Maelie Lin

July 15th!!!

Maelie got this dress, shoes, and a wii Princess game for her birthday!

Kyla and Jaxon got her this tea set :)

blue pancakes this year!

Baby Maelie....

Our little Maelie is 6 today! She was our first and has been with us through so much. We have moved 8 times since Maelie was born and lived in 3 states, 5 cities and 2 countries. Maelie was born in the same hospital I was born in. I remember how happy we were when we found out I was pregnant with Maelie. We knew it would be a girl and we knew her name would be Maelie. We were both going to school in Rexburg and working as janitors cleaning the library at 4 am. And then I started throwing up at work so I had to quit. But Jonas kept working and we both went to school during the entire pregnancy. I was determined to finish my degree. We got in 2 car accidents on the ice both near Pocatello while I was pregnant with her. Heavenly Father protected both her and us and we are so grateful. The summer Maelie was born we moved in with my parents and Jonas had an internship in Tempe working on airplane escape slides. Sometimes he had to work during the night. We went to the hospital at 11 pm on July 14th to be induced. It was a hard night and I didn't get any sleep. The next morning, when they started to crank the patocin things started going really fast and then there she was. We were both so overwhelmed but felt so blessed that she was here - healthy and beautiful. It was hard to get used to having a newborn but she was so worth it and we felt so blessed. We learned about a whole new happiness that comes with having a child to love and care for her. Having a baby brought our marriage even closer. We spent all the money Jonas made that summer on fixing our car and having a baby. We moved back to Rexburg when Maelie was 6 weeks old to go to school. That fall semester we had to juggle our schedules so we never had classes overlapping and we pretty much handed her off in between classes. It was hard to get our homework done but we did it by working together and making sure her needs were met. We also made time for fun and had some good times together. It was so different having just one child to look after. I graduated in December that year when Maelie was 6 months old. It felt so good to be done! Ever since then I have been at home with her and with Kyla who came when Maelie was 18 months old. It was a whole new level of adventure having 2 little girls. Maelie and Kyla have been so good for each other. I am so glad I had them close together so they have someone to play with. They definitely have their share of fighing but I hope they will always remain good friends. Jonas graduated with his degree after Kyla was born and we felt so blessed that we had finished our degrees and had such a great little family. Maelie was definitely a little 2 year old and I had a really hard time potty training her. But it seems like once she turned 3 she turned into such a little angel. She is definitely the peacemaker in our home. She is so easy going and agreeable. Whenever I ask her to do something she comes running and is so happy to help me out. She is so good to Kyla and Jaxon. We love our Maelie. Happy 6th Birthday!

Rogers Family Reunion

This weekend we had a family reunion in the white mountains. We wanted to leave Thursday morning but we had to get our brakes fixed so we didn't leave until about noon-ish. The drive was beautiful, it was so great to see some scenery!!! And we went right thru an awesome rainstorm. Lots of cars pulled off to the side of the road but not us! :) After taking several wrong turns, we found the barn. Everyone else was already there and Jarod and Sara were making a yummy dutch oven dinner with peach cobbler for dessert. We had brought our icecream maker so I started that and it was so good with the cobbler! Shannon also made homemade rootbeer and Trevon had the awesome idea of a homemade rootbeer float. :) That night the kids had a little talent show, so cute! Maelie told some jokes and sang a song, Kyla acted like a few animals and told a couple silly jokes she made up, and once Jaxon came over and acted like an animal too. All the other kids in the fam did some cute stuff. We made our beds in the barn and we put Jaxon in the porta crib inside a tent by our beds. The kids went to bed awesome and Jonas and I were able to play games with the fam, good times. That was the best night because the rest of the time both Jonas and Jaxon were sick. When we got home yesterday I took Jaxon to the dr and sure enough, ear infections and he probably has to get tubes since he's had so many. Anyway, back to camping.... the barn had tons of bats in it. It was kinda creepy and kinda cool too. What was so great is that the girls weren't scared of them at all and thought it was awesome. The night was cold but it felt really good to feel some cold. The kids slept awesome at night, but Jonas and I not so much. Jonas was sick on Friday so he took several naps, but I made it straight thru the day and was pretty much exhausted. I don't handle a lack of sleep very well. But we did have some fun on Friday. The kids did lots of crafts thanks to Shannon. Mom and Dad made a great breakfast of biscuits and gravy or breakfast burritos. The kids went on a nature walk with magnifying glasses thanks to Sara. I think the kids had so much fun on this trip. Jaxon not as much, because he was sick and a little difficult. We went to Big Lake that day and right when we got there it was raining. Maelie and Kyla had their swimming suits and they were kinda bummed. Jonas and I could have stayed out in the rain by the lake for a long time, it felt so good, I love the rain and cold. The kids were done so we went to the little visitor's center there and looked around and then headed back to camp for Taani and Kelly's sub lunch. Jonas and I went into town for dinner stuff and left the kids at camp. Poor Jaxon had a bad fall while we were gone and has a nasty looking chin. When we got back, we had birthday cake for Maelie and then poor Jonas took a nap and I started making hobo's for dinner with the awesome help of Jason and Dad. Those things are a lot of work for a big group. Jonas and Jarod cooked them on the coals and in the fire. They turned out yummy. Some extended family who live in the area came that night for dinner and it was great to see them all. I was kinda out of it tho, haha. We played more games that night and right when I was about to fall asleep out of pure exaustion, Jaxon woke up and he just wanted to be up. It reminded me of how tired you are with a newborn! Thankfully Jonas had been asleep for a bit and he took him outside for about 20 minutes and then he went back to sleep for the night. Saturday morning we had a yummy pancake breakfast and then packed up and went home. It was a fun but tiring trip and I miss the weather there soooo bad! It's seriously like an oven outside here! UGH! Halloween hurry up please!!! Thanks everyone especially Mom and Dad for a good time!

the best part of a long drive, pulling into our neighborhood and letting the kids out of their buckles!! Oh the relief! :)

taking walks around the barn

Jaxon playing with his cars in the barn * Kyla, Jonas, and Jaxon watching the bunny * Jakob, Brooke, Maelie, Jonas and Kyla at the pond by the barn

Kyla shooting * the kids dancing * the cutest Pirate EVER!!

Kyla with a dino head * Maelie's birthday cake * Maelie learning to shoot

fun at Big Lake

the girls with their finished treasure chests * fun at Big Lake

Kyla waiting for the rocket that never launched * Jaxon in the barn * the kids making treasure chests

making icecream * Jaxon showing Anna the animal poop during their nature hunt * Jaxon loved playing in Grandpa's truck

Happy Canada Day and Happy 4th

Last year we were in Canada for Canada Day and the 4th and this year we are here. So we didn't do much for Canada Day. In fact at the last minute, Jonas ran to Walgreen's for snaps, poppers, and cookies. I want to be better about celebrating our Canada holidays. :) But the kids had fun. Friday night we finally went swimming at the pool where the kids have their swimming lessons. It was free swim night so it was pretty busy. It is a fun pool but hard to keep track of them all when we are outnumbered. Maelie was starting to swim by herself in the shallow water. The girls both started the next level of swimming lessons this week eventho only Maelie passed the first level. Anyway... Saturday morning we had a ward breakfast and bike parade. The girls loved decorating their bike and scooter. And it was fun for them to be in a parade. Kyla was the slowest of the whole bunch, but she kept going, I was so proud of her! It was sure hot tho! It was nice to get inside for breakfast. Saturday afternoon Maelie had a birthday party to go to and then Saturday night we went to see some fireworks. It was a good show and not too crowded. The kids all loved them. Sunday we went to my parent's after church and enjoyed a 4th meal with the fam. The girls helped me make a flag cake. Sunday night we tried the fireworks again but it ended up being too much for Kyla. Monday Jonas and I went to see Eclipse and then we all went swimming with Shannon. It was a great weekend. And now we are going camping with all my family this weekend, should be fun! Happy Independence Day!

full bucket

The girls are doing well with swimming lessons. Tomorrow is the last day of tadpoles and then they are shrimps and then ducks. Today after I got them in the car and before I shut the door I said, "Good job today girls!" Then I went around to get in and in unision they said "You did a good job today, Mom." awwww... then Maelie told me now my bucket was full. I have never heard her say that, she explained to me that she learned it from her kindergarten teacher. I love my family, my bucket is full most of the time. :)

Trevon's home!

Trevon came home yesterday from his 2 year mission to Jacksonville, Florida. It was awesome to see him again! All the fam was there at the airport. The kids all wore alligator hats and looked so cute.

We went out to lunch together and hung out all afternoon. It was a great day and we're so happy to have him home! He is the same old Trevon just more grown up! :)

swimming and car wash

In past summers, Maelie has taken just the beginning swimming class twice and we never really went beyond that. Kyla took the parent tot class once as in one day because she hated it. This summer, I have signed the girls up for the first 3 levels of swim lessons. They were definitely the biggest in their small class of 5. Hopefully we will make it through all 6 weeks of swimming lessons and hopefully we can move past the beginning lessons for next summer! So far so good. Today was their first day and they had fun!

Just a goofy pic of goofy Maelie :)

And the kids love car wash day!!!

Happy official first day of summer!