Bees!

We got bees! Our friend James hooked us up with some bees! We built (or more accurately put together) our beehive and couldn't wait to get them! The day arrived and even though it wasn't an ideal time of day to do it we still did :) I was definitely unprepared because I had no experience. As you can see I wasn't wearing gloves. Most experienced bee keepers or "Beeks" don't wear gloves cuz they're tough as nails! Me on the other hand....well let's just say ignorance wasn't bliss! I got stung on the finger, leg and under eye. I borrowed their suit and didn't know how to properly fasten the neck hole and a few crawled up there. I was lucky I didn't get more stings! James had me shake out the bees but since I was slightly intimidated by the whole process he had to help a lot. 

After I got my first sting ever on the finger. My lymph in my right under arm swelled up, from this sting. The sting under my eye made the lymph on the left side of my throat swell up. I got hives under both of my armpits and they hurt for days! The itching continued for about 2 weeks. It was crazy. Something I will not repeat which is why....

I dress like this now :) 

This is the box after he shook the bees out. 

The hive. 

James installing the feeder. 

We left the open box near the hive so they can figure out that this is their new home. 

I swabbed the inside of the hive with lemon grass oil because they like the scent and are more likely to make it their home. James gave me Russian bees which are super aggressive, but the queen that they were going to breed with was a very gently Italian queen. Part of the reason they attacked me and later Cannon, was because they are just aggressive by nature, but they are a very hearty breed and can be more resistant to disease and pests. 

About 2 weeks after this installation my bees up and left. Rude right? It's called absconding and it is not completely uncommon. I was devastated and worried about getting another package since it was so late in the season. Thankfully I found someone about an hour away and got a new bunch that have stayed put very nicely :) 

Karley

Cannon and my bff K digg, planned the best birthday surprise ever. Can took me out to dinner to the only Ethiopian restaurant in town, which was surprisingly good, and when I came home...BAM she was in my house! We cried happy tears and all was right with the world for that week. Of course we didn't take many pictures and the ones we did take are on my phone. I love this girl and her kids more than words and I was so beyond grateful that she would come all this way to be with us. Oh and also Can threw me a party which I didn't want but he insisted and it was fun and I did a half a@# job on the cakes so they weren't the best but they were sweet so no one cared. The end. 

These boys actually got along pretty well. 

Up CLOSE and personal with Elly Belly.

LOVE this boy so much!!

Bees

For a little homeschool project Elyse learned about bees. We finished off the project by visiting our friend in the ward who is a bee keeper. He inspired us to start our own hives!

This is Elyse holding a frame from the langstroth hive. 

These are his top bar hive which is what we have. 

Looking for the queen. Our queen is marked because I am just not patient enough to take the time to find her each time. They put a little sticker on her back so you just have to look for the colored dot!

Valentines day

This year for Valenitines day I decided not to be lame and have a little party for the kids. Mostly because we actually have a dollar store so decorating for these little events is easy and cheap!

Cannon went all out this year and bought some lovely tuna which he seared with sesame seeds on top. 

He made a beautiful glaze and a pomegranate salad dressing. We finished off the dinner with a t-bone steak....grass fed of course. It was amazing!

Levi's birthday!

Levi also had a birthday in January! He turned 7!

I was so excited to finally be able to have an outdoor party for him since the weather was in the 50's but of course it rained that day so we had to move things inside. 

Of course the game they were playing turned into a wrestling match. 

Happy birthday little man! He has grown so much. It is so fun to see who he is becoming which is a little braniac who loves facts and numbers. He is obsessed with Jack and Annie books right now and will read for long stretches each day. We love you Levi!!

Elyse is 12!

Elyse turned 12 in January! It was a sleepover and I made all of her favorite foods and they stayed up way too late, but it was fun! We went to the temple with her a few weeks later and it was a really great experience for everyone. Sadly the temple is about 2 hrs away. We were used to going any time we wanted and now it is definitely harder. This girl of mine is getting so grown up! She loves Young Women's and is babysitting a lot for us. It's hard to believe that we only have 6 more years with her in the house. I have had that on my mind a lot lately and I really hope that I can treasure these next years even though I know they will bring with them the challenge of having a teenager. 

New Years Eve

This New Years was the best yet! We had a party and since it wasn't freezing and we have a driveway we shot off fireworks. It was awesome and made me love SC that much more! The winter this year was the most mild I have ever experienced. There were 2 ice storms but most of the winter was in the 50's and would get up to 60's and sometimes 70's. Not too shabby!

The Yorktown

In January we went to see the air craft carrier in town. I know, exciting stuff, right? But it was free so we took advantage!

Definitely one of the most exciting parts for August. 

Elly was cool with it. 

Awesome family pics eh?

Christmas

Better late than never! 

We had dinner on the floor in front of the fire on Christmas Eve. 

Christmas Jammies! 

Even for the parents!

Then we took these silly pictures which were way better (or so we think) than that other Christmas Jammies family. 

Christmas morning. Tired face and binky face.

Life lately

Life lately has been hectic. Motherhood has been at an all time challenging high. August is beyond rambunctious. I can't take my eyes off of him for a second! Yesterday he took off while I was busy juicing. I heard him in the garage and when I went out to check on him he was gone. I hopped on my bike and checked in the cul de sac where he would normally go if/when he takes off. He wasn't there so I started calling his name and getting more panicked. I turned at the top of our street and saw his little scooter parked on a sidewalk that leads to a pond. PANIC set in! I threw my bike down and ran to the pond and there as my little boy, only wearing a shirt and a dracula cape and that is it! He was running back and forth talking to the geese (thankfully they didn't peck him!) Life is just exhausting lately. Elly won't nap and the only time I can take a deep breath and relax mentally is when August is in his room with the door closed. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but for me this is new. Elyse was 5 when Levi came along and Levi was almost 5 when August came along. This baby toddler thing ain't for the faint of heart! I don't think I really understood how hard it is for moms with a lot of little kids that are close together. Now I know how incredibly chaotic and stressful it is to be taking care of 2 little ones who need me completely all the time! Phew!

Thanksgiving

My family drove down to be with us for Thanksgiving! We had a great time and some yummy food!

 

 

We went to see Hunger games and when I asked Hyrum (15) to hold my purse I couldn't resist snapping this photo!

Goodbye party

Levi had a going away party 2 days before we left with his cute friends. He was so sad to leave them, but he has been a trooper and despite his reluctance has made some great new friends here. 

Last meal

Our favorite restaurant was Meskrem Ethiopian in the West Village. We went there a few weeks before we moved for one last meal. I posted this on instagram and everyone groused and said it looked like poopy throw up. Well it's dang good poopy throw up that we miss terribly!