Some Family Pictures

We took some family pictures in October. I wish we had one of Troy running back to the group after he set the camera. He takes awesome pics. I love our big family

My cute family

I love my kids smiles in this one. This was one of the first photos, so they were'nt too mad and ready to go home by this time.

I'll post more on this later, but I love this picture that Uncle Tony took at Isaac's baptism. We were so happy and proud of Isaac. It was a great day.

HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY ISAAC

Today is Isaac's 8th Birthday. Happy Birthday Isaac :) We love you and are so proud of you. We are excited that you will be baptized in a few weeks. You are such a good boy. Happy Birthday!


Isaac got a suit from his Nana and Grandpa King for his special Baptism day. He is so excited that he can now wear a suit to church and look just like Dad.

Isaac got a Scout shirt from Nana Blair. He is so excited that he has his first night of scouts on his birthday.

The kids woke Anna up for the present opening. She looks thrilled in this picture.

Isaac calls this his: "Smiley Breakfast" made up of Toast, bacon, bananas, mac and cheese and grapes. He made it for Maia a few months ago and made me promise that I would do it on his Birthday. I think we have started a new Birthday tradition.

He wanted a Lego Indiana Jones set for his birthday. He picked this one out, so it wasn't too much of a surprise, but I wanted to make sure he got the one that wanted.

Anniversary/Work Trip

Troy went down to Las Vegas for work Sept. 23-25th. Troy gave me an anniversary surprise. He worked it out for his boss to send me down to be with him. Troy left on the 23rd of Sept. and I flew down to be with him on the 24th. My mom watched the kids for Wednesday and Thursday, and Troy's mom and Julie watched them on Friday. Thank you to all who helped us we love you.

A view of our room at the Hampton Inn in Henderson. It has been quite a while since I have stayed in a hotel room that only had one King size bed instead of two full size and a roll away.

:0 :) :) :) :) :)

On Thursday evening (24th)we drove our rental car to the Hoover Dam. It was amazing. I can't believe how big it is.

The two columns behind me are for the Nevada/Arizona border. I'm in Arizona in this picture.

The water line was really low.

They are building a bridge over the dam so you won't be able to drive on it before too long. Probably to keep the structure safe and to avoid any terrorist acts.

:)

In the day while Troy was gone, I went to the Outlet Mall down the strip (I was shocked to find a store that sold kids Vegas t-shirts and adult toys together. Gross!) I left after that. I went to see a movie, "The Time Traveler's Wife" inside the South Point Casino. I then had the pool and hot tub all to myself at the hotel. It was really nice to have a me day.

The flight on the way home. It was a short but sweet trip. It was a great anniversary trip.

I'm grateful to be married to my best-friend for 13 years. Happy Anniversary Troy. I love you!

An extra picture of the bridge. Sorry I don't know how to delete it. Does anyone know?

Camping at Jolley's Ranch

We went camping up Hobble Creek Canyon last night. It was so much fun and the weather was awesome. It was overcast so it wasn't very cold in the night and it didn't even rain! The kids had a blast.

I love the outdoors!

Sitting around the campfire making Smores. I'll have to admit that we made smores at night, but this picture is from the next morning at 8:30 AM. Smores are good anytime right?


Anna playing bubbles with Grandpa King. I love automatic bubble blowers.

Hurry before the marshmallow falls in the fire!

Can you see the Smore in the baby doll stroller? New Smore slogan: "You can cook em', eat 'em or just push 'em around in a stroller. We love Smores"

Bald Mountain

Last Saturday (August 29th) we decided to hike to the summit of Bald Mountain in the Uintas.
I was a little nervous that the kids wouldn't be able to do it. But they did great.
It was a perfect hiking day. About 60 degrees, overcast and slightly windy. The kids were so excited. Anna had a tough time at first. It wasn't because she couldn't do it. It was because she didn't want any help getting up the mountain. But it would have taken forever to get to the top because it was so rocky and alot of the rocks were bigger than her. Troy would carry her part of the way and then we would let her walk. Maia and Isaac did great. My kids love the outdoors as much as Troy and I do.

At the trail head. Julie, Asher and Nana Blair went with us, but they only went part of the way. I think it was too cold for Asher. It was good to have them with us. It was a lot of fun.

Isaac was so excited about all these rock ledges on the trail. It made me so nervous to have them up on those rocks. (It was totally safe but I was being a protective mom) You can see me in the lower left of this picture making sure they get down as soon as the picture is taken.

Anna was happy most of the way, but the few pictures I have of her she is crying. Funny huh?

My big girl up at the summit. Maia wanted to summit the mountain first. I was so proud of her. She is such a hiker like her dad.

Anna crying again. I think this time Troy wouldn't let her run around much at the top and she was mad. Isn't the view spectacular?

The pile of rocks at the summit. Almost all of us are looking at the camera.

On our way down. I love the lakes. So beautiful! I was so proud of my kids. They were really proud of themselves that they hiked to the top of a mountain that was over 11,000 feet.

One last summer fling

Thanksgiving Point had their $2 for Tuesdays in August deal again this year, so I decided to take the kids the Tuesday before school started.

by the waterfall.

I love this picture. They are so happy to be outside. The weather was perfect. They stood still for one second before running to see the Koi pond.

Isaac found the biggest hat they had at the gift shop. You could hide a whole family under there.

Anna and Grandma King enjoying the shade.

I loved how the wind was blowing Maia's hair. P.S. She loves her new haircut.

Anna was done with her stroller about halfway through. She would just take off running as soon as I let her out. Which I didn't mind too much. If you can't run outside then when can you?

The Rose Garden. I loved this wooden walkway. There were all kinds of roses around it.

It was a great day. The kids were all rested and ready for school after this. It has been an amazing summer.

Trips to Idaho

From August 2-11th we went to two different parts of Idaho with one day in between to wash clothes, pack and be off again. (not recommended)

First it was off to Bear Lake for the King family reunion.

After being home for one day, I went with the kids to Boise to visit Troy's sister Jonette.

Troy had to stay home for that one, but he promised that he would go next time.

Here are some pictures of Boise. I will post the Bear Lake ones later.

My little mermaid Maia. There was a pool in their aunt's neighborhood. The water was freezing, but I don't think the kids noticed.

The only time I could get Isaac to take a picture. He was having too much fun.

The cousins. They were having too much fun to go to sleep some nights. (Which got a bit frustrating, but I am so glad that they get along so well.)

We went to the Middle Fork of the Payette river to some hot springs. The hot springs are right at the top middle of this picture of Isaac. You had to cross the river to get to it though. And the river was NOT hot. Can you see the raft in the background? Jonette and her husband Clint were trying to take the little ones over by raft. Which proved to be tricky with all the rocks and the flowing river.

At a park downtown.



Nana Blair with Anna and her cousins Maren and Leah.

We went to the Discovery Center of Idaho. Here Anna is playing in the make believe shopping center. You could select food and pretend to purchase it. The kids had a blast. I wish my kids had that much fun at the actual grocery store.

I hope you brought the money to buy that Isaac. I love the crab just sitting there.

A pulley chair that rises in the air as you pull the rope, and then you let go and it brings you back down. Genius!

The twister. (or tornado, I can't remember) Isaac loved it.

At the park in the neighborhood.

We were sad to leave, but very happy to get home. The kids were sad to leave their cousins, but happy to be back home with their dad.