Disneyworld

David and the kids at Epcot

Because my youngest brother, David, got home from his mission in October, my parents planned a family reunion down in Disneyworld to get all of us together. We had so much fun seeing everyone again and spending a week at the Disneyworld parks. It was sooo hot - 90 degree weather most days so we spent some time at the waterparks too. The kids had such a blast and I know we will be talking about this trip for years to come. I don't know why but I was horrible at taking pictures this trip. I don't have a single picture with my sister and only one with David.

This might just be the only picture of this guy smiling. He was sick with a bad cold for most of the trip.

Grandma and Grandpa with the kids in front of Fantasy land at Magic Kingdom

This picture is more like it-- He is a little stinker sometimes... but we love him anyways.

Nate, my brother, and his girlfriend, Alicia and some of the cousins

At Typhoon Lagoon waterpark

Tyler and Jackson

Alan, Maline and cooper on the Jeep ride at Animal Kingdom

Love these two cute girls

Slacker

Yes.... you can say it. I know... I've been a complete blogging slacker lately. But things have just been so busy in the last couple of months that I just kept forgetting. But I'm back...hopefully for a while. It's been so long I'm not sure where to start off. A week after Tyler's baptism we moved back to Utah after purchasing our first home. Hooray!!

We had promised ourselves after the last move that we weren't ever going to get a Uhaul and do it ourselves but did we listen?? No. So we packed up everything ourselves again (minus 3 shelves, one tv unit, 2 50-gallon water storage containers, one kiddy pool and a tricycle which all woudn't fit) and drove the Penske truck up and over the Sierras at a whopping 50 mph making it to Utah in about 14 hours. More importantly-- we and all of our stuff made it in one piece. But NOW I can officially say that we will never "do it ourselves" again. Too stressful trying to pick which furniture you are going to leave behind if it doesn't all fit.

Then 3 days after we moved in, Tyler woke us up and told us the carpet in his basement bedroom was soggy. Yep, not exactly what you want to hear first thing in the morning. Sure enough we find out that the main drain out of the house has clogged and backed up flooding the furnace room and Tyler's room in the basement. We had to have everything the water touched ripped out and then put back together again. 4 weeks later the house was finally back in its original condition.

3 days after that was finished- we left for a family reunion down in Florida at Walt Disney World. It was so much fun and completely exhausting!! We played hard every day at a park or waterpark with my family and the kids had a fabulous time with their cousins. We got back late Halloween night and now Austin and I are nursing bad head-colds. Must be from too much fun. Not enough sleep. Now it's back to reality...

I will post pics tomorrow...

Tyler's baptism

Eight years ago this little fella was born. I can't believe how fast time has gone by and how grown up he is now. Saturday was his baptism. Both sets of grandparents were able to be there and participated in the baptism program. Makenzie sang a solo. Tyler has been so excited for his baptism and I'm so relieved that everything went smoothly. I love this boy!!

My little missionary!!

A family shot. Unfortunately it was raining so we couldn't take pictures outside. And my nice camera is in the repair shop (thanks to Austin) and so I had to use my 8 year old camera.

Our First House

It is official. Today we closed on our first house! We are so thrilled to finally be home-owners after 10 years of renting. About 6 months ago, Mike's work told him that he could work remotely. At that point we started thinking that maybe we would try to buy a house in a year or so. But then when it was time to re-sign our rental contract- they decided to raise the rent to $2500. That definitely sped up our decision to buy. We found this beautiful home in Syracuse, Utah that we fell in love with. I am so excited to start decorating and buying some furniture (our old couch is staying here along with some other choice objects). We have a little more than 3 weeks and then we'll be there. Crazy!!!

18 month pictures....... 3 months late

I finally took Austin in to get his 18 month pictures. Too bad he is already 21 months old. I did almost get around to it in May. But then we had our trip to Arizona and then after he got 4 ear infections in 2 months, he had tubes put in his ears. Then our trip to Utah came and went and since then we've been busy having fun with friends during the summer. And then just when I remembered that I still needed to take him in, he fell down on the coffee table corner and had a big bruise on his cheek for the past two weeks. So finally he is getting his pictures done. Hooray!! It feels good to check that one off the list. Atleast until 3 more months when he turns 2. Maybe these can count for both!!

Lake Powell

We were so lucky this year to have a family trip planned to Lake Powell with some of Mike's siblings and relatives. And we were extra lucky that my sister-in-law Heather was willing to watch Austin for the 4 days so we wouldn't have to bring him. It was delightful!! The kids had so much fun tubing, jetskiing, cliff-jumping, going down the houseboat slide and just being in the water 24-7. It was such a fun and relaxing trip!
Tyler and Cooper on the tube

Look how small that boat is next to the rocks

The kids.... and Jeff

This girl LOVES the water!!

Playing in Arizona

Last week we had the chance to go visit our good friends, the Johnsons, in Mesa, Arizona.

The drive wasn't nearly as bad as we thought it would be since we stopped

at my parent's along the way. And with the beautiful weather, it was like a mini-summer

vacation for me and the kids. Mike worked with Alex from his home office while the kids and I mainly hung out in the Johnson's lovely pool.
We went out to eat, the boys hunted scorpions at night, we went jet-skiing on the lake, off-roading in the mountains and did a lot of hanging out together. We can't wait to visit again!

Austin LOVED the water. He is a fish. Only problem is that he thinks he can swim by himself. Mike tried to teach him fear of water by tossing him in a few times but Austin thought it was more funny than anything else. What am I going to do with this boy??

Makenzie and Allie- cute little ballerinas. Unfortunately I never got a picture with Makenzie holding the baby. Makenzie was always asking Amy to hold the baby and she is already trying to convince me that we need to have another baby girl.

The kids had so much fun at Amy's sister's pool which had a baby pool, diving board, waterfalls and yes-- a built-in water slide. So much fun!!!

The only picture of Amy and I together- - Unfortunately in our swimsuits

All the kids

One night, Alex took us all out (minus the babies) in rangers for some off-roading. The kids loved it, especially the girls who spent most of the time giggling in the backseat. Makenzie even called it a "desert Matterhorn ride".

Yes...... Mike is already saving his pennies for one of these (might take him a while though).