T-Ball - Sept 2011

Emma has been really good about trying new sports. This go around, she wanted to try T-ball. It was so much fun watching her. Despite getting hit in the head twice with the ball, she still loved playing. Her hustle was good, and she loved throwing the ball to her teammates. We need to work a bit on hitting, but to her credit, this was her first time playing at all, and they played coach's pitch. We all loved watching her play. Go Emma!

Preschool 2011-2012

Ash was just as excited to go to preschool as her sister was for first grade. It's fun to be big enough to go to school and to have your own backpack.

My little girl is off to her second year of preschool

First Day of 1st Grade

Off to 1st Grade. I sure love this kiddo. She couldn't have been more excited to go.

My big 1st Grader!

10th Anniversary in Mexico!

Mexico has become one of our favorite vacation destinations. For our 10th anniversary, we decided to stay on the small, beautiful Akumal Bay. It is one of my favorite places to be, and I can't wait to stay there some day with my kiddos. I love snorkeling, especially where there are multiple sea turtles and beautiful coral reefs.

Akumal Bay

Snorkeling with Sea Turtles

Beautiful Views from Our Home Away from Home

Snorkeling!

If you ever get the chance to visit Tulum, take it. It is one of our favorite locations. When you enter Tulum through the stone wall, it's like stepping back in time. The ruins are breathtaking, especially with the ocean view. The beach there is to die for, too. Unfortunately there was a lot of sea weed washing in this time, but it didn't keep us from having fun.

Tulum - A Must See in Our Opinions

Playing in the Waves on the Beach at Tulum

Beach at Tulum

I love snorkeling in the ocean, and Nick loves the Yucatan Peninsula's many fresh water cenotes. We swam in a couple our last time here, so this trip we decided to visit one of the locals' favorite swim holes. We weren't disappointed. We even had a chance to use our limited Spanish to chat with a local gentleman who got a kick out of chumming for the little fish there so we could take pictures with our underwater camera.

Nick Jumping Off Cliffs at the Local Cenote Cristalino

 Our last stop in Mexico was Cancun. We can now say we've played in the waves in Cancun.

Beach in Cancun

Cancun

We finished off our trip by wandering around the huge Isla Shopping Center. It was so markedly different from any of the other shopping experiences we have had that it really stood out.

All in all, it was a perfect way to spend our 10th anniversary. It was a great way to spend several days with my best friend.

Isla Shopping Center Cancun

Boating with Grandma and Grandpa - Aug 2011

We love boating with Grandma and Grandpa Millar. We usually go to Ririe Reservoir, and this trip we had Aunt Kerri and some of her littles with us. We love watching Dad and Grandpa water ski and can't wait until the girls get their own chance to try it out. We had a lot of fun this time though as Emma discovered the fun of jumping off rocks into the water. It's a little scary to trust your life jacket at first, but she did it!

Mom and Emma be-bopping through the water!

Grandma Hutchens and Aunt Elaine's Reunion - Aug 2011

 You know how when you're kids, you play with and look up to your cousins like no one else? Well, in my family, there isn't anyone like them. And last August, my Grandma Hutchens and her twin sister Elaine gathered as many of their posterity together as they could and we had a large reunion. It was so fun seeing my aunts, uncles, and cousins again. It was even more fun watching my own kids strengthen similar relationships with their own cousins. We enjoyed every minute of it. I've been blessed with an outstanding family. These are a few of my favorite pictures from the experience.

Emma, my water rat! She was in the water as much as out.

Bridges are great places to play!
 

Ash with cousins!

Grandma with just a sampling of my cousins.

I LOVE this picture of Ash and Ryken. Cousins are so special.

My hero, my dad. He is happiest outdoors with his family.

Girls' Camp 2011

Girls' Camp! When I was released from YW, I cried. When I was put back in, I celebrated. And camp was the perfect time to enjoy my girls. They are my girls after all. We are fortunate enough to go to a new, beautiful campground just outside of Idaho Falls, and we get to camp in real tents! We had lots of fun hiking (I had to stay at camp due to a miserable fever that almost sent me home), cooking, eating, cooking, eating, and doing skits. Oh, and did I mention that there was a lot of delicious camp cooking and eating going on? Mostly, we just enjoyed each other's company and made some incredible memories. Our skit was rather memorable itself. I love the people in these pictures; they have each made a life-long impression on me.

Camp wouldn't be the same without Bro. Hudson

Megan and Chopped Liver (aka Olivia)

My girls and several of the leaders.

Brianna and Joselyn displaying newly painted nails.

Courtney has been a favorite babysitter of ours.