Robert & D'Lynne Esplin

So, it has been about 5 months since I posted last and I figured it was time to post again. About what? I have no idea. This has been a whirlwind of five months and I am glad we are where we are. Summer was fun and the kids enjoyed their pitching machine/ fastpitch/ t-ball (depending what age group). Michael did soccer again in the Spring, so he didn't get to play pitching machine with a group from our ward. I think he would have had a good time, but he chose soccer. That took up all of our June and the first days of July. We headed to SLC a bit later than I wanted to because Molli and Hannah had tournaments that went in to July.

Andrea and I didn't run a 5k for the 4th of July this year, our first time in four years. I kind of missed it, but we were needed at the parade route for one reason or another. Molli, Michael, and Hannah stayed with Aunt Andrea and Nana and Papa for the 4th of July evening festivities while the rest of us went back to Idaho. Robert took the other kids to Menan to watch the fireworks there. I, on the other hand, stayed in Idaho Falls and invited a friend to come watch me play in the orchestra that played right by the fireworks by the river. It was really cool and I hope to do it again next year.

Towards the end of July Michael and I ran a 5k and then Michael, Molli, and Hannah ran a kid fun run. That same day we headed down to St. George for Daniel and Erika's baby blessing for Mayli and stayed in a condo there for two nights. It was fun to be there. Then our adventures led us to a resort in Las Vegas with my family. Shan, RJ, Jaycen, Ryan, Andrea, Nana, and Papa were all there and we missed Celeste and Lorell with her family. Family was coming and going throughout the week, but we were able to be together for a little bit, anyway.

Later on in August I took all the kids and me to spend a week in Hyde Park with Grandma and Grandpa. They loved helping Grandma in the garden, we went to the zoo and had a picnic at a park. We went to the Aquatics Center for a swim and on the last day they went camping with Grandma and Grandpa and Ben and Becca. Robert came up for the night and we stayed in the house with Jonathan. It rained the whole night while they were camping so I was glad to have been somewhere dry.

School started after Labor Day and I think the kids have gotten the teachers they were supposed to get. I never recommend teachers or ask that they don't get a certain teacher. Being PTO president again might have something to do with that. We just had our first Parent/ Teacher conferences and there wasn't a "B" for any of my kids :), so I guess they are all doing well. Some A-'s, but that is okay.

Robert has been busy at work, sometimes having to go back after the kids are in bed and staying into hours that no one should see on a clock at that time of day. The kids went trick-or-treating there this year and had a good time.

I have been busy with PTO, of course, and taking the older kids to swim club (which is now thankfully over) and picking Molli up from orchestra. Amongst other things, I was asked to play as a substitute for the Idaho Falls Symphony twice. We just finished the second concert last night...... and it was hard. I wasn't the only one saying that, either. With another orchestra I have played with, we did a concert with Mindy Gledhill in October. I enjoyed that one and Robert got to bring Molli to it. She had a good time, too.

Well, that about sums up our last five months. Oh, I guess I should also mention that baby Esplin #7 will be joining us towards the end of March. We don't know a gender yet, but the kids all want it to be a girl. A girl for the last one would be great. We just told the kids last week we were going to have another baby (Robert and I have known since August). I waited so long to tell people because I have heard a lot of people suffering miscarriages and even still births lately, and I didn't want to seem haughty taughty, for lack of a better word, that #7 is on the way and I have no problem getting pregnant and carrying it to term.

If you made it this far reading this super long post, I congratulate you. I will post a few pictures now and if you skipped to these, I don't blame you :)

Molli swinging


Hannah swinging

Evan at bat

Hyrum at bat


At the Museum of Idaho

After running a 5K and a kid's run


At the Condo in St. George

Mayli's blessing day


Hannah and Hyrum at a museum in Las Vegas

Happy Jonathan

Molli, Michael, and Hannah after a triathlon

Robert cleaning out the gutters

After the Mindy Gledhill concert


Evan as Batman for Halloween

I thought it would be cool if I did comparisons of the kids on their first day of school and to their last day of school 2012-2013. Here it goes:


Molli's First Day of 5th grade		Molli with Mrs. English

Hyrum's first day of Kindergarten

Last day


Hannah with Mrs. Oberhansely		Hannah's first day of 2nd Grade

Michael's first day of 3rd grade

Michael with Mrs. Drouin

This was Evan on the first day of school, even though he didn't go

It was a good school year. I loved all of the kids' teachers and they were just perfect for each child. Being PTO president was an adventure, and because no one wanted to take that post for next year, I will remain PTO president for another year.

Hannah also got baptized this month. She was excited that it took place on her birthday. Robert baptized her and confirmed her and it was a wonderful blessing.

The family who attended Hannah's baptism

The other family picture was really blurry, so this will do.

The others from the ward who attended her baptism were Bro. Williams from the bishopbric, Sis. Porter, the primary president, and Pres. Gordon. We love Hannah and we are glad she chose to be baptized.

And last but not least, Molli had a 50's Dance Party on the Wednesday before school ended. She and Grandma made her skirt together. Robert invited us to a Dome Raising next to his office, so the kids were a bit late to school the second to last day, but it was a cool experience. We even got to go inside it.