Annie Turns 4

My little sweetheart turned four this week.  I can't believe that she is so grown up.  She has been telling everyone over the last few months that she is three and on December 10 she is turning four. She was so excited for her birthday.  She chose a cake with M&M's and this is what I found.  I am so not creative and I had to copy a picture I found online.  She had a great time, thank you family for coming to celebrate with Annie.

Happy Halloween

This year for Halloween Annie was Cinderella and Ellie was a butterfly.  They loved dressing up and getting candy.  We went to the Rec Center for their Spooktacular, we saw all the grandparents,  we went to Gardner Village, we went to a pumpkin patch, and lastly went to the Trunk or Treat for our neighborhood.  We were busy this Halloween and I am glad that we are done for the year, although we have enough candy to last until next year.

September and October

Life has been pretty busy around here lately, ever since the beginning of September it seems that life has been on fast forward.  Annie is doing preschool one day a week and I take a turn every three to four weeks to teach at our house.  Annie loves it and asks most days when is it time for preschool.  We have continued to go to the zoo every couple weeks with our pass.  We have all chosen our favorite animal and make sure we see them when we go.  They are building a Safari for African animals coming in 2014, they will finally bring a lion back to Hogle Zoo.  We are excited and will probably get another pass in two years.

I have not yet written about this, but it's been five months since Dan lost his job.  He has looked all summer long for another one, but has yet to find one.  We are hanging on with faith and prayers from many loved ones and we thank you all for those prayers.  It has been a discouraging time with few interviews and holding out hope for a positive result, but always a rejection in the end.  We would love continued prayers in our behalf.  I will let you know when there is good news to report.  

Cabin in the Woods

We took one trip this summer to my brother-in-laws family cabin. We went with my mom and siblings.  It was so much fun to spend time with them and to have cousins for my kids to play with.  On the way down we saw some donkeys and Annie had a fun time feeding them.

We swam at Causey reservoir, it was cold but after a few minutes we got used

 to it and had a great time splashing and swimming.

We played on the four-wheelers and motorcycles, we all had a blast on those.

We took a hike around the property and enjoyed the view.

Lately

Ellie has started talking.  It's so fun to listen to her sweet little voice.  Annie didn't say any words until after 18 months and we were worried a little bit about that, but Ellie is only 15 months and says about 10 words really clearly.  She is such a joy to have in our family.

Clowning around

No this is not Annie and Ellie, these are both pictures of Annie.  The first when Annie was seven months old, and the second when Annie was three and seven months old.  These were both taken at the Farmington Parade for Freedom Days.  I was so excited to see this woman again and knew that she had to be the same clown.  Although she didn't remember and neither did Annie, I knew it would make for a great shot.  It was fun to look back and see how Annie still has the same look. I hope I am not instilling in her, a fear of clowns.  We love the Farmington parade and hope to see her again next year.

Five Years

On June 2 Dan and I celebrated 5 blissful years of marriage.  To celebrate we took a week long trip to Kauai, Hawaii.  Dan and I both agree that it was the best vacation we have ever been on in our lives (and I have been on some great trips).  Our girls were passed around first with my brother and sister-in-law, then my mom, then Dan's parents.  They loved spending time with family.  We were glad we could be by ourselves and be free to do what we wanted.  We packed each day full and couldn't have done even one more thing.  We were amazed our first day at all the beautiful trees, flowers, mountains, ocean, everything.  It seemed though that the longer we were there we were not as amazed, it was all just familiar (still beautiful, but familiar).  We did amazing things and saw once in a lifetime type sights.  We might never get the chance to go back, but we are so glad we took the opportunity to do it now.  The pictures didn't do the vibrant colors justice, but they are still beautiful.

I tried to get a picture of myself snokling (kindof worked)

Dan snorkling

My favorite fish, the colors were amazing

Getting ready for our helicopter ride

These are the falls from Jurassic Park

Na Pali Coast (you can't drive on this side of the island)

Wailing wall (crater with tons of water falls)

Spouting Horn

There were chickens and roosters everywhere

Lava Rock

Red lobster claw flower

At the luau there were peacocks everywhere (it reminded me of Palos Verdes on the mission)

My new favorite flower Rainbow plumeria

Enjoying the Luau

Hideaways beach (my favorite)

Kayaking on the river

stopped for lunch

We hiked about 6 miles of this 11 mile trail

View of the na pali coast from our long hike

ice cold coconut water, so refreshing after our hike

Sunset at Ke'e

Halfway through our eight mile hike

Kilua Lighthouse

lighthouse again

Had to get a picture of this

Dan jumped off these falls after he saw some native kids doing it

Shave ice

Yellow and white plumerias

Wilua falls, longer than niagra falls but not as much water

More shave ice

Beautiful red flowers

Queens bath

Dan swimming in Queens bath

Hideaways, i could live here

floating in the clear water at hideaways

Lyngate state park, where we learned to snorkle

snorkling at Ke'e

Interesting trees, you could see all the roots