Mesa Temple

Our family always enjoy visiting the temple grounds. The girls love to walk around and look at the flowers, fountains, and the temple. It is so fun to talk about the temple and we are glad that they so enjoy being on the temple grounds.

FUNNY STORY: I was making plans to attend the temple with the youth of our ward to do baptisms. Hannah wanted to know why I had to go to the temple. So in an attempt to explain to her what we do in the temple, I told her that mommies young women were going to go to the temple to be baptized for people who already went to live with Heavenly Father and didn't get to be baptized. She seemed like she understood and went on her way. The next day I overheard her talking to her friend about how she was going to come to her house later while mom went to the temple. The conversation went on a bit longer and then I heard Hannah say, "My mom is going to go to the temple and see dead people." I couldn't help but laugh and think to myself that I had to explaining to do at a later date.

The girls loved looking at Jesus in the visitors center and were convinced that he was really speaking to them when they listened to the presentation they do there. It was so cute and touching to see how excited they were and how intent they were on really trying to listen.

Bathing Beauties!!!

At the end of August we made another trip to Arizona with my family. We spent a lot of time swimming due to the fact that it was SOOO HOT still. The boys had fun playing fisbee in the pool, but when the frisbee got 'lost' they had to resort to wrestling.

Hannah is my little fish. As long as she has her life jacket on she will go anywhere and do anything. She was practicing putting her head in the water and jumping in when nobody was there to catch her. She could have stayed in the pool all day if I would let her.


Addy hated her life jacket, but loved the water and has no fear, so we had to always be on our guard to where she was. She loved to swim while someone held her or jump to whoever would catch her.

FUNNY STORY: There was a kiddie pool that the kids could play in and the first day we took them Addy went crazy. She thought it was great that she could touch and walk around. She would get out and run around and the come and jump in and go under the water and come up sputtering, and do it again. Then she started blowing bubbles and was just being hilarious!!! The funniest part though was when I spotted a bird and was trying to point it out to her. I said, "Addy look, there's a birdy." My thought was that she was going to go and chase it or be excited to see it, but no she looks at the bird and then says, "I KILL IT!!!" and then proceeded to try to splash the bird repeating, "I KILL IT!!!" My mom and I were cracking up.

On the last day of our vacation we went to a water park. It wasn't the best water park we have ever been to but the girls thought it was great. They liked the wave pool, and then they had some kiddie slides that they could go down by themselves and it was so fun to watch them. It was such a blast!!!

Hannah's Four

We celebrated Hannah's birthday in Oregon becuase we had to drive home on her actual birthday. Mimi made her a castle cake which she was so excited about, and still talks about. We also let her pick her favorite meal for dinner. Its always such a wonderful meal when a four year old chooses the menu. Everyone was so great to suffer through eating chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese. YUM!! YUM!!!

Addy got to get in on the presents too since Mimi and grandpa wanted to see her open her presents too. Both girls got dance outfits which they thought were wonderful as they are always dressing up, singing, and dancing. It was a fun day!!!

Oregon

We visited the tide pools, which the girls thought was so great. They really enjoyed walking on the rocks and touching the animals.

We also got a chance to go swimming at a friends house, and visit the Undersea Gardens. We had lots of fun. Thanks Mimi and Grandpa for a fun visit.

Family Reunion

Our trip to Oregon to visit Cory's family started out with a Harward Family Reunion at their family cabin. We had lots of fun, even though it wasn't ideal weather we were just happy it didn't rain the whole time. The girls had fun playing with the kids, playing horseshoes and running around.

We also made some dream boats and then sent them down the river in memory of the river fairies. The girls had so much fun gathering plants and flowers and then lighting the candles and watching them float down the river.

Grandpa and Mandy had lots of fun too!!! :)

Washington

For our first summer vacation we went to Washington to visit my family.


We went to the beach and the girls got to go swimming in the sound. They said the water was cold, but of course that didn't stop them.





We ate lunch at the beach but almost got wet due to the incoming tide. We quickly made our escape up the rocks to finish eating.
















We celebrated the girls birthdays. They got beach towels, chairs, clothes, and lots more. SPOILED!!!












Here are the girls at the zoo. They loved seeing the animals and we were lucky to get such a beautiful day.

Addy wasn't so sure about this giant lizard thing
Then she saw sister sit on it and decided he was okay

Addy is TWO!!!

COOL DUDE!!

We had a few friends over for cake and ice cream to celebrate Addy turning two. She had lots of fun with the presents, cake, and friends.

Flower Girl

Hannah got to be a flower girl in my cousin, Lauralynn's, wedding. She was so excited to dress up in her big pretty "Belle" dress.

She did such a good job walking down the isle.

She waited so patiently during the ceremony, something we were a bit worried about. And then she and the little boy walked back up the isle together and it was adorable!!!

Spring Break

We were so excited to get away from the snow and go somewhere warm. We were able to spend a week in Phoenix, AZ with Cory's family. It was lots of fun and we got to see lots a amazing things. Here we are at the Grand Canyon. Truly amazing and yet nerve racking for moms with small children (or any age child for that matter).

Hannah posing by herself for one quick shot before she is then glued to an adults hand for the remainder of the visit. We also went and visited the old cliff dwelling just outside of Sedona, AZ. Here are Addy and I in front of Montezuma's Castle. It was really fascinating!

We also went to the zoo in Phoenix. It was quite warm that day though and we didn't get to see very many animals. We also tried to swim in Uncle Lance's backyard, but the water was just a bit on the cool side. The girls had fun getting wet even though everyone else was freezing!!!

An Update!

Cory graduated in May with his Master's in School Counseling and is working for a Middle School in Idaho Falls. Although, this was not the end of his schooling road, as he started working on an Administrative credential in August. A FOREVER STUDENT!!

Our little family. The girls were so excited to see daddy graduate. Little did they know that this was not the end of the road.

We had lots of family here to support us on this big occasion and we want to thank everyone for coming and making such a big deal.