FLASHBACK FRIDAY - JACKSON HOLE, WY

Have YOU been to Jackson Hole, Wyoming?!?

In August we decided to go.  I have a good friend who told me her kids love to go, so we thought we would try it out.  I can say I did not enjoy the drive there - not that it wasn't pretty, but I get so car sick that I just put the air blowing on me and closed my eyes! 

We had heard of the Alpine slides and knew that would be something fun to do...it was a bit pricey but so fun!  The first time down, Adam rode with Harrison and I took McKenna:

.Tyler couldn't decide if he wanted to go or not!?!...decisions, decisions...

The second time down, Kenna and Harrison decided to brave it on their own! and after much deliberation, Ty decided to go down with dad...his smile shows how much fun it was!!

The ride up the mountain..

such a pretty view from the top- with a crazy cute boy as well!

Great view of the Tetons too!

After a great time at the Alpine slides, we went into town and saw the infamous shoot up at town square.  Harrison was a little nervous and kept asking, "are they using real bullets?  Are you sure they aren't real?!?"  So, they had to meet the cast of the "amazing production" afterwards...(sorry about the lack of clothing on Kenna and Ty...neither could handle the heat)

In one of the gift shops we stopped at Tyler found this necklace...I literally had to tear it off him so we could leave!  He is a little obsessed with keys and there is a key on the chain...Tyler finally agreed to take it off if I took a picture of him with the necklace...crazy kid!?!

We also went to the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum - which Harrison was very excited about after checking out a few of their books from the library.  Addie loved the stuffed animals....

There weren't too many amazingly weird things there, so I only took a few shots...this is a mountain lion made out of 1 million dollar bills shredded up...believe it - or not!

One of the first bicycles made for parapalegics....believe it - or not!

A couch made out of a full buffalo's skin....gross!  Believe it - or not!

We finished off the day trip with pizza from a local pizzeria and then hit the road back home.  We had a great time! 

WE'RE ROLLING...IN STYLE!

Adam and I have been wanting to rent segways for awhile now. We had tried to rent some for our anniversary date, but they were all rented out. When my dad's birthday came around I thought it would be a lot of fun for him (and everyone else) to try...I am really into "experience" birthday present for our parents now - they have EVERYTHING! I think he had a great time cruising around the cul-de-sac!

I think everyone had a great time riding around on the segways and we only had one injury....my sister Steph had to bail on a fast moving machine before she crashed into a curb - she mangled her toes pretty good....so almost a spotless record! We took them over to my parents house for the evening!

Dallie and Tyler didn't ride the segways that night...but they always have a great time together!

The next day we took a few more spins around our neighorhood on them and even let a few neighbors try them out!

The segways made another road trip up to Adam's parents home for a few more test runs...we just had to share the fun with everyone!

Both McKenna and Harrison are now asking for a segway for Christmas...I really hope Santa doesn't get too crazy and grant that wish....

MONSTER TRUCK SHOW!

Our brother-in-law takes his boys to the annual Monster Truck show every spring. We decided to take our kids this year (minus Addison) and we had a great time!! We went a little early to have our pics taken with some of the "stars" of the show...(so much dust in the air, the camera caught it)

The line-up...

The tricks the trucks performed were amazing! I almost got car sick just watching!

Some amazing jumps....

and some amazing landings...all in all, we saw one tire fly off, this truck land on its side, another land on its top, and we watched the Ghost Rider do a 360 flip!

We already have the show for next year marked on the calendar (along with a note to take ear plugs)!!

FAMILY PICTURES 2010

I have always been pretty good about having an annual family picture taken...until Tyler came along...I don't know what happened to my life, but family pictures just didn't happen - for 2 1/2 years! So, I decided that I was going to get on top of it again.


We had our pictures taken the first weekend of November and the weather was just perfect and the colors outside were great! Here's a run down of our family shots ...with my critique of the photos, of course...

First picture taken -

The Good: We are all smiles and all looking at the camera; not a bad shot of us

The Bad: I'm not quite sure where I'm going...

Second shot of the day -

The Good: Once again, love all the smiles and the foliage in the background

The Bad: Addie was having a hard time looking at the camera, and I told the photographer NOT to get a shot of Adam's white socks- grrr...I guess that's what photoshop is for! (is that being too picky?!?)

Third times the charm?

The Good: umm...nice foliage...and McKenna looks good, Addie looks good.

The Bad: This shot is probably my least favorite. I look like I'm getting ready to play a quick game of the hokey pokey (you put your right leg in, you put your right leg out...), Tyler looks less than excited to have this picture taken.

Last Chance:

The Good: We are all, once again, looking at the camera - all smiles even! Great color in the background!

The Bad: Through the whole shoot, I kept telling myself, "neck stretched, chin down" (that's the movie stars secret), but I didn't listen to my own advice....

o.k..all in all, I DO think the pictures turned out great! We are always our worst critic! I'm happy to mark that off my "to do" list and now all I need to do is pick my favorite and put it up on the wall (before it's out of date)!

SLEDS AND SWINGS

It was a great day (for being February) to go sledding at the local park:

It was quite the work-out walking back up the hill, and I don't remember sledding being so jarring to the joints!?!

Then the kids spotted the toys and decided they were done with the sledding:

Time for a little nap!

CREDIT MUST BE GIVEN!

I cannot go any longer without letting everyone know how AWESOME Adam is at woodworking!! From the day we were married, he has made a great amount of furniture for our home and family (and usually with minimal complaining) He just finished yet another great piece for Harrison - I hope these pieces stay around forever!!


Like I said, from the day we were married... Adam started off making our bed (I unfortunately don't have a picture of that because it is currently being used at his family's cabin) and yes, I loved it, but it was a queen and we have since moved up to a king-sized bed!


Next, when McKenna was on her way, I pulled out my trusty Pottery Barn catalog and showed him this picture:

and before I knew it, he had construced this great changing table!! It has now made it through 3 kids and will surely make it through #4!!

Now, a few months after Kenna was born we moved into our home - and a new house needs some new furniture right?!? So, out came the trusty Pottery Barn catalog again with a picture of some end tables for the living room:

aren't these just great!! ( I have two of them)

When we found out Harrison was joining our family, I knew we needed to finish our basement...but it was FREEZING down there! So, we went to buy a fireplace and saw some great designs. But then Adam decided he would just do it all himself - we bought the insert and Adam's woodworking talents finished the rest - I love it!

of course, we also needed to find housing for the monstrous t.v. and our many DVDs - Adam to the rescue!

When Harrison was old enough for a bed, we went searching for one, but then I received another Pottery Barn catalog in the mail and just couldn't keep my eyes off of this bed!
Adam went right to work and I still love it!! It has been a great bed for Harrison!

We had completed most of our basement except for the bathroom, until Adam got the woodworking itch again (double vanity and all):

Oh...the "needing and wanting" never end for more furniture right?!? Well, we then needed more toy storage....toy shelves to be exact:

And now for the latest piece - Harrison's dresser - once again, pulled for that darn Pottery Barn catalog (I couldn't pass up the matching dresser!!)

Thank you, Adam, for all your awesome work!! I must, as I'm giving credit, thank his dad as well! We wouldn't be so lucky to have all this without Adam's dad being a woodshop teacher for so many years and taking the time to share his skills with Adam and all his siblings!!

(please don't judge me for the clutter around - that's the one thing I'm good at!!)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS 2009

We have so much to be thankful for this year!

Everyone had a great year! Here's a litte bit of what we've been up to:

Adam is enjoying more time off from the Mail Center this year - we have been lucky to have such great employees...and the kids love having him around - McKenna hates going to school when dad is home because she thinks we party all day without her... if only she knew how uneventful everyday is around here.

I am enjoying being home with the kids and we are expecting our 4th child coming July 2010. I am Primary President (since June 2009) and feel so comfortable with the children! It's a lot of work, but fun!! I'm also still trying to keep up on blogging and look forward to putting together my first book beginning of next year!

McKenna is doing great in 1st grade! Her teacher has nothing but great things to say about her - she is great with reading and does it whenever she has a moment to sit (or whenever Hannah Montana or Suite Life on Deck isn't on). She is still doing dance - working towards her 5 year award next year!

Harrison is still rambuncious as ever! He is really into ninja's (he calls them "aninjas") and is wanting to join a karate class...I'm still trying to decide if fighting skills are really what he needs!?! He is in preschool and likes that and he is picking up on Kenna's math skills left and right! He and Tyler do pretty good playing together during the day, but he would prefer to be watching t.v. or playing Wii games with dad - he loves "boy time" as they call it.

Tyler is a total cutie! He's talking up a storm as he's approaching his birthday - he can now sing the ABC's and sings while walking around the house all the time! He is a pretty patient child - I sure hope he keeps his calm demeanor as he hits toddlerhood! Right now he is in love with Mickey Mouse and Elmo and will ask to watch Elmo's World almost everyday!

- We are hoping for another great year in 2010 -

HOLIDAY GREETINGS

Trying to get a holiday card together to send to everyone - I have failed at having an ACTUAL family picture taken this year and am running out of time!! So, it's now up to me and my photography skills....yikes!

attempt #1- everyone look at the camera...

attempt #2 - I said, ...everyone look at the camera...

attempt #3 - too shadowy...

my last attempt - not bad, but....

Wait - why not kill 2 birds with 1 stone!!

We'll try putting the camera in auto mode with everyone (I can get my family picture AND holiday card).... that's great!! Now it's off to get these processed!!

I just love how I wait until the last minute!