March 2020 BC (before covid)

Do you ever just have the best service at an AirBnb that you take a picture with the owner before you leave? I did ;).

Not sure why Carma and a balloon had a mini photoshoot on Nicole's front porch, but here ya go.

Cute cousins, Jett and Clyde. Our Utah trip was to be there for Zeke's baby blessing and as is customary we utilized the gym at Quinn's school for some running around and playing and general merriment before driving home.

Turns out Clyde is my son AND Quinn's bestie Cameron is our sixth cousin once removed?!

Quinn and Eden and their ridiculously beautiful family:

All Carma wanted was to hold baby Zeke, luckily Aunt Eden helped it happen ;).

Ohh cousin Cameron - I'm sure Will deserved it ;).

Knuckles for the baby of the day!

Pictures with my favorite little brother... and probably us with the longest hair we've had for a while...

Super fun quick trip, as always wish we could have stayed longer and brought everyone.

This is a total game changer: 

I use this all the time when kids are pushing back and being rude. I ask them to pause and think if I've ever been disrespectful to them... and then when they admit that I haven't, I ask them why they're being disrespectful to me. And then I give them a minute to start over. The key... is that I am always respectful to students. I stay calm. I de-escalate. Is it hard? Sometimes, very. Sometimes, not really. But I stay respectful because they deserve that and longterm, it makes things SO much easier.

Instagram caption: I’m behind on instaspamming all y’all but for now here’s Chuck falling asleep with snuggling with Carma June. Sweet dreams ✌🏼

Jack and Chuck had a date out at Jack's favorite fine dining establishment, Jade Gardens. You can just see the joy radiating off of him haha.

What's better than a random car selfie?

Random car selfies with this babe.

No idea where Will got a bit of a shiner, but here it is. The other guy looks worse, I'm sure ;).

Twin Day at Park Ridge for Literacy week: 

The twin pose tho ;). Matching shirts courtesy of supporting Clark's cousins that are Jack's third cousins, a pair of brothers who both have type 1 Diabetes.

Carma and Ilana were SO excited to twin, matching dresses and headbands and cute brown boots!

Literacy night - not quite twins, but close enough to take a picture with my darling-est Amy. We are the cutest!!

Literacy Night each year is amazing and interactive and fun and we love it:

Best second grade teacher around. Each of our boys has been immensely blessed to have Mr. Eilers as their 2nd grade teacher.

Cute Jack by his classroom door.

Carma and her beloved Ms. Crain! Carma has been the recipient of love and nurturing and guidance and teaching and Ms. Crain has been the recipient of a million drawings and sweet notes and adoration in general :).

Principal Mr. Jordan - new to Park Ridge, but jumped in and is totally embodying the spirit of the Ridge.

Both Carma and Jack were chosen as students who showed the quality of 'compassion' recently and were recognized in an assembly and with a certificate and I loved seeing their picture up in the hallway at school.

Orchestra concert for this cute violinist:

Will and his buddy Grant after the concert.

This girl tho.

Pajama day at school AND Jack won the raffle for his grade!

Chuck's parents came to town so we met up with some other extended family at a breakfast place in Caldwell:

I called dibs on playing with the baby of course.

Grandpa Izatt and Clyde went guitar shopping and came home with this awesome find.

So nice to have Chuck's parents and Grandma Thomas with us for a short visit!!

Grace and Jason both had Sunday morning meetings so we got their kids for a bit and had a big breakfast feast:

Aaaand Carma did her nails for church haha.

Instagram caption: I’ve moved from denial to acceptance ➡️ Clyde is indeed taller than me by the slightest amount possible. It may have taken a board on our heads and Chuck’s leveling tool to convince me 😅. For now he’s still cuddling up and telling me all the stories from last night’s church dance so the height thing is slightly easier to process 🙌🏼. I really love this cute boy 😍.

Some of my idealistic brainstorming...

End of day selfie:

... someone did this super cute fishtail braid in my hair... and three years later, I (shockingly) can't remember who. I loved it though!!

Prettiest moon and clouds and sky:

Carma and I voted AND can do math. Watch out world.

Nampa High offered an after school cheerleading clinic for wee girlies and you better believe that Carma was there for it. A couple days after school for practices, and then a showcase at the high school:

Carma can't stay still to save her life - she is always twirling and cartwheeling and moving so this was perfect for her!

Curtises hosted a fun murder mystery dinner - here is the list of characters:

Chuck and I were Chef Cayenne Pepper and the maid, Elise St. Gresch:

Jason and Grace are so fun - 90% of the time if Chuck and I actually leave our house in some kind of social venture, Curtises are responsible haha.

Grandma Pam and Clyde had a date night to see Bennett and the rest of the amazing cast perform over at Columbia!