An Outing For Marshall

While we were in Utah we left Bridget with my mom for a morning so Richard and I could take Marshall on an outing. I think he definitely was in need of some one-on-one time with us and we hope he enjoyed himself.

We decided to ride the Frontrunner (the train that will eventually run from Ogden to Provo). We got on the train in Farmington and rode to downtown Salt Lake. Marshall was SO excited!


We had bought him this backpack just the day before. He fell in love with it and insisted that he take it on the train. As a side note, the last few days he has put this on and has informed me that he is going to high school. What?!



Our original plan was to get off the train and walk to the Salt Lake Temple. Marshall loves to visit that temple and Richard has never been there with him. However, we didn't realize that the train stop was so far west and we had about seven blocks to walk. This wouldn't have been a problem if 1) it wasn't so hot and 2) if we had a stroller. So, our pace was slow, and after two blocks of walking Marshall was done.

So Richard picked him up and we made it to the Gateway where we stopped for lunch. Marshall had a grand time playing on the toys.


After lunch we stopped in Fanzz (Richard can't be in a mall in Utah without visiting at least one sports store; he must check out all BYU apparel.) While Richard was browsing Marshall picked up this BYU flag and started running around the store singing the Cougar Fight Song. It was hilarious.

After he finished singing Marshall put the flag back and picked up a University of Utah flag and once again started singing the Cougar Fight Song. Richard almost had a conniption fit and quickly put an end to it. :)

Anyway, after that we made our way back to the train and enjoyed our ride back to Farmington. It was a fun morning out and I sure am grateful for this almost always adorable two-year-old.

He's Still Got It

Marshall took a short hiatus from his daily basketball practice. After Bridget was born he showed limited interest in it and then we had our one month vacation in Utah. But, his love for basketball has finally returned! Our first morning back he asked me to position his two basketball hoops at both ends of the living room. After I got them exactly where he wanted them he said, "This is how Jimmer Fredette plays". What a smart boy. :) He then had me turn on the basketball highlight videos and he spent a good portion of his morning playing basketball in the living room. So, enjoy watching these videos, this kid has talent!

My Running Buddies

We are back in the great state of Wisconsin and I am back to running! I started running while we were in Utah and while I had plenty of family to watch my kids. :) The first day I ran I thought I was going to die, my lungs were burning! But, it got better and better each time and today I successfully pushed two kids and ran about two miles.

Anyway, here are my running buddies for the summer: Marshall, Bridget, and this amazing double jogger I have been dreaming of for years! Well, maybe not for years, but for quite some time.

Thanks to gift money I had been saving, Amazon textbook buy-backs, and in-laws we were able to get this beauty. Today was the first time I've used it and I loved it! It is so easy to steer and both Marshall and Bridget did great. Marshall was especially excited because "it is like Nolan and Luke's stroller".

Anyway, a great morning run and I look forward to many more with these running buddies.

This Is The Place State Park

A couple of weeks ago we took a visit to This Is The Place State Park with my parents. It was a fun little excursion despite Marshall's grumpy personality. :) (He had slept horribly the night before and managed to fall down a couple of stairs shortly after we arrived; two bad combinations.) Anyway, we took a train ride, Marshall rode a pony, he pet a baby lamb, we toured a couple of homes, played on the playground, and had a picnic.

Marshall, so thrilled with life. :)



This is the original BYU building. Hence Richard's crazy face. :) He was pretty excited. I'm sure he will love that I have posted this picture.

A more normal face for Richard, a sulky one for Marshall. :)


This is really Marshall's only smile of the day. I was shocked that he actually got on the pony all by himself. But, as you can tell, he had a great time.


And my very favorite picture of the day...


This is how we got Marshall back to the car. We decided it would be easier to carry the small child and push the bigger one; he loved it. :)

Hill Air Force Base Museum

A couple of weeks ago Richard took Marshall to the Hill Air Force Base Museum. Marshall had a grand time looking at all of the airplanes and helicopters. Nathan, Richard's older brother, is in the Air Force and flies a Huey (its a helicopter). Richard and Marshall were able to sit in one and Marshall thought it was pretty sweet. Later that night Marshall informed me that he wants to be Uncle Nathan. :)

Danny Is Home!

My brother Danny just returned home from his mission on Friday. This was one of our main reasons for traveling to Utah and I'm so glad we were able to be here to celebrate his return. My entire immediate family was able to be at the airport on Friday afternoon to welcome him home. He had told us in an email a couple of weeks ago that he didn't want any big signs to announce his return. So, my mom decided to scale back her grand plans and we made a sign for Marshall and Benson (his two nephews) to hold and we got a balloon for Bridget. Here we are waiting at the airport, just so excited to see Elder Toney.

This is Marshall's sign. Danny went to the University of Utah for his freshman year, this completely devastated Richard. However, he had a change of heart on his mission and decided to transfer to BYU, hooray!

Love this picture, my parents are beaming and the boys aren't paying attention. My mom is holding Benson's sign. Benson was born while Danny was on his mission, hence the phrase at the bottom. My mom came up with it; I thought it was quite clever.

And here we are. Our kids look thrilled.

And finally, the moment we had been waiting for...

My mom just couldn't contain herself and wait for him to come to her, great picture! And cute Danny, I just love his smile!

Danny hugging my Dad; poor Jordan got punched in the nose with one of their arms.


Danny and Kevin. Kevin will be 18 in July and grew many inches while Danny was gone. Danny was shocked to see him and made multiple comments about how tall he's gotten.



Kudos to Richard on all of the airport photography. He got some great candid shots. I just love everyone's smiles; we were so happy!


All of the siblings, spouses, and grandkids, minus Bridget who had had a rough afternoon at the airport and was inside asleep. :)


Just the siblings, our first time all together in two years. We are SO happy! I love my brothers!

And just for a fun comparison. Here we are two years ago the night before Danny left on his mission. We made sure we stood in the exact same order. Kevin and Jordan have grown up so much! Ben and I basically look the same and my goal is to look exactly the same when Jordan gets home from his mission in six years. :)


And here's cute Stacie; the devoted girlfriend who waited two whole years for her missionary. She came up to our house and was here when he walked in the door after he had been released. They look pretty happy to be back together wouldn't you say?!


Anyway, we had a fantastic weekend. From 4:30 pm on Friday when Danny got home until 6:00 am on Sunday when Richard flew back to Milwaukee we were all together; in-laws, grandkids and all. It was a weekend of fun, great stories from Danny, lots of family, and tears rolling down our cheeks from laughing so hard. Simply a wonderful weekend, and one I will always remember!

Visit to Logan

We spent last weekend in Logan with Joe, Aubri, and Katelin. They weren't able to make it to Vernal while we were there so we drove to them. Bob and Becky also met us there and it was fun to spend the weekend all together. Joe and Aubri were so nice to put all of us up for two nights and endure Marshall's screaming in the middle of the night. It definitely was not a restful weekend for any of us, but it sure was a fun one.

Katelin and Marshall played SO well together. Katelin is just five months older than Marshall and she is so outgoing and friendly. These two have only been together a few times, but as soon as we pulled up she ran out of the house calling Marshall's name. He immediately followed her back to her bedroom and had a tea party with her and Grandma Becky. They spent the rest of the weekend playing and laughing; it was perfect! Both Richard and I were shocked that Marshall took to her so well. He only plays like that with one other boy in Milwaukee and that was a recent development!

One cute story about these two that I will share...

Marshall had a really hard time sleeping in Logan. He was sleeping in our room, but it was his third new place since we arrived in Utah and it wasn't going well. The second night we were there we were trying to get Marshall to bed, but he was just screaming. Grandma Becky was in Joe and Aubri's laying down with Katelin. Katelin heard Marshall crying and here is the conversation that followed...

Katelin: What is wrong with Marshall?
Becky: He is just having a hard time going to sleep in this new place.
Katelin: I think he just needs me.
Becky: That is sweet, but Marshall needs to sleep in his bed and you need to sleep in yours.
Katelin (after scooting over closer to Becky): Have I schooched enough?
Becky: What?
Katelin: Is this enough room for Marshall?
Becky: Thanks Katelin, but Marshall needs to stay in his room tonight.
Katelin: I just think that he needs me.

Isn't that sweet?! These two really did have a great weekend; here are the pictures to prove it!




Katelin was also great with Bridget too. Joe and Aubri are having baby #2 in August and I have no doubt that Katelin will be a great big sister. It gave me hope that girls just have a nurturing instinct and that Bridget won't be quite as abusive to the next baby as Marshall is to her. :)


While in Logan we fulfilled Marshall's second Utah wish of going golfing. We quickly discovered that you can't golf seriously, even miniature golfing, when you have a two year old and a three year old around. But, we still had a great time and shared some great laughs.


About halfway through Marshall realized he could lift the flag out of the hole; what a little stinker.

By this point things were getting a little crazy and nobody was golfing with any sort of seriousness.



Katelin gave up her golf ball and club after just a few holes, but she still had a smile for me.

Even little Bridget had a fun outing.

Besides all of that fun, the rest of our weekend consisted of great meals (including Firehouse Pizza, probably the best pizza I've ever had), fun conversation, games, and the Farmer's Market (if Richard was a "real" doctor I could have easily spent $500 there).

Anyway, a fantastic weekend with fantastic people. We missed Nathan, Nina, and the girls. And, despite the horrible nights with Marshall, I look forward to more Leake reunions with everybody!