Back to school

 23-24 school year is here. Benjamin started a couple days before the rest of the kids. He is a freshman in high school. I can’t believe it. He is going to the same school I went to for one semester when we moved here and graduated from, all of my sisters have/ will graduate from there too. Go Mustangs! Benjamin starts his day off early at seminary for a church class. This year will rock, Jake and my dad are teaching seminary and Charlotte is there too! Love how he gets to start his morning and who he is with! Greatest guys I know and an amazing aunt to look out for him. It melts my mama and sister heart having Charlotte at school with Benjamin. She sends pics and sees him multiple times a day! 

Benjamin is helping Kylee with her volleyball team this fall and is loving it already. Kylee said he beat the girls in the gym the other day too. First day of school Benjamin was at school for 11 hours. He came home ate Canes, cereal and then crashed face down on the couch all in under 10 min! Tired freshman! He is loving school though and has friends in all his classes. Benjamin is in freshman student council which is perfect for how social he is and excited to see all he does. 

First day of eighth grade for Emma! Last year in middle school. She is in WEB this year which is the schools  version of student council. She is in all accelerated classes, this girl is a great student.

Noah is in fourth grade with Mrs Reid. She is our favorite! All the kids have had her and aunties, so Noah is so excited for this year. The kids love school, but wanted to do, “ugh first day pictures too” haha. Noah is on the Jr light house team again this year which is like elementary student council. He helped at orientation and then today helped kids get to classes. 

Navy has Mrs. Turzich for second grade. She is excited to see her friends again. The night before school her and Emma had some girls time with face masks and hair. Love seeing these two sisters bond. Navy wants and loves all things Emma and already tries to steal her clothes. 

Yay for another school year! I’m sure it will be another busy one for all. 

We played tourist

I have had this trip to the strip planned all summer long! It finally happened and we had the best time! 

We hit up m and m world and took all the pictures. Out of all the names mugs, Benjamin was the only name they had. We went to the giant Ross and had so much fun shopping, but it was a lot with how crowded and how much they pack everything in there. We hit the jackpot on our favorite Boston gear for our favorite sister missionary while we were there though so huge win!

Coke factory. We did the sips from a round the world, I’ve done this twice and still remember those flavors. I loved doing it and was so excited for my soda loving kids to do it. Noah wanted to finish them all (before he tried them) after two he said no way. Emma and Benjamin only liked a couple, and Navy said they all were good except one.  We don’t know how she handled them.  The favs were from Peru, Panama, and Greece.I got the coke float tray too and that was a huge hit. All of the normal flavors with ice cream! Yum!

Stranger things was the base for our whole strip trip! We love it at our house and the kids couldn’t wait to go to the store. They have it all set up with lots of photo op areas they recreated from scenes in the show. They even had the lights flicker from the upside down while we were shopping. The phone on the wall worked and had Will’s voice recording from season one. We all love coloring and got a coloring book with scenes from every season. We have already been working on it along with playing our new stranger things Uno! It was a really well done and the kids loved all the tiny details through out from the show. 

One of our best summer days! Everyone got along and we had the perfect time. Navy had to have her pic with the Statue of Liberty. She has been begging for a year to go for the real one and so excited she saw it on the strip. We did free three hour parking and got back to the car with two minutes to spare. The kids wanted to turn around and go do more. Love spending time with them and so glad we got this in for our summer fun. 

 

Summer 5

 We spent our last Saturday in the pool. We swam and bbq at mom and dads house. Madi went shopping and hit the cleanable blow up aisle. The whole pool was full of flamingos, a whale, rings, lays outs and more. The littles could swim non stop. Can’t believe summer is done. 

We ended the night at our friends. She had the best set up and did board themed. We had a taco charcuterie board, original, chips and dip, fruit, potato’s, and smores. We played Bingo and she had candy prizes, Benjamin kept stealing my favs till someone else won and beat him to the last one! I think Noah could have played all night. Benjamin played volleyball in the pool and Navy hung with Carson loving every minute. 

Summer 4

 Noah had his first 4 days without any of us! He was excited and a little nervous. He said he would miss us, but not enough to not go, hahahaha. He had the best time and when he got back they begged for another sleepover. Jacob and Noah couldn’t get enough of each other. It was just the boys with Jeff and Melissa at their cabin and they played non stop. Thanks for taking care of him J and M! Also thrown in this collage is Benjamin, Jacob, Noah and even Emma wrestling, we had a pizza night and the new transformers movie. 

We spent the day at Mt Charleston. It is one of our favorite places to just hang out and play. How can it not be the best when it was 39 degrees cooler! It was 78 degrees there and when we got back it was 117 degrees in Vegas! We brought up spike ball and lunch. The kids climbed and just played. Can’t wait to go back soon. Emma was at school all week she did training and got ready to run the orientation for sixth graders and got asked to stay for all the new transfer 7th and 8th graders. 

My mom and I took Benjamin and Emma on a date school shopping. We hit up all the stores and had lunch and treats with Charlotte. Benjamin found out quick shopping is exhausting with us girls. Emma could go all day with grandma. 

Navy got to spend the day with Uncle Chad favorite and Piper. They tried to convince him for a yes day and got spoiled! Slurpees, treats, swimming and movies. Navy tried sushi for her first time and wasn’t a fan. Jake said she needs to try again and she said she will even though She smiled her way through 3 pieces while gagging.

More missionary dinners and game nights. We were able to throw in some last minute play dates before school started with friends. Benjamin and I went to freshman orientation!!!!!!! How is that real?! Go mustangs! 

We got to go see Haunted Mansion with Melissa, Hailey and Jacob and Brock. It was a great movie, definitely made me crave some Disneyland. The kids all loved it. Poor Benjamin had a migraine and fell asleep. Another thing Emma missed out on sadly! She did so well at school though. We love when they have movie props and the kids had fun with the giant shark. 

Summer 3

 

Dinners and fun! The missionaries are teaching the youth in our ward the lessons and the kids love having them at the house. Grandpa came over for dinner and a movie one night while my mom and sister were gone. I just love the pic of Benjamin and my dad so grateful to have the best dad ever and grandpa!

7-11 came and we had to hit up free slurpee day before we all went swimming. Mila was on life guard duty making sure the kids played safe. 

Emma and I had a movie date to see the new Barbie movie. It was cute and I loved bringing out my hot pink pants! We brought home Barbie cookies for everyone as dessert that night. 

Emma asked for highlights for her birthday, but wanted to wait before school started. She is adorable and looking so grown up. Charlotte picked up Benjamin one day and took him on a lunch date. How cool that they get to have a year together at Shadow in high school.

We love our cousin sleepovers. The girls stayed up chatting all night and the boys played nonstop. How cute are they each cooking their own breakfast. 

Benjamin had a fun day for his friends party. They went thrifting and drew names. They each picked out an outfit for their person and then wore the outfit later that night out to icecream. 

The kids cousin Tucker got baptized so we got to have a fun family day. The kids all sang at the baptism with their cousins. We love when we get to see Utah cousins! Afterwards Emylee threw a last minute surprise party for Chad. The kids were stoked to surprise him and totally pulled it off. They swam and had pizza. We learned one of our new favorite games called Bank too. Happy 40th Chad! We love you!

Summer Jam 2023

Summer jam at the cabin! Grandpa sat and watched everyone run circles all weekend with the biggest smile on his face. 

We had grandpa, four of his kids, 14 grandkids, with all their spouses, and 21 great grandkids there. A small amount of grandpas posterity but still a pretty good size group of 50. 

We love recreating this picture of cousins that’s hanging at the cabin. Jake, Jason, Chad and Jimmy. We recreated this year with their kids. Always makes us laugh with the dirty and clean ones. 

Benjamin got to drive again up at the ranch and this year emma asked if she could learn. We did a couple short lessons with their big smiles! Can’t believe how much they are growing. Grandpa Jeff loves spending time with the kids and got to come too. He is a big tease and Navy gives it right back to him making everyone laugh. 

They put up a zip line and ninja obstacle course this year and it is the perfect addition to the ranch. The kids have fun up there doing all the things and staying busy nonstop. We learned a new game recently at Chad’s birthday called Bank (dice game) we had to teach everyone up there. All ages can play making huge groups around the table all laughing and playing. Huge shout out to uncle Randy and Aunt robin, they say and played monopoly with Noah and Cash for hours one day!

Headed home all exhausted. I was ready for my bed. My back went out before the trip so it was a quiet one for me, but the kids sure had fun. Also Jake killed it up there! He cleaned everyday and helped so much with all the craziness and all the people. He sure made the trip easier on me and is much appreciated! Love you babe and glad we could spend time with the Bulloch’s. 

 

Girls camp

This was Emma's second girls camp and I am grateful to still be in Young women's and get to go with her. I love all our girls and loved watching them learn, grow and laugh. The girls stayed up late and we had to finally say go to bed! We played games and ate yummy food. One day we had classes the girls chose where and what they did. I taught a hair class and did fun tinsel all day. Emma’s classes were: candle making, self defense, emergencies, and goals.

                                             

Our stake leaders had everything done really well for us. We made flower crowns, cairn jewelry and painted book of Mormon covers. All of them were creative and fun. On the last day is when we did axe throwing, zip line, shooting, flying squirrel, obstacle course and ninja warrior course. Emma and I loved the shooting and my first time I did pretty dang good! Usually I'm watching little so loved jumping in on the fun. Our bishopric came up on the last night. We did multiple activities one of which we were blindfolded and guided through. We always had help and had to learn to use it, just like in life. Back at camp we did a testimony meeting where so many girls and leaders talked about the same struggles, and wants/needs. The spirit was so strong. I'm so happy to be a part of this amazing community and know how much I am loved and my family. These girls are so loved!!! 

 

Idaho Summer

Idaho time! Here is a lot of pictures of our Idaho summer trip.  It was just the Bierstedt's which gave us one on one time with all our favorites.

Jake and Travis took all the little out for a morning fishing. They had everything set up to run so smooth. The kids all caught fish and loved being down on the river.

We had pizza night and a lot more games. Benjamin loves getting pictures with everyone hoping the next time we see them he will be taller. The kids fishing photo even made it on their Facebook page for Idaho fish and game. We all got to snuggle adorable puppies that Brittany took pictures of.

 We were at Brittanys and one of my best friends from High School who I haven't seen came over.

I loved seeing her cute kids and catching up. I miss their faces and need many more trips!

Shout out to Travis for becoming one of Benjamins favorites! Travis took Benjamin on not just one, but multiple driving lessons. He did so great and made Benjamin a pretty dang happy teen.

Brittany and I are pretty stoked our girls love each other so much. I mean how cute and they doing photo shoots just like we did. The girls are obsessed with Wednesday Addams and had a whole night dedicated to it. They watched it and played the part to perfection.

Nat Soo Pah day! We haven't been in years and made it this trip. We went out with our besties the Bunker's. The weather was perfect, not hot with some clouds, but being a hot springs the water felt terrific. They have multiple diving boards that all the kids were doing tricks off of. They also have a slide that got lots of use from all of us. The boys played basketball and Benjamin was getting beat by Travis, who had to use his left hand, all week in the pool and at their house. He was cracking us up. Emma and Noah played with all the little girls, entertaining them and having so much fun. We soaked in the hot pools and can't wait to get back.

We love games and how fun are my grandparents that they always play too. I think they stayed up till eleven or midnight most nights we were there playing with the kids. I just can't say enough how many memorable moments we had. Aunt Janelle and uncle Jeff are so fun when we visit. The kids always ask for a movie night. We love their theatre and getting spoiled with treats and popcorn.

Grandma Schraft needed her shed painted and she got our little squad all out to help. All the kids loved being able to paint and we all wore grandma's shirts. We knocked out that paint job so quick. We played games and ate yummy tip that always tastes better at Grandmas. Usually charlotte or Taliah make Peanut Butter balls. Noah was insistent he make them this time and he would have made his aunties proud. They were bomb!

                                       

We did a little sight seeing this trip. Grandpa drove us to balanced rock. We liked up and explored taking lots of pictures.it was Jake and the kids first time there. How crazy is this giant rock! The he rock is almost 50 feet tall and balancing on a rock only three feet.it looks small in pictures, but is so big up close! After he took us to a delicious place for lunch in his little hometown of Buhl. The food was on pointe and the cookies were the best!

Next was Shoshone Falls, this majestic spot is five minutes away from grandma & grandpas. These falls were roaring with all the snow this last winter. They are actually taller than Niagara Falls. I love being down in the canyon, everything is just beautiful.

Our last night of our trip we took family pictures, which of course deserved its own post. The kids had to say hi to the cows on the farm we were at.

Thank you Idaho for treating us so well. I was a little worried for our week with no cousins, but we seriously had the best time. The memories, the bonding, everything made for an outstanding trip!