I'm BACK!

A few days ago, I sat down at the computer and clicked on my blog link. That is something I haven't done in a REALLY long time. I scrolled through all my posts and realized, I miss this! It has been a little journal of sorts of my family and I want to be able to see this! 

Things have changed for us! We added another sweet boy to the family! Maybe that will be my next post, but Hawkins has brought so much joy to our family. I can't imagine not having him! My boys love him to death and he lights up when he sees them. He says both of their names. The cutest thing ever. "Dash" and "Piece" So cute. He can say mom, dad, kitty, teddy (his favorite bear) baby, owie, no, yes. He signs more and drink and it's hilarious. Haha! Love my boys.

Todd started a new job a year ago. It is busy and he is liking it. I work a couple nights a month at Portneuf on the Pediatric unit. I like it and it challenges me, which I needed. Life is good. Going by so fast, it makes me sad sometimes. I love being a wife and a mom! Here's to another beginning!

Our Family Vacation 2010 {Day 3}

We started Day 3 with a little education.

Because we're cool like that:)

Seriously though... the Hoover Dam is pretty cool.

I've never been there myself and we were so close so we decided to take a quick jaunt to see it.

This bridge is newly completed and beautiful.

Driving over it you would have no idea how high you really are.

I thought the design was breathtaking!

The Hoover Dam is also pretty amazing.

To see the actual size is crazy.

The pictures below could make me either have a nervous breakdown or barf.

I was freaking out that Todd was holding Cash over the edge of the barrier. 

And yes, you would be correct if you were thinking that Pierce is about to stand on his stroller for his own look!

He did and I about died.

As you can tell I tried to stay mostly away from the edge and barely looked over.

My one time looking down.

Pretty freaking scary, right?!

Love this bridge!

The sun felt SO good to us:)

We were so happy to be out of the tundra we call home for a few days for sure!

We walked a million more stairs...

 

and then we found ourselves on the road again.

California here we come:)

 

Our Family Vacation 2010 {Day 2}

 I bet ya thought I'd never get to Day 2!

Well here goes.

The title of this day should be "Walking a Million Miles" for various reasons (just a warning).

On day 2 of the vacay, we drove ourselves to Vegas for some crazy fun.

The boys were great in the car once again and the trip there wasn't all that bad.

Who doesn't love miles and miles of cactus, dirt, and an occasional gas station?!

We found our way to the MGM where we stayed for the night.

Let's just say that they hotels in Las Vegas don't love their customers when it comes to parking.

The MGM is massive and the parking lot is like a million levels high and a million miles from the room.

So poor Todd got the short straw and had to pack the bags up to our room (a million miles).

 The boys were getting restless while we waited for Todd to hike a million miles so we snapped some photos:)

Sorry babe, you can make me walk a million miles next time!

They could have stayed in this window for days watching all the action at the airport.

It was plane and helicopter heaven for the boys as they watched them come and go every minute!

Pierce was going nuts yelling "Copter" at the top of his lungs:)

 And they snapped one of me as well!

 As soon as Todd made it back we made a plan and headed out for the night.

We made our way down to the lion exhibit in the hotel.
There were three trainers in the exhibit with the lions at all time.
They told us that it cost 9 million dollars to build the exhibit.
The kids liked it.

After the lions we made our way to Mandalay Bay and took our boys to the Shark Reef Aquarium.
I gotta say it was pretty cool with things like Guitar Sharks and all.
The kids liked it so that was a success!

After the sharks we were all famished and decided to spend our life savings on the MGM buffet for dinner.
It was good as usual and the kids were thrilled with the endless dessert buffet.
It was still early in the evening by that time and we weren't looking forward to wrestling the boys in the hotel room for hours on end.
So we decided to take a little walk:)

A little walk turned in to a million miles later when we finally made it to the amazing Bellagio water show.

PS: Cash walked the entire time!

Seriously, how could you not love it?!

Poor Pierce was terrified:(

After the water show we were all pretty burned out.

We found the nearest monorail station and were thrilled with the fact that our walk back was just made easier!

And it was totally awesome because it dropped us off right at our own hotel.

But that doesn't mean that we didn't have to still walk a million miles up to our room.

Needless to say we were all exhausted when we finally made to there.

We bathed the boys and paid $12.00 to rent Despicable Me in the room

Best $12.00 we ever spent... I'm pretty sure... I fell asleep before it was over:)

Our Family Vacation 2010 {Day 1}

Wow! I better get caught up:)

We were so excited to take our boys on a vacation this year.

My husband convinced me somehow that driving is more fun than flying.

So this is where our journey began!

December 4, 2010 

We were on our way to Utah to see the lights at temple square.

Good riddance to our Idaho freezing cold :)

It didn't take long for Pierce to get bored and hey I'm a big fan of sleeping children in the car!

Cash, in the meantime, was completely entertained with his new Leapfrog Explorer that we got him for the trip!

And the captain of our voyage would have nothing to do with pictures while driving.

As soon as we arrived we got bundled up and headed out to see the beauty. 

Our kids loved this fantastic fountain.

Pierce was just thrilled to be out of the car!

We headed inside the Joseph Smith Memorial Building where we were greeted by this beautiful tree and some carolers who were serenading us with their beautiful Christmas songs.

Just before the lights turned on we walked around the grounds and looked at the nativities. 

Pierce was a big fan :)

And wouldn't you know it that as soon as the lights turned on the wind picked up and it turned to FREEZING in no time at all. 

Pierce was enjoying taking his gloves off at every chance he got so my time was consumed with either back-tracking to find lost gloves or shoving his tiny hands into them.

This picture below was taken just before the lights came on.

I wish I could explain the beauty.

I wish I could explain the "oohs" and "awes" that were heard when the lights came on.

It was stunning and such a perfect way to begin our Christmas season and our vacation.

We loaded back up after the lights and headed to Provo where Brock, Maren & Co. were kind enough to feed us and entertain us:)

Then we headed to our hotel where we rested up for the things to come.

Braggin' Rights

Just a quick shout out to my husband!

If you haven't received your October issue of Potato Grower magazine yet.

You are totally missing out on his front cover:)

He adds a bit of a creative touch to harvest every year!

Way to go Todd!

Day #1= Success!

Well at least after I got him through the Preschool door that is!

This kid is ummm.... well should I say {stubborn}!

I have had to drag him to some functions in his life.

He is so fun-loving and has a very outgoing personality, after you break through his shy shell.

It takes him a bit to warm up and then you may just hear our whole life story:)

So this morning he woke-up happy as can be.

I was thrilled!

Then I said the word "Preschool" and everything changed.

He didn't want to bathe, eat, get dressed, you name it he didn't want to do it.

He cried and told me he was afraid.

I felt bad.

But I was patient and encouraging... for the most part.

And we made it!

And they talked about families today and raccoons too!

And he told me that if you eat ice cream too fast you get an ice cream head-ache.

I guess they had ice cream for a snack.

He was thrilled when he ran out to the car.

I'm really proud of him.

He does give me anxiety when he throws his fits like he did this morning, 

but overall the anxiety is well worth it.

Especially when they bring cute things home in their back-pack such as this:

I'm so excited for my buddy to start this new chapter in his life.

I must say that after I left him there this morning I started worrying about things like:

"Does he know where the bathroom is? Will he listen? Will he be a good example and be kind? What if he doesn't know his teachers name?"

And I quizzed him about most of these things... and he totally passed!

Seriously why do I stress myself out?!

He even said he met some pretty cool boys at school.

Sounds like it's gonna be a good year:)

A new adventure

  

My buddy is getting to be a big boy!

Tonight was an open house for preschool that he will be attending this year.

Crazy to think that I once thought that this day was FAR away.

And here it is!

He was so happy and brave.

It brought a smile to my face:)

They got to frost two huge cookies and add some sprinkles.

He was so proud and excited.

He informed me that we are keeping that cup and stick for frosting cookies at home!

I sure do love this boy of mine.

Good luck Cash on your first year of school.

You are smart, strong, handsome and brave.

I hope you always remember that:)

Love, Mom

Thanks Hill!