Going to "The Cabin"!

This is probably our favorite family tradition. Every summer we head up to our friend's, Mark and Malinda's, cabin in Cooke City, Montana. It is the perfect vacation -- reconnecting with dear friends, playing games, relaxing, riding the horses, and the annual girl's lunch date to Beartooth Cafe and having some delicious poppy seed cake with rum glaze.

This year, we went a little earlier because Rochelle was having a baby in July and we were so grateful this year not to run into (literally) our old friend, Mr. Cow.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from this year...

I love Lynden's face here! That water was soooo COLD!

I still can't believe that I am married to this hottie!

I got to do a little photo shoo for Malinda and her girls!

DeBry family, Allred family, Wagner family, and Siders family

Crazy Creek

Pilot and Index

Way Out West In a Dress

This spring my friend Sarah suggested that I go with her and audition for the community musical melodrama up in Johnstown. The thought of being in a play again was really appealing and I couldn't wait to talk to Ken about it. Lucky for me, I have a wonderful, supportive husband who thought I should go for it. It meant a lot of him watching the kids while I was at rehearsal and I am so grateful that he let me have this opportunity.

I was cast as one of the leads, Jessica James, the villianess. The creative process of discovering my character and interacting with the rest of the cast was wonderful! I love those friendships that develop while creating together!

The show is about a member of an acting troupe, Clarence Rawlins, that inherits what he thinks is a saloon out in Lucky lady, NV. He and the rest of his troupe use that last of their funds to move out west and run the saloon. When they get there, they find out his great aunt, Iva Fortune, had really bad handwriting and instead he is inheriting the Lucky Lady Salon. Back then it was considered very "unmanly" to style womens hair so he and his friends use their acting costumes and skills to open the salon to make ends meet. Unfortunately for them, they are getting in the way of the bank heist the villian, Colt Revolver Jr. and Jessica James are planning. As you can imagine, hilarity ensues.

The performances went really well, well except the second night when my gun kept slipping down my dress, but that is another story. :) I was so grateful to all the friends that supported our cast and came to enjoy the show. I was especially glad that my parents, sister and her kids, and in-laws traveled to attend. My wonderful (and gifted) friend Becky took some pictures during the show. We also got a few video clips. Enjoy!

My Little Ballerina...

Peyton absolutely LOVES going to her ballet and tap class. She can't get enough of dancing and feels the need to "bust a move" whenever she hears some music. She is convinced that everytime Ken sits down to piano it is to be her personal dance accompanist. He now has much of the Nutcracker music memorized. :)


In May, Peyton and her class got to perform in the dance recital "on the REAL stage". Of course I had to take pictures of her and her friend Lydia in their costumes. The dance they learned was really cute. Here is a video of the dress rehearsal and Peyton did even better for the performance. We are so pleased that she is learning from her fantastic teacher Mrs. Whittler and are really proud of our little ballerina.

Field Day...

It is always a good thing to play outside, play games, and get wet!

Our soccer star...

Morgan chose to play girls spring soccer this year. It was great having her good friend, Danielle, on the same team. It was a little tricky with the spring weather and more than one game got canceled, but Morgan had a great time and learned a lot. She enjoyed playing goalie and forward the most. It was also a challenge she enjoyed to scrimmage the boys team at practice.

(Ken wins the bonus prize for taking her to all her games while I was at play practice. Check out these great photos that he took! Thanks sweetheart!)

Playing goalie -- SAVE!

Morgan and Danielle

You gotta love Colorado!

I love how the weather keeps us on our toes. Every day the kids have to ask what is appropriate to wear that day, because you never know what Mother Nature has in store for us. Hopefully my tulips and daffodils don't mind too much!

April 29, 2010

Where did spring go?

Cyle's visit...

I adore my youngest brother Cyle. In April he came to town to go snowboarding for a couple of days. I was able to go down to Denver and pick him up from his friend's place so he could visit us. On our way home we drove by the zoo and decided to stop for a few hours. What a serendipity! We all loved the beautiful day and Peyton and Cooper loved checking out the animals, the carousel, and eating ice cream.

We got home just in time to get Morgan and Trevor from school, pick up Ken, and head to the bowling alley. It was a blast. The kids, especially Morgan were really starting to get the hang of it. She even got a couple of strikes!

We then spent the evening relaxing, talking, and watching movies. I was so sad to take Cyle to the airport the next morning. The visit was too short, but tons of fun. We can't wait for uncle Cyle to visit again!

The "Coopers" on the zoo carousel.

Peyton loved riding the polar bear.

Checking out the giraffes.

Strike!

A tasty bit of irony...

At Costco I searched for a box with 4 tall sides so I could change the chicks box. It wasn't until I got home when I noticed what box I had grabbed. "El Pollo Loco!" Ha ha -- I laughed so hard! Notice the chicks are on the edge of the box. They liked to jump up there and roost. When they figured out they could jump down and wander around, that is when we decided that it was time for them to go. Keeping the chicks was a really fun experience for the kids and I am grateful that they had a good home to go to when they got bigger.

Gospel discussions...

A couple of Sundays ago, Peyton was getting her church bag ready to go and gathering some copies of the Friend (church children's magazine) to take to church to "read". She brought the April magazine to show me the picture on the cover. The picture is from the perspective of Christ's empty tomb and shows his disciples at the entrance looking in the tomb, astonished. There is a woman there and Peyton decided that that must be Mary Magdalene. She told me how she was Jesus' friend and was the first person that He appeared to after His resurrection. I was impressed with all she knew. THEN she went on to tell me that there was another Mary and she was the mother of Jesus and that she was married to Joseph. I was amazed that she must have listened as we have tried to teach our children about the life of Jesus Christ. I was touched and had one of those moments when I thought, "as parents, we must be doing something right!" THEN Peyton proceeded to inform me that, "Mary also had a little lamb."

That is true too, I guess. :)

Easter Chicks

I still remember the Easter morning in 1982 when we awoke to find a box with the cutest, fluffy, yellow chicks. We thought that was the best thing ever! We kept them a few weeks before letting them go live and grow up on my uncle Jeff's property.

This Easter we decided to do the same thing for our kiddos. I got four little chicks (two of two different kinds) at Murdoch's and hid them in our friends garage until the kids went to bed and then we got everything set up. They were soooooo surprised! We spent some time talking about how these new little chicks were just born and that they remind us of new life that we can have through the Atonement of Christ and of His glorious resurrection.





We are keeping them for two or three weeks before we give them to our friends, the Adamson's. It has been a fun experience and fun to watch them grow. The chicks now like to roost on the side of the box and know enough to start chirping when the kids come in the room . Not sure if they are excited or fearing for their lives. :)

Growing up...

I was holding Cooper the other day and it was one of THOSE moments. I looked at my sweet baby and all of a sudden he looked older! I realized how quickly he is growing and changing. Maybe it is because he is my last baby, but I find myself wanting to hold on and slow time down so I can really enjoy these moments with him.

Day Cooper was born - 9/9/09

About one week old

About one month old (in his blessing outfit).

4 months old

Almost 7 months

Check out the new tooth (lower center right)!

A conversation overheard...

Recently, Peyton had several friends over to play. They were upstairs playing Sleeping Beauty and they soon came downstairs to ask if they could watch the movie. I was sorting laundry and wasn't noticed in the hall when I overheard Peyton say to her friends, "You don't need to be scared at the end of Sleeping Beauty, she comes alive again, just like Jesus. She is resurrected!"

Hearing that simple testimony of the Savior shared by my sweet daughter touched my heart. I thought to myself that Ken and I must be doing something right if our 4 year old knows about Jesus Christ and His glorious resurrection.

On this Easter Sunday, I bear you my testimony that He lives! On the third day He overcame death and rose from the tomb. I love Him! I am forever grateful for the love of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I am grateful for the opportunity to teach this truth to my children.

Happy Easter!