Hiking

I decided recently that I wanted to get out and take the boys hiking a bunch this summer. We used to frequent the mountains when I was a kid and it was so fun. I did a google search one night and Cascade Springs came up as a great place to take kids hiking. I've heard of the place before, so I decided that sounded like a good first hike. I asked my sister if she wanted to go with me. So we planned a day and did it. I assumed it was in american fork canyon. I honestly had no idea that it would be between AF and Provo canyons. And I actually didn't know that the Alpine Loop was a road connecting the two. So off we went. I was nervous about driving up there because I've never even been there let alone drove there. And my nervousness was not unfounded. We came across a sign that said "flood zone" or something along those lines. I saw that there was a little bit of water across the road and thought maybe they were being cautious. Uh, no. They meant it, as we found out about a mile further. The road was covered by water. The water was coming so fast down the mountain that it was going over the road instead of under it. I was scared. Emily was scared. I parked the car and got out and looked...then Em got out to look. she walked through it and it was about 18" deep. I don't know the physics involved with driving through heavy passing water. So I wasn't sure if I drove through it would I hydroplane, or would I be fine, or would the water sweep us right off the road. So while we sat there fretting, a truck drove through it and a mini van drove through it. I know my car is lower to the ground than the mini van, so I didn't feel any comfort seeing them drive through. We decided to be brave and try it. Down stream it wasn't deep water, just trees. So if we did get swept off the road we wouldn't drown...we'd just crash the car into a tree or two or three. I backed up a little and then off we went. We made it safely. Thankfully that was the only terror, i mean, excitement we had

Here we are just before our journey begins.
The kids were so fascinated by the water and everything....Oh and sorry for the crumy shots...my camera is still non functioning since our trip to CA.

If you look at the picture below...there is a spec of something where the trail forks. That's a squirrel. I couldn't get very good pictures of it with my phone. We saw two squirrels.
If you look at the base of the grass you'll see a little garder snake laying there. We saw three snakes there.
And we saw big red aunts. THe kids were terrified of them...Asa wanted me to kill it.

Coen touching the plants after I told him a hundred times not to.
we pooped him right out. Every bench we came across he sat down.
And that concludes my pictures of our trip. We decided to be adventurous and we continued the loop down through provo canyon. Ironically it took us less time driving through provo canyon than it did through AF canyon. We had a great time, and the kids enjoyed the mountains. We saw a Doe, two butterflies, two squirrels, three snakes, brown trout (not to be confused with a "Utah Brown"...we didn't see any of those floating about) deer poop, and on the way out we saw only one bird.

learning our letters

Asa has come obsessed with learning to spell all of our names. It's been so cute to watch him try to hard to remember. He has done a really good job remembering. One day he decorated the deck all on his own with all of our names. It's fun to watch him learn.

something new

Months ago I came across a person's blog who designs furniture....I bookmarked her and check her blog everyday. Then recently I decided I'd pick a project to build...and did it. I completed this little picnic table set for the boys all by myself...aside from my little helpers below. I made all the cuts, picked out the boards and screwed them together all by myself! Now, don't come over looking too close...they aren't perfect! But I'm pretty happy that I was able to do this on my own.

I decided in order to reduce costs I would select whatever color Lowes had in their oops paint section. It happened to be this fun bright red and gray. Thankfully I decided to paint the top gray...it took me like 6 coats of red on the legs and that would have gotten OLD FAST for the whole thing. The boys have been so involved in this process. They have sat and watched me the whole process. The painting they had to do, though I told them I had to do the red alone...I could picture the red paint EVERYWHERE!
Anyway, here it is all finished. We had lunch out on it today. It was a fun project...but I'll never make another one haha.

Idaho

A couple of weekends ago we got to go to Idaho to spend a day or two with my grandparents. My Grandma's brother passed away, so Dad, Eamonn, me and the boys headed up for the weekend. It was a great time. Dad serenaded us with one of his mountain dulicmers,

We blew bubbles while being serenaded
Coen was scared of the dog...and allowed Grandpa to keep him safe.
Asa wasn't too scared....
My grandma has this old tiny house in the back yard that was the house her parents lived in when they moved to Cassia County Idaho. They went from the first house with plumbing in South Utah county, to a tiny tiny one room house in Idaho. Grandma has been collecting cool old trinkets and keeps them out there. We love to go look at it every time we visit.
I always cherish the visits we have in Idaho.

Nine years and counting....

It's amazing how time flies. Last Wednesday was our 9th wedding anniversary. I often think back on our life together and I realize how great it is. We have had plenty of ups and downs throughout the years, and it has only made us stronger and more unified. We have a great friendship and marriage. I know I can tell him anything and he'll give me honest feedback (whether I want the feedback or not). We have a good time just being together. Our personalities are pure opposites, but we love and respect each other's differences. He is my best friend and I thank my lucky stars that he's mine forever.

Mothers Day 2010

It was a great Mothers Day.

Cody surprised me with one of these. I mean yes, I told him I desired one, but I didn't know he'd run right out and buy it. But boy am I grateful! I love it.

We got together with my family at my sister, Emily, 's house. We had a great time and a great visit. We had a pink, navy, khaki theme for Easter. We couldn't make a picture happen then, so we got dressed up again.

I can't imagine my life without these two precious boys. It is so great to be a mother and to see these two progress and grow. I love every moment of it. Even when they drive me batty. I can take a step back and I thank the Lord that I have them. And seriously, how can you not love a face full of whip cream!

Disneyland 2010

Wow, what a week! IT was so much fun! We left Monday and met up with the Sorensen's, Wrights, Francom's and Tammy and Tony in Vegas. We ate at the Rainforest Cafe and then headed down to Whiskey Petes in Primm. We spent the night there and had quite the fright the next morning. Asa was MIA. We were looking up and down halls, stairwells, back side of the hotel, casino, lobby. We even had security helping us out. They were going to pull up the Elevator cameras to see if he'd gotten on one. After searching for maybe 30 minutes I thought someone had to have him in their room. Some preditor saw the stinker leave the room and grabbed him. I hadn't really hit hysteria at this point, but Cody did. We looked high and low for him. The interesting fact of the matter was that the door was chained. Unless he was a rat and could squeeze through the door opening with the chain on, he couldn't have fit. We had looked under the table, cody through the beds apart, not in the bathroom, not anywhere we could find. So when I was becoming more on the panicked side....wondering where he is, if he's safe or is someone violating him etc....I get a phone call "we've found Asa....he was in the room". The little stinker was hiding in this little nook, under our suitcase that was sitting on the little rack thing that was in there. Talk about relief. Then it hit me and the tears started flowing. Instantly I was thanking Heavenly Father for the fact that my Asa was safe, not lost and not being violated. So we got ready and checked out to head to Californ-I-A! I was not myself for the whole 3+ hour drive from Primm to Anaheim. As we got closer to Disneyland, the feeling of trauma subsided. I felt like that scare we had was to help keep us all on alert and mindful of all the little kids that was in the group. We made it to Disneyland/California Adventure around 3pm Tuesday. I can't even put into words the kind of fun we had! First there was rain, then there was sun, then there was cold. We made the best of it and had a great time.

We found all the characters we were looking for, except Donald and Daisy.

Asa was glued to his "other Grandma and Grandpa" Pam and Dennis Sorenson (Tony's parents). He went on his first ride (and many others) with them. They were so kind to just take him in as one of their own. Below, Coen and I are headed into the "It's a small world". Pam said that by the end of the ride Asa was back there singing the whole song. I don't doubt it!
Asa was just barely the right height to go on most of the big rides! He loved the roller coasters! He rode each of them with his hands way up like this. He didn't care that he was sliding all over the place in the seat. He said his favorite ride was "Daisy's rollercoaster" in Toon Town.

Crazy hat!



Friday night Cody and I and the other adults were able to hit a MLB game. It was Angels vs Yankees! I'd never been to one, and we were grateful for the opportunity. Pam watched all the little kids so we could all go and enjoy ourselves. It was really cold, but the scolding hot chocolate warmed me up for a while. We filled up on peanuts and hot dogs...what else do you eat at a ball game?? (I didn't take this picture, but it was so awesome I had to borrow it)

We also hit the beach Friday. I thought my kids would be afraid of the water, but they weren't really. They didn't attempt to get out in it, but they had a ton of fun playing around on the beach and in the shallow "sink holes" that were in the beach. The weather was still a little cold, but not as bad as it had been.

We had a great time and were so grateful the Sorensen clan let us tag along to their family vacation! Thanks to everyone for watching Asa's toes the whole time and helping us keep them all safe! This was a trip I will cherish my whole life.

Injured warrior

It started Thursday....The soldier was attempting to climb up the solid wood barstool to retrieve a soda from the counter. Then alleged barstool came tumbling down atop of the soldier. He was instantly wounded severely. The barstool struck the soldier across both big toes.

battle wounds.
Oh you'd like a closer look of the nasty one
oh and the x-ray. As a result of the barstool attack, soldier received a broken left toe in two places. Dr removed the toenail and administered 4 stitches.
Soldier is recovering in the comfort of his home being waited on by his Momma.

Easter

We had baskets

candy action
the egg hunt (a couple of them)
Pretty boys
and matching cousins
It was a great holiday! We had a bbq for lunch with an egg hunt at Grandma and Grandpa's then a huge family dinner Sunday night with a "dunked bird" aka-deep fried turkey. We had an easter egg hunt in the back yard with all the cousins and it was just a great time. I want to say it was the best Easter ever! The kids loved the easter egg hunt and the treasures inside. My sister and her husband helped the easter bunny with some little cheap trinkets in a bunch of the eggs and it was awesome.

Brothers

When I found out about 3 years ago that we'd be expecting another little boy, my heart was full of joy. I couldn't wait to be the mother two precious and special sons, that Heavenly Father was so generous to let them be mine. I had the hopes at that time that they would become best pals. And they are. Every picture I take of these two, Asa always has his arm around Coen (without being asked). They hug and love each other all day....well and wrassle and fight too. But at the end of the day they are best pals. I hope they stay this way.

I love that I can dress them the same and they think it's fun

And that they can sport the same haircuts and know they are cute

And that they can be silly cowboys

"Sometimes being a brother is better than being a SuperHero"