Summer 2014 | Hikes Among other Things

It was so good to be reunited with Scott after our trip to New Mexico.  

The kids missed him and I did too! 

The day after we arrived, we headed up to Little Cottonwood Canyon.  

Bell's Canyon was in my bucket list for cool hikes, so we headed up there.  

I'm always up for a fun adventure with my family! 

The hike was an adventure to say the least.  

We  made it to the beautiful reservoir and really wanted to make it up to the upper falls.  We hiked for 2 hours and it kept getting steeper and steeper.  The kids were doing great, so we kept going.  People told us, 'oh, just another half hour to the falls'...half an hour turned into another 2 hours.  We decided to stop because it was already 4pm. and didn't want to run out of light.  It took us another 2 hours to get down.  We were all a bit disappointed that we never made it to the falls.  

But we have these pictures to prove that it's always a good time when we are together as a family: 

******

Scott had to work on Father's Day this year, so I made a yummy dinner and we met up with him at the VA.  The VA food, according to Scott is the worst! So he requested some steak, potatoes and salad.  It was a nice day and I'm glad the kids got to spend a few minutes with this awesome dad they have.  They are so blessed to have Scott, he is such an amazing dad!  

Our primary gave the kids these to fill out.  Brielle's got wet so it's a little hard to read.  

1. My Dad's job is a doctor.

2.  My Dad's favorite Primary song is 'Called to Serve'.

3.  My dad loves to eat at Olive Garden.

4.  When my Dad is alone he likes to do notes.

5.  With my Dad I love to ski, camp and love.

6. I love my Dad because he's my dad. 

Scott and I couldn't stop laughing at #4.  

He sometimes comes home and finishes up notes from work.  

In Brielle's little mind he actually 'likes' to do them!  

This one was Braden's and I particularly love the drawing of him and Scott.  

We are so blessed to have Scott in our lives.  I couldn't have asked for a better father to my children. Glad we got to celebrate that he is a good dad.  

******

I love the primary in our ward.  There are so many fun kids in there and the presidency plans such cute activities for them.  This time, they planned a field trip to Temple Square.  

These two girls are so cute, they got baptized on the same day! 

Cute Savannah with the little 2 year olds.

Scott had the day off, so he was able to join us.  

It was a beautiful day and we feel so lucky to be so close to our Church's headquarters. 

These two making the same exact face! 

Scott has a picture of him, his mom and his two brothers sitting in front of this fountain when he was probably about Brooke's age.  For a long time, I looked at that picture and wondered where it was taken.  Until one day, soon after we had moved here, we were walking in Temple Square and I realized that this was the same fountain on the picture 30 years earlier.  

It's kind of cool to see Scott with his own kids in the same place.  

As we were heading to our car, we were walking with our friend Stephanie, who was meeting her aunt for lunch.  Her aunt is one of President Monson's secretaries.  She is the nicest, kindest lady.  She invited Stephanie to come inside one of the Church's administration buildings, where President  Monson's office is.  Stephanie and her aunt were kind enough to invite us to join them.  So our whole family got to walk around the building and be in President Monson's office.  What an opportunity! It was an interesting experience being there and seeing his things and be in his space.  We all felt a sense of reverence while we were there.  Scott pointed out how cool it was that the office was really beautifully crafted, the walls were beautiful, the ceiling was beautiful, the paintings, but everything else that belongs to the prophet was simple.  He had his scriptures carefully set on top of his desk and they were marked and worn.  He had pictures of his family and gifts that people had given to him.  It was such a cool experience.  With Stephanie's aunt's permission, the kids sat on his big chair..  Brielle couldn't contain her excitement.  She said, "I am never washing this dress again, it has President Monson's DNA!!!" It was so funny and sweet, I think she understand that President Monson is a special man!  

Braden also got a turn.  

We were so grateful to have been able to experience this as a family.  

It made the field trip, that much more exciting! 

******

Jana and I took our kids on a fun hike to Hidden Falls.

It was the perfect little hike.  

I love how well all of these kids get along! 

We had been planning to take these kids hiking for a while and had to cancel plans because of rain.  We decided to try again, and that day was cloudy with a chance of rain.  We decided to venture up there anyway.  We didn't realize it was going to be cold too! We didn't bring jackets but the kids were good sports and took turns warming up with the only blanket we had.  

It really was the perfect little hike with a little waterfall at the end.  

We had some yummy snack and enjoyed the beauty around us. 

We had to take a picture of us! 

We always have pictures of the kids and none of just me and Jana! 

I love that girl! 

At the end of the hike, it really started to come down and 

they got creative and used the blanket as shelter!:) 

Funny kids! 

******

Another day, we headed to Millcreek Canyon with our neighbor friends. 

This time, it was a sunny day. 

Millcreek Canyon has got to be one of my favorite places to go explore here in Utah.  

I'm so grateful to live in such a beautiful place where we can get to the mountains and explore in less than 15 minutes.  I can definitely see why people who come to Utah, stay here.  The beauty of the mountains is like no other! 

Summer 2014 | New Mexico Trip

The Monday after school got out, the kids and I went on a road trip to New Mexico to visit Jonathan and Daija.  It is a 7 hour drive and I was a little worried to make it by myself with 3 kids, but it went great.  We stopped for lunch at Moab and I let the kids run around at the park.  

We finished off the drive and I was so happy the kids did so well!

It was so nice of Jon and Daij to invite us to come visit them and invade their home for 5 days.  

We had a great time exploring Farmington.  

Brooke and Lizzie were so cute in their dress up clothes. 

We went to this cute little museum in town, it was a hot day but the kids had a fun time. 

Cute kids.

Durango, Colorado was just a drive away and it was a charming little town.  

That river was a little scary but the kids had fun getting their feet wet. 

The Southwest architecture was cool.  

On our last day, we went to Four Corners.  On our way there we stopped by this cool place called Shiprock.  It's this amazing rock in the middle of nowhere.  It was worth detouring for a few minutes.

  

Four Corners was also a place in the middle of nowhere.  

It was cool though and worth it to go.

We were in 4 states at the same time! 

It was a fun and exhausting little vacation.  

Thanks to Daij for all of the yummy meals, fun company, and 

Jon watching all 5 kids, so I can go to Daija's Zumba class, 

showing us around Farmington and letting us come stay with her family for a few days.  

June in Review | Part 1

After surviving night float, Scott had 2 weeks of wards and 2 MONTHS at the ICU.  It is so sad, but I think he was able to go to Church once or twice during that whole time and only had one day off a week! My mom came for a few days to be with us and the kids.  She is so helpful when she's here.  While she was here, we went to the Church Museum downtown.  I have been wanting to go see this exhibit there.  It was the perfect Sunday afternoon activity.  

Our Church does such a good job with that museum.  

It was so fun to be there and I LOVED the exhibit of paintings they had there. 

This one in particular, spoke to me.  

The name is "Climbing Mother".

I loved what it said in the description next to it: 

Such beautiful words. 

Now I want to own that painting. 

The Museum has this cute area for children.  

The kids loved every second and didn't want to leave. We spent a good hour there. 

There is an area with these Mexican costumes and you can dance two different Mexican traditional dances.  Brooke LOVED it and she was so sad when we told her it was time to go, even my mom joined them!:)

After the museum, we walked around Temple Square.  The Salt Lake Temple never gets old.  

It is so beautiful to look at and it is so peaceful walking around Temple Square.  The flowers are breathtaking and I just love taking the kids there.  

My mom attempted taking a picture of me with the kids and this is as good as it gets with three young children! 

When we got back, Scott had arrived from work and the kids and my mom put on a little Peruvian dance show for him.  I love the picture above even though it's blurry, I love my mom's smile, you can tell she loves life.  The kids learn to love their Peruvian roots through her and I love it.  

******

While the older kids were still in school, Brookie and I took Scott to the zoo on his day off.  I can't believe that I have had a zoo pass for two years now and that was the first time Scott had ever gone to the zoo here in Utah!!! All this man does is work, work, work. But we took advantage of the nice weather and headed to the zoo.  Every time I see the picture above, it cracks me up!!! Brooke was very interested in seeing her bandaid in the camera screen on my phone! Funny girl! 

Had to get a selfie with my love! 

The new giraffes are so cool. 

Brooke was mesmerized by the lions.  

It looks like there is no glass, but I promise there is one.

******

One night, Scott and I got home from the movies and I found this note on my desk:

I particularly love the 'yours truly' part.  Brielle is quite the little communicator.  She was inspired to do this, after seeing a picture of Macie and Brooklyn having facials.  Jana is one creative mom! 

Brielle asked so nicely, I had to make her dreams come true.

So, for FHE one night, the girls had facials and the boys made sling shot.  

It was the most fun, the girls and I have had in a while!!! 

So glad Brielle asked! 

******

The last day of school finally arrived! 

The left picture is the first day and the right one is the last day of school. 

Both of them look older and the biggest change is Brielle's hair.  

They had a great year and both of them got stellar report cards.  

They are good little students.  

It didn't take long for us to get into our summer fun.  

I had heard the Gallivan Center was cool, 

so I dragged everyone to go check it out on Scott's post call day.  

The water feature was awesome.  The place is in the middle of downtown Salt Lake.  

I loved this wall with some children art.  

Next, we'll have to go in the winter when they have their ice skating rink up. 

******

You can't beat $1 miniature golfing with the Friels! 

Always a good time with them...

We also met up with our good friends Holly and Preston! 

Can't believe Preston is 5 and is taller than Braden and almost as tall as Brielle. 

It was so good to see those guys and spend a rainy afternoon wondering around the Church museum catching up with Holly and letting the kids run around.  

I always appreciate when friends make the effort to keep in touch and Holly is good at that! 

What is summer without going to a bee's game.  

The Friels invited us to join them and we had a grand time.

******

These three make me happy when they get along! 

I love them! 

...and this is why I love this man who is my husband and the father of my children.  

Even though the ICU kicked his trash, working 30 hour shifts and coming home exhausted...

He'd come home and play legos with his kids. 

How lucky are these kids of mine?