Midway - Ty's Birthday

We had fun hangin' out around the condo - played games, ate delicious food, karaoke, played Just Dance - we just had a lot of fun together.

Here are Marissa and Sierra playing UNO:

Krystal got SO into the Phantom of the Opera songs on the night we karaoke-d and danced her little heart out.  I couldn't stop taking pictures, because I thought it was so cute!

 

 

I never thought karaoke-ing could be so much fun.  We all had a blast!

Here's Krystal giving Tyler a birthday morning hug.  Carly and Travis made a super yummy breakfast of cream cheese stuffed french toast.  OH. MY!!  I can't believe I didn't get a picture, but it truly was to die for.  And then - we went to the outlet stores (a dream come true for Tyler - hahaha) - but, we all had fun.  Look at this gang!

 
Out to lunch:

Doesn't look like the kids like to be together tooooooo much, eh?  ;)  Then we took a quick stop at the crater:

 

Mariss was super happy to have her best pal Sierra with her the whole time. 

We had a yummy steak dinner back at the condo that night:

And enjoyed a delicious homemade layered cheesecake (thanks Allison!) AND birthday cake!

Happy Birthday, hon'!!  Thanks for letting us all have such a fun celebration.  Love you!

Our Midway Escape

We took our annual trip to Midway for Tyler's birthday this month.  We had tons of fun, like usual.  This year we went with some of our favorite friends, so that made it EXTRA fun.  :)

We went up a day before our friends came and made a trip to Kamas to get some of Volkers delicious bread (they weren't open, though - bummer!) - but, we stopped to view the Jordanelle Reservoir.  We got a good laugh, because we saw a sign that said "View Point Ahead", and then when we came to the View Point - there was a HUGE hill of snow blocking the entire view of the Reservoir.  So, we had to hike up it. Marissa got stuck and had to fall/slide down afterwards.  Bless her heart.

 

Pretty, though, huh?  (Marissa's best buddy, Sierra, came with us too.  It was so fun to have her there.)

Our friends came at different times throughout the day on Friday, and so ....

... we got our swim on!  The kids tell everyone that we take a trip to Midway to go SWIMMING every February.  hahahahahaha.  But, they really REALLY love to hang out in the pool there - hence, the millions of pictures.  :)

Here are Aaron and Ellie - goggle buddies.  And Tyler and Aaron - Tyler is a total fish and would choose to live under water if at all possible - I think Aaron might be following in his footsteps (maybe I should get him in some swim lessons, eh?  Tyler was diving and competing at Aaron's age.  *sigh*)

 

BFFs!

These guys played and played and played and played together.  They really had a good time - and Tyler was SORE the next day from all the playing and throwing and catching he did.  ;)

 

 

 

Ahhhhhhhhhh .... we had such a good time.  And I was able to watch from the sidelines and soak in the hot tub the WHOLE time (that's MY ideal swimming!)

Many more pictures to come!

More Piano Playin'!

Aaron plays in Festival this Friday. I think he is very prepared ... and excited! But, he is so nervous too. We are so proud of him over here at our house!

Weird Science :)

We had an adventurous night of bowling one school night as Ellie (Aaron's good friend) worked on results for a science project:  Does using a different weight bowling ball each frame affect your score?

The night started off awesome when Tyler accidentally stole my bowling shoes ... and they fit him PER.FECT.LY!!  hahahahahahaha.  I had to go exchange his "man" shoes for some girly ones, 'cuz the one's they gave him did NOT fit me.  We went bowling late - on a school night - so that was super fun for the kids, but Krystal only lasted 3 frames before she was done.

Here are the kids taking a break to eat some fries.

Marissa bowled a strike or two - and here she is "WoooooHooooo"-ing.  And ALL the kids enjoyed the music being played and kept busting out spontaneously in dance.

These two girls were our score keepers - since each person had a card to keep track of the size bowling ball they used and the number of pins they knocked down.  They did a great job!

LOL!  I just could NOT get enough of the kiddos dancin'!  Aaron's wagging tongue always helps.  :)

Which ball should I try next?  That truly was half the fun.  :)

 

Synchronized bowling ... except that Marissa bowled a gutter ball.  haha.

Awwwwww.  Late school nights don't happen often for a reason:

That was one of the funner nights we've had in a long time.  Thanks Petersons!!  We still don't know the results of the science experiment, though.  ;)

Blue and Gold Banquet

Tyler and I are very happy to attend pack meetings with zero responsibility!  We are so lucky to live in this area with such fabulous kids and leaders.  The Blue and Gold Banquet was awesome!  The food was DEEEEEELISH!

In the Name of Love

Disclosure:  All the following are pictures from my cell phone and are very low quality/blurry.  But - they all are so special to me, because they were ALL moments I can truly say were in the name in love.

1.  Devotion:  ACTD (Tyler and Jeremy's business that is STILL trying to get rolling) moved to Orem last month on a VERY early Saturday morning.  These kiddos were so excited to see each other that they all woke up early just for a chance to be together for a bit.  I thought that was so sweet, and had Tyler text me a picture of them.  :)

2.  Commitment:  Marissa spent over a week planning a shopping spree with her two best buddies, and they had a super fun day together.  Cuties.

3.  Hugs:  Aaron loves LOVES his cousins.  This little Megan is so sweet to him - giving him lots of loves. :)

 

4.  Buddies:  I'm pretty sure there is no better word to describe these two:

5.  Carefree:  These four girlies are so sweet and cute!  Marissa is so lucky to have such great "girlfriend" cousins:

6.  Refinement:  This girl will whup us all into shape before we know it.  She is very "style" sensitive, and likes to strut her stuff.  She likes her hair styled just so, and makes me take pictures of the back so she can see it and approve.  :)  She is THE best cleaner/organizer - and keeps everyone in line.  Between her busy-body attitude and my (minimal, of course) OCD - refinement is bound to happen.  ;)

 

7.  Sincerity:  How often do we find that true friend - lifelong?  Well, I am quite confident that Krystal is one of the lucky ones that has found her "soul mate" BFF at a young age - a sincere friendship that will last through the years.  She and Aeryn are the cutest friends:

 

8.  Unity:  Sisters.  Honestly there is nothing better in life.  Period.

9.  Peaceful:  These guys take care of each other.  They are so good to each other.  I am one lucky Mom.

10.  Adoration:  I took this picture in the middle of Sacrament Meeting (how bad is that?) - Krystal came over to sit on my lap with tears just streaming down her face, and when I asked her what in the world was wrong, she said, "I just miss my Daddy so much."  (Tyler was in New Mexico for the BYU football game).    So, I had her draw Tyler a picture, and we texted it to him.  Yep - in the middle of Sacrament Meeting!  This picture is so sweet - with her puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks - putting on her happy face to show her Daddy the picture she drew.

10 Habits of Harmony ... In the Name of Love.