Red Rock Hike on MLK weekend

We had some beautiful weather over MLK holiday weekend and decided to head up to Red Rock. It was the busiest I have ever seen it... because we didn't realize entrance was free for the weekend. We still had fun though and enjoyed hiking with our friends the Prices and Winwards, and all our kiddos.






Crazy Kids : Jude, McKinley, Casen, Brinley, Kylie, and Harper in the front... oh and Barry :)


The kids all did really well hiking and it was fun seeing the different techniques they used to work their way up the mountain




My hiking buddy :)


Marlee and I, Rochelle and Harper, Karrissa and Greyson


Proud kiddos!


The Prices... I feel bad I didn't catch either kids face! But I still think they look cute. I LOVE Rochelle's smile :)




We made it! Marlee got tired of the hiking back pack and after being carried for a while switched to this front carrier which she seemed to enjoy more :)

New Years in Idaho!

Airport tradition - Pretzel dogs for being awesome


The kids had a lot of fun climbing around in these old phone booths. They asked me what they were and try to tell them about the "Pre-Cell-Phone Era" :) Our kids definitely grow up in a different day and age than us!


Drumming with Uncle Andy's hat on, Casen decided he needs a hat like this :)


The weather was way warm for Idaho, in the 50's. Brinley had fun playing hide and seek with her cousins.


Casen helped Dale make Tri-Tip for dinner, it turned out amazing!


The kids got to blow the horn in one of the big semi-trucks at the potato factory, they loved it :)


We got to go visit Dale's potato factory, it was so fun to see how they wash, sort, pack, etc the potatoes.


Even Marlee enjoyed it :)


All the kids got their own microwave ready potato.


I kept telling Casen not to play on this ice and they actually caught a pic of him falling!


Aunt Bubbles came to see us for a bit. She is Quenalee's only sibling. She lives about 40 minutes away and it's so nice that she always drives down to see us when we come. The kids love her. She has no grandchildren of her own and I think she considers them partly her own :)



Marlee spent a lot of time at this play dough equipment drawer, she would just take stuff out one at a time, but at least it kept her entertained :)


Found these two cute girls sitting so cute in these chairs.... only to find out that they were actually Queens sitting in their thrones :)




Marlee had a lot of fun opening presents at our post-Christmas Party


These cute girls were just 4 and 5 when I met them, crazy they are 11 and 12 now! They did a great job performing! Kylie, Olivia, and Callie


Marlee was very entertained by Tracis and Lacey's dog. She kept trying to grab her, here she is just admiring from a distance.


Brinley's look from the white elephant gift exchange (Q provides all the gifts :))


Getting ready to watch the Nelson Family video that Becca makes every year. She spend so much time and makes the funnest videos for us all to look back on. The kids love it.


I still think of Mack and Brigham as being Casen's size, it's crazy to see my own little boy run around with them now. He loves his big boy cousins :)


We had fun throwing the kids on the giant bean bag, and they all love it, even Marlee girl!

Brinley's "holiday performance"

On the last day of school before Christmas break Brinley's kindergarten class sang some songs for all the parents. They sure were cute and it was fun watching them. Casen had fun running around.



Brinley and McKinley had matching pj's, not planned, but they totally loved it!






They did sign language to "We wish you a Merry Christmas". I think this was Brinley's favorite. She loved the hand motions and continued to show them to us over the break :)


McKinley, Kylie, and Brinley


Casen really wanted to be in the picture with the girls, but no such luck

December leftovers :)

December was one of those crazy, yet wonderful months. Loved every second, yet glad it is the new year. Here are all our "extra" pictures that didn't make their own post :)



LOVE when they get along and they have been playing so well together lately.


Poor Marlee girl, wants so bad to join the big kids outside. But she loves to stand at the door and watch :)



Brinley, trying on our stockings :)


Love this pretty face


We had a family night lesson on being grateful for all that we have and helping those who are less fortunate. We then got to make "food bags" for a kids at "needy" elementary school. It is for children to take home with them on weekends, when they don't have enough to eat at home. It breaks my heart to think of hungry kids and I am so grateful to have always had what we need to feed our children. It was a good opportunity for all of us to make these food bags.







Brinley and Casen had fun helping me make donut holes for a recipe exchange. They were great helpers... for real :)


Enjoying the beautiful weather if December! I have been grateful for a warm winter!


Marlee loves to climb into, on, and over.... everything! Especially the fridge and dishwasher.


Some friends and I had a little craft night to get some crafts done before the holidays... this is what happened when we decided to spray paint INSIDE :) Oh the floor looked just fine and paint free, but our black proved otherwise!


The "finished" product. Still have some jazzing up to do :)


We went to a white elephant gift exchange at the Jolley's house and we brought this "Darcy Shirt". We kept alluding to the fact that our gift had Darcy's name "written all over it". Darcy got a good laugh and even modeled his little shirt for us :)


Here is Casen, rocking out some Justin Bieber tunes for our home teachers. Home teachers are men from our church who come by once a month to visit with our family, share a spiritual message, and see how we are doing. Ryan has families he home teaches as well, it gives everyone an opportunity to help take care of eachother.


Casen has had a hard time trying to copy letters or his name when I write them, so I started having him trace what I write and he has done really well. Obviously I traced one of these, but he did the rest on his own and was pretty proud.


Harper came to play one day and Marlee loved having a friend her size, she had fun following her around :)


Quenalee sent a Christmas package with her pre-Christmas gifts... a nativity scene for each girl, and an ornament for Casen. She gives these special gifts every year and they will have a nice collection by the time they get married!


This outfit used to be Brinley's, and it was fun to see Marlee wear it. It reminded me of Santa with the black boots!


Casen and Kylie had a fun little play date together... here they are on the way to the hospital for Kylie to deliver their first baby :)


HORRIBLE lighting = horrible quality picture... but I still like the image :) To celebrate having read all the Children's "Scriptures" we took them to see the Lion King before it left Las Vegas. The kids did so good and had so much fun! It was an impressive show!


We had front row seats, which was pretty amazing... but the kids were just a tad low to have the best view. They had fun sitting on our laps and the arm rests though so it still worked out good.


After the show we hit the end of our ward Christmas party. The kids were excited to see Santa, all except for Marlee ofcourse. She may never forgive me...


In addition to crafts for our home, I had fun making little goodies and treats for friends and ward members. These are a couple of the things I did... although there are several groups of items not shown... next year I need to narrow down and just do the same type gifts for everyone!



Marlee helped Ryan and I go Christmas shopping! She was so cute and would do the cutest laugh when she saw toys she liked.


Casen and Tre having fun in the tent, scaring the girls!


Marlee is liking dolls lately and was pretty happy when Brinley decided to share this one. Brinley is such a good big sister and always helping Marlee.