Doughnut Falls Hike

Fun morning up Big Cottonwood Canyon!  Emily helped me be brave enough to take our kids on what turned out to be a great hike to Doughnut Falls.

Making Memories

With our vacation for this week being cancelled because of Greg's need to not miss work, I wanted to find a way to help us all feel like we were/are still making memories that "count" even though we're close to home.  So, above our dining room table we've made this 5 foot banner.  Each time we do something "memorable" we try to write it on a little paper to post up on the sign...and add pictures when we can.  It's probably been the most fun for me.  But, I see the kids looking at it often and think it's pretty fun create a "scrapbook" of sorts day-by-day.

Ogden Temple

So fun to have the Treehouse Museum be right next door to the Ogden Temple.  

Got to walk around the grounds and "touch the temple" together.  Love these kids!

Ogden Treehouse Museum

Don't know how we've been back in Utah more than 2 years...and today was the first time we've been to the Ogden Treehouse Museum!  We LOVED it!  This is our kind of place!  

The kids especially loved getting to be on stage in a play!

Morning Bike Ride

Nathan and Joshua have started a Ballroom Dance class (by their request) that happens at the school, before school, twice a week.  Decided to take the chance with "just" two kids to go on a quick morning bike ride while they were away.  Aaron is loving having Elizabeth back at home while they're off-track!

Memories for Elizabeth

This week one of our neighbor families that we're great friends with is also off-track.  Originally we'd planned to go on a vacation with them to California during this week off.  But, Greg's work schedule has ramped-up so much gearing up for the launch of his pilot program that we just didn't feel like he could pull away.  Elizabeth has been most aware/vocal about being sad we're not on that trip.  We decided that it would be fun to have her "make memories" with her doll, and then we're going to hang up the pictures on a wall in her room so that she can remember we've had a fun/special week too.  We got her all "doll-ed up" to take a few pictures to get her started...and then hope to gradually add more. 

Writing

Picking Flowers

Playing the Piano

Making Rice Krispies

Climbing Trees

Going on a walk

Dancing Ninjas

2 Boys with time on their hands + a keyboard from Grandma and Grandpa's = 

Dancing Ninjas

First Time at Fiiz

The craze in Utah right now are drink shops that sell all kinds of flavored soda.  While Aaron was at preschool, we took these kids for their first try.

Happy Mother's Day

A Happy Mother's Day with our wonderful kids...and husband!

Cub Scout Thank You

Was excited to find these cute cups and a new recipe we love!

Key Lime Pie Recipe

Emily's Baby Shower

So fun to celebrate Emily and Willie and this baby girl!

Progressive Dinner

Joshua's Pinewood Derby

Good times with Joshua and the other 35+ Cub Scouts at the Pinewood Derby!

When Grandparents Stop By...

In the last month or two Grandpa and Grandma Luthy have had some appointments in SLC, and we've gotten to be a stopping point along the way.  So fun to have the chance for some brief, "regular" moments with them!

Elizabeth's Birthday

Our wonderful Elizabeth turned 6!

Made extra special by three brothers who we picked up from school to be there for her friend party.  They were the awesome gentlemen who made the whole thing a success.  Decided to dress up to look the part, purposefully "lost" in games to help the girls feel great, performed a magic show, served the refreshments, etc. etc.  Filled by my heart!

Invited all the girls from Elizabeth's class to a Princess Tea Party.

Fun favors and games.  Even made petit fours in honor of Grandma Christensen.  :)

Elizabeth's Birthday -- Frozen Sing-Along

The night before Elizabeth's birthday we headed down to Provo (several headed to Richfield the next morning to work on Grandma Franson's home).  The family celebrated swimming at the aquatic center and then watching Frozen (making it the sing-along version...by adding subtitles).  So fun!

Easter Egg Dying

Everybody loved "creating", especially when Dad gets in on the fun.

Silliness!

Visiting the State Capitol

A fun little "field trip" for an off-track Friday.  Did a scavenger hunt in the Capitol that we found online, and then had lunch with Greg at City Creek food court.

Trip to Zion National Park

Hope to take some time a little later to sort through and make these great...but wanted to post for now some fun pictures of our family's trip to Zion and the chance to spend a day with our VanShaar family!  Love them so much!