LOOOOOOoooooooooooong week. . .

It has been a very long week, and a big emotional roller coaster that I'm ready to get off of!

We went to Fairview over the weekend to enjoy Fairview days! Ben and Claire loved the parade, we all enjoyed the Derby and the fireworks! They are spectacular every year. We got to spend some time with our family, including Jared and Amanda and family up from Arizona! This was the first year that we had the gathering without Grandma Great, who passed away earlier this year. We did a lot of reminiscing while we were there.

Grandpa Soelberg passed away this past week, and his funeral was yesterday. We're going to miss him. His funeral was very nice. While we will miss him, it is also a blessing that he has passed. Grandpa had Alzheimer's disease, and it was difficult for Grandma to care for him. He is now past the pain, and in a much better place.

I also found out that a friend of mine at work passed away over the weekend. I don't know how- she was very young, but Karen will definitely be missed. She was so nice to everyone, and always went above and beyond with everything she did.

On a lighter note, I had a birthday this week! Josh planned a barbeque for our family. We managed to catch Jared and Amanda and their kids while they were still in town from Arizona, much to Ben and Claire's delight! I was so glad that so many people could come on such short notice. I love all of my family! What a joy and a blessing it is to have so many people to get together and laugh and share stories, and have great food.

Ben has had some trouble this week-- on the same day as Grandpa's funeral and my birthday bbq, we had to take Ben to the doctor. He's been having trouble breathing, eating, sleeping, playing. . . So the doctor said that he needed a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia. So, after the funeral but before the bbq Ben and I took a trip to Alta View Hospital. Good news: Not pneumonia. Bad news: Ben's bronchial tubes are inflamed from a virus. So, we're just waiting it out now. . .

Anyway, despite all I've been feeling very grateful for all of the blessings that Heavenly Father has given me and my family. Love you all.

Picture post. . . no cards. . .

Pictures from July 4th:

Look how long Claire's hair is getting!!


















Ben almost got thrown off of this ride-- he figured out how to get out from the buckle, and they had to stop the ride to make him sit down again. Rascal.

Claire did not want to get off of ANY of the rides on at Riverton Town Days!

Fearless Ben-- When I was his age, I never would have crossed these stairs for fear of falling.

We found a slide that was just right for Claire! Bonus-- Mommy can go down too!

Ben's first playhouse out of a box. Both of the kids loved it!

We love to make Ben's hair crazy in the bath tub!

Here's another Hair event. . .

And Another. . .

Our Family Trip to Yellowstone-- we stayed in Island Park, Idaho.

Claire's first foray into the swimming pool-- I was nervous she wouldn't like it, but discovered she's a water baby just like Ben!

Yellowstone Park had some amazing waterfalls!

Much time was spent waiting for Bison to get off of the road, or make up their minds if they would get off the road or not.

Boy, were we glad we brought Ben's tractor and shovel!

Okay-- the cone on the left used to be one of those 3-4 feet tall ones you see on the road. This is the parking lot at the Mud Volcano-- apparently the hot, sulfurous, nasty water is not staying where they want it to!

Boy, those hot pots make some colorful places to see! Ben wasn't a big fan though-- they're too stinky, apparently.

Ben and Claire sitting together by the fire pit, with no fire. It was pretty wet that day.

At Home with Ben and Claire:

Ben is getting to be a pretty good eater. The thing he likes more than eating his own food is. . . .

Feeding Claire his own food!

Claire trying to use her new bouncy ball that Yiayia and Papou gave her for Greek Easter as a seat-- looks kind of like an exercise ball!

One of Ben's favorite pastimes-- make a bed in a laundry basket! Just like his Mommy, Ben likes little spaces that he fits into.

Ben, my little gardener! He loves to be out and about, no matter what the temperature. . .