WARNING:
This is an excessively long blog entry! If you do not have a ton of time to wade through the senseless drib drab, either skim through the pictures or visit another time when you have a more generous schedule. Warning, this is not a test. This is the result of a very busy work schedule that has forced Marque to put aside his blogging efforts until he is only able to produce one extremely long blog entry rather than several shorter entries. Warning! There are way too many pictures of Leah in this entry. That is your tough luck! The author thinks she is too cute to ignore or put limitations on the quantity of Leah pics. Consider yourself warned.
May brought several changes in the Trosper household, from moving to not moving to possibly moving and back to not moving. We did have a garage sale and managed to organize a bit better (by we, I mean Sarah). While we only made $180, we managed to spend WAY more than that (by we, I mean me). The first of many purchases, was a Suzuki King Quad 700. We have been debating an ATV purchase for quite some time. The time seemed right and a friend I trusted made me a good deal. We are looking forward to many picnics in the canyon this summer.
My two biker ladies testing out the new ride!
We are a happy family! Now we are a happy and mobile family!
I also felt it was time for Sarah to have a new car. I did not like her car, though she claims she did. Of course, cars are my weakness, and for ten years I have primarily bought European. I went a little more practical this time around and got Sarah a Subaru Forester. I first made sure that we did not have to be a member of the Ski Team, PETA or Green Peace. Turns out, Sarah doesn't have to quit shaving her legs to drive a Subaru and I can still avoid Birkenstocks with wool socks. It needs tinted windows, but otherwise we like it. It is easier to get Leah in and out of. Sarah likes that.
While I was there, somehow I ended up buying a new Jeep. I love it...even if it is Longhorn Orange! In some light it looks Cardinal. I need a fifth car like I need a hole in my head! I actually intended on trading-in the Range Rover and Jaguar, but the offered trade-in value was laughable. I was grateful to be able to deal with Brad Smith on both transactions. He is a great guy and I wish him luck on his mission to serve in the Marshall Islands. The missionaries there will be indeed blessed to have such an amazing mission president and wife.
For Memorial Day, we got together with our neighbors. Typically we leave town for a week or so on vacation, but we didn't this year. We were happy to spend it with our third family. We sure love our neighborhood and ward. This little princess is Bella. She is entirely incapable of smiling without looking to her left. She loves Leah and Leah loves her.
I promise we did not cut her feet off! She loved this swing. Our good neighbors, Brad and Lisa Myler, were kind enough to let us use their yard (really a park we refer to as "Myler Land"). We had a blast.
Our neighbor, Candace Ashby. Leah's favorite sitter.
I dare you to look at these two and tell me I am not the most blessed dude in all the land!
Mindee and Paul Hansen
Two of our favorite traveling buddies, Rich and Deb Anderson, even if they do get KFC for a BBQ! You can't tell because he is sitting down, but Rich has a backside like Michael Angelo's David!
Our dear friends, Brian and Jessica Boshell. We are glad they are staying in the neighborhood for a bit longer. Hopefully by the time they leave, Brian will have moved up to a big person's chair.
See! I told you she can not smile without looking to her left!
Candace Ashby and Bella Balue Blackhurst
Bishop Myler and me
Uncle Joe Ashby and Leah
We love introducing Leah to things of nature. I pray she will appreciate God's beauty as much as I do. Here is Aunt Brenda showing her a Maple Tree
Okay, She has had enough!
She is happy now that Dad has her.
She did not like the inflatable slide at all!
But she liked the sun! (Don't worry Grandmas! We put sunscreen on her!)
I went longboarding early Memorial Day and took a digger! My elbow got a little road rash, but the part that hurt the most was the palm of my hand. It was black and blue the following day. It felt great! Sarah is worried this is a mid-life crisis.
The day before Memorial Day, we went to visit Sarah's Dad's gravesite. He is buried at Camp Williams Veteran's Cemetary in Bluffdale, UT
Three generations. Leah will love him when she finally meets him.
I am so grateful for those that serve our country. I don't come from a military family, but appreciate those that serve our country or community in any capacity. My Grandfather served in the Coast Guard, Sarah's Father served in the Air Force, Sarah's brother, Jacob, serves in the Army currently, my brother, Scott, serves in law enforcement and my Father served in the Forest Service. Don't forget me! I served at the Olive Garden.
Leah loves you Grandpa Wilson!
Leah says, "Happy Memorial Day! We love you and appreciate you all that have served, do serve or will serve!"
Leah Pictures!
Apparently that monkey doesn't like Leah. He is about to attack her!
I have introduced Leah to my favorite past time....lounging in a hammock! She seems to be a natural!
May also brought solid foods to Leah! I don't know if you can call most of them solids as they are all mushy. She is eating rice, peas, green beans and Cheerios.
Leah's Great Uncle David, drove his semi through Utah from West Virginia on his way to Oregon. It was nice for the boys and Leah to visit him at one of his stops.
Uncle David is Sarah's Dad's Brother.
Leah is a Princess at the Burger King
My Nephew, Elijah Reed with a jaw breaker
Our neighborhood has a softball team. They have a fun time and we like cheering them on. Here are two of our cutest cheer leaders.
Meadowbrook Mafia's Softball Coach - Brandon Peterson of BP Construction. (looks like a tough guy doesn't he? He is! He broke my camera immediately after I took this picture. He then repeatedly kicked me and called me bad names)
Joe "the Toe" Ashby...next at bat.
Benchwarmers
Sarah got Leah's pics taken at Kiddie Kandids.
She can be a real goofy girl when she gets tired...I wonder where she gets that, SARAH!?
Apparently we don't feed her enough, because recently she likes eating her foot
What a doll
Sarah's first Mother's Day. Sarah is an amazingly loving, nurturing and caring Mother to Leah. I am constantly amazed at what a good job she does taking care of us kids.
Again with the foot
"GRRRRRRRR...touch my apple and I'll...."
My Nephew, Jakey Reed
Leah loves animals and is afraid of nothing. Of course she is used to seeing the horses out our back yard, but she is a very brave little girl. Here she is petting the horse at Thanksgiving Point.
That wall kept floating up, so Cole is holding it down! Way to go, Cole!
Leah is eating her stroller straps and the calf is eating Jakey's lunch in the back of his stroller.
Leah fell asleep with one shoe on
Aunt Brenda feeding Leah her first real food...if you can call it that!?
Thanks for letting me share most of May all at once. I apologize. Hopefully life will slow down a bit so I can keep up. I appreciated all the comments and emails wondering where I had disappeared to. It is nice to know people read the blog and rely on it for their daily shot of sunshine (aka - Leah Lou).
