Twin Falls Temple Open House

OK, I promise this is the last post of the night! (I've had a lot to catch up on!!) The kids and I were able to go to the Twin Falls Temple open house last week with my sister, brother, two of my SILs and their babies. It was such a neat experience. This temple is very special to my family because we lived in this area for over twenty years. This temple is amazing, to put it simply. It is absolutely beautiful. Paige and Austin were fascinated by it all and every time they saw a picture of Jesus (and there are too many to count), they would get excited and point at it. Austin would say, "Jesus" every time and Paige would say, "Mom, that's Jesus. He's my big brother!" It was so sweet to see and hear their sweet testimonies through out the whole tour. The best part, though, had to have been when we were walking through the Celestial room. Paige was being a normal 3-year-old through out the whole tour until we got to the Celestial room. She must have realized what a special place it was because she folded her arms and hardly said a word (which is very unlike her, as most of you know). The hosts thought it was the sweetest thing. It's amazing how much you can feel the Spirit there, even before it's dedicated and becomes a working temple. I'm hoping to be able to go again with Brian since he wasn't able to come with us due to a Scout camp. I want to experience it all with him! If any of you are in the area before August 16th, take the chance to go to the open house. It truly is amazing and is the House of the Lord!

From left to right: Bekah (Lance's wife), Julie (Keith's wife), Jaxson, Kandra, Sydnee, Paige, Austin and me

Paige and Austin by the fountain just outside of the temple. As soon as I took the picture, Austin threw Paige's arm off of him. Little stinker! :0)

Paige "posing" on the rocks by the temple. She was begging me to take pictures of her and was very sad when my batteries ran out!! :0)

Pop, goes the........

Enough said!

Pioneer Day Celebration

OK, this post is going to be a long one and there aren't any pics to break it up...Sorry!! (Kind of forgot the camera, silly me!!) This post is definitely more for my "blog-journal" but might be entertaining to a few of you! :0)

Anyway, last Saturday, our Stake had their annual Pioneer Day Celebration. My parents, brother, sis-in-law and nephew came down for it (and also to see my sis-in-law's parents). My mom and I woke up bright and early to run/walk in the 5K. This was the first 5K I've run since I was in the 6th grade! For those who know me, I'm not a long distance runner AT ALL, but I have some good friends here that talked me into training for it. I have to say that it was fun. I hurt my ankle a couple weeks before the race so I had to ease off of my training before the race, but it was feeling better so I was able to run. I finished 4th out of 10 women and my mom did a GREAT job and finished 7th. She even sprinted in at the finish line!! It was fun doing this and if I'm not pregnant by next year, I'll definitely be running in it again. :0)

After the race, my mom and I went home to pick up the kids and my dad (Brian had to work) and we went to the parade. Our ward always has a Root Beer Float float. It was a short parade, but the kids still got plenty of candy and I personally think that it was the perfect length! ;0) After the parade, we had a big lunch, where each Ward in the Stake is in charge of a certain type of food. Our ward does fried chicken, another ward does tacos, fries, hamburgers, watermelon, etc. Can I tell you... AWESOME. The food is just amazing and there are so many people there to help celebrate and honor the pioneers.

After we ate, they had some children races. They start out with the 1 year-olds. Austin was in this group and he was so funny. My parents were at the finish line and he just had a huge smile the whole time he was running to them. I was dumb and forgot my camera, but my friend, Gwen, took some pictures of him. When I get them from her, I'll post them. I can't wait to see them myself! They went through the 2 year-old boys and girls and then when it was Paige's turn to run with the other 3-year-old girls, she was on the ground crying and throwing a major hissy-fit. She was trying to run with Austin and I told her she had to wait and run with the girls her age and she didn't like that idea apparently. We later found out why she was being so "disagreeable"! (Keep reading and you'll find out!) :0)

We went home when Paige was throwing her fit and both of the kids were EXHAUSTED and took some great naps. When they woke up, we went to a Salmon BBQ that the Search and Rescue Dept. was putting on. I don't care for fish, but I have to say that this salmon was good! It was flown in fresh from Alaska and it was very tasty. While we were there, though, Paige wouldn't eat anything and was just sitting around doing her fair share of complaining. As soon as we got to our table she said she had to go potty. They only had porta-potties there at the park so we made our way over by one of them. We had to wait in line and while we were waiting Paige threw up right on sidewalk. It was lovely. Luckily it was sort of hidden from the majority of the crowd, but there was a school-age girl that was waiting also and I thought she was going to puke, too, because it was so gross. So that explained the major tantrum at the Celebration earlier and the not eating thing. I felt so bad for her. She had a few more episodes throughout the evening, but she was fine the next morning, so that was good.

We had a very, very busy weekend, but it was so fun and memorable. Thank you, Mom, Dad, Keith, Julie and Jaxson, for coming to visit us, especially since Keith and his adorable family just moved to Cleveland! (Say hello to O-H-I-O for us!!!) :0)

Hogle Zoo Birthday Party

Our niece, Challis, wanted to go to the Hogle Zoo for her 7th birthday since Christmas. She even wrote a note to put on my Mom and Dad's fridge reminding them of her birthday wish. My mom decided to make it into a little family reunion, so she made sure all of the kids and their families were there. It was so much fun!!! It was a great day and it was so fun getting together with all of my siblings and their families. Here are a few pics showing all of the fun we had! :0)

The Birthday Girl, Challis, and Paige. Paige was so excited to see her cousins again, especially Challis!

My dad sitting on the Bronze Elephant. It squirts water from its trunk and makes some pretty silly elephant noises while doing it. It was pretty funny. It scared the living daylights out of Paige, though. I told her to go stand in front of the elephant so I could get a picture of her and just then it squirted the water and hit her. She flipped out! It was so funny, but I did feel bad for her because she was so scared. It took her a while to even get close to it, but we finally got her to sit on it with Challis and Preston. (See the picture below) :0)
It was a very hot day so the kids were very happy to cool off in the shade and Austin thought it would be a good idea to join the ball in the water. Um, maybe not, Austin!! :0)

There was a little pool of water near the entrance/exit of the zoo and the kids naturally gravitated to that. I'm not sure if it was allowed, but the kids sure loved it! :0) They were soaked by the time we were ready to leave!

Happy Birthday, Challis!! Thanks for inviting us to your Zoo Party!! :0)

A couple new hair-dos for Little Missy

For all of you who have little girls in your household, I have the BEST blog bookmarked. This mom is absolutely AMAZING and comes up with some of the best hairdos for her little girls. Check it out here.

Here's some of the inspired hairdos on my sweet model, Paige! ;0)

Do you think she likes it?!? :0)

Fourth of July Weekend Pt. 2

For the second half of the weekend, we went to my parents' house (where the kids were staying) and played with my parents, "Grandpa" Doyle and "Grandma" Val, Keith, Julie and Jaxson. It was so much fun. We went up to Mirror Lake and enjoyed the beautiful weather, even though the mosquitoes were out in force. Paige had so much fun playing with Yogi, my parents' dog. If dogs are involved, Paige is in heaven. Austin is starting to feel the same love for dogs, too. It's pretty funny!

Julie, Keith, Jaxson, Paige, me, Austin and Brian

We went down the river walk in Evanston and the kids loved it. Paige was fascinated by the fishermen and also wanted to show us that she was big enough to push Austin in the stroller. Notice the second picture of my mom and Paige with the stroller...my mom kind of had to take over in order to keep Austin on the path! :0)

The following pictures were taken up by Mirror Lake. I don't think it was actually Mirror Lake, but it was close to it. (There are many lakes up in that area and we decided this one looked good!) :0) Marshmallows were a hit, of course. Paige and Austin just couldn't get enough of the great outdoors and loved every minute of it.

Feeding "Grandpa Doyle" some mallows. Good sharing, Austin. Let's just hope that it wasn't a half-eaten one!! :0)

Paige and "Grandpa Doyle" on the way back to the cars. It was so fun seeing Val and Doyle again. They were my second set of parents growing up and I loved seeing how well the kids warmed up to them. We're excited that we get to see them again this weekend while I'm there for my 10 year High School Reunion. That's right, folks, I graduated from H.S. 10 years ago. Boy, I'm getting old!! ;0)

P.S. Notice the pictures of Austin with the binkies. Right after we got home from this trip we took these babies away cold turkey. Austin was being such a stinker with them and Bri and I were tired of it, so we took them away. It's been the best thing we've done!! The first night was a little interesting, but he hasn't had a problem since. He sleeps better and we're all much happier. (Hopefully I just didn't jinx myself!!) :0) Bye-bye, Binkies. You were great while you lasted, but there's an end to everything!! :0)

Ben Lomond Hike on the 4th

So, instead of going to the traditional 4th of July parade and having the traditional BBQ afterwards, Brian and I decided to join my SIL, Julie's, family on their hike up Ben Lomond by Ogden. Can I tell you...It was so much fun!! It was a long one (8.2 miles up, 8.2 miles down), but it was definitely worth it. Even though it was long, it was flat for a good portion of it because we followed the ridgeline. The most difficult part of the hike was the last mile or so because the snow was covering the trail and it was very rocky. But that made the view up on the top that much better!!! The pictures from the top of the mountain don't do the view justice, but I had to include them, of course. I highly recommend this hike to anyone in the area. Just make sure to bring LOTS of water and snacks. Brian learned that lesson on his mission. He served in the Ogden Spanish-speaking mission and a bunch of the missionaries did this same hike on one of their p-days. Most of the missionaries didn't know anything about the hike, how long it was, etc. and didn't bring adequate water and no food. Bri said that this last time was a much better experience!! :0) Anyway, enjoy the pics!!

We're almost to the top!!

This is the view into the town of Eden. It just on the opposite side of the mountain from Ogden. Absolutely gorgeous!

Bri and I on the top of Ben Lomond

Cooling off in the snow. It sure felt good after 7-8 miles of hiking!!

We left early enough to get to this point (I can't remember the reservoir's name) before the haze had burned off. It was an amazing sight!

Ben Lomond is right behind Bri and I in this pic.

When we were on the trail, 4 fighter jets fly right by us. They were so close. They were on their way to another town (Logan maybe?!?) for a flyby. Bri took this picture and it took us a while to figure out what was making the sound. By the time he got the camera out, they were already past us and pretty far away.

Look closely and you'll see 4 adult mountain goats and one baby.

I did have some videos of Brian sliding down on the snow and a 360 view from the top, but it's not letting me post those. I guess if you really want to see them, you'll have to come visit us at our house and we'll show them to you!! :0) This hike is definitely on the list to do again! I want to take the kids on it when they're older.

Which Disney Princess am I?!?

You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Mason Tags Austin: 11 facts about Austin

I thought this was the cutest tag!! Thanks, Mason (and Jenn) for tagging Austin!! I would LOVE to tell a little about my sweet, handsome little boy! :0)

1. Austin is a cuddler. After having Paige, who was NOT a cuddler, I am loving having this time with my little boy!! The best time is right after he wakes up in the morning or after naps. He'll just chill on my lap with his head on my shoulder or chest. I LOVE IT!!

2. Austin LOVES to eat. You would never guess it since he's in the 10th percentile for weight, but he is. His favorite things to eat are meat (he'll actually say meat during lunch and dinner when he wants more), strawberries, grapes, apples, raisins and goldfish. Oh yeah, and Dum-dums. :0)

3. Austin has a love/not-so-love relationship with Paige. He loves to do everything that she's doing, but as soon as she gets close to his toys or me, he does his little scream. It actually is quite comical. They are getting better at just playing with each other. My favorite thing is when they're off somewhere and I just hear both of them giggling.

4. Austin was an early teether. By the time he was a year, or just after, he had all of his teeth. He definitely knows how to use them, too. See Fact #2! :0) It also gives him the cutest smile ever!! He seems much older to me because of his "toothy" smile.

5. Austin is quite the dancer. He loves music and loves to move his body to the beat. My favorite thing is when he's in his carseat and we're listening to Ralph's World (or any music for that matter) and he is just doing his little "bounce". It's hilarious!

6. Austin likes to "sing". He'll get my little hymn book out and carry it around the house and just sing his little heart out. It's a little more like yelling, but that's OK. What do you expect from a 15 month old!

7. Austin is exploding right now with his vocabulary. Literally everyday he comes up with a new word. Right now his favorite words are ball, milk, Mommy, Daddy, stuck, "dow" for window, apple, meat, puppy, papa (for grandpa), "erry" (for strawberry), down...you get the idea. His thing right now is to exaggerate the "k" sound. So when he says "milk", it sounds like "mil" ended with a "huck a luggy" sound. Quite pleasant sounding, let me tell you! :0)

8. Austin takes great naps. If any of you know Paige, you know that she was quite the opposite in this area, so I'm LOVING it!! All we have to do is lay him down in his crib and he'll go right to sleep. So easy!! We'll see if this continues in the future. I'm really enjoying not having to read a certain amount of stories, sing a certain number of songs, etc. that we have to do Paige! :0)

9. Austin is a major flirt with little girl babies. That's right, they have to be his age or younger. For instance, when we were in Yellowstone with Brian's parents, we took a break from the nasty weather and ate lunch in the Old Faithful Inn. There was a family with a girl a little older than Paige and another girl a few months younger than Austin. Austin was sitting down on some steps and the dad (who was from Costa Rica) sat his daughter down next to Austin. Instantly, Austin leaned over, put his arm around her and gave her an open mouth kiss right on the cheek. I think he was aiming for her mouth, but she turned her head just in time! The dad, in his accent, said, "Boy, he is the fastest mover I've ever seen! You'll have to keep an eye open with him, Mama!!" We'll definitely be keeping him away from the females when he gets older!!! :0)

10. Austin has his daddy's head. As I told you before, he's in the 10th percentile for weight, about 50th for height and 90TH FOR HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE!! Yes, huge "heed"!! :0) We call him our little "lollipop"! :0)

11. Austin is the sweetest boy in the world. He loves to give hugs and kisses (albeit open mouthed kisses). :0) My heart just melts every time he shares the love! He always seems to know when I'm needing a little extra lovin' and will run up to me and give me a big hug and kiss. I'm hoping this quality sticks around!! :0)

OK, Austin tags Gracie, Wyatt and Tyler.

What have we been up to?!?

What a slacker I am!! I've meant to post sooner, but other things have kind of taken priority, namely spending time outside with my kiddos enjoying the wonderful summer weather that has finally decided to grace us with it's presence!!


We've also been busy with volleyball camp, birthdays and Father's Day. It's all been a lot of fun. First of all, volleyball camp was a success. We had more girls than we originally thought which is a great thing. We had a few players from UCCS put the camp on for us (one is a local girl) and they did a great job. I decided to take Paige and Austin to the last half hour of the last session of camp (Friday afternoon) because the girls wanted to see them, and boy, were they the center of attention, especially Paige. When we got there, the girls were finishing up some relay races and then it was time to stretch. Paige recognized a couple of the girls who are in our ward and went over by them. When they started to stretch, Paige went right into the middle of the circle (made up of about 30 girls) and started doing her own stretches. That is when one of the camp leaders noticed what Paige was doing and told all of the other girls to follow Paige. At this, Paige got the biggest grin on her face and made the most of her time in the spotlight. She lead them in jumping jacks, yoga moves, ballet, and a few other stretches. (She got a lot of these moves from our morning work out sessions.) :0) It was absolutely hilarious!! I wish I had my camera with me because it was definitely video worthy!! She is now very well known by all involved in our volleyball program!!


For my birthday on the 13th, we didn't do a whole lot because I was busy with volleyball camp. We did go out to eat the following day in Idaho Falls with Brian's parents. If you're in the area and looking for a great Mexican restaraunt, Puerto Vallarta, is a wonderful choice!! Their food is very authentic, which is #1 on our list, and if it's your birthday, they serve you a HUGE platter of fried ice cream, sopapillas, caramel and whipped cream. Can I say DELICIOUS?!?! Just have a lot of people there to help you eat it! :0) Overall, it was a great 28th birthday, which I can't believe I'm 28!! That sounds so old to me. Oh well, as long as I don't feel old, right?!? :0)


Two days later was Father's Day, of course, and it was a great day. It was wonderful to be able to really think about our fathers, and especially feel appreciation for all that Brian does for our little family. He is definitely the best husband and father in the world! He loves to spend time with us. He's a little kid at heart and I just love seeing him play with Paige and Austin. He works so hard to provide for our family and it's wonderful that because of this I'm able to stay home and be with our wonderful kiddos every day. If you're reading this, Bri, we love you and appreciate all that you do for us!! OK, I won't go into any more mushy stuff! :0) Just know we had a great day.


Brian and I decided to combine my birthday present and his Father's Day present this year. I knew all along that I wanted to get him a BBQ because our house has no AC and I really, really, really, didn't want to cook in a smoldering house all summer. When Brian asked if I had gotten his Father's Day present yet, I told him no, but that I knew what I wanted to get him. He said that that was good because he had an idea for both our presents. He wouldn't tell me what he was thinking, though, until we were on our way to IF for dinner Saturday night. When he said this, though, I knew it was either going to be a BBQ or a TV. I'm SO GLAD that he was thinking a long the same lines as me and wanted to get a BBQ!! I'd like a new TV, but that can wait until we get a house of our own!! :0) So the following Wednesday, Brian went BBQ grill shopping and came home with a beauty! We've been using it almost every night since then and it's been WONDERFUL!! I love it when "great minds think alike!!" :0)


As for Father's Day presents for my dad and Brian's dad, I have to say they were too darn cute!! They turned out much better than I thought they would, and our dads LOVE them. Here are a few pics of the finished products.

OK, this has been a long enough post. Sorry, that's what we get when I'm a slacker and have to catch up all at once!! Here are a few additional pictures of our recent doings! Enjoy!!

Paige and Austin found a ladybug and were FASCINATED by it! Paige, especially, couldn't get enough of it.

"Mom, PLEASE may I have a turn with the ladybug?!?" I LOVE it when he signs. "Please" is one of his favorites because he knows he usually gets what he wants when he says please!

Paige and Daddy washing the cars. She was the best helper! The only problem was that she'd wash what we had just rinsed off...every time, never failed! :0)