to buy her a doll. I got her a little stroller to go with it and now she can push her baby all over the house. After she pushed her around she climbed on the couch with her and started pointing at her eyes, ears, mouth and nose and then gave her a big kiss.

Our new home

We accepted their counter to our counter to their counter to our offer. :) Get that? We close on 9/1!! Hopefully, everything goes smoothly with financing and closing on our Clarkston home, because I would really like to live here. Isn't it cute and cozy? And don't you think John's big 'ol TV is going to look great in that space over the fireplace??

Auntie Shays

My sister Shayla came to visit for a few days! We had a great time and Kelsi really loved her Auntie Shays and literally cried when she had to go.

We went down to the boardwalk, ate some Cafe Chulo (closest thing to Cafe Rio around), watched a movie, played mario cart, looked at houses, laid out on the deck, watched little mermaid until we puked and just had a nice visit. I was horrible at taking pictures and didn't take any of Shayla with Kelsi, but I promise that they had a ball together (Shayla - that was a subtle hint...send me your pictures!)

We are outta here!

Well, we did it! Our home in Clarkston is now just a house. It is completely empty and all we have left now are the memories. It was the fastest move in history thanks to the dozen guys that helped move our stuff, to those that helped clean, those who watched my kiddo and those who fed me when I was short on food! We really felt loved and appreciated all the help. Walking out of the house on Sunday was pretty emotional for me. It was our first home and we have so many memories to take with us. I really am going to miss Clarkston. I remember 4 years ago when I moved there people told me "Don't worry, you will like it here in about a year". I remember thinking stubbornly "I don't WANT to like it here". hahaha! That town made me soft!

I took Kelsi outside to play before we left and reflected on the time that we spent there. I remember John hugging me while I cried in the backyard as we looked at our view. I had just moved there and going from West Los Angeles to Clarkston, WA was such a dramatic change. John would say, "but look at our view!" I replied by saying "View of what?". Fast forward 4 years and I was spinning my beautiful daughter around in that same yard and thinking, "I am really going to miss this view". I am so thankful for the person that Clarkston helped me become.

I am so thankful for the friends that I have made that I know will be life-long friends. They truly became my family since I was so far away from my own. Even when I was away on vacation I would look forward to returning to see my friends again.

I am ready to bloom where I am planted and forget about the hard parts about change and remember all the good that can come from it. John and I have seen the Lord's hand in our lives time and time again and we are excited for this new adventure and the trials and blessings that will come from it.

Good-bye Clarkston!!! I have nothing but love in my heart for you and HELLO to North Idaho, get ready for this branch of the CALDERWOODS!!!