viva las vegas

I have NEVER liked las vegas.  On the way to Disneyland we stopped there to get a quick bite, we made it as quick as possible so we could get back in the car and get out of there asap.  When I heard that was where our family reunion was going to be, I was less than thrilled and planned on going just out of duty to support the family.  But we honestly had such a great time, that I kept wondering if I were really in Vegas at all.
We went to the Nevada Railroad museum, Hoover Dam, for a hike up Red Rock Canyon, China Town for dim sum, the Ethel M. Chocolate factory tour and swam till we were permanently pruny. It was a great vacation. So if you are heading down to that area and need some fun ideas, I definitely recommend trying these sites.


cactus gardens at the chocolate factory

we went to the park and made icecream in ziplock baggies, it was so fun.

no sight of harpies, whew.

Lydia & Holland found a shared love of splashing

great action shot of Reid & Wesley

fiona & lydia LOVED this seahorse in front of Ceasars

what I'm eating at this very moment....

I was never a strawberry fan until I was introduced to this amazing combination
strawberries, sour cream & brown sugar
it also works really well with bananas when strawberries aren't in season.

dip your strawberry in the sour cream and then in the brown sugar,
honestly it is delicious.  would I lie to you?  never.

school's out!!

the boys are excited to be out of school.  wesley did a great job this year at the first grade program, he even did the chicken dance like a pro

ian graduated from kindergarten with flying colors.  i love this picture.  fiona was so excited for him and he tried really hard to look like he wasn't pleased with her affection.  they have a funny relationship.

ian and grandma.  what lucky kids to get grandma as their kindergarten teacher.  fiona and lydia can't wait for their turn.

Who I look up to

Today we had a combined Relief Society and Priesthood meeting and as I listened to the teacher I started thinking about the great people I have had the blessing to come into my life.  So many good people have blessed my life and helped me to make it through many difficult trials or uncertain moments in my life.  My cousin Ashley has always been one of my heroes with her great sense of humor and kindness to others even when they don't quite fit in.  After high school I met Melanie and she is amazing at making others feel like they have great worth, she's also so much fun.  On my mission I remember one companion that NEVER said anything unkind about anyone.  I was amazed by this talent and have tried to develop it in myself (it's harder than it looks).  Now in our current ward I have met an incredible peacemaker that helps everyone work together and feel like what they have done is contributing in some way.  I could go on and on mentioning so many people and I hate the thought of leaving anyone out.  I have been so blessed by so many and their good works. 
As I thought of all these good people, I also started thinking about the amazing men and women in the Book of Mormon that have been an inspiration to me.  I hope to raise children like the stripling warriors who have unfailing testimonies to see them through the dangers ahead.  I strive to have a willing spirit and do all the Lord will ask of me like Nephi.  I want to strengthen my faith & hope to be like that of Mormon's & Moroni's as they worked to protect the records for at that time an unimaginable goal.
There is so much good to be done and I want to be a part of it.

first tooth

Ian finally lost his first tooth.  He was so excited.  That night he even caught his first fish at their fishing class.  When he went to bed he told us it was 'THE BEST DAY EVER!!'

being a positive influence

Yesterday we had the greatest lesson in Relief Society.  Jodi prepared a lesson about being a positive influence and the power we have to lead others.  She shared a clip she found on youtube about the influence we have on others.  It had me laughing and thinking about my own influence and how I should wield such great power.

honestly, the cutest kiddos on the planet....

(even when they're pouting)
I made the boys bowties and I just couldn't get a great picture of them, but believe me they were handsome.  I found lots of different tutorials for the bowties, but this is the one that I liked the best.  It seemed to take the least amount of material (big concern for me at the time) and was really easy.  I made 3 of them in just a few hours.

easter celebrations

our easter was really fun. we do most of our fun stuff on saturday so that sunday is more subdued and reverant. i wanted to share some of the pics that i got from our easter hunt at grandpa and grandma denie's house. we had a great time.

grandma trying to line up the troops

grandma has amazing powers over these guys, look at how she got all 8 to sit still for a picture BEFORE the egg hunt. 

she went right for the chocolate

ian even found a christmas bulb, what great hunting skills and wicked fast.  watch out cousins he's going to smoke ya next year ;-)

she was anxious to eat the candy

he was a little upset that he didn't get as many as ian this year, but he didn't do too shabby

fourwheeling with dad

grandma took the girls for a ride

she's a crazy driver

fun with aunt alli

instead of easter dresses I made an easter bonnet headband found on sewing in no man's land blog.  she's very inspiring.  I had found the girls dresses last fall for $6 and tucked them away for easter.  i also made a headband for me and repurposed a dress that I had found at a thrift store.  I think they all turned out great and I'm planning on getting a family pic in them.  I also made bowties for the boys and Austin.  They look so handsome, loved it!  so when I get a pic I'll share.  I just had to show off the girls because I was able to catch them Sunday morning before church.

our dog, named scooter

I'd really like to change his name.  Maybe something like burt, or barsky, even dervish have crossed my mind, but it's too late now.  we're stuck with scooter.  I hate yelling that name when he's taken off down the street, most of the time I just let him run and wait for him to come back in his own good time (which is usually about 5 minutes, he's not much for adventure).
We've had him since January and he's really been fun.  He has a great tasmanian devil trick that we make him do for entertaining company (it's probably his only trick.)  The kids adore him, zero not so much but they get along.  He loves to lounge and I got a great shot of him and Ian watching cartoons together.  We think he's going to fit in well around here.

spring break fun

boy, did we get lucky.  we actually had really good weather for spring break.  so we took advantage of it by playing outside as much as possible.  we even spent an entire day at the zoo.

monday i was able to get together with a companion from my mission.  it was so good to sit and talk, i never really knew her well on our mission (that was entirely my fault) and i'm so glad that i was able to rectify that a little.  i'm not too impressed with my hair in this pic, but i decided to show it any way.  thanks meagan for visiting with us, we had so much fun!

wednesday we played at the zoo:

An Austin is faithful 100%

slow and steady win the race

my cute little bunny

aren't they handsome!!

in the reptile house we saw a tortoise nosedive off a large rock.  one of the zoo workers had to come set him back upright, she said he's a bit adventurous and frequently gets into trouble.  we actually got the whole thing on video.  it was quite exciting.

two of the cutest little oxpeckers you'll ever see

ian has a new love for peacocks and insisted on riding the peacock carriage on the carousel even though it didn't move, he was willing to share though.

i HATE this spider thing at the playground.  way too realistic for my taste.  my girls obviously didn't take after me, and now i have nightmares of this scene.

friday we went to the discovery museum in salt lake.  we were so lucky to meet up with dawnelle, grandpa craig and grandma rosie.  we're always so excited to see them.

this is fiona the pony and ian the goat at farmland

wesley wanted to be a bumblebee in the theatre area, he loved having a stinger

lydia could have spent the whole time at the water area.  and i really need to remember to bring her a change of clothes from now on.

we really had a great week and hope that you all enjoyed your spring breaks as well