Charles Family

July - Family Trip to Salt Lake City

2011-07-25T21:47:00.005-06:00

Last weekend we headed to Salt Lake for a few days. When we started out, the girls were so excited to get their Squirmles they had been begging for. Emma was so excited about hers that she could hardly sleep the night before. Unfortunately, Squirmles are not as cool as they appear in the commercials. Oh, well. It was an inexpensive lesson learned. They still played with them for a long time in the car though.

Our first stop was Cowabunga Bay in Draper. It is an awesome water park with kids. Emma was able to go on every slide but one, and boy did she enjoy it. Despite the wind causing her to shiver uncontrollably, I think she would have gone all day. Ash wasn't a fan of the slides, but she did enjoy the lazy river and just being in the pool.

Emma is getting old enough that Nick would let her go on the slides she wanted to go on while he went on those he was interested in. The place was the perfect size to be able to keep a good eye on her while she had fun.

After four hours of fun there, we went to dinner at a yummy Thai restaurant. Even the girls are beginning to share Nick's enthusiasm for Thai food. My favorite dish was a shrimp and rice dish served in a pineapple. Yummy. From there, we went to my Grandma Hutchens apartment for the night. She's so willing to let people stay with her.

The next day we brought Grandma along with us to the Aviary in Salt Lake. We've been several times are really enjoy it. They've made several improvements recently, too, that have made the trip even better.

I thought it'd be fun to let the girls participate in feeding the pelicans. They, however, did not really like the idea of throwing dead fish. Emma hesitantly participated, but Ash . . .

let Daddy throw her fishies. (I can't really say I blame her.) But is was kind of fun.

The bird show was really well done. We all enjoyed it. There were only three rows, so it had a much more intimate feel than other shows we've been to.

And you can't help but enjoy watching the crow tuck away a donated dollar. Too fun.

And since the girls were being such stinkers, we fed them to the birds. ;)

That afternoon we took ourselves away from the worst of the heat and headed to Park City where we met up with Nick's parents, cousin Cassidy, and sister Lacee with her little guy Carson.

Several of us had the chance to go on the Alpine Slide. This little Carson sure loves his Grandpa. Sorry the picture's turned. I'm too lazy to try to turn it.

I love this picture. The slide was so fun. The girls loved it, especially since they shared it with people they love.

Despite a temporary scare when Grandma just about passed out, the trip was perfect. We fished the day with a trip to Chucky Cheese's. The kids had a lot of fun. While the pizza was better than we'd expected, we decided that the kids get more bang for their buck here at our local game center. But everyone went away happy with their little prizes.

The next morning we went to the zoo. It was fun going with all the cousins. The zoo is always a hit. We especially loved the elephant show. The baby elephant is trained to flap its ears, spin in circles, and even do a hand stand. It was really fun to watch.

And who can resist a ride on a carousel. The girls loved it. It was a near perfect trip. Thanks everyone for joining us.

July - Millar Family Reunion

2011-07-25T21:36:00.003-06:00

We had a great time getting together with my family for a bit of a reunion two weeks ago. We stayed in Rexburg and gathered at Mom and Dad's for fun time. Unfortunately, my camera never made it's way out of my bag. I only have this picture because Nick brought his new underwater camera to the pool to try out when he was able to come and join us. Know, however, that these are some of my very favorite people. I love the feeling of love and acceptance that exists in my family. We all love each other tremendously. With lots of little people running around all the time, it's just some times hard to stop and enjoy each other. :)

On Thursday, I finished my final, graded papers, entered grades, packed up the girls, and headed to Rexburg to my little sister's house for a BBQ. It was great fun, despite a bit of rain. The girls and I stayed out at her house and really enjoyed it (Emma did have a sleep over with her cousin Kate one night). Friday morning we headed to the sand dunes. It was fun watching the kids play in the sand just as I did when I was a kid. We then took the sandy little ones to Grandma's house for lunch only to leave a short time later for Rexburg's new pool. It was a bit windy, but super fun. The kids played and played until they couldn't handle it any more. Saturday was a bit of a down day. Grandma rented an inflatable bouncy house for the front yard, and the back yard was turned into a kid water park. We ended the day by having a birthday party for my brother-in-law Heath, but mostly for his little guy Ryken. Sunday we all went to church with my sister Kerri. It was fun all being together (well, except for two MIA sons-in-law and my sweet sister Alisa and her family in Alabama). It was a great weekend.

As much fun as we had, we were very excited to see Daddy again and to go to a farewell BBQ for our good friends the Moores. All in all, it was a great weekend.

July 4th Fun

2011-07-25T21:19:00.003-06:00

We definitely celebrated the 4th of July in phases. On Sunday night, we let the girls stay up late to do fireworks. Since we discovered last year's stash that we didn't finish, we were able to have an extra bit of fun. The girls especially love sparklers (what kid doesn't) and pop-its.

Monday morning we were treated with a visit from Joel and Sarah and their family. We have missed these guys so much since moving from Laramie. We were thrilled that they would spend a couple of hours with us. We went to the parade and dinner. Unfortunately, the weather was cold, windy, and rainy, and the parade was rather poorly represented. Oh, well, the kids got lots of candy, and we LOVED the company and can't wait to see them again.

That afternoon we had one heck of a rainstorm. I should have taken a picture. The road outside our house was a small river. It was beautifully scary. Then, a few hours later, after the clouds had blown over and everything looked summery again, we left for Pocatello's firework show. It was really quite well done. Thanks to a tip from some good friends, we had great seats, too. In face, the same friends ended up showing up and enjoying the show with us. Tyler and Ashley just recently moved their growing family to Burley. I miss them a lot, and was grateful for the opportunity to spend one last fun hurrah with them, at least while they lived here. As Robertsons showed us, good friends don't ever disappear.

July - Ladybugs and Butterflies

2011-07-25T21:09:00.004-06:00

If you recall, the Easter Bunny left the girls a lady bug house and a butterfly house. We've really enjoyed watching the little critters. We went from having a fish to having a house full of little things to take care of within a matter of weeks. We've all loved it. Here's Emma releasing her ladybugs onto our lemon tree. They like being released when it's cool outside, hence, once again, pajamas.

The butterflies were really fun, too. And super easy. The hardest part was remembering to feed them once they hatched, and keeping the kids and puppy from smashing them. :)

How often does a kid get to hold a butterfly?

Pure happiness. (Note Ash's stuffed animals. She is almost always toting at least one around.)

I thought this was a fun picture. It didn't stay long, and girls kept wondering where they would all go.

June (not too much going on)

2011-07-25T20:57:00.003-06:00

Apparently, when I teach, I'm a pretty boring Mom. June was pretty low key. Courtney, my only Laurel, babysat the girls in the afternoons while I taught for a couple hours. We'd occasionally catch lunch at the park or go to Pocatello's zoo, but we mostly stayed home. Sometimes, that's best, anyways.

This is truly the best picture I have from the month of June. And in actuality, it does sum up the month. I had no idea how time consuming having a puppy is. Well, having a puppy that you hope will become a type of member of the family. As Nick continues to say, "She's getting better." She's also getting bigger. We were apparently had. She is not the male cockapoo we thought we purchased. He is a she and is just over 20 lbs now at six months old. The guess is out about what type of dog she may be. She's not a dumb dog although not the brightest, has a bit of spunk to her, and thankfully does not shed. Nick keeps hinting at kicking her outside, but I know she'd be neglected, and that's the last thing I wanted when buying a dog.

She knows not to chew on the furniture, is house trained (yippee!), and plays really well with the kids. She's even beginning to tolerate Ashlyn constantly trying to ride on her, pull her tail, and drag her through the house on her leash. The kids love having her, but I have to admit, I think I like her the most, and she knows it. She rarely leaves my side when I'm home. It's kind of nice having a sweet, soft, loving, always forgiving buddy. Can you tells she's been rather therapeutic, too?

May (Yep, a bit behind)

2011-07-25T20:33:00.004-06:00

May was a great month. It was full of birthday parties, field trips, graduation, and recitals.

My niece Jessi turned 3 and had a Dora party. Ashy and Jessi and good little buddies. Here is Ashy with her goody bag.

These two were so sweet together. They love each other very much.

Cousins! My girls love their Mills cousins. They enjoy being with them every chance they get. We were getting ready to head home in this picture, hence the jammies.

My sister's place had a few dandelions, so what better use to put kids to then to send them picking. Emma was in heaven. I have to note that she loved her outfit this day, despite my reminding her that long sleeves aren't necessary in May, especially with shorts. Oh, I love my Emma-girl. She is rather strong willed at times. :)

Emma's kindergarten was actually able to make it on a field trip at the end of the school year to a local pet store with a petting zoo. She really enjoyed feeding the goats, swinging on the swing set, and being with her school friends.

Kindergarten Graduation! Does anyone know where this tradition started? It was cute watching her little class sing the songs they had learned over the school year. We're proud of Emma and love watching her learn how to read.

Hurray for good teachers! Emma loved Mrs. Olson. Every time I was in her classroom, she made the time fun and exciting. She had so much energy, especially considering she was pregnant! I love my kiddos, but I'm pretty sure that being a first time kindergarten teacher while pregnant will never make it to my wish list.

Half of school is learning how to make and be a good friend. Luckily, Emma does both. Stevi is one such friend.

Our neighbor boy and good friend Carter. We'd walk down to school together every morning.

What would spring be like without a dance recital? Emma enjoyed tumbling again this year. Ash tried, but didn't like being away from Mom so much. I'm hoping she'll enjoy tap/ballet better this fall. I'm crossing my fingers that we'll get in.

Cousin Cass came with Grandma all the way from WY to watch Emma. Thanks Cass and Grandma!

Easter at Grandma's New House

2011-05-10T21:42:00.005-06:00

Nick's parents were able to get moved into their new house for Easter and wanted to celebrate it right, so we headed over for a big Easter party. The girls had a blast. On Saturday we all enjoyed a delicious Easter dinner, egg fight, egg dying, and of course, egg hunt. It was wonderful.

Sunday morning was really fun. The Easter bunny set up a scavenger hunt throughout the house and left the baskets up in the playroom. The girls, including their cousin Cass, ran through the house after the clues. It was a very fun morning.

Mom's favorite was getting them all dressed up in their pretty dresses. I just love dots. They make me smile. I sure love these girlies.

I thoroughly enjoyed being able to relax a bit on Easter. Usually it is so hectic that we forget what Easter is all about. I am very proud of my Emma. She kept reminding us about our Savior and what Eater is really for. We are so blessed to have a special day to remember Him and all he has done for us. I feel his love for me and my family daily.

Fieldtrip

2011-05-10T21:35:00.003-06:00

Ashlyn's preschool went to a nursery for a fieldtrip. Ash had so much fun and even got to plant her own little pansy flower to bring home.

The girls have always loved the pond feature in the back at this nursery. The bridge and the fish are a must see there. No wonder the smiley faces. Oh, and yes. The rosey cheeks are due to 5ths disease. Both girls have had it. It didn't bother them, but they certainly looked merry and then blotchy. Sorry to anyone we unknowingly shared it with. It's apparently just one more of the fun joys of kids. Let's just focus on the smiles and not the cheeks, right? After all, I can't help but think my girls are stinkin' cute.

Happy Birthday Ashlyn

2011-05-10T21:21:00.003-06:00

My baby turned 4 this year. Believe me, it has been bitter sweet. She is growing into such a sweet, wonderful little girl. She's beginning to grow out of the tantrums and is so pleasant to be around. Ashlyn loves to play. She has in incredible imagination and is happy with almost anything to play with. Yes, even two tubes of "lips" (aka chap stick or lip gloss) can become best friends in her pretend games. Her all time favorite is playing with Emma. They have so much fun together. She's still quite strong willed and does things her way 90% of the time, so we have to be rather creative ourselves to get her to do things at times. But who said parenting this child would be boring? Ashy, you are a sweetheart. We love you dearly and are very, very blessed to be your parents.

To start the day off right, I decorated the house the night before. Ashy was in heaven when we woke up to streamers all over. It was so cute. She was a perfect birthday girl.
She also wanted to have a Sleeping Beauty party this year, so we invited a couple of friends over and had a pajama party. I even painted their beautiful nails. Then we decorated cupcakes and opened presents. It was short, sweet, and fun. Everyone had a great time, especially the birthday girl.

Soccer!

2011-05-10T21:01:00.003-06:00

Emma is playing soccer this year. It's quite hilarious. She spends most of her time chasing the rest of the kids, but she's starting to get in there more and has started to actually get some kicks in. Mostly we just love to watch her having fun. She gets on the field and always grins from ear to ear the entire time. Go EMMA!

Playing spring soccer in south-eastern Idaho isn't always warm. We've played in wind, rain, and snow. Emma doesn't care. She just grins and runs.

And I love this little sister. She's a trooper and loves watching her sister.

Drawing for a Free Photo Session

2011-04-12T23:06:00.001-06:00

Drawing for a free photo session from L photography in Rexburg. Check out her website http://www.lindseymarlorphotography.blogspot.com/ for details.

Puppy!

2011-04-02T16:36:00.003-06:00

Nick and I have talked about getting a puppy since we got married. Now that Ashlyn is almost four, we figured it was a good time. I wanted something that could be an indoor-outdoor dog so that it would get the attention it needed. That meant we needed something that wasn't too big and didn't shed a lot. When I found pictures of this little guy, I fell in love. He is adorable. He is a cockapoo (or a spoodle) - a cocker spaniel poodle cross. This means he should be about 15-17 lbs, doesn't shed much, and should have low dander. His fur is incredibly soft.

The girls absolutely love him. Even Ash likes him. We're just having her how to treat him. She's a bit happy about having something smaller than her to boss around.

At the end of a busy day, he loves to curl up in my lap to sleep. I rather enjoy it.
He found my nephew's binky and apparently really liked it.

There have been pros and cons. I've never had a puppy before, and I'm doing my best to help him be a good dog. When we first got him, he got really sick. He was throwing up and had really bad diarrhea. Fun stuff, right? I took him to the vet to make sure he didn't have parvo or some other virus or bacteria. He tested all right, but it took him well over a week to start eating well. He got pretty skinny.

On top of that, we're all getting used to having a puppy around. He's HYPER in the mornings and evenings, which adds a bit of awkwardness to those already busy times of day. We're also trying to figure out some discipline methods. After reading up a bit, we're all learning. Hopefully with time he'll be the perfect addition to our family.

With that, if anyone does have any pointers, I'd love to hear them. Wish us luck!

Nickles!

2011-03-02T21:48:00.003-07:00

Before being a parent, I had no idea about the power of a nickle. They work for everything from awards to bribery. Our latest nickle use had proved to be quite beneficial. A couple of months ago we initiated using nickles at dinner. We've always had a lack of manners at the dinner table, so here's how we are remedying our problem.

Before dinner starts, everyone gets three nickles. If you catch someone using bad manners, they have to put one of their nickles back in the bowl. Catching Mom and Dad is a special treat (also a great way to exaggerate kids' bad manners). Everyone gets to keep the nickles left at the end of dinner. Mom and Dad's usually go back into the bowl for another day.

The only problem we've had so far is Ashy refusing to give up a nickle and often hiding them. But they both think now about using good manners. In fact, tonight, when Emma spoke with food in her mouth, she caught herself twice and gave up nickles without any prompting. And at meals when we choose not to use them, we often hear, "You would have lost a nickle over that." It's been fun and a special treat to go buy something with saved up nickles. Everyone wins.

Trials

2011-02-25T12:36:00.002-07:00

It hasn't been easy around here lately, and yet, I can't help but feel how very blessed we are. We've learned a lot over the past year. We've had our ups and downs with trying to add to our family, raising the girls, and coping with the realities of trying to lead successful, fulfilling lives. I'll admit that we've had some hard times. Yet the blessing are numerous.

Nick and I have a strong relationship. We've been through a lot together, but we trust each other. I've talked with several friends about how they cope with stress in their marriages, and Nick and I are fortunate enough to say that we can always talk. It may take some lengthy moments of silence between comments between one another, but we never manage to be angry with one another very long. We both have a desire to always have one another, and that makes all the difference.

We are just beginning the path of parenting our girls, and we make mistakes daily. I often feel like I don't spend enough one-on-one time with them, and there's always more that I need to be teaching them. But they love each other, they know we love them, and they appear to be happy overall. That's worth a lot.

We've had a lot of frustration with trying to get a third child. I miscarried again this week, even after being on a high dose of folic acid and even giving myself heprine injections twice a day. Those were NOT pleasant shots, and a week later, I still have some pretty good knots and bruises on my belly to prove it. But it still didn't make a difference. For some reason, our pregnancies are just not developing properly. We're not sure what is going on exactly, but we know it's worked before. Odds are that if we keep trying long enough, we'll luck out again. It's just frustrating beyond words to get pregnant, try to not stress for a couple of months, and then lose the pregnancy time after time. I have to admit though, it gives me a greater appreciation for my girls. We're not sure what we're going to do next, but neither of us feel like our family is complete. Time will tell.

We're very blessed to be surrounded with caring family, friends, and neighbors who have watched out for us. We're very, very grateful for those who continue to be there for us. Thank you.

Lost Tooth!

2011-02-24T09:57:00.004-07:00

My Emma is getting big! While eating breakfast this morning, her tooth FINALLY came out. She started wiggling it in November. Seriously. And it's been hanging crooked since Sunday. She was very, very excited and can't wait for the tooth fairy to come tonight. I wish I could see her showing her gap to all of her friends at school today. She's growing up on us!

Happy 6th Birthday!

2011-02-24T09:40:00.004-07:00

We can hardly believe Emma is 6. Time sure flies around here. Emma's 6th birthday was very fun. She wanted froggy cupcakes for her birthday treat at school. They were pretty fun to make.

Then we had a few friends over for a party. Since we had an animal-based party (we're enjoying Littlest Pet Shop toys these days), we played leap from, duck-duck-goose, and animal charades. The kids loved it.

Then the kids decorated more froggy cupcakes before opening presents. It was a lot of fun.

To finish it off, Emma begged for months to go to dinner at Wingers with all of her grandmas and grandpas. A funny location for a 6-year-old, it'd been at least a year since we'd been there, but she must have good memories of eating there. It was fun to have grandparents and my sister and her kids there to join us. Emma especially loved getting her own HUGE ice cream dessert. Unfortunately I forgot my camera for this part.

Emma is such a great kiddo. She loves to pretend and do crafts. She's a very good big sister and loves taking care of Ashlyn (when Ash lets her). She loves to do her little chores, especially when it comes to making her bed. Emma loves cuddling with those she loves, really likes reading chapter books with Mom and Dad, and loves her doll Alexa and her Webkinz toys. We love having her in our family and are proud of the wonderful person she's growing to be. Happy birthday sweetheart!

Christmas!

2011-01-14T10:37:00.003-07:00

Emma woke us up bright and early Christmas morning (um, at 8:15) with a, "Mom, Dad, Santa came and he brought me . . ." Then she ran in to wake up Ashlyn and told her, "Ashlyn, Santa came and he brought you . . ." It was rather hilarious. Next year we'll have to explain a bit better to wait for Mom and Dad.

Christmas Eve we kept pretty simple. We ran some last minute errands, ordered pizza for dinner (which I enjoyed for simplicity's sake, although I don't think it was Nick's favorite), and drove around looking at Christmas lights. When we got home, we checked Santa's location by radar, talked about Baby Jesus, read The Night Before Christmas, prepared a plate with chocolate chip cookies for Santa (Emma says they're his favorite) and carrots for his reindeer, and called it a night. The girls were asleep in seconds. It'd been a busy week.

The girls got new jammies from Grandma and Grandpa Millar at our family Christmas party, and they get new crayons and coloring books every year. They're always a hit.

Here is the much anticipated camera! Most of our Christmas pictures were on it, complete with video. However, we need a bit of practice, so I'll spare you the sea sickness. The camera has several features to make silly pictures and also has games. It's been a lot of fun.

You know how you never know which gifts will go over the best? Santa brought spinning toothbrushes complete with stickers to decorate them! They were the most fascinating thing Christmas morning. They spent a lot of time personalizing their toothbrushes.

Emma did get her doll. She is much loved and goes everywhere Emma feels is safe to take her. She sleeps with her at night and is careful to dress her appropriately (as deemed by a 5-year-old).

One of the best gifts this year was a bunch of games. Emma had outgrown the previous ones we've had, so we've been playing a lot of games. Her current favorites are Sorry, Guess Who, and Operation.

And yes, Ashlyn barely escaped getting coal in her stocking and got Barbie Bell, complete with a Barbie car!

Christmas this year was a success. It's taken a while for us to learn a few tricks to make it a positive memory. 1) Simple is better. Our little ones get over-stimulated easily. Keeping it simple kept everyone calmer and happier. They didn't receive countless nor large gifts, but they love and play with everything they did get. 2) I made a breakfast dish of monkey bread the night before. All I needed to do was put it in the oven. Easy. 3) Nick's family always went snowmobiling or did something active on Christmas, so he tends to get a bit antsy after all the initial fun is over. This year we drove to Rexburg and sent Nick snowmobiling with my dad. The boys had fun, we had fun with Grandma, and my sisters and their families came over for dinner. It was wonderful.

Most importantly, Emma kept reminding us of what the day was truly all about. We are so blessed to be able to celebrate Christ's birth. That sweet baby is what it is all about. I am also grateful that Emma has the inner ability to know of that importance and remind us. I feel so blessed to have my family.

Letters to Santa

2011-01-14T10:33:00.003-07:00

The girls wrote very cute letters to Santa. Emma wrote hers back in November, so I did get a picture of it. Ashy drew a picture of a Barbie Bell and a camera. Our post office has this cute set-up to make sure the letters get where they're supposed to!

December Trip to Salt Lake City

2011-01-14T10:06:00.004-07:00

We met Nick's parents in Salt Lake for a weekend in December for a bit of fun. Nick's little sister Lacee and her family joined us, and my little sister Rebecca and her family were there the same weekend. We had so much fun together.

We stayed at Nick's aunt's condo at the Gateway and played and played. Our first stop was Build a Bear. Grandma and Grandpa gave the trip to the girls for Christmas. They LOVED it. Here they are with Cassidy waiting to fill their new friends. Ashlyn chose a kitty, Emma a sparkly, purple bear, and Cassidy a pink bear.

Lacee and Carson joined us, too. Carson chose a monkey.

Emma cheesing it while dressing her bear in a beautiful pink dress. Emma also chose a crown and wand with a makeup bag for her bear.

Ashlyn's kitty got all dolled up in a beautiful blue and black dress complete with black slippers and blue ear bows. :) She also chose a little MP3 player that has been one of the best toys for this girl. She plays it all the time and dances to her heart's content.

We also made a trip to see the lights on Temple Square. We love going each year. It was extra special this year with so many fun family members with us. There's such a special feeling there. Plus I got spoiled by getting to play with my niece Shaylee so much while we walked around. Again, Emma looked away at just the right moment. I promise she didn't sleep through everything.

Cousins in the lights.

My sister's family: Ryken, Heath, Rebecca, and Shaylee.

We finally found Santa at the Children's Museum. We love this picture. I'm guessing Ashlyn is wondering if she's made it onto Santa's nice list and if he'll be nice to her, too.

Success! Everything must have been okay. They loved telling Santa what they wanted. Emma asked for an American Girl Doll and Ashlyn asked for a Barbie Bell.

Ryken and Shaylee loved Santa, too.

It was such a fun trip. We never did get a big group picture. And we didn't have a camera with us when we found Santa's reindeer at the Children's Museum our first trip there, nor did we bring it when we took the train to the Mayan. The kids thought the divers were amazing. One of my personal highlights was seeing Tangled with everyone. I will definitely be buying that one. All in all, the trip was a huge success. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Charles for a great weekend.

Fall Fun!

2011-01-14T09:57:00.002-07:00

From these pictures, you might be able to tell why I'm so behind. This seems to be my luck with pictures lately. My girls are beautiful, and often too busy to sit still even long enough for a picture. They'll smile for point two seconds, and if I don't catch it fast enough, they're off to something else. Here is my attempt at catching fun in the leaves. This is actually the best picture I got. They had a ton of fun playing with their cousin Ryken.

We carved our pumpkin at my mom's this year. The girls both dug in and helped.

Halloween gets to be more fun every year. Emma wanted to be a green witch, and Ashlyn wanted to be a kitty again (no surprise there). Oh, and there's our finished pumpkin in the middle!

Spider Trap!

2011-01-14T09:09:00.002-07:00

Emma was very proud of herself. She made a spider trap to put under her bed. (There really are not many spiders in our house, but she loves making things, especially if it involves tape and scissors.)

Yellowstone

2011-01-14T08:59:00.003-07:00

Towards the end of September we finally made it back to Yellowstone. Emma loves seeing the hot pots, and we always enjoy looking at waterfalls and wildlife.

We hiked down to a waterfall. The hike down was great. On the way back up, Nick was very creative at coming up with ways to get the girls to keep going up. My favorite was pretending that they were rockets. They would count down and "blast off" to the next turn in the trail. There were a bunch of switchbacks, so there were plenty of opportunities to blast off.

We saw several bears this trip. There are actually three grizzlies in this picture at the top of the hill a bit to the right, a momma with two cubs.

It looks like I need to snag the camera more often to get pictures of Nick, too.

First Day of School!

2011-01-14T08:49:00.002-07:00

Emma's first day of kindergarten! She was thrilled. It was rather bright for the picture though.

Later the same day, Ashlyn went to her first day of preschool! She was very excited, although a bit nervous when it came time for Mom to leave. She loves it though and is doing very well there.

Baby Blankets

2011-01-14T08:42:00.003-07:00

When my little sister had a baby girl last summer and my best friend adopted a little boy, I made them a couple of baby blankets. I love the way they turned out. I never did take pictures of my niece's, but it is the same design in pink with a ladybug.

Learning to be Grateful

2010-10-14T22:44:00.003-06:00

Sometimes we learn the hard way to be grateful for what we have. This past week has been another one of those times.

Most of you who read this blog didn't know that I was pregnant again. This time I was a bit nauseous even and felt overall lousy. I was EXHAUSTED beyond belief and generally felt that things were fine, that is until a week ago last Monday. When overnight I was no longer ravenous and didn't feel icky if I didn't eat, I got worried. I had made it to 10 1/2 weeks, but that's rather early to feel better. When Tuesday appeared to be the same, I began to panic. I tried really hard not to, but I've done this too many times and couldn't help it. I had mini breakdowns all morning. If I hadn't been teaching, I would have been a complete wreak. Sometimes distraction is the best medicine. Between classes I called and set up an appointment to check for a heartbeat. I arranged for the girls to go to a friend's house and after my afternoon class, I headed to my doctor's office.

When I got there, they took me right back. In fact, Nick was meeting me there and wasn't able to be there for the first while. The nurse was certain she would find a heart beat. She tried so hard. As my heart sank, I was able to keep it together. There was still a slight possibility. When the second head nurse tried and couldn't find one, I pretty well knew. Fortunately their ultrasound tech was there for the day, so I went into the waiting room to wait my turn. While I was there, Nick showed up. He had been very supportive and understanding about my nervousness, but he figured everything would be fine. When I told him they couldn't find a heartbeat, he let me just melt into him. I'm so grateful for a loving, supportive husband.

Not long after we went back for the ultrasound. I do have a bit of experience by now, so even I could tell right off that things weren't right. Last spring there had at least been a recognizable baby. This time the pregnancy looked more like a mass. Clearly there wasn't a heartbeat.

We met with the doctor soon after to discuss our options. Where I hadn't even started spotting or cramping yet, I knew that just going naturally would likely take a long time. I know I don't handle that well. I also really didn't like the idea of taking the medication and hoping that it worked. If I wasn't getting a baby, I wanted to be done. We certainly met our deductible this year, so we scheduled a D&C for Thursday morning.

I won't lie and say this go around has been easy. It has been easier in ways but also more terrifying in others. Last February I emotionally fell apart. The worry and not knowing seemed to last forever. I can cope better when I know what is going on and what to expect. Physically I am doing all right. This go around, emotionally I have my moments. I kind of have to block off my thinking. I long to hold a little one again that is mine. But I can't think about it. Now we're considering our options.

Where I have now miscarried four times, my case becomes more serious and testing is a definite option. There are three main tests they can do. First, they can X-ray my uterus to make sure it is shaped correctly. However, since I have had two healthy babies, this one is less likely to be an issue. Second, they can do blood work. There are possible treatable issues there. Third, they can test chromosomes of both me and Nick. Likely this is the issue. However, if so, there is nothing that can be done with the information save having it. Although I did ask and the doctor said that we are at a higher risk for having a baby go full term with severe problems. Those are big issues to weigh. I'm grateful I don't have to make any decisions today.

Back to gratitude. Right now I have two perfect, beautiful, happy little girls sleeping in their big girl bunk bed. They are busy, rather loud, and full of life. And I'm beginning to realize that they are my miracles. The more I think about it, the more my heart fills with gratitude to have them in my life. As much as I miss the little lives I dreamed about bringing into the world that won't be in this life, I am full of love for my girls. I love them more than I can express. They make life worth living. This loss has taught me that more than anything else could. I am so far from the perfect mom. There's so much more I want to do with them each day. But I know they know I love them. Some day I'll get to explain to them just how special they are; for now I'll do my best to treat them as such.

I've had several people express how well I appear to be doing. I am doing all right. I am heartbroken, but while I have my moments, I know they won't get me anywhere. More importantly though, I have certainly felt the power of the spirit very strongly this week. I know our names were in the temple and that multiple prayers have been said in our behalf. I am so grateful. It has certainly made and makes a difference. I continue to feel that I am not alone. I know my Savior loves me and has a plan for me and my little family. Some day we'll understand why things are the way they are, but for now, I continue to trust him.

Hiking in the Tetons

2010-09-06T09:07:00.003-06:00

Nick and I decided to go hiking for a bit of an anniversary trip. We debated going backpacking in the Uintas, but I've really wanted to hike in the Tetons again. I hadn't been back since hiking Table Rock seven or so years ago. Nick indulged me and we planned a trip to the Tetons. Nick's mom came to our house and we headed out. We drove two cars, left one on the Jackson side of the mountains and camped at Teton Campground. Well, we actually slept in the car. (Next time I'm pushing for a tent.) Since we were woken up around 5:30 by hikers hitting the trail head, we decided to just get up and go.

It took us a bit to get on the trail, but once we did, I was in heaven. I love being in the Tetons. It is so beautiful up there. The wildflowers are gorgeous, the mountains are spectacular, and everything was perfect. We didn't see much for wildlife but a few marmots, but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I have to admit that I was particularly fond of all of the huckleberries growing along the side of the trail. What a fun treat as we hiked.

We hiked from Teton Campground to Alaska Basin, up to Static Peak, and down through Death Canyon. Every bit of the trial was unique. Coming down Death Canyon was long and rather hot, but it was all beautiful. Overall, we went over 18 miles. I LOVED it. Thank you Nick for taking me back to one of my favorite spots on earth.

Saying Goodbye

2010-08-19T20:38:00.002-06:00

I learned this afternoon that our neighbor Todd passed away yesterday. He fought cancer with everything he had for a year. It is so sad seeing such a great man die so young. Although there is no doubt in my mind that he is happy and taken care of today, he will be sorely missed. His wife is a good friend who has helped me and those around her grow as they've been through this ordeal. There are so many ways people can react to loss such as this, and she is strong. Their kids are young. Their youngest will be in Emma's kindergarten class this year, and their oldest is almost twelve. They also have a nine-year-old.

As I write, I find myself just wanting to do something. I'd go scrub toilets or cook them a month worth of meals, but I know that those things aren't quite what they need. All along I've wanted to do something more. I know that the upcoming days, weeks, months, and years are going to be tough. There are going to be a lot of days when she will need a friend. I suppose my prayer is that I will be prompted to be there when I'm needed. It's so easy to see a need now, and I hear that those needs often appear to fade, appear being the key word.

My heart breaks to see this little family's loss. I know they're strong, but even the strongest feel overwhelmed quite often. Steph, if you ever happen across this post, I love you. You are an incredible example. Todd is okay; the rest of us will always miss him.

Caught Up!

2010-08-16T16:45:00.003-06:00

It has been a VERY busy summer. I thought it was going to be rather low key this year. It's been anything but. Yet we've had so much fun and have really enjoyed ourselves. While I've posted about many of the things we have done, there have been a lot of fun moments when I didn't have a camera handy. We had a great time with our neighbors on the slip 'n slide on the hill, we attended an extended family reunion with my grandma and her siblings and their families, and we've simply enjoyed being together. School is starting just around the corner. I can't believe my Emma is going to kindergarten. In many ways she is more than ready, but I'm hesitant to let her grow up. Even Ashlyn is starting preschool. It's going to take a bit of adjusting around here, but we're excited at the same time. This fall will be full of just as many memories as the summer, I'm sure.

Swimming Lessons

2010-08-16T16:37:00.002-06:00

We've been taking swimming lessons at our Rec Center off and on all summer. Ashlyn's first class was rather difficult for her, but she survived. For her second go around, we requested the same teacher and then as a double bonus ended up being in the same class as three of our fun little boy friends from our ward. It was perfect. She had so much fun. By the time she was done, she would float around on her back with her teacher and could be dunked without inducing screams. Emma has learned so much, too. While she's willing to jump in now and puts her face in with full enthusiasm, she is just like her mother and is a bit squeamish about tucking her chin down for dives. I love watching the girls get comfortable in the water and look forward to many future days of playing.

Zoo Day with Cousins

2010-08-16T16:31:00.003-06:00

When cousins are in from out of town, what do you do? You take twelve kids to the zoo. It may have been a bit crazy, but we did have a lot of fun together.

Bock bock bock bock.

Brushing the goats is so much fun, second only to feeding them.

The 'Standing Like a Flamingo' competition

Climbing a Tree

2010-08-16T16:25:00.002-06:00

The other day Emma came into me with long pants on, a long-sleeved shirt, helmet, and knee and elbow pads. She was determined to climb the maple tree in the front yard. It's not a particularly big tree, but the branches were too high for me to reach. She came up with the brilliant idea of pulling herself up with her jump rope. I think she may have watched one too many Go Diego Go episodes. Needless to say, the jump rope didn't work, and she had to wait until Nick came home for lunch to help her. It was quite hilarious. My Emma girl can be rather determined when she wants to be.

Girl Smiles

2010-08-16T16:17:00.003-06:00

My girls LOVE getting a hold of the camera. We have many pictures taken at about a 3 1/2 foot eye level. This particular session brought about some fun smiles. I love these two. They keep life interesting and never dull. They are very special little people. I'm fascinated by watching how much they soak up and how much they love life.

Ashlyn took this one. :)

Emma took this one. :)

Celebrating July 24th

2010-08-16T16:08:00.003-06:00

The 24th of July was a fun celebration in Pocatello. We started out by going to a pretty good parade here in town. The floats were quite good, actually. Then the girls and I went to a celebration at the fairgrounds. A couple of Emma's friends participated in the mutton busting. I'd never watched it before, and I honestly felt kind of bad for the kids. In addition to the mutton busting, Emma got her face painted and they both rode in a little train. It was very busy at the fairgrounds, and somehow we always got in the long lines. The girls had a lot of fun though, and it was good to see that this town makes a big deal of the 24th.

Boating with Grandpa at Palisades Reservoir

2010-08-16T15:59:00.002-06:00

We love to go boating with Grandpa Millar. Summers have been so cold the last two years that we've hardly been able to go. When we had an opportunity, we took it. Everyone had fun. The girls really enjoyed riding on the tube with Dad and Grandpa. Emma wouldn't hardly get off it. Thanks for a great ride Dad. I just hope that we'll be able to go one more time this summer so I can ski!

Relay for Life

2010-08-16T15:47:00.002-06:00

Although I didn't take pictures, I need to write a bit about participating in Relay for Life. As soon as I heard that my neighbor and friend Stephani was putting a team together, I signed right up. While her husband has been fighting cancer, they've been incredible examples for me. Participating was one of the most humbling, eye-opening experiences I've had. There were so many people at the track the day of, and I think it happened to be the only day we've been over 100 degrees this summer. There were also luminary bags set up in tribute of those who are or have fought cancer. When night came and the bags were lit, it was a beautiful sight. And then there were all of the people who walked all night. I believe there were 99 teams with at least one member on the track the entire time.

Now I'm far from the best night owl out there. I made it until 2:30 or 3:00 before I set up and disappeared into my tent. I woke up at 6 just as everything was wrapping up. Apparently I somehow managed to sleep through all of the high school bands that played for an hour some time in there.

I'm so glad I had the opportunity to participate. It was a life-changing event. I have family members who have died of cancer. I have neighbors and friends who have fought good fights. It's incredible how far-reaching it is. I've been humbled and have a stronger appreciation for the health of my family as well as myself. I just want to be able to help in some way. This was one small way I could participate.

Celebrating Birthdays with Cousins

2010-08-16T15:37:00.003-06:00

My niece had a fun birthday party at the Riot Zone in Rigby in July. It was fun to see the kids play on the inflatables long enough that they became rather brave. They went up and down as quickly as possible.

Then Emma got to drive a little go cart and Ashlyn steered her own paddle boat. It was a fun afternoon. We're grateful to be close enough to cousins to share fun times with them.

Rexburg Splash Park

2010-08-13T23:53:00.005-06:00

What can be more fun than a water day at the park with cousins? Rexburg's splash park was a hit for everyone from the little kids to my very pregnant little sister. I was quite a fan of the snow cones. Ashlyn was happy just kicking the fountains and watching the other kids.

Emma got up the courage to go through the tunnel slide and felt like a big kid. It was fun watching her go over and over again. They're both getting so big.

Camping in Wyoming

2010-08-13T23:40:00.005-06:00

We got to go camping with Nick's parents in July. It was a great trip. The girls slept in the trailer with Nick's parents. And although Ashlyn fell out of her bunk, apparently Uncle Ryan was nice enough to rescue her and let her snuggle next to him. Oddly enough, he was in her bunk the next morning, though. :) Emma fell in the river first thing the next morning and managed to get all of her clothes wet. Not surprising. That kid loves water.

We tried to go fishing with dad, but all we found was Uncle Brady with his dogs. It was good to see him and the girls loved throwing sticks into the water for the dogs.

"Helping" Dad fish.

Ashlyn really warmed up to Brady. I don't think he minded.

Throwing rocks in the water.

Our final camp adventure came on our way back when Nick and I got to carry the girls across the river because a herd of sheep had taken over the bridge. I couldn't get a picture of us crossing though because I had the camera and was afraid I'd slip and fall into the water. It was a great trip. Hopefully we'll get to make it again soon.

Cousins to Visit

2010-08-13T23:32:00.003-06:00

We were fortunate enough to watch four of my brother's kids for a couple of days in July. They are great kids. Everyone played well together, and we even took all six kids to the park for lunch both days. That was a bit of a trick, but worth it. I'll admit that I was a bit of a pansy when my nephew's tooth fell out. It's been a long time since I've had experience with that, and it bled quite a bit. Sigh. Overall though, it was very fun. They're great kids, and I loved spending more time with them.

The crew showing their true colors.

Water paints outdoors turned out to be quite the treat. So did the popsicles that followed.

Kids always love Marbleworks.

Whack-a-mole - what a great game.

4th of July

2010-08-13T23:24:00.003-06:00

For the 4th of July we went to my aunt's house in Rigby for dinner. A couple of my cousins were there with their spouses. I don't get to see them nearly often enough, so it was a great excuse to visit and swap stories. After dinner we went to the fireworks in Idaho Falls. Emma, not surprisingly, made a friend while we waited for the show to begin. It was so much fun to be together. I loved spending the 4th with my family.

Playing Frisbee with cousins. Isn't that playhouse fun!

Snuggling up before the fireworks.

Blowing Emma's new friend's bubbles to pass the time.

Ashlyn snuggling with Dad for the show.

Kitty Baby Carriage

2010-08-13T23:20:00.003-06:00

When I was a little girl, I had a Huge tomcat named Raskal. He was my best friend. I would dress the poor thing up in my doll clothes and push him around in my baby buggy. My dad has now fixed the buggy, and Ashlyn loves it. She has a stuffed kitty named Sarafina who got to ride all over in the buggy. What silly memories come from hanging on to old toys. Oh, and this is Ashlyn's favorite skirt at the moment. If she sees it, she will wear it. What a girly girl. I love it.

Sheep Creek Canyon

2010-08-13T23:10:00.003-06:00

Nike and I went HIKING! Okay, truthfully, it was much tougher on me than I'd like to admit. (Next time I'll avoid Five Guys and square ice cream cones beforehand. Well, at least the burger. How can I pass up huckleberry cream ice cream?) But we actually saw several Mountain Goats. I haven't seen any around here before, and Nick hadn't seen them in the wild before. We just sat and watched them for the longest time. It was a great trip.

There is a goat on horizon on the left peak. You'll have to click on the picture to see it at all. The other goats were in and out of the trees.
When we got down, we spent the night with several other couples at a cabin/home in Swan Valley. It was a lot of fun being with everyone. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures, but we had a ridiculously good time eating, playing games, eating, etc.

Being Creative at Grandma and Grandpa's

2010-08-13T23:05:00.003-06:00

We love visiting Nick's parents. His mom has recently started collecting Lowe's craft projects for the grandkids to work on when they visit. This trip's activity was birdhouses. Since coming home they've been hanging in our trees. The squirrels love them. Fortunately, the girls like watching the squirrels, too.

This is Emma's project that she came up with all on her own. Sometimes I'm not quite sure what to do with this child's creativity. She's quite random, but certainly creative. We all got a good laugh out of this mask.

Tumbling Recital

2010-08-13T23:00:00.003-06:00

Emma was in a tumbling class this spring. It has been so much fun watching her build more confidence. At first she was so scared to try new things that she would just cry. Now she does somersaults all the time, does bridges, and tries to do cartwheels. A few of our friends were in her class, too. Emma loved playing with the kids, and I loved chatting with their moms. It made for a great weekly activity all around. The recital was very cute. The pictures didn't turn out as well as I'd like, but Emma was very proud of her costume. Ashlyn just loved being in the picture.

Grandpa Millar's Birthday

2010-08-13T22:56:00.004-06:00

We got to celebrate Grandpa Millar's birthday at our house this year. It was very fun to have so many cousins over. These little kids are certainly Grandpa's pride and joy. I love the way he interacts with his grandkids. He is able to make each one (there are 16 now) feel important. He loves them; no question. Thank you Dad for your love. I'm blessed to have you in my life.

Emma Graduates from Preschool

2010-08-13T22:33:00.003-06:00

Yes, this is a bit late, just by three months. But if I don't write, it may not happen. Emma's preschool teacher did an incredible job of preschool graduation. She even scheduled it later than usual so we could be there (we got back from Mexico late the night before). Each of the kids represented a letter. Emma was "Vacuuming V." Emma did a very good job at graduation. We were excited to see how much she has learned through preschool. She always had fun. Now we can hardly wait for kindergarten to start.

Emma with her teacher Miss Jenn.

Mexico

2010-05-27T20:51:00.009-06:00

Nick and I just had the incredible opportunity to visit Playa del Carmen, Mexico. We left early two Sundays ago and came home the following Friday night. It was a great trip, and I'm finding myself longing to go back.

Sunday:
Fly. Once we got through the Cancun airport, we boarded a bus to Playa. From there we pulled our luggage to our hotel and then decided to wander a bit and find some dinner. We ate at El Fogon, one of the more authentic Mexican restaurants in town. The waiters didn't speak English and the menu was only in Spanish, so it was a bit of an adventure. Oh, and did I mention that it was hot (the temperature next to the kitchen, not the food so much).

Monday:
We decided to go wander the beach first. It was beautiful. I always find ocean life fascinating, likely because it is so foreign to me. I'd love to spend more time getting to know the ocean.

We then did our only real tour for the trip to Rio Secreto. It's an underground river that was only discovered four years ago and has been open to the public for two years. We rode a large van down a very bumpy road to the site where we donned wet suits, life jackets, and helmets with head lamps. Then we went down. We were in a river approximately 22 meters underground. We were fascinated by some of earth's beauty that few are ever able to see. Our guide was fantastic and the views well worth it.

That afternoon we took local transportation, a collectivo (much nicer than the transportation in the Dominican Republic) and went to the town of Akumal. This is one of the best places for seeing sea turtles near Playa. Unfortunately, the water was pretty rough for snorkeling. We did, however, go to Yal-Ku Lagoon and do some snorkeling there. We saw some beautiful fish and enjoyed being in the ocean.

Tuesday:
Tuesday morning we took the collectivo to Tulum, a ruin on the coast. Nick and I were amazed as we walked through the arch into the ruin and saw various temples, house platforms, and churches. Iguanas were everywhere (even one to pay to wear on your shoulder for a picture).

From there we caught a taxi to the Grand Cenote, a swimming hole where part of the limestone has fallen into the water below. The water was beautifully clear. While we swam with little fish and a turtle, actually, birds and bats flew overhead. It was really quite fun.

Wednesday:
The next morning we rented a car and set out for Coba, another ruin about an hour-and-a-half drive from Playa. This site hasn't been cleaned up very much, but there's so much to see. We were even able to climb one of the pyramids and see out over the jungle.

Our next stop was Valladolid, a Spanish settlement from the 1500s and a frequent bus stop for those heading back from Chichen Itza. We ate the most delicious meal from our trip while we were there. I never knew pork, pine apple, mushrooms, and cheese could be such an incredible combination. I'll be trying to replicate that one. Getting through Valladolid was a bit interesting. We got to explore some of the back streets while we found our way out of town. It was actually a good way to get to see what the city was actually like off the main road.

The remainder of the drive to Chichen Itza was uneventful. The road was in excellent condition and we made it through the military check point without an issue. Our hotel was a five-minute walk from Chichen Itza, so we were able to go to the light show that evening. The lights really weren't anything to brag about, but we were fortunate enough to get headphones that interpreted the speaker. The history that has been gathered was remarkable. Learning about an entire culture that has been since disappeared was fascinating, especially one that was advanced in so many ways and yet practiced human sacrifice. It set the stage for the next morning.

Thursday:
We toured Chichen Itza with an incredibly knowledgeable guide. From the moment we said yes to his being our guide, he poured out information about the main pyramid, ball courts, sacrifices, religion, etc. The site was fascinating, especially when you consider that only 1% of it has been uncovered. It was certainly well worth the trip.

We had lunch at Piste just outside of Chichen Itza and learned that there is a difference between burritos and burritas. Then we went to another cenote called Ik-Kil. Nick quite enjoyed jumping into the pool. I was happy just jumping from the lower ledge. It was absolutely beautiful there, and we still wonder just how deep the pool was. The swim was just what we needed after the trip through the ruins.

On our way back to Playa, we stopped once again at Akumal. The water was calmer, but the dive shops were closed. Next time we'll know to bring our own snorkeling gear. It was a beautiful evening. Back in Playa we finished buying our souvenirs and prepared to leave the next morning. It was a wonderful trip we plan on taking again some day. We learned what we liked and what we'll do next time.

During our 5+ hour layover in Denver, two of my good friends from Laramie came to take us to dinner. Sarah and Sarah are two of the best things that have ever happened to me. They are great people in every way. We giggled all through dinner, and Nick patiently endured. I have a quote on my wall behind me by Eleanor Roosevelt that says, "Many people walk in and out of your life, but TRUE friends leave footprints in your heart." I don't need to say more.

I'm very blessed to be married to someone who likes to travel and has learned to do so on a budget. We may not have fancy things, but we have incredible memories of time spent together. We're also blessed to have parents who love our girls and enjoyed the time they had to spend with them.

Preschool Graduate

2010-05-27T20:45:00.002-06:00

Emma graduated from pre-school last weekend. Her teacher, Miss Jenn, made sure to schedule it when we would be back from our vacation. We were VERY grateful. Emma has attended ABC Express for the last two years. It has been incredible to watch her learn and grow in so many ways. Miss Jen is a wonderful teacher. We can only hope kindergarten will be half as good. We're so proud of you Emma-girl.

A Friend and Ladybugs

2010-05-24T15:02:00.002-06:00

Emma has a little friend from preschool whom she loves to have play dates with. Last time she was here, the girls all decorated princess crowns. They were a hit.

We made ladybug cupcakes for preschool snack time. They aren't perfect, but they were yummy! Ashlyn sure thought so!

Yard Work

2010-05-24T14:56:00.002-06:00

We've been putting a bit of work into our yard lately. Here's what we've been up to.

Nick's patio (thanks to Heath for helping)

My perennial bed
Nick and the girls gave me an apple tree for Mother's Day. I just hope it grows quickly so I can enjoy its fruit.

Friends

2010-05-24T14:50:00.004-06:00

My girls have recently discovered that it's fun to play together. They play nearly all day together. I love watching them. They make me truly happy. Oh, and these pictures were taken within days of each other. Lovely, isn't it.

Ashlyn Turns 3!

2010-05-24T14:32:00.003-06:00

I can hardly believe my baby is 3. We had a fun birthday party with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Ashy loved watching me make her birthday cake. It was a first for me. I've been a fan of buying cakes or making something really simple. But when Ashlyn wanted a Cinderella party, I decided to go for it. I was ridiculously proud that this one turned out. The fact that the birthday girl loved it made it well worth it.

Ashlyn's getting so big. I love this little one. She gives the best hugs and kisses, loves to read stories, and is a great little buddy. We have a good time together. She's learning all sorts of new things and is really looking forward to being a big girl and going to preschool in the fall. Ashy is my girly girl and loves to dress up. She often changes clothes multiple times a day and thoroughly enjoys the princess dresses, shoes, tiaras, and jewelry in her dress-up box. Ashlyn is such an important part of our family. We are very blessed to have her. We love you Ashlyn.

This little video is kind of fun. You may just get to see a bit of birthday party silliness at the Charles household.

Disneyland April 2010

2010-05-06T15:48:00.006-06:00

We had the opportunity to go to Disneyland with our friends the Moore's last month. It ended up being the perfect trip. We had 3-day passes to Disneyland and California Adventure and certainly made the most of it. I had to teach, so we didn't hit the road until about 2:30 Wed, drove just past Vegas for the night, and then made it the rest of the way Thurs. morning. The kids traveled perfectly. Breaking the news was great (see the movie at the end of this post). We stayed in a 3-room hotel, so we were able to put the kids down at night and each couple was able to have an evening to play. And play we did. It was the perfect trip. We all loved it.

The group: Tyler and Ashley with their boys Ryker and Carter. Nick and Tonya with Emma and Ashlyn

Ashlyn's favorite ride was the good, old Dumbo ride. It can't be beat for small kids.

Ashley and I took Emma and Ryker on the Thunder Mountain Railroad. The kids weren't nearly this happy with it by the end, but it was fun nonetheless.

We couldn't get the kids close to any of the characters, but Ashley and I couldn't resist a picture with Mickey. And get this, I'm taller than he is!

Cinderella's castle was a hit with the kids.

We enjoyed the teacups, too. The kids were laughing. Tyler had to sit this one out.

Having friends to play with kept everyone happier. There was always someone to play with and a reasonably sane adult to deal with line boredom.

Budding romance? It was fun watching how well the kids all did together. They had so much fun.

By our third day, we still hadn't seen any princesses, so we braved some lines. We met Tink and her friend in Pixie Hollow, and waited for over an hour to meet Jasmine, Snow White, and Tiana. It was worth it to see how happy the girls were to be with each princess for the two minutes though.

A Giveaway

2010-03-29T22:08:00.001-06:00

Hey, I'm a sucker for a giveaway. If you'd like the chance to win a slow cooker, check out this incredible recipe blog. http://karaskitchencreations.blogspot.com/2010/03/giveaway-stay-or-go-6qt-slow-cooker.html I love every recipe I've tried from here. Good luck!

Relay for Life

2010-03-22T11:05:00.001-06:00

I have just joined a team to participate in The American Cancer Society Relay For Life. I'm very excited. It's more than just an event to me. It is my personal opportunity to help save lives from cancer by supporting the American Cancer Society.

In the last year, I have had several friends in my neighborhood and ward diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is everywhere, and I want to do my part. The team that I am participating with is headed by my good friend and neighbor Stephanie. Her husband has been fighting cancer for over 8 months now. They have three kids aged 5-11. I pray daily that their daddy will get better soon. The Relay is just one more way of working towards that.

I am also doing this for my own family. I can't imagine how it would change our lives to find out one of us had cancer. I want them all to know how much I love them.

If you would like to support my efforts by making a donation, you can click the link below, view the link to Relay on my Facebook wall, or I can email you a link (I'm still figuring that one out). Together, we have the power to help create a world where cancer can no longer claim another year of anyone’s life.

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Emma Turns 5

2010-03-17T15:32:00.002-06:00

I'm rather behind, but Emma's birthday was last month. I can hardly believe it's been five years since we brought her home from the hospital, but here she is.

Emma is such a fun kid to be around. I love her to pieces. She is the most lovable, cuddly, talkative five-year-old. She's as smart as a whip and keeps us laughing. She's recently discovered jokes, especially knock-knock jokes. In fact, if you have new ones, please send them our way. We're looking for some fresh material. :) She loves preschool and is looking forward to kindergarten already. She loves playing on the computer especially on NickJr, Webkinz, and PBSKids. Her favorite toys are her Disney princess dolls (the polly-pocket type). Emma is taking swimming lessons where she is trying to get brave enough to jump in the water (silly girl) and loves her tumbling class.

Mostly it's fun just watching her grow up. I love my Emma girl. We're looking forward to taking her skiing again on Saturday and look forward to playing lots in the warmer weather. We're all looking forward to summer.

Birthday girl with "Hearty" the Webkinz monkey from her cousin Cassidy. The tulips are from Grandma Charles.

Every little girl needs rings. She likes to say "This is my preschool ring. This is my going-to-friends' houses ring," etc.
Birthday party with friends EmmaLynn and Maycee. They loved decorating cupcakes.

Friends Morgan, Ashlyn (she's the best little sister friend), and Abby.

Trials

2010-03-15T22:37:00.002-06:00

One of my best friends reminded me that sharing our trials lightens our load and often helps others, so I guess I'll share. It's been a rough couple of months around here. Thankfully life is returning to normal, whatever that may be.

A few days before the girls' surgery I started wondering if I was pregnant. A few days after, there was no question. While helping the girls recover was taxing, it was especially hard because I was obviously EXHAUSTED, but also very stressed out. Deciding when and whether or not to have a third child has been a difficult decision, and being pregnant was terrifying.

However, it didn't take long for me to realize that things didn't feel right. For those of you who don't know, before we were blessed with Emma, I miscarried twice (at 6 and 9 weeks). With both of those pregnancies, I was tired, but felt fine. With the girls, I quickly developed nausea and was grateful for it. It meant everything was fine. I kept telling Nick I was sure it was just a matter of days until I miscarried, but everything appeared to be all right. Around 7 weeks I spotted a bit. Although I was sure the pregnancy was over, the bleeding stopped for a few days. Then a little more. Then nothing for a few days. I know that's normal for many pregnancies, so I toughed it out. Besides, if I was miscarrying, there's really nothing they could do anyway.

Nick had to leave for work for the week, and since nothing more had happened and I had a doctor's appointment at the end of the week, I sent him off. Tuesday, just after my doctor's office closed, I had some pretty heavy bleeding that of course stopped. The next morning I called the office and went in for some blood work. Thursday they called with the results to tell me my hormone levels were normal for how far along I was, so they had me come in for an ultrasound. My wonderful mother came to go with me. I was sure there wouldn't be a baby. That had been the case with my second miscarriage. Well, there was. But I've seen enough ultrasounds by now that I recognized right away that there wasn't a heartbeat. I was nearly 8 1/2 weeks along. The baby lived to be 7 weeks, 6 days.

By the next week, I was rather a wreck. It was good to get Nick home to help with the girls, but I didn't know what to do. Should I cancel my classes, should I send the girls somewhere, or should I pretend that everything was normal (I did the third). I hadn't fully miscarried on my own yet, so we finally set up a D&C for Wednesday. While that wasn't fun, I am grateful that it was over. It could have lasted for a couple more weeks, and emotionally, I was spent.

This is what I've learned.

I've been through this three times, but it doesn't really get easier. Although I never let myself get emotionally attached this time, I still hoped and dreamed. I have two sisters expecting this summer. It would have been miserably fun to be pregnant together and to have small babies together and to watch them grow together. Don't get me wrong. I couldn't be happier for them and look forward to seeing my nephew(s?). It just would have been fun. And my girls love babies. They would have loved that baby. Lastly, I miss having a baby around. My Ashlyn is getting so big and fun and well, big. There's just something about a baby.
I am blessed with incredible friends and family. The Lord may give us trials, but he does not expect us to go through them alone.
Hormones are crappy. I have had good days and some horrible nights. Being tired is not good for me. I've cried more in the last few weeks than in the last few years. I'm glad Nick tries to understand and loves me through my craziness. Luckily I'm becoming more stable.
I'm terrified. I'm pretty sure I still want another child, but I don't want to go through this again. There's never a guarantee that things will be fine, but three? I don't want there to be a fourth.
I trust in my Savior. His view is far broader than mine. I just look forward to understanding more clearly why I felt so strongly that now was the time. There are countless possibilities and several theories. All I know is that I trust him and he loves me. Things will be okay.

If you've read all this, thank you. I really am doing better. It's sad and hard, but I can think of many worse trials. This happens to be mine. Now it's time to look ahead. We have some fun trips coming up. We're heading to Disneyland with friends in a few weeks, and then Nick and I are going to Mexico for a few days in May. I'm longing for the sunshine. Here's to the happy days ahead.

Adenotonsillectomy

2010-01-24T13:11:00.003-07:00

Last Friday we loaded the girls into the car at 5:30am and headed to the hospital. It was time to get rid of the tonsils and adenoids. The girls really didn't get it, so they went along great. They each colored in their new Color Wonder books while the nurses did their prep. By the time the nurse came to get Ashlyn, she had her shoes and socks on and held his hand while they walked to the operating room.

Ashlyn in her hospital gown and a tired mommy early in the morning.

Emma calmly watched PBS Kids cartoons while she waited for her turn.

When Ashlyn was done, she had a hard time coming to grips with reality. She's feisty to begin with and was mad that she hurt and didn't know where she was. All I can say is pain killers will do wonders for a kid (if you can get them to take them).

Emma handled coming to a bit better, but she really did not like that IV. She was flat out mad about it. But, painkiller and several popcicles later, she was smiling a bit and ready to go home.

All in all, three days later it hasn't been too bad. The girls have had their moments. Ashlyn wouldn't drink anything at first, but since she got some food in her, she's been fine. Now if she'll just take her medicine without spitting it all over me. Emma's now dealing with an upset stomach, but hopefully that will wear off soon. Right now, they're both sleeping. Here's my Emma while I type. She is complete with her new Webkinz puppy and her balloon.

Looking back, that's a rather terrifying thing to go through as a parent. I hate the thought of the entire process. But if they're going to have surgery, I'm glad it was a routine procedure. After surgery, the nurse brought us the girls' tonsils to show us. I know, gross. But they really were huge. The doctor was rather impressed by them. I'm just glad they're gone and the girls are doing as well as they are. It will be interesting to see how getting rid of them affects the girls.

Getting Wiggles Out

2010-01-24T13:01:00.003-07:00

We had the chance last week to go to Blast Off in Idaho Falls with my sister Kerri and her three little girls. We all enjoyed the time out of the house. All five girls ran, climbed, jumped, dressed-up, and laughed. It was fun to be together. Any time spent with family is good time. I foresee another trip there before summer comes.

Emma and her cousin Kate loved the dress-up area.

This dress was a favorite.
Ashlyn loved wearing this one around and carried it just like a little princess.

Ashlyn with her cousin Jessica. This little house was great for playing peek-a-boo and hanging out together.

One of the main features of Blast Off is tubes to climb through and ball pits. It was really fun.

Pizza and Dress-ups

2010-01-12T21:04:00.002-07:00

We had friends over the other day for a much needed play date. We all had a lot of fun making pizzas. After all, what kid doesn't like pizza and getting messy, not to mention eating as much as makes it on the pie!
This has got to be one of my favorite pictures! While I won't post it on FaceBook, I had to put it here. Doesn't the pizza sauce lipstick make an extra beautiful finished look.

Salt Lake Trip

2010-01-12T20:41:00.004-07:00

We had the chance to go to Salt Lake with Nick's parents. We went skiing (hence the previous Emma skis video), swimming at the pool, visited Build-a-Bear, and stopped at the lights on our way out of town. Here are the pictures!

Putting the hearts in.

Giving the horse/unicorn a bath.
Emma's "Sparkle Horn" unicorn is sporting a lovely Sleeping Beauty dress complete with Pegasus wings and a star wand.Dressing a horse in a TinkerBell dress. I think Nick is still rolling his eyes, but Ashy loves her "Emily."

Christmas (Finally)

2010-01-12T20:18:00.005-07:00

Better late than never, right? Christmas around here was pretty calm. It was a bit change from last year and much less dramatic. Thank goodness. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas here together. We all enjoyed being home and actually relaxing together. Honestly, it was really nice. Christmas evening my parents and grandma came to join us while we opened presents and for dinner. It was wonderful having them. Grandparents just make everything special.

TinkerToys were a hit. The girls love building with these, and Dad enjoys playing with something other than princesses. Emma loves her "princess in a castle with a prince." She has almost the complete collection and has played and played with them.

I couldn't resist throwing this picture in. We've seen this face a lot lately. Nick calls it her pirate face. It cracks me up every time.
Oh, yes. More princesses.

Ashlyn got the cutest little FurReal kitten and has loved it dearly. If daddy and big sister weren't allergic to them, I'd have bought her the real thing.These two games have been a hit. I love that they're old enough to play games. Ashlyn has a great attention span for them. Emma gets rather bored quickly.On Saturday we all headed to Rexburg for the day. My family had their Christmas party in my little sister's new home, and we all got spoiled once again by my mom. It was great to see family, and we even had the chance to see an old friend from high school and his family.

I've heard many people say that they don't care for the holidays, but I really do enjoy them. I have to pace myself so I'm not running crazy at the end, but this year we allowed ourselves a vacation from the running and played at home. We all enjoyed it.

Emma Goes Skiing!

2009-12-18T07:55:00.003-07:00

Our little Emma went skiing for the first time Wednesday at Brighton in Utah. We put her in ski school for a couple of hours, and afterwards, she was cruising all by herself. She was all smiles and has been telling us over and over how fun it was and asking when she can go again. We loved every second of it! Way to go Emma girl!

Thanksgiving Fun

2009-12-02T14:12:00.000-07:00

We had a great time as usual for Thanksgiving. Nick's mom organized a pine wood derby, and while our cars didn't win, they were pretty. Emma had a pink princess car complete with a riding princess, Ashlyn sported a purple Dora car with a Dora taped to the top, and Nick had, well, a flying egg plant. He's always been the king of randomness. We were also able to go swimming with just the cousins. We really had a great time together. Nick spent most of the time down with a cold, but tis the season. Thanks Carolyn for organizing yet another fun-filled Thanksgiving.

Turkey Hands

2009-12-02T14:00:00.002-07:00

Emma was in charge of bringing snacks to preschool the day before Thanksgiving. She found these cookies on PBSkids.org and really wanted to make them. While they did take a lot of time, she loved them, and they turned out pretty cute.

Fire Station

2009-12-02T13:59:00.000-07:00

Emma gets to do some pretty fun things with her preschool. Here is a great example. She really enjoyed shooting the firehose. Then again, if it has anything to do with water, she loves it.

Random Thoughts

2009-11-18T21:15:00.003-07:00

I've been doing a bit of thinking lately. Rather scary, I know, but it's true. I am so incredibly blessed. Things are good in my life. We're all healthy. Sure we get the everyday colds and other bugs, but we're healthy in general. I have a strong relationship/friendship with my husband. I am so grateful to be able to say that he is my friend. I love him and always look forward to spending time with him. Nick has a good job that provides for our needs and even some of our wants. This is especially important these days. My girls are incredible. They certainly keep me on my toes, but they keep me laughing as well. Some of the things they come up with are hilarious, and I love that they're playing with each other more and more every day. I'm very fortunate to have a good education and to be able to use that education in a job with a minimal hourly weekly commitment.

And then there are the unexplainable blessing that come from being a member of the LDS church. Over the past, oh, year, I've been incredibly frustrated with life and daily annoyances. I found myself being overly serious all day. Knowing that I was the main person my girls had to interact with, I felt pressure to be more fun and entertaining for them, but my heart wasn't in it.

Months ago our previous Young Women's president challenged us to begin reading the Book of Mormon. As a teenager I had the habit of reading every night. For some reason, as an adult I've found it increasingly difficult to find the time. Yet, in the past month or two, I've been reading more or less every evening. At first I didn't notice much difference, but slowly there's been a change. I am calmer, in general. The little annoyances don't bother me as much for as long. In general, I'm happier. I've been wondering why, and I believe I've found a truth.

Every time we allow ourselves the opportunity to listen to the words of the prophets, modern or ancient, we also give ourselves the chance to feel our Father's love. Even if we only read for a minute or two, the love and light are there. Our spirits respond to that and long for more. It also gives us a strength to face the trials that plague us. I have found a peace and joy that I've needed for a long time. Now I just need to keep it up. There truly is a strength through reading the Book of Mormon.

Words of the Prophets

2009-10-25T21:51:00.002-06:00

Have I ever mentioned that I have incredible sisters? My sister Kerri has started a new blog that will focus on studying the most recent conference talks. Anyone can comment, and if you want to contribute, just view the sight at http://www.wordsofthelatterdayprophets.blogspot.com/. We're going to study one conference talk a week, beginning with President Monson's talk "What Have I Done for Someone Today?" from the Sunday morning session. Please post your comments about the talk by next Sunday, November 1st. You can link to it and all other conference sessions here. You'll find the links to listen, read, or watch them. I look forward to reading your comments.

Family Pictures 2009

2009-10-18T17:41:00.005-06:00

I finally resized our family pictures. I loved them all, so here's the lot of them. It really is a photo day. There are ways to put these into a collage or something, but this is what I'm up for right now. I am loving these pictures. Thanks again, Meegan.

Several Posts Plus Many, Many Pictures

2009-10-18T13:27:00.002-06:00

I'm home nursing a sore throat, so I've spent my time updating my blog. My free time decreases dramatically when school begins. But we've been able to do a lot of fun things with family and friends. Thanks everyone for being such amazing parts of our lives. See below for pictures of our Jackson/Yellowstone trip, pumpkin patch adventures, 1/2 marathon, and vacation to the Dominican Republic.

Jackson/Yellowstone Trip

2009-10-18T13:17:00.005-06:00

We met up with John and Shanna Foster yesterday and made our way to Jackson, WY, and Yellowstone. It was so fun to see them again. They've recently moved back to Idaho and we're looking forward to many more similar adventures. The kids had so much fun together.

In Jackson we came across a clown making balloon animals. Everyone had one, even Baby Lexi.

Emma got a purple butterfly.Hallie had a pink butterfly.
Ashlyn got a pink poodle.
Brady, Hallie, and Emma really enjoyed playing together. They all enjoyed running as fast as they could.
Here's the group, including a tired and hungry Ashlyn.
Old Faithful is always a successful sight. Even the hour plus wait was worthwhile for such a breathtaking natural event.

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-18T12:58:00.003-06:00

Emma's preschool went to the pumpkin patch again this year, and we decided to make it a family affair. Everyone loved the corn maze.
Look at those good-looking farmers, not to mention the calf.
Emma found one of the biggest pumpkins in the patch to take home.
And Ashlyn laid her own!

1/2 Marathon

2009-10-18T12:54:00.002-06:00

My sister has been telling me I needed to post about the 1/2 marathon Sept 5. Yes, it's been a while, but I did actually do it. I trained for about 10 weeks. It was a lot of work, but I'm so glad I did. Nick and the girls came and cheered me on before they had to leave for Wyoming to Nick's Uncle's funeral. While I wanted to be there, I'm not so sure there will ever be another marathon in my future, and I really wanted to meet my goal. Luckily everyone else supported me.

I was able to complete my race of 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes. That's not a record time by any means, but I was able to run/jog the entire way. It felt so good to accomplish my goal, and I can honestly say I had a blast. Thanks everyone for the support.

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic 2009

2009-10-18T11:38:00.007-06:00

Nick and I had the amazing opportunity to go to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic for 6 days at the beginning of the month. It was amazing. It was an experience neither of us will forget. The culture was very different from our own. The best part though was getting to spend time together and loving every minute of it. I'm so blessed to be married to my best friend.

This was taken in front of the fountain in our hotel's front lobby. We stayed at the Grand Oasis Marien. It was beautiful and the food was great. The only downsides were how difficult it was to call home and to get outside of the hotel without paying exaggerated prices. Other than that, it was amazing. We're not sure we'd do an all-inclusive again, but it was good for this trip.
Hotel lobby.
On our last day, Nick and I walked through town (4.5 miles) to this tram. We rode it to the top of the mountain, where there is a beautiful garden.
Statue of Christ at the top of the mountain.
We rode back to our hotel in this van with 20 other people. I snapped this as it drove off, so you can't see the missing side door (built in air conditioning), but yes, the window is broken out in back. Nick likes an adventure!The beach at our hotel.
Sosua Beach. If you ever want to hear the adventure story of arriving/leaving this beautiful beach, just ask. This is already a long post.
Snorkling at Sosua Beach.
A typical gift shop on Sosua Beach. We got a laugh out of the name.This fort was built in the 1500s to protect the bay from pirates. It was fascinating to explore.Another picture of the resort.Our room. The maid would leave us fresh flowers daily and usually make some fancy arrangement out of the towels, such as a swan.Nick on the Yasika Adventures zip line.My turn! We got to go on 8 runs. The view was fantastic, and the adrenaline rush wasn't too bad either.
View of the ocean at sunrise from our hotel balcony.View from the other direction.The most amazing thing we did was go to the 27 Waterfalls. You climb up the fall to turn around and jump or slide into them. Nick couldn't believe I actually jumped off the 20+ foot jump just to ask if we could do it again. I'm all about facing my fears. These are our amazing guides. The taught us all about the plants and animals in the area and even knocked passion fruit out of the trees for us to eat. They were great.The only downside was that we must have ruined our underwater camera as we tossed it down the falls to our guides to take pictures. This is the only photo we got.We had so much fun. It was an incredible trip. Thanks Kathy for watching the girls the entire time. We couldn't have gone without you!

Family Pictures

2009-09-14T23:18:00.000-06:00

I've been dying to have Meegan Littlefield photograph my family since I first came across her blog. Last Friday we finally did it. She's still editing our shoot, but to see a sneak peak of us, click here. I love her work. The only downside of the trip was that the girls wanted to play too much. I'm not sure we'll get a family photo, but I think I'll be able to put together a great collection that will represent our family better than a "let's sit still and all say cheese" picture. Our girls have far too many wiggles.

Personal Progress Faith #1

2009-09-06T08:24:00.002-06:00

This goal was actually rather difficult for me to accomplish, and it shouldn't have been. All summer I have been trying to improve upon saying my morning prayers. And while I am still far from perfect, this goal has certainly given me a boost in the right direction. When I look back over the summer, I can see how striving to improve my pattern of prayer has really helped me. A very difficult spring slowly improved into a more stress free fall.

Prayer is vital in my life. It helps me assess my priorities before the day begins and allows me to invite the spirit into my day. With such blessings, trials and hardships once again become blessings that teach me how to be a better person. I have so many things to learn, and I have even more patience to gain. I'm grateful that I can speak with my father in heaven and get his help in facing any challenge, big or small.

Bird Nest

2009-09-05T19:16:00.002-06:00

Last night when Nick went to tuck Ashlyn into bed, she had wrapped her blankie around her middle. He asked her to climb into bed, and she replied with, "I can't. I'm in my bird nest." She was fine with him lifting her, bird nest and all into bed. But then she said, "Good night Daddy bird nest." A few minutes later she called Nick "Daddy chicken" but she refused to follow Dad's promptings to call me "Mommy cuckoo." Smart girl, huh. She did agree to call me Mommy Road Runner though. She finished out her pretending by lying in bed flapping her wings and tweeting. The mind of a two year old. I love watching my kiddos pretending.

Emma's Big Day

2009-09-02T21:51:00.002-06:00

Emma had a big day today. To start, she went to her first day of big kid preschool. She's been looking forward to it since last year's class ended. Since she's already used to it, she waltzed right in like she owned the place. She learned so much last year that she's already starting to sound out words and asks how to write some words. I'm excited to see what she learns this year.

Emma with her teacher Miss Jenn.

The second part of Emma's big day was a big girl's hair cut. She's been telling me all summer that she wanted her hair short like moms. Well, we did it. I left my camera sitting on the counter, so I didn't get pictures at the salon, but we cut a lot off. Here is the end result. I'm hoping to get her to sit still for a better picture tomorrow.

Millar Family Recipies

2009-08-29T22:21:00.001-06:00

My sister decided to start up a Millar Family Recipe blog, so from now on I'll be posting my new recipes there. I just added a great zucchini bread recipe. Feel free to visit any time.

Also, my garden and freezer are overflowing with zucchini and crook-neck squash. If any of you have good recipes (preferably on the healthier side), please send them my way. Thanks.

Kid Activities

2009-08-25T15:53:00.002-06:00

I am always looking for more ways to entertain my kids, especially educational ways. For some reason I've been turning more and more towards PBS (gulp - I admitted it out loud). I found this amazing sight with links to all sorts of fun ideas. It is geared towards preschool activities, so it's great for young kids. Right now, Emma is coloring a book of The Frog Prince with matching dolls with dress-up clothes. Enjoy.

Fun with Friends

2009-08-20T14:22:00.004-06:00

We were finally able to meet up with Michelle Gibbs and her kids this morning and go to the zoo. We got there early and were actually able to see active animals. Everyone had a lot of fun, but the best part was catching up with Michelle. We'll have to do it again soon.

Emma, Ashlyn, Carson, and Natalie

Emma

Ashlyn

Now it's time to dive back into work. Classes start Tuesday. I'll be teaching both classes in IF. If I'd held off a bit, I could actually be teaching here in Pocatello, but what do you do. Maybe next semester.

8 Years

2009-08-18T15:15:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was our 8th anniversary. I can't believe it's been so long, but they've been such good years that they've flown. We've done a lot of great things together over the years, but my favorite accomplishment is how close we've become. Nick is truly my best friend. We have no secrets from each other except those of necessity regarding our callings. We're able to discuss everything, from our favorite jokes and stories to the most serious and sometimes difficult topics. Our relationship is so much more than a marriage. I truly feel that Nick is my companion. I'm so grateful for all he does for me and the girls. I told him the other day that marrying him was a good choice. He laughed a bit at that, but it's true. I have no regrets in marrying him. I love you Nick. I look forward to growing that much closer to you over the next eight years.

Camping

2009-08-18T14:55:00.002-06:00

We had a great time camping with Moores and their boys last weekend. We went up to Pebble Canyon Campground above Lava Hot Springs and pitched our tents. It was a great trip despite a steady wind. The kids had so much fun running up and down the little hill between the tent sites and roasting hot dogs and s'mores. I've never seen our girls so dirty, but they had a blast. The kids even slept well in the tent, although we may need to get a larger one for future trips.

Here's the group: Tyler, Carter, Ashley, Ryker, Emma, Nick, Tonya, and Ashlyn.

Our little hill side. Ryker and Carter's trucks rode down it very well.
Geesh! How can I get dirtier? Bring on the ashes!

Ryker, Carter, Ashlyn, and Emma posing while on our short nature hike. Why are the boys smiling so well while the girls are the ones with their tongues out? Silly kiddos.

After camping, we drove down to Downata Hot Springs. The day was quite cool, so Lava Hot Springs wasn't quite warm enough. The other springs' pools were 98 degrees. It was perfect. We all had fun splashing and going down some really fun slides. Sorry no pictures. No one wanted to get out of the warm water long enough to grab the camera. Thanks Tyler and Ashley for a great trip.

What a Jam Jamboree

2009-08-17T13:36:00.002-06:00

I spent many hours last week making cooked jam. I now have apricot, raspberry, apricot-pineapple, and triple berry jam. All in all, I have 40+ jars of jam. Luckily everyone loves them. I'm curious to see how long it takes us to go through all the jars.

Huckleberry Picking

2009-08-02T14:23:00.003-06:00

My sister Kerri and I met up yesterday and went huckleberry picking at one of my favorite places above Kelli Canyon Ski Resort. I spent a lot of time in those mountains as a teenager, so it was a trip down memory lane. We each brought two little girls, so they helped pick as well as eat the berries. The girls were really good the entire time. Kerri's Amber was such a good helper with Ashlyn and everyone kept good track of each other.

At one point, Emma announced that she had decided to go to the bathroom. While I hurried to help her, Ashlyn managed to eat about a cup of huckleberries. If you have ever been picking, you know that that's about an hour's worth of work. And she was furious when I took them away from her. I'll admit that I wasn't at all happy about it then, but in all honesty, who could blame her? They're a taste of Idaho heaven. Next time I'll follow Kerri's lead and pick into a milk jug.

All in all, I made it home with four cups of berries. I'll be making a batch of huckleberry raspberry jam and freezing the rest for pancakes and milkshakes. Yummy. Thanks for picking with me Kerri.

Vacation Salt Lake

2009-07-28T21:39:00.005-06:00

We went all out this summer and took the girls to Salt Lake for our family vacation. Actually, there's so much we're always wanting to do down there and we never have enough time to do it all, so we were thrilled to do as much as we did.

We left Pocatello on Wednesday evening and stayed that night in Tremonton with Nick's cousin Jen and her kids. Thanks Jen. We all had fun spending time with you guys.

The next morning we made our way to Hogle Zoo. We didn't even lose anyone (that's for you, Sarah B.) and really enjoyed ourselves despite the 100+ degree heat. The girls rode the first of the three carousels from our trip,

ate our packed lunch with Dad under a welcome umbrella,

and rode the train (which is exactly the same ride as the one I remember as a kid).

We did actually see great animals, too, but you've all seen pictures of those. Nick and I were pretty impressed by seeing rhinos from less that two feet away and hearing small monkeys make huge territorial calls. All in all, a successful trip thanks to two great kids and a rented wagon.

That evening we went to a new water park in Draper. Sorry no pictures. It was WET! The place was new this year and perfect for kids. There were several slides that Emma was able to go on by herself and with us, and Ashlyn even went down one. She hated it though and went to the hotel with Nick's mom shortly after. Next year. Emma, however, was nearly impossible to get out of the water. She's a bit of a water rat (until it comes to swimming in a deep pool - we're working on that).

The next day we went to a Charles reunion in Orem where Emma was the first in a tempting sprinkler perhaps five minutes into the party. Water, remember? Then she played a key part in helping soak grandpa and aid him in drenching everyone else. It was fun and hot.

From there we headed up Provo Canyon and stopped at Bridal Veil Falls. My sister and I used to rollerblade to these falls years ago. It was a trip down memory lane. Everyone had fun, especially our little water rat. It was so cold our feet became numb rather quickly, but it felt oh, so good compared to the heat. Even Ashlyn loved getting her feet wet. This picture is of Nick's sister Lacee and Emma wading.

Next stop, Park City. We took the girls on the Alpine Slide. Wiggly Ashlyn rather scared me on the ride to the top, but we all survived. The ride down was great despite getting behind the slowest person on the mountain. I guess it just made for a longer ride. Emma didn't mind a bit.

The next morning we went to the aquarium with Nick's parents. I love aquariums. It's probably from growing up in a landlocked state, but I love ocean life. While it wasn't really big, the exhibits were very well done. I was really impressed. The one thing I really wish they had was a tide pool. We loved the ones we saw in Oregon last summer. I highly recommend this place, though.

Before leaving, we had to go visit the aviary. It's a beautiful place that is often overlooked in Salt Lake. There is an amazing collection of birds there, and just the landscaping is beautiful. The girls loved the rides the most though. They went on yet another carousel (the 2nd one was in Park City), went on their first ferris wheel ride, and got to fly in airplanes. Here's one for ancient amusement park rides. They sure made for happy girls.

All in all, it was a great trip. The girls stayed happy for most of the entire trip despite crazy sleep schedules. It was fun spending time with Nick's parents, sister, nephew, and other family. We enjoyed spending our last night with my grandma and finding our house and yard in great shape when we got home. Now we're just anxiously looking forward to our mom and dad retreat in October. Domincan Republic, here we come!

Teddy Bear Picnic

2009-07-21T15:22:00.002-06:00

We had a teddy bear picnic today. Emma and Ashlyn invited a bunch of their friends over for lunch today. It was rather fun. Thanks for the idea, Jadi. I wasn't able to make it as cute as I'd hoped due to only giving myself 24 hours, but it was a lot of fun having everyone over. Unfortunately, I forgot to actually get my camera out. I really wish I had pictures of all of our little friends and their moms. Next time. Tomorrow we're off to Salt Lake for the rest of the week to play, so there'll be more pictures soon.

Playing in Island Park

2009-07-21T14:58:00.002-06:00

Last weekend we took our girls camping in Island Park with my parents and sister's girls. On the way to the campground, we stopped as Mesa Falls. Both girls love waterfalls, so it was a lot of fun watching them enjoy the falls I grew up loving. You're not "allowed" to go down to the river anymore, but the views from the railings were great, too.

Ashlyn was quite the trooper on all the stairs and Emma was the same goofball as ever. After hiking back up the stairs, Ashlyn almost figured out the drinking fountain.

After meeting up at the campground and setting up our tent, we went to Big Springs by Mack's Inn. The mosquitoes were horrific, but the girls had so much fun feeding the huge fish, seagulls, and yes a muskrat. Emma and Ashlyn also loved splashing their feet in the water. I'll have to get pictures from my dad's camera.

That night was actually a success. Emma slept in her tent inside our tent and slept all night. Ashlyn started out in her portacrib and ended up between me and Nick, but she slept very well. Nick and I lost some of our blankets to Ashie, so we got a bit cold and didn't sleep as well as the girls, but all in all, it was a successful trip.

The next morning Nick and I went on a beautiful hike. I've grown up around and in those mountains, but I have never seen wildflowers like there are this year. The rain has been a huge bonus to the undergrowth. Our pictures just don't do justice. Everywhere we looked there were multiple colors and types of flowers. I loved it. I love hiking with Nick. I can't wait until the girls are old enough to hike with us. My amazing sister Kerri and my parents helped watch our girls while we were gone. Next time I'm taking her with me.

What Do You Do in the Summer Time?

2009-07-14T15:59:00.000-06:00

Half Marathon

2009-07-07T14:57:00.002-06:00

Just under a year ago my friend Monica asked if I would run a half marathon with her. At that time I balked at the question, but ever since then the idea has been teasing me. Long story short, I signed up to run Pocatello's half marathon on September 5th. I'm a complete mixture of nervous and excited. It's 13.1 miles, so I have a lot of work to do in the next 8 1/2 weeks, but I know it will be a huge accomplishment. I would love it if anyone else might be interested in joining me. Click here for more information on the Pocatello Marathon. Wish me luck. I can guarantee that there are going to be days when I'll need it.

Happy 4th!

2009-07-06T14:07:00.003-06:00

We had a pretty good weekend. We started out by driving to Wyoming to Nick's parents' house. Nick and I were planning on backpacking for three days, but we got rained out. Instead we left Friday morning for the Uinta mountains. We were able to get a good 8-mile hike in and stay out of the rain. The hike couldn't have been better except for a million mosquitoes. The ground was literally carpeted with tiny wildflowers, and the scenery was perfect. I love spending that kind of time with Nick.

The next day, the 4th, we took the girls to the parade. This was the first year I bought them flag shirts, and they loved them!
Seeing the fireworks was so fun. Grandpa Charles gave Emma her ear protection! She's always hated loud noises. Don't you just love the outfit.
We were lucky enough to have "Uncle" Kade with us. Everything is more fun with Kade around.
Too bad Emma was such a cheese head. This is one of the most decent pictures we have had of the four of us for ages.
Before actually going to the fireworks, we went 4-wheeling on the desert. I had never been and had so much fun. There's been so much rain that the desert was actually muddy. We were all rather splattered with mud by the time we were done. Unfortunately, we forgot the camera.

The cactus were blooming this weekend. I had no idea they were so beautiful, so we had to run back out to the desert Sunday morning before church to take pictures. Here are a few of my favorite.

For some reason, this one doesn't want to cooperate and turn the right way, but it's the best picture we got.

Locked Out

2009-07-01T07:54:00.004-06:00

This morning we all went outside to see dad off and water the lawn. Ashlyn started crying as soon as Nick walked towards the car, but we decided the lawn still needed water.

While I pulled the hose out, Emma pulled the door closed. A few minutes later Emma started dancing around, so she ran for the bathroom only to find that the front door was locked! My keys were inside on their hook and Nick was long gone. Ashlyn was still mad, so I did what I could. I rummaged through our recycling can, found a juice lid,

climbed on the garbage can (note the caved-in lid), and used the juice lid to pry out the screen. I'm very grateful and rather nervous that I was able to break into my house so quickly. Here's one for frozen concentrate juice lids.

Zoo!

2009-06-28T20:40:00.003-06:00

My sister Alisa is here visiting from Alabama (hurray), so we got together with my other sister Kerri and our mom and took all the kids to the Idaho Falls Zoo. It was one HOT day, but we all had fun. The kids loved it. We took the group picture at the end of the trip, so the kids were rather tired. We also played at a huge playground nearby and then took everyone to Fazoli's for dinner. It was crazy and fun. I love family time.

Talk about putting your head in the lion's mouth!
Ashy had to join in, too.
Emma loved brushing the goats.
Oh, you may be wondering why Ashlyn hasn't been appearing in many photos lately. This photo shows off her lovely wounded forehead. Unfortunately, she does this to herself. Whenever she throws a tantrum, they're horrible, and she scratches her face, legs, or tummy. She's been doing this for a few months now. Our pediatrician says to just ignore it. Ignoring it does actually help her stop faster, but we HATE seeing our beautiful, sweet little girl bear such horrible marks of her temper. I just hope the scars she's already sporting will fade as she grows. Hopefully time will also curb the self-wounding.

Young Women Trip

2009-06-21T15:28:00.006-06:00

I had the amazing opportunity to spend the last two days with my amazing young women. We left bright and early Friday morning and drove to the Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake. We have been working on making quilts for the last several months and were able to donate ten twin-sized quilts. Each of the seven girls that went put a lot of work into those quilts. Most of them had never sewn or tied quilts before this. At the Humanitarian Center we took a touching tour that demonstrated how inspired the humanitarian organization of the church is. I was awed by how far $5 can go, and how generous and loving people are all over the world. Then we packaged hygiene and school kits, opened and sorted 4,000 pairs of children's sleepers, and finished 4 hours of service by tying two more quilts. Whew!

After that we took the girls to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. I loved walking through with my girls. I love them so much and I look forward to seeing them go to the temple themselves some day. I love the spirit in the temple, and I know the girls felt it. It was beautiful.

Our next stop was the Mayan for dinner. Most of the girls had never been there, so it was a special treat. The cliff divers were really good and had everyone in awe.

That night we went swimming at our hotel. We played chicken and shark. We even got the bishop in for a couple rounds of shark, but I learned the hard way not to be the last of the pack swimming across the pool. The bishop accidentally gave me a pretty good kick to the jaw. The swelling is almost all gone. But we played hard and it payed off. The girls were all in bed and asleep by midnight.

The next morning we went to the Heritage Museum by the This Is the Place monument. The girls got to see first hand what life was like in the early pioneer days. They got to work in a woodshop, visit a tin man, beat a rag rug, card wool, dress in old-fashioned clothes, and play pioneer children games. We really had a good time. It was such a great opportunity to feel the spirit over and over and to get to know our girls. I can honestly say that they're my friends. I love each one of them.

When I got home, Nick surprised me with roses on the table, a clean house, happy kids in the tub, and a smile. He's such a great man. I can't imagine my life any different than it is today. Nick is the best husband and father. Today's been rather stressful on him. He was sustained and set apart as our ward's new Elder's Quorum President. When we told his mom, she asked if he was excited. While excited isn't the word that comes to mind, there's no doubt he'll do the best he can to fulfill the calling. I'm so proud of him. I love him. I am so grateful for him. What more can I say. Thank you Nick for being so good to me and the girls. Happy Father's Day!

My Mom

2009-06-15T22:20:00.005-06:00

Yesterday was my mom's 60th birthday. She wouldn't like that I just announced that fact, but the picture rather gives it away. She is one of my favorite people. She is so full of love and cares for all who are around her. She's always there to talk and laugh with, and I love spending time with her any way I can.

My mom and I have always had a special relationship. As a teenager I use to spend a lot of time talking at the foot of her bed after being with friends. I loved that. She loved it when I brought friends to the house and always let us know we were welcome to be there by most of the time joining in on the fun.

Now we are able to talk and laugh over the phone. She gives great kiddo advice for those tough days and reminds me that the good times far outweigh the frustrating moments. Mom, thanks for laughing, crying, and listening. I love you more than I can express. Thank you for being my mom. I'm only beginning to understand exactly what that little word means. Happy birthday.

Gardening

2009-06-13T22:04:00.003-06:00

We finally have a garden! Our back yard isn't very large, so we made the most of our hillside and built a terraced garden. It's taken much longer than we anticipated due to the days and days of rain we've had. But we literally dug in today and finished. It's taken a lot of shoveling, time, and well, money, but we're happy with the end result. Hopefully it will pay off in the long run in more than one way. Nick is amazing at finishing projects and making them look incredible. Emma had a lot of fun planting. And Ashlyn had fun digging up and stepping on everything that we planted. Gardening with kids is rather hilarious. I'm interested to see how weeding goes! Oh, but I can't wait for the fresh tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, squash, cucumbers, peas, carrots, spinach, and onions.

American West Heritage Center

2009-06-12T13:36:00.003-06:00

Nick's cousin Chance graduated from high school and had a grand celebration at the Cache Valley American West Heritage Center. We had so much fun spending time with friends and family. I'll post more pictures soon. Afterwards we went over to our friend Kade's new house and gawked at the beautiful landscaping. He has a beautiful home. Next time we visit I'll take pictures. I wish I could transfer his flower beds to my house.

It took a bit of coercing, but Emma did ride the pony and had fun. (I think this is especially funny since she rode my little sister's horse just a couple months ago and an elephant last summer without a thought.)

Ashlyn loved riding on my shoulders and seeing how stretchy my cheeks are.

Our friend Kade came along and jumped on the chance to hold Lacee's baby Carson. Cool kid, isn't he?

Sad

2009-06-12T13:34:00.002-06:00

I've been excited for the past few days because Nick's work is sending him to Cheyenne for a meeting and we were going to get to tag along. Now he'll be flying instead of driving, so we'll be staying home. I just hope our friends in Laramie know how much we love and miss them. We will be heading out there some time this summer, one way or another.

Love

2009-06-11T16:04:00.004-06:00

- Kid kisses
- Squeeze hugs from Ashlyn
- Popping bubbles
- Flowers
- Surprise sneak-up-behind-you hugs
- Laughing with friends
- Rocking a sleeping child
- Fresh, warm cookies
- Fresh paint
- Wildflowers
- Completing a project
- Phone conversations with mom and sisters
- New clothes
- A new book, preferably a series with multiple good books
- Music to dance to
- Reading to my girls
- Snuggles

Adopting

2009-06-02T11:04:00.007-06:00

My good childhood friend Monica and her husband Matt are two of the most amazing people I know. They have been married for six years and haven't been able to get pregnant, so now they've decided to adopt. I love these two. Monica and I have been friends since elementry school, and she has always been an inspiration to me. She's possitive, kind, athletic, and a true friend. Matt is one the most friendly, motivated people I know. He's constantly working towards running or biking a new race. They're a great couple and I wish them all the luck. They have an Adoption Profile Website you can access here. If you know of anyone who could use this information, please pass on their names. They're going to be amazing parents.