Georgia Belle and sisters. (9mo)

It seems to be the Georgia Belle show at our house. 

she is still a very happy content little girl. She loves to sit on her bum and play with toys all day. she FINALLY got her first tooth a couple of days before her 9 month mark. I also did a sleep training session that got her back on track for her nighttime schedule. No crawling yet.

I cannot emphasize how much I LOVE these little humans! cutest ol' gals on the block!

 ^^always crafting crafting crafting!

 More crafting. Their room is decorated with the most glorious christmas crafts haha.

meet my son George. 

 My mom is putting in 15+ hours a day at the Caramel Tree for Christmas, so Georgia and I went and helped her while Sylvie was at preschool. To be honest, Georgia wasn't much help at all.

Don't all little girls play out in the snow in floral skirts? I'm just glad I talked her into wearing a coat. She was certain she wouldn't get cold.

 this one is still young enough that I have control over what she wears.

Lovely little lady we love you!!

We are RICH!

 Our first day in Harrisville, I took all 3 kids to Winco while dan was at work. It was raining a bit, and I was questioning my decision to go shopping by myself. I had to use my map to take me to the store and felt so nervous. But I definitely needed food. haha. I loaded all 3 kids into the cart so I could keep them close while I shopped. The very first isle we went on, this older grandpa came up to me and said, "you are doing a good job with those beautiful red heads. Would you mind if I gave them a dollar so you guys can go get some ice cream after this?" It was only $3 and it was only ice cream, but that very first experience in our very first store, in our brand new city was exactly what I needed. 

This last weekend I was shopping with the girls while Dan was camping. This lady came up to us and said, "I don't get to see my grandkids very much because they live so far away. Is it okay if I spoil your girls?" She gave them each $5 to buy anything they wanted. That made us all feel so happy inside. The girls all said they want to be able to do that for someone some day. What a small, but huge thing that lady did. 

Just 2 weeks ago, Georgia and I were on our way to Winco when I had the impression to stop at ROSS's (which is just next door to Winco). I had already been to ROSS that week, so I really didn't want to go in there, but I stopped anyway. Well as we walk in, Georgia sees this beautiful HOT PINK tank top and asks to look at it. Right under that tank top was $336 CASH!!! Holy smokes! for a split second I got so excited! (This will pay for gas to California and food on the way, and then some)! but then I instantly felt sick. What if I had lost that money. I didn't want to turn it into the teenage workers..."sure we will get this to it's owner *goes and buys drugs* haha). But I also didn't want to keep it. So I just told them that I found some cash on the ground and that if someone calls and asks for it, to give them my number and I would have them identify the amount. I didn't tell them how much I found, because I thought they might call and fake it. Well about an hour later I get a call from a frantic lady. She went on and on about how this had been the hardest month of her life and was so grateful that I found the money. We made plans to meet at LEE's to give it back to her, and when I showed up, she gave me a $50 gift card to Amazon as a thank you. She texted me several times after that and just thanked me over and over. She said she never thought she would get it back and was so grateful I was the one that found the money. As silly as it sounds, I really feel like I was supposed to be the one to find that money. We didn't get "rich" that day, but meeting that lady was exactly what all of us girls needed to know about kind people. She was as kind and grateful as they come.

One day when Dan was at work,  I was out running with the girls (Stori and Sylvie on their bikes, Georgia in the stroller), and we came upon a $5 bill on the ground. We searched and asked people if it was there's, but no one claimed it! Only $5 but a fun free dinner from Little Caesars haha. 

I feel like all of these things happen when it's just me and the girls haha. So here are some examples of how Dan also is involved in "rich" stories.

Our first summer in Harrisville, Dan's boss invited us to go with him to Willard Bay. He had access to all the water toys; the blob, rock climbing, trampoline, swings, kayaks, jet skis etc. To rent those things, it would be about $500 for the evening and we got to experience it all for free. Just what we needed to know that Dan had great bosses. His other boss also took us swimming at the Lorin Farr pool (sandlot pool), and ordered pizza for everyone. We definitely weren't destitute or anything, but as a recent Law School grad, all these kind things made us feel so loved. We have also been able to his use boss's Saint George house several times over the years. These are some seriously great people Dan works with. (also, this older lady made dan a doily with RADFORD crocheted into it. such a sweet time consuming thing to do for someone).

Besides money, we also feel so rich with all the friends we (our kids especially) have made here. I was called to be in the Stake Primary Presidency right after moving in, and shortly after Dan was called to be Elders Quorum President. Between our 2 callings we got to know soooo many people, and I can honestly say this area has about the nicest people EVER. We feel like that is one of the reasons we were supposed to be here. Our best friend couple told us once that we were an answer to prayers during a difficult time in their lives. That right there makes us feel like the richest people in the world. 

But sorta still wish that $336 never got claimed haha jokes jokes.

spring break 2021

 CALIFORNIA!

It had been more than 2 years since we had visited California, and we knew pretty quick that is where we wanted to go for Spring Break. Dan's sister Kristen, lives a block from the beach in San Clemente. She also has the cutest kids that my kids love to play with. Oh, and her house is absolutely gorgeous. Everything about California is A+ in our books. 

We took Dan's mom and little sister with us, so we had a full car load. Cathy's car actually broke down on her way to our house, so dan had to leave work early to go pick her up. When they got here, we all piled in the car and went to dan's boss's house in St. George for the night. We wanted to break up the drive. Boy do we love St. George. Dan did a morning run before we left and sent the most beautiful pictures. We got to California around 2, so plenty of time to play at the beach before we had a cookout at Kristens house.

Our first full day was Thursday. We spent the entire day at Baby Beach at Dana Pointe. It was perfect for the kids because we didn't need to worry about them being swept out in the waves. Georgia mainly built sand castles, Stori and Sylvie did a lot of paddle boarding with Dan, and I mainly sat on the beach with Cathy and Marisa while they got so so so sunburned :(    some of us ventured beyond the cove and discovered a really fun empty beach with so many sea anemones.

On Friday we made the decision to not spend time on the beach since Cathy and Rissy were so sunburned. So off to Pasadena we went. Stori really wanted to do two things while we were there. See the Hollywood sign, and The Father of the Bride, house. (We took her to those things on our very first visit to California when she was just 16 months old). her favorite actor is Steve Martin hahah, so she was so excited to walk down the street where he did. She was prettyyyyy positive she also saw him drive by while we were there. It could have been, ya never know. :) It was def the same car he had in the movie haha. We saw the Hollywood sign from far away at the Griffith Observatory. The actual observatory was closed (which is so sad, because it's so cool in there), but we still got to walk around the grounds. After the observatory, we broke off from Kristen, Cathy, and Marisa. we decided to go see the Hollywood sign up even closer. Our maps took us on a tour of Hollywood hills and hooolllyyy smokes! I'm so glad we did that. It was the most beautiful drive. The roads were super narrow, and sometimes we had to do 3 point turns just to turn on the next road. The houses were amazing, and it felt like we were set back in the 60's. 100% glad it took us that detour way.

After Hollywood we decided to head to Beverly Hills to play at a playground while we waited for rush hour to pass. We saw a famous person running (well, not super famous, but we at least knew him. Hitch actor). The playground was one we had been to before. We loved it so much last time... water paths running through it, super nice covered toys, huge open grassy area water fountains, etc. BUT this time was less than enjoyable. There was a "Helper" lady at the park, "helping" people be safe.  She went up to my kids and Dresden, and told them that if they didn't put on their masks, that she would call the police on them. So of course, Sylvie comes over to me crying. I told the kids to go play and not worry about that lady, and told them that if she talks to them, to have her come and talk to ME!! not to the little 4, 6, 7, and 9 year olds. So she went up to them one more time and that's when we decided we didn't want to be there anymore. another incident happened at that park that made us realize we fit in better in Orange County, than LA county. Less entitled people in OC. 

We still had a while before rush hour would let up, so we went to see Santa Monica Pier. that was our first time there, and we loved it! We can't wait to go back again and ride all the rides. It's basically a nicer fair, and has all the good smells of a fair, but even better because of the ocean smell too. Also, right when we went to go park, this nice man gave us his parking pass so we got to park for free. Definitely better than our Beverly Hills experience.

Kristen has a super fun play room and a fun backyard that kept all 6 kids entertained any time there was a lull in activities. So Saturday, we let them play at the house until after lunch. We tried to go to Laguna Beach, but it was too busy (Spring break for California, AZ, and Utah). So instead we went to this beautiful park with ocean views. We played there for probably 6 hours. Rick, Dan, Kristen, and I all played frisbee, football, and smash ball. The kids played at the playground, ran through the big grassy area, and then every once in a while they would join us. It was so fun!

Sylvie and Dresden were pretty inseparable all weekend, and when the time came for us to leave, Dresden told Sylvie that she would find Dan a job there and buy her a house next to them. haha so cute. We're still waiting to hear back from ya drez.

A few highlights: loft sleeping, sleepovers, In n Out, swinging, neighborhood walks and talks, dan and Stori date night to the pier (they watched surfers jump off the pier, then surf in-so scary), staying up late talking, and trying to convince ourselves that we don't need to move there... still not so sure on that one haha jk-ish

Papa Radford

Steve passed away on January 6, 2021

That morning, Jon texted the family to tell them that Steve was taken to the hospital again because he wasn't doing well (he had been taken to the hospital many times, but I knew this one was different). Dan left work immediately while I packed up as quickly as possible, so we could go say goodbye. But we got a text about an hour later, saying that he had passed away with just Cathy in the room with him. We missed it. We missed it! We still got in the car. We still had to go to Idaho. For the first time ever, we really dreaded going there. 

On the way, Georgia (3) leaned forward and said, "Papa just told me he's okay." that was the tender mercy we desperately needed. 

The week before he passed, Dan had an impression that he needed to drive to Idaho to give his dad a blessing. He had given him a few throughout his sickness, and we had just been there... but Sunday night right before bed, he had that impression that we needed to go there. Without getting too personal, dan was able to give him that blessing right before we went back to Utah. that was the last time we saw him.

We stayed in Idaho for over a week to get things in order for the funeral, and to be with family. Dan was a huge help to his mom as they made arrangements. We had a lot of happy mixed with a lot of sad. The funeral was beautifully done, and now the song "Consider The Lillies," will always remind us of Steve. We ended our family time at Lava Hot Springs together. 

His funeral was a rough time for everyone, and my kids have not stopped talking about him since. He loved Stori, Sylvie, and Georgia so much. The moment they walked in, they would immediately run to him in his chair. He would welcome them with a big hug, and then when that got too hard, he would give them a high-5. Towards the end, he wasn't always aware they were there, but they still loved seeing him. When we went back and visited 2 weeks after the funeral, the kids ran in, went to the corner spot where his chair used to be. They forgot for just a bit (like we still do too) that he was gone. Later that day, Georgia walked over to the table where a picture of Papa was, and kissed his cheek, whispered to him "I miss you papa." she sat and stared at the picture for along time and was unaware that people were watching her. At least once a day, one of our kids will talk about how they miss papa. Georgia's memory of papa, is when he took her to the park to play. He played tickle tag with her and she laughed and laughed. (all according to her. I hope she doesn't forget that memory). Stori and Sylvie both have memories of going to fun places with him: Jackson, Yellowstone, Utah mountains, Lagoon, parks and playgrounds. They loved when he would take them to get ice cream, and when he would watch cartoons with them. 

We feel pretty lucky that we got to spend so much time with Dan's dad before he passed away; 2020 is not the ideal year to get sick. At first, we tried to avoid visiting him so we wouldn't get him more sick, but he hated that. He was always texting dan wondering when we would go visit. We ended up going almost every single weekend, and sometimes we would go Wednesday night to Monday morning. It was hard to say goodbye each time, because he would get progressively worse each trip. I'm glad he chose to live life with family close. We got to have a 70th birthday party for him in October, and we got to hear some fun stories from him and some of his siblings. He was a great papa, and we miss him everyday. I kind of imagine him and my dad hanging out together watching over us. :) 

Pictures from his 70th birthday party.

a few 2020 highlights and long recaps

 To be completely honest, 2020 wasn't actually the worst. (Except when they closed all playgrounds during prime playground weather haha). We traveled to Idaho almost every weekend to hang out with family and friends. We explored new mountain ranges, backpacked through the Tetons and the Sawtooths. (sawteeth? haha), found new hot springs, and camped with bears. The kids helped uncle josh with his Tree house at his new house, played on his rope swing leading to the dry bed, kayaked there and at Rigby Lake.  We rode horses, colored the kids hair, and played dress up with cousins at Meg's house. We built a giant cardboard A-frame cabin with the box from our new king sized bed. hiked, had pool parties everyday, park hopped, attended a real princess party, and stayed up way too late out in our yard with neighbors. We played vball, badminton, bball, frisbee, had loud dance parties, and sat on the back deck at Granny's house. Went to Mesa with granny, papa, Jon, and Kristens family. Had movie nights, yummy meals, and casual nights at granny and papas house. So glad dan has a flexible job.

We happened to be in Moab when the world shut down. technically it was 3 days before we left, but we still decided to go with our friends the Faulkner's. We felt safe and felt like we would need this last little getaway before things got crazy. at that time we thought it would be 2 weeks, so I'm really glad we still went. we rented a cute house in green river, and explored there a bit. We did arches and capitol reef with the 6 bff kids and 4 bff adults. So fun.

Georgia's 3rd birthday was during our "2 week lockdown." She really wanted to be in Idaho, but we got to FaceTime both grandparents for part of if. (Lame, but oh well). We had a great time scootering around our town and playing together the 5 of us.

We did our yearly Yellowstone trip with my fam, and it was the emptiest I had EVER seen it. we got to see so many new things because we didn't have to wait in traffic jams or wait for parking anywhere. Just beautiful.

We still did our 4th of July CFFR as usual, despite being told to "avoid family gatherings," by the government. But I feel like that's what Satan would say... stay away from family as long as you can (but being with strangers at the store is fine). stay away from church, stay away from school and friends. avoid anything that could bring happiness. Don't get me wrong... I know how important it is to keep family and friends safe. I know it's important to keep the hospital staff safe and not overrun. But at what point to we stop living life vs, just trying to stay alive? We chose to spend time with family and actually live our best lives. So we did a family carnival in my moms backyard and loved spending so much time together. We had fireworks at Josh's new land, and it was so fun seeing everybody's individual firework shows because the parades and big fireworks were canceled. 

Stori chose to go to the Tetons for her 9th  birthday. So we decided to take the ski lift at targhee so they could see a similar view that we get from tablerock. She LOVED it! so did we. Then spent the evening with cousins at Granny's house.

Dan surprised me with an overnight trip to Jackson for my bday. It was my first time ever leaving my kids overnight (and I didn't even go 24 hours without seeing them haha, we left first thing in the morning-then came back the next afternoon). We hiked to Delta Lake, and it was INCREDIBLE!!! just so beautiful. On our way down we came up on a bear and her cub. They were waiting 2 feet of us, but didn't care at all that we were there. That was definitely a highlight of it. We stayed in a hotel in Driggs, but spent a lot of time in Grand Teton and downtown Jackson. Shopping without kids in a tourist town is so relaxing haha. 

Sylvie chose camping in Stanley for her 7th bday. So many exciting/frustrating things happened that trip, but seriously so many fun memories. We went with the Faulkner's, so it was fun family and friend time. Hot springs, swimming, bears, earthquakes, ice cream, unlimited playing, and good food.

SCHOOL started in August!!! masks required BUT SCHOOL!!

Dan's actual bday was pretty lame. He got back from his backpacking trip the night before, so I counted that as his bday activity. We visited him at work with cards and presents, made him a GF cherry pie, and cozied up to a watch a show with cafe rio.

in 2019 we had planned Steve's 70th bday party. Lots of family and a big venue. 2020 happened and so did his sickness. Instead, we had a small gathering in the yard, had yummy food and good company. He was on oxygen, but I think he had a great time. We made a big picture book filled with everybody's memories of him. he said, "I feel like I'm at my own funeral." haha that was not our intention. first time having the whole family together since Kristen's wedding 10 years ago.

We had a halloween carnival with my family at Megans house. We had great weather, and had SO much fun with SO much family. on our way there, we all got a notification on our phones that "no one should gather in groups larger than 10 for the next two weeks." We looked at our phones for apx. 4 seconds and then went on with our lives. I'm making myself sound really harsh and insensitive, but I promise I'm not. I just really like being with family haha. 

An example of me not being harsh and insensitive... The government also told us we couldn't gather with family for Thanksgiving, and we obeyed. Dan 100% regrets this decision though. It would have been our last Thanksgiving with his dad. He still feels bad about it to this day. Instead, we went to Saint George just us 5. We stayed at Dan's bosses house there and spent actual Thanksgiving day hiking all over Zions. It really was so much fun. Definitely different, but many memories were made. The next day we spent 7ish hours playing at Thunder Junction park. Sylvie said it was her favorite thanksgiving because she didn't have to eat turkey. Oh, and we also stayed home for Easter. SEE! I'm totally sensitive and kind. Easter was really great though. Small egg hunt, big feast, great church lesson from dan, and a beautiful walk around town.

Almost all of our races were cancelled for the year, except one. The first dam run in Logan. Stori has since committed to train and run it with us next year. I can't wait. Even though all of our half marathons were canceled, Dan and I still did our training. We did the most beautiful 12 mile run around the greenbelt in IF. Hoping to do several half's this year. 

2020 was a crazy year. We traveled a lot and made a lot of memories that I will keep forever.

p.s. I'm so glad tjmaxx is open now :)

2021 life update

 2021.

We have been in our cute townhome since January of 2018. We have the best neighborhood, filled with so many little girls!! and they all seem to be Sylvie's age exactly. Wish there were more kids stori's age, but she is so good at hanging out with all of us anyway. I am fine to live her as long as we need to, but daaaang, I am craving a home of our own. We have the greatest landlord that hasn't raised our rent once, so we are doing pretty well considering. We love hanging out in our yard with all the other parents until the sun goes down. we love living so close to Majestic Elementary, so that we can walk, scooter, and bike ride there every day. When it comes to our home, we really can't complain too much. Just really wishing we weren't paying another mans mortgage haha. 

Dan still really likes his job and the people he works with. He has been offered several jobs over the past 4 years, but keeps sticking with this one. Just last night he turned down a job that he really thought he was going to take. It was in Idaho Falls, and the bosses seem to be really great guys! We thiiiink we want to end up back in Idaho, so we thought this would be the job to take us there. But after praying about it, dan ultimately decided to decline it and see if something better comes up. His current job is so flexible and pays pretty decent, so it will have to be something that is just as flexible for him to take it. Not sure if we buy a house in the mean time and start earning some equity, or hold off for a good job in Idaho--if one exists. 

Stori is in 4th Grade and is finally starting to be shy around boys haha. We have a girl code and she is only allowed to tell me and her sisters who her crush is. Daddy is not allowed to know. Same thing applies with Sylvie, but she's not that shy about them yet haha. Stori has really great friends in her class. she loves going to school so much because she loves to learn, she loves her teacher, and she really loves her friends. She is the top in her class in all subjects (maybe even top in her entire grade). She reads several chapter books A DAY! She loves being outside so much, and will ride her bike and roller blade any time the weather permits it. She also wants to start running so she can train for the halloween 5k this year. She still loves cuddling with mom, and I love it even more. 

Sylvie is in 2nd grade and has recently been bitten by the reading bug. She is cruising through chapter books now too, and has become the top 2 in her class in math. Which is HUGE, because she hated math so much for the first part of the year.  She is the most social girl I have EVER met, and will literally make friends with everyone she sees. She could still play 24/7 and that would not be enough. She is great friends with her sisters also, and Georgia loves getting to play barbies with her. Sylvie has great friends around the neighborhood, and has super great friends at school. She is a tender little thing and doesn't like it when she sees someone without a friend. She will be the first to step up and invite them to play. If you ever challenge her to a race, be prepared to lose. that girl is seriously so fast!!

Georgia is home with me for only a few more months until preschool starts in September. I imagine I will be crying like a wee little baby when that happens. She is my best little sidekick, my shadow, my shopping buddy, my running buddy, and my bran muffin eater. We literally spend every minute of the day together. When I do something great (like making dinner she likes or reading her favorite book to her) she rewards me with hugs and kisses. Last week at the end of our run I ended up beating dan to our "finish line," and she congratulated me and said she would spend the entire next day just giving me hugs and kisses. haha. I''ll take it. She is so smart beyond her years. Knows all of her shapes, letters, numbers, and even knows how to play Sleeping Queens (card game) all on her own. She's great on her bike and scooter, and will literally go faster than us. She's recently started having sleepovers with her sisters and I've never seen her happier.

Me. Just living and loving that stay at home life so much. I get to take/pick up the girls from school every day, get to hang out with Georgia while they are gone, I get to go shopping to Target and TJ Maxx when we get bored, and I get to pretend to make dinner every night. My hobbies have included long runs with dan when he gets home from work, scouring Zillow for hours looking for a home, and then watching show with dan after the kids are in bed. Oh, and casually eating entire bags of Cadburry eggs in one day. can't stop. Oh, and I also cut 11" off my hair and feel like a whole new person. And I feel like an adult because we have a Costco card. Go us.

what is a blog?

 "I'm going to blog to keep a photo journal of our family..."

Then instagram hit, and I used that as my new blog/journal. But now it seems to be an "influencers world," that I'm not loving as much. I find that I don't post like I used to. I have a fun weekend and I second guess if I should post or not. I take dang cute pictures of my dang cute kids, but do I really want to post that? And come up with a caption. I don't want to make the caption too long, but I also want to remember what was so fun that made me want to take the picture to begin with. So I'm going to try and figure out how to blog again. I don't remember how to add pictures. I also don't know how to get pictures from my camera onto this computer. But those pictures still exist. Like,  A LOT of pictures. 

So this may be my only blog post I'll do in the next 2 years, or I will actually make it a habit again. Hopefully the latter.