Moab

We went to Moab over Presidents Day weekend; which is always fun, but a little more enjoyable when its above 40 degrees! Scott spend Saturday biking with friends while the girls and I prepared for Valentines Day. We hiked to Delicate Arch on Valentines Day which was pretty cool. Both girls hiked the entire 3 miles although the last 15 minutes back were punctuated with "I really need to go potty!" Fortunately we all made it to the bathroom in time.

Presidents day was also Aspens 3rd birthday. She'd been dying to have her birthday party all weekend. She picked out a Little Mermaid cake and got The Little Mermaid movie, a Barbie from Mercedes and some Tinkerbell Fairy dolls. My days would be grey without her!

Eight is Great!

Mercedes had her 8th birthday and her baptism on the same day. She was baptized 10 minutes after she officially turned 8. Am I that old?! It was such a wonderful day; reflecting on my little girl and her 8 years of life. I look back at pictures of when she was a baby, so sweet and innocent and the hardships she had to go through when she was so young. I hope we haven't wrecked her too much.

2 months


4 years



4 years

7 months

10 months

3 years

About 6 months

Birthday Cake!

Her favorite birthday gift was this outfit from her uncle JT, pettiskirt and all. She was so excited to wear it to school the next day that she woke up at 2:30 am, took a shower, got dressed, played with her new toys and waited until everyone else woke up. She was one tired girl after school!

After the bapstism.

Cute girls!

We love our Magoo!!

Snow Crazy

Finally some decent snow! We just had to go sledding; so we packed up and went up the canyon. Two nights later we were out on the golf course in the dark picking our lines down the hills. Some of my best holiday memories are centered around sledding. Zipping down the ski hill road at Maverick Mountain, in the dark after all the skiers had gone home on our runner sleds. The next morning all the men would set up shop at the cabin and repair all the runners. Those things can be deadly at 30 mph, but fortunately no one was seriously injured.

Aspen has perfected the "cheese" face.

This picture is priceless.

Puppy Love

I vowed I would never have an "indoor" dog. Unfortunately our .1 acres does not allow the free range that the ranch I grew up on did. Do doggies go to heaven? Are they part of our eternal families? I hope the see Toby (the rottweiler mix ranch dog we had as kids) and Chella (our first dog as a married couple who would climb, moutain bike and even kayak with us) and our current dog; Neico (who I hope hangs around at least til the kids graduate). He's only 7 months old but I can't imagine evening rough-housing without him.

Here's Chella sunbathing in Red Rocks, NV while Scott and I climbed.

Neico sharing his crate with Aspen. She'll climb into it and then call Neico in and then they curl up together.

Mercedes using Neico as a pillow.

Moab Trip

The Windows in Arches National Park.



Scott has a friend from California who has a vacation home in Moab; fully equipped. We spent a weekend hiking, 4-wheeling, and playing as much as possible









We had a great time on the 4-wheelers. Neico did too, he's exploring behind Scott.

Mercedes loves rocks and crystals so we spent a bit of time in the "Rock Shop" where the girls picked out their own rock necklaces.

The girls were quite the little hikers. Aspen hikes nearly 2 miles a day at home taking Neico for walks so Arches was a breeze!

I tend to boo weekend trips because it feels like such work for a short period of time; but they're always worth it!

Halloween '09

Sully and Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc. They were so cute!




Someone REALLY likes suckers.


At the ward Halloween party with Cleopatra (Elora).

Sunday Evenings

Sunday evenings are usually filled with bike rides and running in the grass; which lead to blackened feet and slivers since Aspen will not keep her shoes on. The girls, or a girl and Dad will zoom down the hill on the plasma car while I hold my breath. Where are the helmets!



Skippy Jon Jones and Neico. I caught the shot right before Neico tried to eat Skippy. How could you not love a siamese cat who thinks he's a chihuahua. Another one of Mercedes "special" toys who tends to find his way into her backpack frequently on his way to school.


The weather right now is perfect.