Sunglasses save the day

Any of you who know Lisa very well are aware that she absolutely flips out when the sun is in her eyes. This makes long car trips...interesting. We usually keep a blanket in the backseat and tell her to cover her face with it or we have to shut the blanket in the window to make a shade. But she's finally discovered sunglasses. We tried it before and she would just pull them off. Now she's sporting them in style. She has her own hot pink pair that she even casually wears on top of her head when we get out of the car.

Happy Birthday, Natalie!

Who do we know who's a friend who's always there, who is always giving and making things fun, who is a beautiful, sweet, creative mother? It's Natalie! And it's her birthday! Hope you have a special day, Nat. You deserve it!

Stop the fridge raiding!

For about the past month Lisa has been driving me crazy constantly getting into the fridge and picking out things she doesn't even end up eating. I tried buying one of those Safety 1st fridge locks, but she pulled it right off. Yeah, I know...I should be able to just discipline her so that I don't have to lock her out of things, but this one just wasn't worth the fight. So I took matters into my own hands. I made this strap that goes all the way around the fridge and buckles on the side. It even has cute little fruit all over it. Ha! I win!


I just had to put this one on cause I didn't realize she was picking her nose until after I took the picture. Silly girl.

Fast Utah trip

This was our really fast trip to Utah. We left Friday at 9am and came back Saturday evening. Cortney had a baby shower to attend and thought the drive would be more fun if Lisa and I came along. Natalie came and met up with us, then took Lisa and I to this fun place called Kangaroo Zoo. Lisa and Olivia had a blast and I even went down a few slides. It was fun to get out of Rexburg, even just for a day. Natalie and I also spent a little time working in her yard which was very refreshing considering you still have to bundle up to go outside here in Rexburg.



Lisa and Olivia had fun playing outside, pretending to bake rock and wood "cakes" in the backyard.

















Lisa loved to dance to the music while she bounced in the toys.

Backpacking, fun with cousins, and Easter

During our trip to California for Grandpa Terry's birthday, we were able to go on a backpacking trip for four days in the Big Sur area, near Monterey. It was beautiful weather and scenery. We went swimming in the very cold Big Sur River and then got to soak in the relaxing, although slightly foul smelling, hot springs. Hiking twenty miles may not sound like vacation, but it really was a getaway for us!

On the trail with a view of the ocean behind us.

There were so many beautiful flowers and lush greenery. At times you had to duck under the canopy made over the trail.

Huge fallen Redwood trees on the trail

View of the Ocean from the Pine Ridge Trail

Coastline on Hwy 1, Big Sur, California, near Monterey

Lisa is finally at the age where she really has fun playing with her cousins. This used to be one of my favorite games when I was a kid. We'd pull each other around on a blanket.

Cameron told Lisa if the dandelion showed yellow on her chin then she was happy.

Silly time with cousins, Cade and Cameron

Decorating Easter eggs with daddy

First thing she wanted to do when she found an egg...eat it, of course!

Happy Easter basket!

Happy 80th Birthday!

This month Ryan's grandpa had his 80th birthday and we were able to make a trip to California to celebrate. We had a really great time seeing family we don't see very often and enjoying the warm California weather.

Mesa Falls minus the snow shoes

Well, I usually just put pictures of Lisa on here, but I decided this time to post a fun trip that Ryan and I did to Mesa Falls today. We originally were going to use our snowshoes, but the snow was so packed down we didn't need them. It was a fun hike, including views of the Lower and Upper Mesa falls, sliding down hills with no sleds, climbing on top of the visitor's center and building a silly snowman. We both got rather sunburned.