Island Birthday & Cake

We did an "island themed" birthday party for Kennedy (She is THREE!!!) on Saturday. I didn't take a whole lot of pictures, but I managed to get a few.

I tried making a hula girl out of gum paste to sit on the island, but she looked more around 80 years old rather than 3, so I scrapped that idea and made a pineapple, beach towel, star fish, and a beach ball to sit on top. I love the sharks :)



I am THE best at taking pictures where very few people are actually looking at the camera.

Justin, Nathan, Ereita, Abbie, Chloe, Colette and Brent. Travis is hiding in the background.... And the only one looking? Ereita.  We had Cafe Rio style sweet pork burritos... Thanks Linda for the amazing recipes. Everyone loved it!



Opening presents. We got Kennedy a sleeping bag (which is what she asked for...  She really loves camping)



Most of the kids spent their time in the sandbox.

I wanted to get more pictures, and I'm sad that I didn't. We also did one of those fishing games where you throw the hook (clothes pin) over a sheet and get prizes.... I am pretty sure I had as much fun doing this as the kids did. :)

4 Years

Wow. I can't believe that it has been four years since we were married. Here's a little math for you just for fun (and fyi, click on the links... Judd read this and was so confused by the 2 adopted children comment):

2.8 children
+
2 adopted children
+
A few bike wrecks
+
Race + Race + Race + Race + Race + Many many more I didn't blog about :)
+
1 House??
+
Too many renovations to count.... Seriously.
+
Us
=

4 amazing years. I wouldn't change a thing.

First "official" camping trip

A few weeks ago our tire literally fell off of the land cruiser when we were on our way up Provo canyon to go camping. we hadn't traveled very far before Judd and I noticed a weird sound coming from the car and before we could react the back end of the cruiser dropped to the ground as we watched our left rear tire rolling down toward Deer Creek Reservoir. I'm pretty sure my heart dropped about as far as the back end of the car... We spent 5 hours looking for the tire (which was never to be found), putting a new tire on, jumping the cruiser (because on top of it all our alternator went out), and waiting for a tow truck (the guy got lost and took an hour to find us). It was a super hot day, and I was glad that we had a cooler full of ice/drinks/food to keep the kids happy. They were actually so patient and did really well. I wish I had taken pictures of the cruiser, but I didn't dare to since we barely made it to the side of the road to begin with and the end of the car was almost in the road.
The next night we spent the night "camping" in our back yard. We even did a dutch oven dinner and dessert.
After two weeks in the shop we got the car back and we decided to try our luck at another camping trip. I'm sure Judd was bugged with me because the whole way there I kept asking if the noises I was hearing were "normal"... Call me crazy, but I didn't feel like dealing with car problems again....

mmmmm dirt.



I took the kids on a hike so Judd could take a nap. He worked the night before and was really tired.



This is what Levi and Kennedy looked like for the majority of the trip. Covered in dirt. 



Roasting mallows

If you look closely, you'll see that they both have marshmallow on their faces. Priceless.

My boys "copping a squat"



I love this picture! They have so much fun with each other and get along so well.



In most of the pictures my kids are carrying around either a fork or spoon, or both. Don't ask me why, but they have a fetish with plastic utensils. I love this picture :)



 

So here are pictures from our first camping trip. The kids LOVED it! They spent most of their time digging in the dirt, we went on a hike, cooked some dutch oven, played some games, and Kennedy roasted her first marshmallow and had her very first smore. I would call it a success.

Montana in pictures

If you click on the slide show it will take you to another page where you can view the pictures better. They are a tad on the small side here, plus you can't see all of the captions which took me forever to add.

After the rain...

Finally the bad weather has stopped and we have been able to get outside more. Here are a few pictures from our walk up the Provo River. Levi loves hanging out in the stroller, as you can see... Well, as long as he is being pushed.





Levi showing off his new walking ability. He has been walking for a few weeks now, but has really stepped it up (get it?) this last week.



Piggy back ride. We walked from Glen Canyon to Vivian Park and by the time we got to Vivian Kennedy was worn out from riding her bike so Judd gave her a lift.



Taking a break from the sun at Vivan :)

On the way down Kennedy got to meet the pavement. Luckily dad was right there and  caught her shirt so she only hit her knee. She was a trooper and wanted to get back on and ride though. Here she is sowing us her "owie".



And putting on a brave smile with tears in her eyes.



Grandma Z made Levi a new blanket for his birthday. It was a hit! Thanks :)



From the Alpine loop.... There should NOT be that much snow up there (at the end of MAY)!

Voting is now closed.

According to the ultrasound we are going to have a boy, so 70% of voters were right. This is the third baby I've had an ultrasound with, and the strange awe of it still gets to me. To see the little guy in there moving and kicking is such an amazing thing. From the looks of it he will has a large arse like Levi, and we also got a picture of him giving us a thumbs up! I will post pictures as soon as I reconnect my scanner. Well, let's be honest I hate doing things like that, so as soon as JUDD reconnects the scanner. Judd has a name he likes, but I really haven't found anything that I like enough, so any suggestions would be welcomed :)

Help Me Grow

A while ago I donated just over two thousand of the children's books I wrote to a program called Help Me Grow.  We went to their annual family event at UVU, where they were giving out some of the books. Here are some pictures that I stole off of their Facebook page. Kennedy loved it, and selfishly I loved seeing my books being given to families who need them.

The killing of a baby turtle.

I can't believe he is ONE!! It has gone by so quickly.

Always smiling.... Unless he is hungry, then he isn't so sweet.

Before



During



After :)

I was cleaning red velvet cake out of his ear for days. He didn't eat a bite of the cake, he just wanted to play in it.

Summer... Please?

As much as I love the winter and the fun stuff that comes with it I can't wait for the warmer days of Summer to get here.



Snowboarding
It was -6 degrees that day.