Stretching Our Legs

It's been a tradition of ours to take a walk on the river trail to stretch our legs between Conference sessions. We stop and take turns riding this huge swing our old friends made, skip rocks and always see people we know. We absolutely love it. This year we saw our dear friends Rob and Jill and new friends, Jen and Ryan.

Here the kids are skipping rocks.

Aidan has become quite the "poser." Here he says, "Mommy take a picture of me!" So, of course I had to. It didn't take much to convince me.

Oh my goodness! I saw this little snake cross right in front of me and told Matt. He ran and picked it up. What a man! Aidan was in awe and cried when we had to let it go. Ella was a little apprehensive (I was a lot). They actually held it. I couldn't believe it! I actually still can't believe I let them but then again Matt was there so I felt a little safer.

I can't wait to put this photo in Aidan's scrapbook.

I love this photo of Ella and the snake. I can't wait to put this one in Ella's scrapbook as well. Some day she might not believe she picked up a snake but here's the proof! We love Conference weekends.

"The Prophet Said to Plant a Garden"

We're starting early this year (we planted last week) and already have sprouts. For some reason, I just feel the silly need to start with acutal seeds as opposed to purchased plants and veggies. It must be the need to feel a sense of accomplishment. I'm not sure why but I have always been like that; much like I felt the need to have my first child completely natural which I don't regret but very much enjoyed the Epidutal with my last two children! There's no going back!

I love gardening - truly. It is so meditating. I love getting my hands in the soil, feeling the earth and watching these amazing plants produce "fruit." It's pretty rewarding.

Here we are planting green beans, sugar snap peas, watermelon, bell peppers, zucchini, arugula, spinach , lettuce, basil, Italian parsley, rosemary, and an assortment of perrenial flowers.

Ella and Aidan can't get enough of it so far. I love that they love pulling weeds! We'll see how long this lasts!

BLING

I just had to take a couple pics of Nicholas' state championship ring. Yes, it is quite the bling if you ask me!

Backwards - s'CBA

The other day we were driving up to Salt Lake for a wedding reception and we heard Ella do this: (recorded it at home later)

Best Friends

As I've said before, I have such fun memories of my brother and I sharing a room up until I turned 8 or 9. Even then he would come to my room and sleep in my bed. We talked and laughed all night and wake up doing the same thing. I remember one night we snuck our cat into my room (it was an outside cat). We woke up to a horrid smell. The cat had pooped in my room.! We both scurried to clean it up at 2 or 3 am, opened my window (in the meantime freezing) to get the smell out so my parents wouldn't notice. Ah, the secrets we kept.

I love having Ella and Aidan share a room. They are pretty inseparable and call each other their "best buddy" all the time. When I found out I was pregnant with Aidan and realized they'd be about 17 months apart, I panicked. I absolutely love it now. They have a playmate constantly. I love listenening to them play and use their imagination when they don't know I'm present. It is precious.

So. . . every night we put them to bed like this:





And every night before I go to bed, I see them like this. It makes my heart swell.

Let's Dance!

This last weekend we had thewonderful opportunity to celebrate our nephew's wedding. I was so excited that there was dancing! Any0ne who really knows me knows that I absolutely love to dance! I didn't think Matt would do it but, luckily Ella was able to charm her daddy into it. He couldn't resist.


Ella said she was dancing with her prince! I thought that was so cute.



Aidan couldn't stop smiling.



Nicholas actually led the way with Ella first. He's going to make a great Dad and husband someday!

This make me happy . . .

I was so excited to see the little buds blossoming on my favorite mini Weeping Pussywillow tree earlier this week. The snow today is a little set back but I have blossoms budding on my tree! It won't be long now!