Cindy-Loo

My friend Cindy and her family visited us from CA. While we talk a few times a week, we usually only get together 1-2 times a year. She is fabulous. She is the type of friend that makes me a better person. She is full of ideas about homemaking, raising children and all other topics in between.

Cindy-Loo and Bella-Boo

We set off leftover fireworks from the 4th of July.


Caleb and Jared have been friends from the day they were born...I met Cindy the day before she was induced with Jared and had Caleb shortly after.

Allison and Josh hit it off.

Thanks guys for visiting! We already miss you!

American Fork Canyon

We spent last Thursday evening up AF Canyon. There is nothing better then getting an early start on the weekend fun.

After the boys "adventured" we roasted some marshmallows and sat around the fire chatting. There is something extremely relaxing about a fire. I laugh thinking about when we were first married and how bad I hated fires. I felt they made everything smell...hair, clothes....Well, I have gotten over that and now love them. A shower...who knew!

August and Caleb got the fire started.

Bella just hung out!

Joshie ate cookies...lots and lots.

Tons of fun!

11 Years

Hooray!! We have survived 11 years. August and I celebrated our 11 year anniversary on June 19th. This post is a little late...waiting for pics to get sent...but exciting nonetheless. We have done a lot...

We have endured many trials together...

...grew as individual persons...but together.

We finished school...

...have three beautiful kids...

...and have had many exciting adventures.

We don't know what the future will hold...

...but we know that we love one another...

...respect one another...

and will have one another to get through whatever we may face.

I love you honey!

Here's to another 11 years+!!

Donut Falls

We went to Donut Falls on Saturday. It is a popular hike up Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is called Donut falls because the river gushes through a donut shaped rock and then down the mountain.

We thought that it seemed most appropriate to start off with "donuts" on our way to Donut Falls...

I have great eaters...but they are VERY messy!

The entire fam went, along with my Dad.

Our day started off a bit rocky...we forgot the baby bjorn for Bella...and I had to carry her the entire time. It ended up being fine and didn't cause any problems. Although, it would have been much easier with the pack.

Joshua also decided...and we went along with it...that he wanted to walk instead of being carried. Big mistake. He tripped and cut his hand. Thankfully he is a tough kid and he didn't cry much. His legs are too small to keep up at our pace. Next time he will not get a choice!

The hike was absolutely beautiful.

It was very picturesque and smelled like evergreens and wild flowers.

The hike wasn't the most family friendly hike. It was rated as moderate. It is a pretty easy walk down a dirt path. When you get to the bottom of the waterfall you have to cross the river and then climb the rock slide to get to the top where the water goes through the "donut'. Crossing the river isn't any easy task because there isn't a bridge. There is only two tiny trees that serve as a makeshift bridge. We had rain that morning which only made it even more slippery. After you cross the bridge you have to scale the mountain/falls to get to the top. You can't tell in the picture, but the river is very deep in parts. I stayed on the other side of the river (trying to stay dry during the torrential down pour) while my Dad (carrying Josh), Caleb and August went across. Once to the other side my Dad determined that scaling the Mtn./rock slide with Josh wasn't such a great idea. Caleb and August attempted to climb it, but the water was too deep and too fast. Caleb had water up to his waist while he was trying to climb the huge boulders. They ended up turning around and backing down the rocks. Not an easy task...

But, the day was wonderful and the view from the bottom was far worth it even if we didn't get to actually SEE the water falling through the donut!

Happy Birthday Joshua!

Joshua turned 2 this last Sunday!! We can't believe it has been two whole years. He stills seems so much like my baby! But, he is growing so fast.

When Joshua was born he was 8 lbs 4 oz and 20 inches long. He was a BIG baby and has continued to be a big kid since. At his 2 year old check up he weighed 29 lbs and was 35 inches long.

He has a very quirky personality that makes him a very lovable kid. There is just something about him that makes everyone laugh. Maybe it is the Tennessee in him...

He loves being a big kid and doing big kid things. He loves trains, planes and just about anything boyish. He also loves to color and paint. His new love is our trampoline. He LOVES it! He is very coordinated and can keep his own with Caleb and his friends and cousins. He is also very daring...which makes us nervous and thankful that we have a trampoline net because he doesn't think twice to take a huge double feet jump off of the trampoline, spin and catch himself on the bars and land on the ground...HEART ATTACK! In this picture he is having his first sleep over with his brother and cousin. They were pretending to be asleep.

Here he is with his new neighborhood friends.

Here are some things that you frequently hear Josh say:

"Stay on target, stay on target"...referencing Star Wars!

"Sorry mama, sorry"..."Thank you daddy, thank you"...he is very polite and easy to discipline...although the tantrums are JUST beginning.

"Careful daddy"...always is cautioning us against any danger.

"Do it myself!"...very independent.

"Cuddle with you"...still loves to cuddle.. Although, he has turned into a Daddy's boy.

"Caleb do dat!"...for anything bad...whether he did it or not or was even in the same room.

"Stinky fish"...referencing uncle Carson's Smiths in Lehi/Highland and it's stinky fish area

Things about Joshua:

When asked his name he says, "Joshie"...I think that he really thinks his name is Joshie. Sometimes he does say, "Josh-ew-a".

Not shy at all...unless he just woke up from a nap.

Loves to play with kids. He makes friends very easily...but he is getting more possessive of some of his toys. He usually shares very well, but watch out if you even touch his little tyke car. Not pretty.

Excellent sleeper for naps and at night.

We love this little boy and wish him many more birthdays to come!