Up the Cabin Road...

Here we are again for the elk hunt around labor day. We don't mind getting dirty up here, because this is one of our most favorite places to go in the whole wide world! Seth's family, on his mom's side has a cabin up Manti canyon. It was built in the 1940's and it's authenticity has reamained, except for a flushed toilet which has been added in. The cabin has cement floors, log walls, no electricity or running water and we all kind of prefer it that way! There are so many stories and memories hidden up inside you feel like you know everyone that's ever come before. I'm so glad it's still there for the girls to enjoy:)

We had the cabin to ourselves the first night. It was really peaceful and we kept really busy watching the squirells. But it also meant that I was head chef, so we suffered through sloppy joes, water melon and corn on the cob. Jill's gourmet would come the next night.

Cute little forts that someone had left behind

Love my baby girl!

It's grandma's job to pass out the candy, right?

The amazing view from the cabin

A side view of the cabin

We were hanging out in the cars while the men were out hunting and this group came by that was taking their horses into the canyon. Of course the kids were throwing their shoes on so they could get a look. They sure got a treat when each one of them got a little ride!

She was loving it, just not showing it. I didn't get a picture, but a man I didn't even know took Alayna out of my arms and hoisted her up on top of a very tall horse. She tolerated it pretty well.

Movie time outside. So much fun being with Tagg and Tyne. Brynn, unfortunately became an easy target for the mosquitoes. Her face was a little poka dotted in the morning!

Playing in the sticks and dirt was better than any toy I could have brought her. Although dirt was the least of our worries. In the cabin she stumbled upon rat droppings and a mouse trap! The crawling/walking phase was interesting to watch.

Take me for a ride daddy!

Don and Seth have always agreed there is no faster way to fall asleep than to have a sleeping baby in your arms. About 2 min. after this photo was taken Don was out too.

Brynn became the little chauffeur for the cousins that wanted a ride over and over and over again. And that let Seth off the hook! Brynn was pretty proud to know how to drive on her own. Here is Tagg surfing/skateboarding behind:)

Cute, happy Brynn

A traditional ladder pose picture! Everybody that comes up to the cabin takes them. It's a good way to gauge how much everyone's grown.

If Seth had his way we'd live up here. That is if we could get a strong enough internet signal so he could work in the canyon. There is something so special about the mountains, I struggle to put it in to words. The mountains mean family, they mean contentment, they mean hurry up real fast and come back soon!!

First Day!

It's about time! Halloween's almost here and I haven't even gotten to the first day of school yet! I'm a little behind to say the least. This is actually the 2nd day of school here. Sadly Brynn was sick the first day of school. She woke up with tears in her eyes saying she just couldn't do it. But the next day she was back at it and 5th grade has been nothing but work, work ever since! Brynn seems to be busy 24/7. Between a big homework load and her ballet schedule, she rarely has any down time. Although she remains helpful and fantastic to be around at home. Don't know what I'd do without her! Kira has adjusted nicely to 1st grade. Going to school all day didn't seem too much of an adjustment for her, she just loves to learn! She has become quite the little reader too. I can't keep her stalked with enough books. We have actually told her to slow down so she'll understand what she's reading. Kira has also started taking piano lessons and remains at"Up with Kids" a singing and acting group.

Here is the official first day of school. Kira had to take 3 things that described her. She picked: a thermometer, because she wants to be a doctor someday, a microphone because she loves, loves to sing and the Book of Mormon because she told me she liked to learn about Jesus. Another little side note about her outfit. You can't see them but her little capris were not so little that day and I couldn't figure why. She kept pulling them up by the handful, and saying," mom these are way too big." I told her to just ignore it and sent her off to school. When she got home Brynn said, "Mom, did you know those were my capris that Kira has on?" Oh my goodness, am I that dense. Poor thing had to go all day hiking her sister's size 8's up onto her waist!

Cute sisters! Alayna was very sad each time these girls got out of the car to go to school. And she still is!

Alayna looks huge next to Kira!

One last thing...
A few Sundays ago I was giving Alayna a bath and she would not get in without her stuffed animals. "Just put them in" said Seth. So Alayna's loveys had a bath too that day and then spent many hours out drying in the sun.

Water Games

This is a short compilation of some of the fun we had in water this summer. The 1st is the water party at Heather Lyman's house. Our blow up slide was there, out of view and we made all the kids smash together for a group photo. It was quite the party. I don't even know if Heather knew this many kids would show up. It was kind of like a party in High School. Kids just kept coming and coming...I prefer a party with kids though, complete with popcorn, chocolate covered graham crackers, snow cones and bead necklaces. I bet Heather's glad that she only did that once this summer! It really was fun and the kids had a great time.

Here we are down at Heritage Park. A little creek runs through the park right next to our elementary school. It is really shallow and the girls love to wade in it, once there feet get numb...it's cold!!

Claire Isom came with us. She wasn't to keen on getting her picture taken. I could only catch the back of her head.

This dam was the product of an hours worth of work. They were very proud. And even more shocked when we came back a second time and their dam was still in working order.

Brynn showing me how deep the water is because of their dam.

Gotta love the Highland Splash park! I love this picture because Brynn seems to be shorter than the rest of these little beauties who are all be about the same height. Brynn has always been their playmate. No matter the age difference she just loves to play and I know she loves all of these girls like sisters.

Ta Da! Hello Anastyn! The lense on my camera is dirty, so excuse my foggy pictures:)

My happy baby girl! I know I secretly got her that suit because I love her chubby tummy.

This is another time at the splash park. We came with my mom and Niece and nephews.

Kira and Ava

Alayna and Grandma Julie

Ian

Tyler, Logan and Brynn
Can't go wrong at the splash park. Sometimes I'd like to send half the crowd home. But that's just part of summer, and it's slipping away too fast!

Alayna'a 1st Birthday

Good Morning! It's my birthday! Almost exactly a week till her birthday, Alayna learned how to crawl! I really wasn't sure if she was ever going to get it. Now she is mobile and ready for adventure. The girls will play hide and seek and she will crawl all over until she finds them. She also follows Brynn around like a little lost puppy dog. It's really cute.

We had mine and Seth's side of the family over for dinner and cupcakes on Alayna's birthday. I really didn't think that many people would be able to make it, but just about everyone that lives in state came, it was so nice to have everybody all together. As you can see it made Alayna happy. I just wish I'd gotten more pictures of everyone that was there.

Grandma Jill feeding our little bunny rabbit carrots

Uncle Chase and Aunt Jen got there early and Jen helped prepare all the food. Chase entertained all the kiddos.

Look at all the pursed lips in the back ground ready to help blow. I like daddy's big hand keeping Alayna's little piggies away from the flame. I was pretty convinced that she would dig in to the cupcake. We have been a little liberal with her in the sweets department. She's had her fair share of chocolate already. Way more than our first two kids. But she did have an ear infection that week and had been under the weather a bit so...

This is what she did with the cupcake. She poked it and whined and looked at us. We even tried giving her one of the mini cupcakes I made for everyone else, but she just wasn't interested. Oh well! Who says we have to have cake anyway?

Here's Alayna, cousin Ian and uncle Adam playing Alayna's new kitty piano. We went shopping for toys at Target and this was her favorite thing. A big cat face, with piano keys for teeth. A little freeky and weird, but it has been a big hit. It has a little microphone on the side which she has figured out how to pull out and sing into, or slober into or both! We were so glad to see uncle Adam there. Just a few days before he had surgery on his foot to fix some broken toes. He was a trooper to come out. Alayna's looking a little tired there:)

Dear Alayna,
What a joy it has been to have you come to us when you did! You light up all of us. You have knit our whole family close together. I remember when you were born we brought you home from the hospital and we all just lingered around you. In fact I think we basically camped in the family room for 3 days so we wouldn't miss anything you did. Nothing has changed even though it's a year later. Every time you grow we celebrate it. Every time you hurt, we hurt too. We will always be here and can't wait to see what's up around the bend for you. We love you so much Alayna Kate!
Love,
Mom, Dad, Brynn and Kira

Queen Kono

Have you seen a happier lady? My mom and her 3 older siblings surprised their mom for her 87th birthday with a big backyard bash. She was so surprised and happy to see all the family that had traveled from so far to be there. My uncle Donny and his kids put together a big gift basket for Kono. The tiara and feather boa were attached to the top:)

This song was an impromptu performance by my brother Austin,left; cousin Melissa, middle; and cousin David on the right. It was actually really good.

Cute little on-lookers

This is my brother's band: "Us Thieves"
Austin and his friend Chris Bjorn started playing together this year. They have a very natural, folk sound. The outdoor concert was fun and brought a great atmosphere to the party.

Thanks Aunt Nicki for holding me!

A few of Alayna's favorite things...

This is Alayna in her toy basket. She just barely started crawling a few days ago and since it took her just shy of 12 months to do so we've had to be a little creative in keeping her happy. Sitting in her toy baskets was one of her fav.'s. This cheesy grin is one of her favorite faces!

The socks go on your feet silly willy!

The pants go on your legs silly willy! Brynn and Kira don't need much to dress this doll up.

I could say I'm not really sure if she likes to dress up at this age, but she's giving herself away with that cheesy grin again.

What a card shark. Anytime we are playing a game that has to do with cards she has to be right there with her own hand of cards to play with/slobber on:)

"Take the picture mom, before I take these cute glasses off."

I just love this picture of Alayna. She looks like such grown up, big girl.

One of Alayna's other loves is the water. She doesn't look too pleased here, but when she's in the water she kicks and splashes and never wants to get out, no matter how cold it might be too.

My sis-in-law Erin let us borrow this toy and this got us through Alayna's phase of wanting to stand all the time. She can now stand on her own for a couple of seconds, it's fun to watch.

Whether it is her favorite or not she is the queen little sister of the house. The first fight of the day between Brynn and Kira is always over who is going to hold her first. At 9 months the Dr. speculated that she may not be crawling yet because everybody does too much for her. There may have been some truth to that, but we just love having you around baby girl. You are our favorite thing!!!