Idaho Trip

Ahhhh sweet Idaho...In the words of my 4 year old son Weston "Let's buy the Cellar (my mother's extra bed and bath) and move to Idaho forever!!!" I agree my dear...I agree. :)

There is just something about where I grew up. I think most of it is the people there. My mother and father and all of my siblings mostly still live there and call it home. Aside from family there is also many friends. Plus we have the scenery. There is the beautiful Snake river which is so much fun. Then there are the mountains so close. We went to Lake Cleavland and spent some time. I also just love the farm land. I love it. I love sprinklers, fields, wide open spaces and just the peace that I feel being home. If I didn't love my husband an exuberant amount I would never have left. So...enough about that...let's get into the trip. This is just such a cute picture of Spencer and his cousin Lilly. Everyone got so filthy when we went up in the hills. It was so great to see my kids enjoying the mountains. We even got to see a deer. We went up one evening and ate, roasted marshmallows, had horseback rides and rides on the four wheeler. It was super fun for me because Jake came home for that weekend and I was just so happy to see him after being apart for 2 weeks.

Here is Weston with his "buddy Tate!" He loved him so much and has been jumping all over me today missing his playmate. It really is cool to have an UNCLE so close to your own age.

Sorry the pictures uploaded horribly today and I too lazy to fix them. So here they are out of order...big time! This is Troy's fiance Lauren Call. Isn't she so cute! She is my "new BFF" as we called each other. It is so fun to have someone joining our family who is as crazy as myself. She invited me dress shopping with her and I got to go. It was a long day, but super fun. This isn't her dress, but I didn't want to give it away...Troy will have to be surprised.

This is what Aubrey did whenever Tina was near...she absolutely loved her new niece Melrose Smith. Sigh......

Another picture of Lauren and Troy. He sprained his ankle and was stuck to the couch for a couple of days. I was kind of glad because it made the couple stay around and talk to me all day.

So onto TAYNE AND BROOKE! It was so exciting to be in Idaho this year. Not only is Thomas married to Ali and he wasn't last year, but Tayne was recently engaged and Troy got engaged while I was home. Yeah!!!! Tayne and Brooke have been off and on for two years now and I have always wanted them to be on....so this is great news at our house. I love Tayne so much and I am thrilled he is marrying the girl of his dreams. I can't wait to get to know Brooke more, but I love her already.

Here are just some pictures of life in Idaho. Chilling outside (loved the weather.)

Fishing under the bridge.
Camping....

I love this picture. It any cousin who just happened to be around and Grandma's house that day...make it big, they are just so cute! Tate. Aubrey. Jacobie. Ronan. Weston. Crew. Bryce. Hendrix. Darrin and Spencer. Riding horses with Grandpa.

Aubrey and Karlee got along great. Aubrey honestly only had one night where she was missing her dad. Other than that she just giggled and played most of the time. It was so easy as a mother and I am having a hard time adjusting back to being home here in AZ. Just not enough to do I guess.

Here is a pic of Troy....Love him!

Aubrey and Rachael. Such a sweet girl. She even cut her hair like Aubrey just to match. Then she cried the next day because she really wanted it long and was just trying to be the same. Poor thing. It looks super cute on her though.

Ok. There are probably plenty more pictures to blog about...but blogger is being dumb and I am tired. Highlights of Idaho are: late night talks with people. Going dress shopping with both brides and finding the perfect dress for each. Time on the River. Seeing Tina's new house (love it!!!!) Seeing Tina in general. Love her!!! Seeing old friends. Hearing Weston tell me about shooting his first bb gun. Watching Spencer learn to eat at a stool on grandma's bar. Being reminding of who I am...where I come from and why it is so important to teach my children about this wonderful gospel. I love my parents and always marvel at the Spirit that was and still is in our home. Sigh......Miss you guys already and the hardest part was leaving and saying...."See ya next year."

Angel's Game

Not much to say other than my sweet husband wanted to take us to an Angels game while we were in California. It was really a great night. I love that Jake works so hard to plan and create memories with me and the kids. My favorite part was probably just seeing Weston and his Dad totally enjoying the game. I actually probably preferred the Fish Taco's and frozen yogurt beforehand....:)

Oh...and the weather. It was beautiful that night.

DisneyLand!

I don't even know what to write about Disneyland. I am always so tired and worn out by the time we get home. I think my favorite part this year was that we did some more of the relaxed rides. My and Weston's favorite was riding in a Canoe in the Rivers of the World. It was a real Canoe and it was easy and relaxing and cool.

I loved being there with Mari and Norm and Sue. It made is easier and more laid back at the same time. I also just loved seeing the fireworks show at the end. It was AWESOME! I even cried a little. The worst part were the breakdowns and the shuttle getting back to our car. I am glad we went and glad we went for free...thanks to the Disney Give a day Get a day program. :)

More Vacation

Silly Aubrey Jean. She loved the beach and really loved being with her Grandma Sue for a whole SEVEN DAYS!!!!

I just loved this pictures. Kids can eat SAND like I can eat Ripples Sour Cream and Chedder potato chips.....with NO regrets!

Newport Beach

We spent most of our days in Newport at the Beach. I just love being there. I love the water, the wind, the sand, the food and the company. Spencer was SUPER cute this year and Aubrey and Weston just disappear and play. Jake rented a two seater bikes one of the days and that was so fun to see him and his dad peddling along the boardwalk. Highlights: Sue's yummy homemade bread and the donut shop we found. Spencer and Weston and the Sand Crabs...see video below. The company (Aunt Connie and her clan....love that family) Feeling cute in my swim suit and thinking Jake looked HOT in his. I know this is silly, but usually I feel self conscious and Jake keeps his shirt on :)

Newport Temple

We went to Sacrament meeting in Newport on Sunday and it was right near the new Newport Temple. We walked the grounds after and enjoyed the beautiful scenary.

Girls Night Out!

So once again Aubrey and myself had us a little "Girl Time!" Today we went to Aubrey M.'s school play: Annie Jr. It was so cute. She was Daddy Warbucks and it was just fun to go see her and other friends of ours in the play. Here is pic of the group of us who went to support!

Later Aubbers and I went to Panda Express, an Aubrey Favorite!

Love this girl. Loved spending time with her getting ready too! Doesn't she look marvelous!

What?

Weston...can you please pick up the cereal Spencer threw...

"you borned him mom...you do it!"

And summer begins....

Tracy is finally back from her cruise...so Spencer has re-united with his love...Ella, and I have my "bestie" back! We have been swimming 3 times and school just got out on Wed. Plus, we are going 2 more times today... Birthday parties!I love this picture of Aubrey... she is such a stinkin cute little girl. Love her!And here we have me and my Miamaids in the ward getting ready for an adventure hike up and Picacho Peak. We went today and left at 5:30 am. I haven't done something like this in a real long time and I loved it. I just can't wait for summer.

So I always have loved summer and the change it brings. Now that I have school age children I get to enjoy that again. When I started working after college, I felt like summers came and went and their wasn't enough change. You know what I mean. There just wasn't really any variety from April till Oct....just same. Even when the kids were small, the months blurred into one another...especially here in AZ where the seasons hardly change. Anyway, before even in high-school and college I still worked in my summers, but I would move home and still get the "change..." the fun, the variety! So anyway, I feel like summers are finally back now that Aubrey is in school, I feel the "difference" when she is home and I just love it! I am not talking about vacations and stuff, just the day to day differences. No homework, less structure, bbq's and such. I feel bad for my husband cause he still doesn't get that for him. Sorry babe and I still gonna just enjoy this summer with our kids!

So for the summer 2010 I am going to make it even better than before. I am going to be concious and focus more on the fun. So my resolution is this: not clean too much and to be more laid back and just enjoy this time we have together. We can't wait for NEWPORT with the Watkins' family and of course Disneyland (thank you Disney give away.) Then 3 whole weeks with my Peterson family....Yeah! SUMMER.....HERE I COME!!!! (by the way...last 3 weeks of July I will be in Idaho...hope to see you my friends.)

NO FEAR

Weston: "Mom me and Drew have NO FEAR!"

Me: "OK cool...What do you mean?"

Weston: "I am not scared of anything;...

not even, vampires

werewolves

bees

scorpions

blood

ghosts

dead spiders

"broken heads off"

fire

black widows

BLACK BLOOD

dead piranhas or even

...eyeballs popped out."

Me: "Wow buddy... you really have NO FEAR."