Steamboat Springs

 Only 5.5 hours of a drive, piece of cake!  We were so excited to see cousins!! Kayley and John and their little family were there to welcome us to Colorado. We made flower chains while we waited for our rooms to be 100% ready.

 

 Fish Creek Falls and a bike ride was a little much for one day, but it was gorgeous weather and no one died on either trip so it was a success!

 Yummy, sticky s'mores!  Since we didn't have marshmallow sticks we baked them inside and then brought them out to the fire pit.

 Strawberry hot Springs was gorgeous and felt fabulous!

We found a bunch of geocaches on the trip, it made our teenager very happy.

Our family loves ice skating and they were all extra happy with the hockey sticks, pucks and the cool riding toys.

We found a fun soda shop and spend a bunch of money to try funky flavors.

 

 

 We drank smoothies in wine goblets next to the cozy fire while BYU game was on.  Go Cougars!

 All of our children now love hot tubs.  But funny thing, Callie still complained about her bath being too cold the other night.

Relief Society President

 Last Sunday I got called and set apart to be the Relief Society President of my neighborhood ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  When the bishop extended me this call I had MANY feelings of doubt and fear.  I hadn't been a president of anything since I was 17!  For those of you who have no idea what a Relief Society President is, I am over the spiritual and temporal welfare of more than 145 women that live around me.  I know many of them since I have lived here for 11.5 years, but there are at least 45 that I do not know and many more who I want/need to get to know.  I was very overwhelmed but the Bishop assured me that this call was from the Lord, not from him.  I know he was right.  I went to the temple the very next morning.  I fasted and prayed and choose a two amazing ladies to be my counselors and a secretary.  Over the next week before I was sustained I read books about women who have loved and served, women with faith and courage.  I was so very nervous last Sunday when I stood up, and then everyone sustained me as their Relief Society President and a lot of my fear started to dissipate.  My mom sent me a text that morning telling me that she sustained me, and that she wished she was able to be there.  Later that day I was given a special blessing from my bishop.  Ever since then things have fallen into place.  My life is going to change.  I have more responsibility than ever before.  But, thanks to that blessing, I know that I will be able to accomplish all that God wants me to accomplish.  I know that I will rely on my Savior to get me through tough times that are sure to lie ahead.  I am so thankful that Gregory supports me 100%.  He told me that he "has known" I was going to get this call.  He has already been a huge support as I have been struggling with all the re-organization that I have had to figure out.  I am so thankful to my kiddos.  First, because they are old enough to take care for a lot of their needs, and second because they understand what I am doing and have encouraged me and talked to me about decisions I have had to make.  I told them that they need to tell me if I am ever slacking in the mom department since they are my most important calling.  I know that this will not be an easy calling.  I thought teaching from the New Testament was hard, but this will stretch me more than ever.  I know that I can do anything with my Savior by my side.  I know that He will hear and answer my prayers and guide me to do what He needs to have done.  I am so thankful that He trusts me with so many of His daughters.  I only pray for His constant support.
 

 Life is going to get crazy, but at least we get to rest sometimes and listen to beautiful "flute" concerts by cute 9 year olds.

Family Pictures

 We do family pictures every two years.  I am always amazed with the growth of my family.  Not by quantity anymore, but by size.  Nathan isn't too far from catching me in height and I am sure Ryan will follow closely thereafter.  These kids, who I see every single day, are so handsome and beautiful and talented and fabulous.  I am so lucky to have found my true love and best friend at such a young age and then so lucky to have these four wonderful children to make me feel old but so very loved.

Baby Miles

 We definitely aren't used to having a baby around our house.  We had fun taking him to the park, going on slides, feeding him.  It got a little tough when he was crying and everyone left the room, but overall he was adorable and perfectly content.  I'm so glad that my kids have baby cousins since our family is all complete.

Ringling Brothers and Barnum&Bailey Circus

 I love to go and do things.  That is just part of who I am.  I remember going to the circus with my Grandma Bonnie years ago when i was a little girl.  I remember the mug I got that most likely had a slushy/snow cone in it and I loved using that mug as I got older.  We took the kids to the circus before Callie was around so at least 6 years ago.  None of them really remembered it, so I was really excited to try it again.  We rode frontrunner and trax down to avoid traffic on the freeway and parking.  It was so easy and lots of fun.  Greg met us at his station and the kids were excited to see him running toward the train, and almost missing it.  They yelled encouragement to him, and of course he couldn't see or hear them.
The girls and I headed down to watch the pre-show while our too-cool boys sat and watched from afar.  Sometimes I think Ryan would rather still be young but he has the big older brother that he wants to impress...maybe.  Even Annabelle was a little embarrassed to do some of the dancing though so maybe my kids are just getting big.  The girls almost got to walk across a low tight rope, but time ran out.

 

 We got one bag of cotton candy to share and took turns wearing the goofy hat (well, some of us were brave enough to get a picture with it on).

 The animals were awesome but some of the acrobats and aerialists were pretty amazing as well.  There were a few times when I gasped or was a little nervous for the performers.

 During intermission Nathan pulled out his book while the girls sat together talking about what they had seen.  The picture isn't that great but the moment was precious to watch. 

 While the train was a great way to get to the circus, it was not the best way to get home!  The circus ended right at 9 and there was a train that left the station at the same time.  The next train wasn't until 10!  So we waited around Salt Lake Central for 45 minutes.  I thought for sure our kids would be cranky, but they did fabulous.  It was fun to watch them laugh and play and goof off together.  We got home late, but it was a fun adventure that I wouldn't want to have with anyone else.