St. George Day 2

Saturday morning we all slept in til about 9 then headed over to the main office in the hotel for the buffet breakfast. The girls were in heaven they had everything from waffles to biscuits and gravy to cereal to fruit and granola. It was a pretty good mix and variety. We found a little table of the patio and enjoyed out breakfast it was quiet, in the shade, and the kids loved watching the birds look for worms on the grass. Then we went back to our room and got ready for our 1st hike of the trip, Red Cliffs. We were all very excited to hike to the waterfall. The trail head is about 15 minutes north of St. George and we were in for a major disappointment to see they had the road to the trail head shut down to widen the road. There was no way in except to hike an extra 2 miles to the trail head. Matt and I decided it probably wasn't worth it and that the girls would be so tired. So we sadly packed up and headed back in St. George we were all a little sad and weren't quite sure where to start with the rest of our day. while driving back we decided to stop at kid to kid and I was very glad we did. The girls were each able to find themselves some disney figuring. Hallie picked out the ones from Little Mermaid and Grace the ones from Cinderella. They have played with them a ton! Good purchase for sure.

After that we hit up the outlets for a hour or so before we decided it was time to grab some lunch. After lunch we headed back to the hotel for naps. Our girls are both at the age that if we schedule time out in the day for naps that the rest of the time is so much more enjoyable. Matt and I usually watch a show or as I am now blog while they sleep. Sometimes we even nap with them too! Then after a couple hours we headed back to the outlets to finish up a few stores we didn't get to previously. I had told the girls if they were good we would stop at the chocolate store and they could pick a treat. So just as we finished shopping we swung by and grabbed some goodies. Hallie and Gracie both picked caramel apples and I picked a giant square of toffee. It was all delicious!!!  

 Then we figured it was time for some actual dinner. The girls really wanted pizza so Pizza Factory was an obvious choice. I was thrilled to find out they have a gluten free option as well. 

 By the time we got done eating it was almost 8:30 and time for bed. So we headed back to the hotel and called it an early night we were all in bed and asleep by 10. I think the late night the night before had caught up to us. Another great day in the books for our trip. What I was reminded about today is that Im not at my best when Im tired and that even when plans get messed up there is still a lot of fun to be had.

St. George Day 1

Friday morning we got up and ready to head to St. George we were all pretty excited to get away and spend some time with just our little family. There was a couple days when I wasn't really sure this trip would come together. A week before we were supposed to leave St. George got a ton of rain there was flooding and unfortunately grandma's house in Washington was flooded to the point they had to tear out carpet, sheet rock, and some cabinet. We had been planning on staying at her house so we then began to scramble to find a place. We were on a pretty tight budget since we have a few other trips planned before the end of the year and so much money set aside in our "travel" budget. Luckily we found a great hotel complete with 3 beds and a kitchenette and when we called to book it they even took off an extra $25 a night since it was last minute it really couldn't have worked out better. We were all packed and ready by 10 so we hit the road. The girls are great travelers and are content to watch a movie, color, or read. There is an occasional request as to when we will be there or for a snack but for the most part we hardly notice they are there...lol. I love having the time to talk with Matt about life and our plans without him being distracted and sometimes we play the question game involving the girls. Sometimes they surprise me and we all learn more about each other and have a good laugh. We made 3 stops one for gas and one for lunch and ended up getting to St. George about 3pm. It was great timing since we could check into our hotel at 3. We got checked in and went to check out our room. Then we headed out to do some shopping and grab some dinner before heading to Tuachan. We stopped to buy some souvenirs and take some pictures before we headed to find out seats. I had forgotten how beautiful St. George was so peaceful.

Then we found our seats just as they made the 1 minute to show time announcement. The girls quickly made friends with an elderly couple that sat next to use. They were so cute and sweet with the girls. They happened to be from Layton and are currently planning on building in Rollins Ranch. Once the show started the girls were captivated didn't take their eyes off the stage. Tuachan had used some amazing props and water features that made it so cool. I don't think me describing it would ever do it justice. The girls sang a long with the songs...it was so cute. 

A couple hours in they had an intermission to change the scenery. We got up went potty and got some snacks.  The girls were excited to get their picture taken in the cut out signs they had. The sweet couple next to us bought the kids Little Mermaid toys from the souvenir cart they were thrilled! Seriously so sweet!

 After the show we got to meet and talk with some of the characters. The girls thought everyone but the eels were cool

 The line for Ariel and Eric was FOREVER so we took pictures from the other side of the line. We were all ok and happy with that.

The show was longer than I had anticipated. We got out about 11:15 and headed to our car with 2 tired girls. They didn't even last til we got out of the parking lot and they were both out! 

It was a fantastic 1st day on our little st. George vacation....can't wait for the rest of it!!!

Happy Birthday Kerry!!!

With all the rain and cooler temperatures we have been getting it isn't optimal weather for boating. So after we made plans to spend Saturday boating then BBQ at our house it became a not so great idea. So we moved the BBQ to Sunday and the weather was perfect. Brit, Carson, Kaylee, and Livi joined us as well as Joy and Kerry. We were able to sit outside and eat while the kids mostly played in the backyard. We had grilled chicken and zuchinni, watermelon, jello and pasta salads. And for dessert we had smore and cheesecake bites. It was a great night for a celebration.

Brower Double Date

Last Saturday we were excited to get to double with Chris and Krissy. So I will quickly update for our sake in the future. Chris casually dated Krissy shortly after he came home from his mission. They got to a point they were trying to decide if they would be part of each others future. Chris wasn't really ready for anything serious and decided to break it off and date other girls. But Krissy really liked Chris and really felt like they should continue to date with the possibility of it becoming more. So as you can imagine she was really disappointed when he didn't feel the same way. But shortly after breaking it off the church came out with the age change and Krissy decided to put in her papers and go. She was called to Chile. While on her mission she occasionally thought of Chris but had come to terms before she left that he would probably marry before she returned home. After she had been out about a year Chris felt the need/want to write her as you can imagine she was nervous but excited to hear from him(thinking he may be writing to tell her he was getting married). They exchanged emails regularly for the remainder of her mission. I think at this point they knew that there was something there they wanted to explore. After she had been home a couple of days they were able to get together and see one another. It was like they had never been apart. They are now making plans to get married and start their future together. Anyways back to the double date. Matt and Chris had talked about wanting to get together for a double date and Saturday was the day. They got to our house about 5 after a few quick instructions to our babysitter we were off. We all rode together and we had decided we wanted to do BBQ. So we chose a place rated number 1 in the state 4 years in a row. One thing that worked out really well is that it was in Huntsville so it gave us more time to visit both going up and coming back. The drive was beautiful I love the area a lot. Conversation was so easy and we talked about so many things. Everything from serious stuff to lighthearted silly stuff. We finished our food and just sat and talked for another hour or so. Krissy comes from a really tight knit family much like mine. Im really hoping I can have a relationship with her much like I have with my own sisters. She also loves to boat which is my favorite. I think there are things that we can really teach/help each other with to make us better women/wives/mothers and I can't wait for that. She has talents that I am not the best at and vs versa. I really can't remember the last time I laughed so hard or so often. As the sun started to set we decided to pack up and head for home. We went through Mountain Green to get home so we could take Trappers loop...another beautiful drive. Once we got home we made sure the kids were settled in bed and settled in on the couch for more great conversation. By 11 we decided we should probably call it a night. We had such a great time getting to know Krissy and seeing her with Chris was so fun. I can't quite explain how much of a carefree and enjoyable night it was. Matt and I are looking forward to many more double dates with them its so fun to have family to double with that is more like friends.

Family Date Night---How to Train a Dragon 2

I just can't seem to get enough of taking the kids to do fun things. Im not sure really why it is but I find myself wanting to take them to do and try so many things. We have been waiting quite awhile for How to Train your Dragon 2 to come to our favorite movie theater, Moviegrille, and last week it finally did. With all the rain we have been getting it has been hard to get out and enjoy the last of summer so a movie was a great option for us. The girls were so funny and wanted to order their food by themselves. The movie was great..full of action and excitement to keep everyone interested in the movie. It was another great night spent with the ones I love most. I really do love family date night! I hope that it helps us to build a great relationship with all of us for years to come.

Rain, Rain, Rain, & Beets

August has been full of rain, rain, and more rain. Don't get me wrong Im not complaining at all I love the rain and with the rain has come wonderful cooler temperatures. I can almost feel the fall in the air. And of coarse with fall comes bottling season. When there was a break in the rain we got the beets picked and bottled. We ended up with about twice the beets we did last year and bottled 12 bottles. The girls were a great help and we got it done in 4 hours start to finish. I love teaching my girls canning stuff. I have taught myself and really hope to pass that skill on to them.

 The girls have also loved playing the the rain. Im grateful for the rain to fill the lakes and streams.

 Silly Faces

This particular night the girls were playing outside while Matt and I secured down the boat. I think we have finally found a way to keep it completely dry...I guess we shall see.

Although all the rain has limited our boating time I really hope it continues so we will have more water to boat on when the sun comes out.

Box Elder County Parade/Fair/Rodeo

Wednesday as soon as Matt got home from work we headed to Tremonton for our annual tradition of going to the fair and the parade. Unlike other years the weather was perfect. It was overcast and probably mid 70's really the best weather we have ever had for the parade. We got there just in time for the parade to start. Lucky for us Matt's mom had saved a big space for us, Chris & Krissy, and since Nick & Brit decided to join us this year we had a full space. 

Here is the whole crew

 They handed out several(too many) popsicle in many forms. Most of them melted before they ever got eaten although the kids got to eat a few of them. Hallie wasn't feeling 100% and had a pretty good fever on and off most of the day but she acted fine for most of the time just hanging out and waiting for the candy.

 After the parade we were planning on going out to the fair for dinner and to the bulls only rodeo but the weather was looking pretty threatening. So we decided to head over to Matt's mom and dads and grab some dinner while we waited to see what the weather was going to do. While we got dinner going the kids jumped on the tramp...all of them!! Luckily they had Krissy there to make sure they were being safe.

Just as we got dinner dished up the weather showed its true colors and started to blow and rain so hard. With it pouring we passed on the fair and rodeo it wasn't worth getting soaked. The adults sat and tried to visit but some of the kids made it hard trying to "put on a play." Poor Gracie got hit with a broom and ended up with some pretty good bruising below her cheek. After that we decided to call it a night. We were so bummed that we didn't go to the fair for some "fair" food and I was so bummed I didn't get to go the the shopping booth that I love....oh well maybe next year. All in all it was a fun night spent with our little family.

A Fun Family Filled Weekend....Grandma & Papa Come to Visit

 My mom and dad came to visit so my mom could attend her 35th high school reunion. They got here Thursday night just in time to tuck the kids into bed. The girls were so excited my parents could hear them squealing through the door. We missed having Maddi and Sophie but were thrilled to see mom and dad. After a good nights rest we got up and going for the day and then decided to load up and head for Tremonton to visit family. We stopped at grandma Harris's house first. Growing up I remember Nate sitting on this same deer at grandma's house in Preston now its Gracie's turn. Why all kids think plastic deer are so cool to sit on is beyond me.

 After seeing all the changes grandma had made to her yard and house, feeding the ducks, and swinging in the tire swing we went to grab some lunch at Golden Spike Burger. The food was really good and we had great company to visit with. After lunch we went to visit Aunt Jeanette, My cousin Linnie, and Uncle Kelly's house lucky for us everyone was around since Katelyn was graduating from BYU nursing school. Its always fun to catch up with our extended family we spent so much time together growing up it brings me back to the comforting place of being surrounded by family. After some short visits we decided to take the kids to the park and the splash pad to get all our wiggles out. The city has made some great improvements to the park.

 The kids had a ball swinging, sliding, and splashing all in their clothes..lol luckily we had new clothes for each of them for when they were done.

 After we were worn out from the fun in the sun we headed back to grandma's for a snack before heading for home in time for Matt and I to head out on our date night and mom and dad headed to moms class reunion. At the last minute our babysitter bailed on us. Nic was so sweet and offered to keep our kids at our house while we went out! Seriously awesome sister I tell ya. So once we made a quick stop at Kents to get Tremonton corn we headed back to Ogden. Once we got home and got the kids settled Matt and I headed out for our date night. We grabbed some dinner and went to look at prospective building lots before we headed back home for the night. The next morning we took it easy while Matt went to take his final and we waited for mom and dad to come back from Tremonton. The girls seem to find creative ways to watch tv. I guess Gracie sitting on top of Hallie could be comfortable right??/

While we waited we tried our dragon fruit we pick out of the exotic food section the day before. It is a  pretty cool fruit but somewhat lacking in flavor but it was worth getting to try at least once.

After everyone arrived home we loaded up the boat and headed for East Canyon. We got there about lunch time so once we got on the water we made lunch and of coarse had a swim break! Only this time they got to swim with papa.

 Our boating days are definitely numbered the water is getting lower and the days and water are getting cooler. The water was cooler than it has been but it was still refreshing from the warm sun. One thing that can be a bit tricky is although the water is lower and there is less boating space but just as many people trying to boat it makes it dangerous when you get people that have no idea what the rules are we had a few tension moments when we wanted to throw things at a few people. About dusk we loaded up and headed for home so we could get dinner going and mom could go try on her new wedding ring(she had picked out a new ring setting that morning). We BBQ'd on the grill while the boys finished resurfacing the boat. After we ate dinner we decided to make a Jake's over the top milkshake run. Gracie loved her milkshake if you can't tell from the picture.

 She was even willing to share

It was a great end to a fun weekend. Sunday morning mom and dad headed for home when we headed for church. Only a couple more weeks and we will be together again. 

Riding without Training Wheels

After Hallie's 1st Day at kindergarten we decided to go for a walk Hallie and I have been talking about trying to take off her training wheels but just haven't done it. Matt said why not tonight so we headed over to the neighboring parking lot and gave it a shot. Hallie was nervous/excited she kept laughing and giggling. It was pretty cute. She was pretty unstable and wobbly at first

 Gracie kept herself entertained by climbing the light pole 

 And riding her scooter while Hallie practiced

 After a few tries she got the hang of it. Now we are just working on steering and balancing her weight when she does it. We need to get in more practice before the winter takes over. I was very impressed at how Hallie handled wrecking multiple times. She would get up laugh it off and try again. Im so proud of her and her determination to learn and try something new. Now to shop for a new bike so Gracie can have what has been Hallie's bike.

Why do Kids have to Grow Up? Hallie's 1st Day at Kindergarten

This week has been a rough one! A roller coaster of emotions and Im not even sure where to begin with them. Hallie starts kindergarten tomorrow. She is so excited and I have been so excited for her until tonight when it hit me that our baby our sweet and beautiful baby girl is no longer my baby. And for that I am struggling. Hallie is the sweetest, most loving, considerate, and lovable little girl. She always has hugs, kisses, and smiles for me when I'm feeling down. She is my big helper. But she is growing up so fast. I have loved every stage of her life and each new stage I'm reminded that every stage is so special and will go to quickly for any of our liking. Although I have been very emotional about this I have also found joy in this due to the fact that Hallie is so excited. She is so ready for this and has been talking about it since getting out of preschool in the spring. It makes my heart happy to see her so excited and when she comes home she is so excited to tell me about everything she did while she was away. She is attending Bravo Arts Academy. She goes Mon-Thurs for 2 hours and 15 minutes. She only has 7 other kids in her class so I think she will be getting plenty of attention as well. Im excited to see her learn and grow this school year but it will always be bittersweet to see my baby grow up. Here are the pictures from her 1st day.

 Gracie also wanted her 1st day picture taken. This is Gracie at 2 1/2 years.

 Sitting on the bench waiting to head in

 Our 1st Kindergartner!!!

 Her silly pic