Gone Fishin'

So Ross has had an obsession with fishing since about January.  He's wanted to go forever.  We've tried to plan it a few different times after his birthday when his Grandpa Don gave him a fishing pole, but the weather and schedules never matched up.  

FINALLY after all our craziness died down, we decided to go a couple Saturdays ago.  Conveniently it was the annual Free Fishing Day so we didn't have to buy any licenses!  Wahoo!

We headed down to Ephraim to a little place called Lake Hill Campground which is known to the locals as Community.  It has a nice little fishing pond that's great for kids.  Supposedly no one is ever there, but that day happened to be free fishing AND Wal-mart was hosting a casting competition so it was filled with lots of people.

On the way down Ross decided that his breakfast didn't agree with him and lost it in the car...so he scored a new t-shirt from the store on the way.

We found a sweet spot to fish and set up.  Ruby was tricky to entertain since she kept trying to walk right in to the water, but between us and four grandparents, we somehow managed to keep her entertained for the most part with more than a handful of nature walks, bubbles, sticks, rocks, and treats.

First plan of distraction - bubbles!

Nature walks

Red White and Blue Girls!

Ruby's own fishing pole!

Not quite long enough...

Snack time - goldfish - very fitting.

Ruby trying out the fishing pole...

Ross was totally enthralled with fishing.  He did expect to catch a fish the second his hook went in the water, but the convenient thing was that the fish were jumping like crazy.  So, while we waited for a fish to bite we got to see a bunch all over the pond.

The boys ready to fish!

Waitin' for the fish.

A momentous occasion took place when Ross had to go potty and Stephen showed him how to go in the great outdoors.  Ross was SO excited about it he told any and everyone, and if they'd let him he'd show them where it happened.
 

Classic bum cheeks!

We managed to catch three fish and kept two of them.  Ross loved it! It totally freaked him out to touch the fish - Ruby thought it was great (she loves poking things), but when Steve took him to show him how to clean the fish, gutting it and taking off its head, Ross looked up at him and said, "This is really fun" like a complete boy would.  
 

They caught one!

Touching the fish

Freak out!

Isa, one of Michael's friends from England with his own catch!

We caught one too!

Grandpa's turn with Rubes :)

Michael's turn to entertain Rubes.

Auntie Beka caught the biggest one at the end!

Cousin Alex not so in to Ruby messin' with his face.

On the way home we stopped at the Manti Temple and then The Malt Shop to shared an oreo shake and then called it a day.

It was a complete success.  Wahoo!   

Memorial Day Weekend and the Big Move!

Well, after surviving the long trip home from Oregon, and taking a day off to recuperate, the weekend was spent packing, having a delicious fish fry, having our last Sunday in our Cottonwood Heights ward, and celebrating Memorial Day.  

Sunday afternoon we went with my family to visit my grandpa's, and cousin's graves in Springville and then my Great Grandma Jewell, and her husband's graves.  My grandpa was a very nice man.  I remember as a kid I LOVED it when he would give me apples because he would always cut off the peel (the healthiest part of course - haha).  He and my grandma had such a fun house for me growing up - a trampoline, nintendo, crazy amounts of toys, a piano, and my grandma always had a snack drawer filled up.  My cousin Jake passed away about four years ago.  He was the closest to my age on my dad's side.  He was always nice and always seemed to have some pretty sweet toys.  My great grandma Jewell I have very few memories since I was six when she died.  I remember my grandma taking care of her and that she had an amazing dresser and vanity full of treasures.  Particularly she had this little book I coveted that had maps and an adress book in it. (I loved little things.)  After we got to Provo Ross and Ruby threw in the towel by then so we couldn't make it to Orem to visit other members of my dad's extended family.  I really do love Memorial Day and remembering all the wonderful people who we're connected to whether we knew them or not.  Family is so important. 
 

My Grandpa Staheli's grave - he died while I was on my mission.  I will always remember what devoted sweethearts he and my grandma always were. :)  He always had a twinkle in his eye. :)

Ross next to my cousin Jake's grave.  This is the first time I've seen his headstone.

Ruby wandering off as usual.  Her Uncle Dallas and her have a sweet little relationship.  She loves chanting his name "Dallas! Dallas! Dallas!" even when he's not around. :)

Ruby loved all the pinwheels - a little too much.  Ross likes getting in to whatever Ruby is getting in to as well.  Stinkers.

Grandma Staheli visiting her mother and father's grave :)

Jewell and Harris Rasmussen

Monday morning we visited Stephen's family's graves - his grandparents, sister, and aunt.  Stephen's grandparents on his mom's side both passed away in different car accidents before he was born, his Aunt Sandy was only four when she died from cystic fybrosis, as well as his older sister Ashley when she was two months old (also in a car accident). The stories of all these lovely people, while so sad, had quite a few significant spiritual moments for Stephen's family.  All of these stories shared have touched me deeply and have strengthened my testimony that there truly is a Plan of Salvation.  I know that God's hand is in our lives, and if we have the faith, we can understand His Plan more fully. There is a lot of love for those sweet members of his family and beautiful stories. 
 

Setting up the flowers, cute information cards about each family member, and leis.  Grandpa Don and Ross setting up Ashley's

Ross and Olive Ora Esplin - Stephen's Grandparents - where Ross and Stephen (his first name is Ross) got their names.

Stephen's Aunt Sandy.

They clan - you can see how long Ross is lasting now. :)

Both days Ross was reminded that we don't climb and walk all over peoples graves.  Although while we were visiting my family's graves - I noticed the headstone of a couple was actually a stone bench.  Stephen and I decided we'd like to have a bench like that to be our headstone, so people can sit on us...haha - no - it just seems like a nice idea to have be able to relax while they visit and remember you.  Though I'm just hoping to be twinkled instead of the whole funeral thing.  If I do end up with a funeral, I'd like it to be a big party after the program with my favorite songs playing which may or may not include a selection from Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Adelle, Pharrell Williams' - Happy, Avril Lavigne's - Keep Holding On, One Direction's - Story of My Life, Miley Cyrus (I know seriously - just this song though) - The Climb, Owl City - When Can I See You Again, Ross loves dancing to that one, and possibly the Winnie the Pooh theme song (Ruby LOVES that song).   Food MUST include chocolate and Indian Food, and everyone must tell cheesy, corny jokes that would make me laugh till I cried.  Haha - okay - that's creepy I'm planning my funeral.  Let's get on happier subjects shall we?

SO - that afternoon on Memorial Day my mom had gotten tickets for the Heber Creeper for Stephen's birthday - we cashed in.  It was a wild west theme and was totally cute.  Ross loved every second of it.  The train whistle wasn't a disaster like last time....

Being INSIDE the train makes the noise level significantly softer.  He actually enjoyed it and LOVED sticking his head out the window looking for water streams, cows, tractors, and anything else interesting.  There was even a robbery on the train!  Ross did a good job holding his hands up in the air the whole time while they hunted down the money chest - which ended up being chocolate coins that robbers don't like so they shared with us. ;)  Ruby hung in there because we had snacks.  
 

We had to get a picture with the Duke for Grandpa Don - Ruby even has her arm around him.

Ruby enjoying their live music with Grammy Joanne.

We HAD to get mustaches to fit in.

Grandpa Stan may just rob a train now with that stache!

Grandpa and Grandma getting in to the spirit of the Wild West!

Ruby can totally pull of a stache!

Hanging out with the Sheriff and his deputy.

Ruby chillin' with Gramps

The attempted jumping the train

This was Ross about 90% of the time. :)

Cute bug eye sunglasses are always cute on a girl :)

Clapping to our sing-a-long - You are My Sunshine

The robbery!

Stick 'em up! (Ruby was not intimidated)

The gold - Ross's is already eaten...he wants dad's can you tell?

Ruby is a total chocolate girl.

Ross made off with a train car from the gift shop and we got treated by Grandma and Grandpa to ice cream at the Dairy Keen which had a really cool toy train driving around a track above our heads.  Ruby loved watching it the whole time.  We headed back in time for a round two of a delicious fish fry from the Oregon trip.  SO good.  

The rest of the week was spent packing like mad.  By the way - I hate moving - seriously.  We've gotten pretty good at it though with how many times we've moved in the last five years.  We are dedicated to having EVERYTHING in boxes to be put in a truck so when nice people come help us - it only takes about an hour to get everything in.  Also - I'm pretty good at getting settled in quick too.  I hate dragging out having boxes everywhere.  Though we're here at Steve's parents quite temporary until we get back from Hawaii this summer - so most of our stuff remains in boxes for that purpose.  (Yes - we ARE going to Hawaii - SO SO SO SOOOOO excited.  We'll be there for a month (I married into the right family for that - they know how to vacation in Hawaii) in July and then we'll get all settled into the real live people who have jobs routine. :)
 

I have a couple of pianists on my hands - time for lessons!

Ross and Rubes packing themselves up for us as we packed. :)

Ruby really wanted some pretzels - this is daddy's fake smile as Ruby kept walking all over the pretzels making an even bigger mess. ;)

SO - we are now back to being Mapleton residents - our roots.  I do love beautiful Mapleton. :)  I've also realized that living with grandparents - Ross already schemes in that he asks mom for something, mom says no, so he immediately hunts down grandma or grandpa to get THEM to say yes (which we all know grandma and grandpa are complete suckers for grandkids). :)  We'll have to keep this kid in check.

It's nice to be closer to family though (seriously - we're extremely close).  We've already had game nights, and last night we went to the Provo Rec center to swim.  SO fun for the kids - though the $5 extra swim cover you have to have for babies there was a bit ridiculous.  Oh well - we had a GREAT time with our cute little cousin Alex, Nathan, Beka, and Thomas.  This summer is going to be great I think. :)