Update

I'm having a hard time locating some of the pictures from the summer. Over the summer we went camping, water skiing at Bear Lake, mountain biking in Sun Valley, and the girls went to Yellowstone. If I had more time to look for the pictures they would be posted.
Rylee is now in 3rd grade and is such a great student. I can't go to the library enough to have books for her to read. I'm pretty sure she reads faster than me now. She just finished a season of soccer and loved it. She will also be performing in the Nutcracker with her ballet school in November. It's been time consuming but something she has talked about doing for a few years.
Sophie started preschool at Ms Georgia's and loves it. She loves learning and playing with all the friends. She has also learned to ride her bike without training wheels and is always asking to go outside to ride. She played her 1st season of soccer and had so much fun. She thought it was so fun to have the same soccer coach as Rylee. Some days she would play and other days she just wanted to make sure we were watching her. She also decided to cut her own hair because she wanted bangs. She has a shorter hair cut with bangs and it looks super cute on her.
Paige turned two this month and is starting the lovely tantrums. Jeff and I will fight over snuggling with her. I think we both know the days of little ones snuggling could be over.
As soon as I can find those pics I'll have to take the time to post them. As for now this will do.

Summer

Summer is happening to us. We are staying very busy. More posts to come when school is back in.

The only thing Rylee has wanted for about 2 years is a backpack. Every time we would go to REI she would try on packs and ask when it was her turn to get something she wanted off the "list". For her birthday we were able to get her a sweet kid's backpack and she and Jeff went backpacking overnight in May. It had rained most of the day and she was still excited to go. Jeff had purchased a new tent that day and both of them were itching to get into the mountains. They came home happy and wanting to go again. It was a successful trip and a very good dad/daughter bonding time.



My niece made this nice tiara for Sophie. It is actually the flowers off of a chive plant. It has nice aromas.

I just love this picture of Paige.

Zion National Park

We took a trip to Zion National Park in June.
We hiked Angel's landing because one of the canyons we were going to do was snowed in, yep snowed in, in June. The following day we did a slot canyon with a couple rappels and some swimming. That weekend the weather was unusually cool and the high was about 85 degrees. The swimming holes were freezing cold and we did a little bit of shivering to stay warm. As soon as we got to the car the clouds let loose and started raining. We were glad to be out of the canyon and in a warm car.



This is my sister Ashley and her friend Kat from Germany, after finishing the canyon doing some shivering. She is a physicist and we couldn't help but sing a song from Big Bang theory. Good thing she watches it and likes it. I think we made her weekend by singing to her.



Going through the slot canyon.

Anniversary

Today Jeff and I are celebrating our 11 years of marriage. With the craziness of this week, we'll be able to spend some time together thanks to my sister Ashely. We took our trip to Kauai to celebrate 10 years and that was the best anniversary present I've had next to the Grand America Hotel stay and going to Phantom of the Opera. Today, I was reminising of the Friends episode that Chandler and Monica were celebrating an anniversary and Monica got tickets to Las Vegas. She would say, "Happy Plane-anniversary" or "Happy Anna-vegary". I think that was funny. Happy Anniversary to us.

Baptism Pictures

Baptism

I haven't wanted to take the time to make a post. I'm not very good about loading my pictures on my computer regularly and I should. I've been waiting to blog so I'd have pictures, but there aren't any today. Just imagine in your mind a cute 8 yr old with her dad and family dressed in all white on her baptism day. Do you see the picture in your mind. Almost a month ago Rylee was baptized. What a special day it was for her and our family. We are so glad she made the choice to be baptized and hope that she will use this experience as a stepping stone to further develop her testimony. I know how much the gospel has blessed my life and can't imagine not having the testimony I have. The comfort I've felt, the confidence I've gained, and the experiences I've had to learn the tender mercies of the Lord have each strengthened my testimony.

More Kauai Pictures

Viewpoint from lighthouse


Wailua Falls

Pictures from Kalalau Trail

Kauai

This is on my most favorite beach we went, Ke'e beach at the end of the road in Kauai. The background is the Na'Pali Coast, which we hiked about 7 of the 10 miles. At this beach we saw 3 sea turtles. On our catamaran trip we saw spinner dolphins, bottle nose dolphins, and a humpback whale. I tried to load pictures but it wasn't working for me today so more pictures to come.

Grandpa

My grandpa used to always have a diet coke and a day old or older chocolate chocolate doughnut pretty regularly. You know the chocolate cake doughnut with chocolate frosting. Grandpa would buy the day old doughnuts and they would be really dry and you'd have to chase it with the diet coke to get it to go down. Those will always remind me of him. For some reason the last week or so all I have wanted was a chocolate chocolate doughnut. Today I was ready to have it with a diet coke, but I kept telling myself that I am trying to stay healthy. But after I was left with 3 children I couldn't resist to at least get my doughnut. So tonight I strategically rented a movie from the red box at Bowman's and went to pick it up about 6:45 pm. Then I went to the doughnut case and found only one chocolate chocolate doughnut left. I snagged it and decided I better not go home without getting everyone one. Then I wandered the store picking up a few items to arrive at the checkout about 7:05, which meant 1/2 price doughnuts to beat. When I arrived home I slowly devoured my doughnut and remembered how delicious they were and was thinking of grandpa the whole time. All I was missing was my diet coke.

Bursitis

Bursitis it is not tendinitis but still an issue to clear up. I got a cortisone injection and will hopefully be back to working out again next week.

Dumb Foot

I am really mad. My dumb foot is not feeling well. It has been about 3 weeks that I have been semi-nursing my right heel. After some research last night I want to say I have achilles tendonitis, but the doctor appointment I made next week will let me know if I am wrong or right. I am mad because I should be training for Ragnar and even yet the 22 mile backpacking trip coming soon. So far after every child I've sustained an athletic injury; knee surgery, broken wrist, and now a dumb foot issue. I should have seen it coming but I didn't and I just want the pain to go away. I love to run and it is hard to be sitting here when I could be outside running or even walking. I'll nurse it a while longer because it's not worth the added pain and injuring myself more just for instant gratification. I need to keep in mind I have myself and 4 others to take care of. Thanks for listening.

Mama bargains

So I love this website called Steep and Cheap. Jeff and I have found some really great deals on outdoor everything like sunglasses, tents, shirts, socks, shoes, you name it. They post a deal, usually 45+% off, and when they are sold out or the allotted time is out the bargain is gone. I recently found a website similar to this but with baby bargains. http://mamabargains.com/ They have some good deals and some really cute stuff. So if you are ever bored and need a new website to visit and like great deals on baby stuff go there. They occasionally have purses and kids toys too.

Christmas Day

Since I was first introduced to the Mottishaw's and found out about their tradition of skiing Christmas morning, I was ready to fully embrace a new tradition for my family. We told some family and friends about our plan and we had some of them come with us. It was such a great way to celebrate Christmas together.

Preschool

This year Sophie is in a neighborhood preschool. She is the only girl with 5 boys. Each of the mom's takes a turn to teach the little ones 1 day a week for 2 hours. The 1st time was torture. I didn't help that Paige was transitioning from 2 naps to 1 nap and not easy to care for. Well, I have to say I survived another turn yesterday and loved it. I threw the lessons together Monday afternoon including anything that started with the letter H and a few things that included the number 8. We did activities, sang songs, read some of my favorite childrens books, and laughed around the table. It was a success and I'm not dreading the next turn to teach.

Trying to be healthy

So I'm really trying hard to be the super healthy person I was before having children and having kid snacks and food around the house. I made homemade granola the other night and forgot how I totally love it. I love to eat it plain and especially with some yogurt. I'm trying some new yogurt, Activia. I like it, it has less calories than most yogurts and doesn't have aspartame in it. I also found yogurt for babies by the same brand and my little one loves it. I have also tried some new bread my mom introduced me to. It is called Sandwich Thins, multi grain bread by Oroweat. It isn't the cheapest bread, but it is pretty healthy, 5 g of fiber and 100 calories. It reminds me of pita bread but better. I've had it now with tuna, PB and honey, and chicken salad sandwich. Next time we go backpacking we're going to take this bread because it is already thin and can't be smashed any more.

This was our fall fun day. Everyone taking a turn going off the jump.

Okay, so it's been a long time. I love reading my friend sdays blog and I should be better at post stuff on my blog. Maybe I'll turn over a new leaf or something. So, our family had a great Christmas. The girls got a trampoline to only realize that it would be spring before they could actually use it. I got a guitar and am hoping to get some books so I can actually learn how to play it. I've always wanted to learn how to play but my mom said I had to learn to play the piano. By the time I got around to learning to play the piano life took over and no guitar was ever in sight. Now I have the chance, I just hope I will find the time. I'm hoping in this new year I'll be able to have more time to do more things. Wish me luck on blogging more I hope it won't take 3 months again.