Camping

We love camping and love it even more when we can go with friends! I have always had an appreciation for the outdoors thanks to my dad and family. I love the smells, the sights, the sounds, everything!
                      

We were able to go up the canyon with the Osguthorpes and go camping for a night. It was so much fun. We were able to use our new tent for the first time and loved having more space. Gemma loved getting dirty... almost as much as the kids. We had fun eating my caramel popcorn, talking, having a marshmallow war, playing in the nearby stream, taking nature hikes and just loving the outdoors. Can't wait to go again!

Introducing...

Phelps McDiver!

I have wanted a turtle forever and finally was able to bring this little guy home. He is a red-eared slider and is about 2" long. He's great at playing hide & seek, loves to eat & hide under lettuce and bask in the sun, he always has a bubble on the end of his little nose, has a missing finger, loves his daily bath, and always tries to bite the Q-tip I use to help clean him. Gemma finds him fascinating but doesn't know what to make of him yet. He sure has been fun to have around! We have gotten him a bigger tank now and has a few fish friends that hopefully soon he will try to eat. It is so fun watching him grow and discover things.

2 weeks with a girl named Paige

We had the fun opportunity to have my little sis down for a few weeks. She is one busy person, so when she finally had some free time Brent & I snatched her up. She is such a fun person to be around and we enjoyed the time we were able to spend with her! We had so much fun and were able to do a lot of things while she was here, like seeing "The Avengers" and "Snow White and the Huntsman" (both great movies!). We drove through the Kolob part of Zions and showed her the amazing park, had amazing dinners (one of which she bought ingredients and cooked - and boy is she a great cook!), went shopping and site seeing around town, watched a million movies at home, played games, and just simply had a blast!

My absolute favorite thing we did while she was here, was going to St. George. We took her out to eat at the Olive Garden - it was her first time and I think she LOVED it! Afterward, we took her to do Baptisms at the temple. It was such a special moment for me and my sis. A little back-story: Paige got baptized a few days after Brent & I were married, and because of us being on our honeymoon, we weren't able to attend - so being able to take her to the temple to do baptisms was amazing, and even more so because it was her first time. And to make it truly special, it was the day Brent & I celebrated our 6th anniversary of being sealed in the temple for eternity! When we got to the temple it was amazing to feel how strong the spirit was. The temple patrons were so in love with Paige and doted on her the whole time which I was an amazing thing for her! I am so appreciative of those ladies making her feel so comfortable and letting her know how special she was. Brent was even able to baptize and confirm us.  How amazing right! I absolutely love the St. George Temple and it was so wonderful to have it be a special place for her too!

Then on Sunday both Paige & I had the opportunity to bear our testimonies in Sacrament Meeting. Paige's testimony was so sweet and special. For her to tell her thoughts and feelings on the temple and how much she loved it and knew it was a special place, was the most wonderful thing for me to hear. I love the temple so much and to be able to share my love with my sister was the most amazing experience and I am so grateful for it! I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and that I have a strong testimony of Temples. I am so grateful that I know I can be with my family forever because of them. I am so grateful to have a Heavenly Father who loves us so much. I hope someday to have the opportunity to have all of my family gathered in the temple with us.

Thanks for spending time with us Paige. We love you and hope to have you back down again soon!

Trip to the Coxes

A little bit ago, Brent and I made a trip to see Brent's brother Mark and his sweet family. It is always so nice being able to see them. We have such cute nephews and it is so great being able to make memories with them when we can. We had fun going to Cabela's with the kids, eating YUMMY food (Em is a seriously good cook!), and us girls, and Scott, painted our nails - which were awesome by the way, mine were done like pac-man and Em's were peacock feathers. My most favorite moment of the trip was when Em & I were forced to go to take a midnight fun to Walmart. We were not happy about it but decided to make the most of it. We blasted the radio on the way and sang out hearts out to Queen's 'fat bottom girls' and other classics. We had a blast goofing around and plotting what we were going to do the next day. We laughed hysterically when walking down the ice cream isle and found this in the freezer....

And to top it off ... our cashier and hit on us! It was great!

Thanks Mark & Em for letting us come visit.
We had a great time and loved spending time with you!

Sweet Violet

Our beautiful new niece! Congrats to the Winget family!

Turning 30 BLOWS!!!

30 Reasons why I love you Brent     

  1. Your wonderful smile

  2. You are always such a gentlemen

  3. You are caring

  4. You are hard working

  5. You can always make me laugh

  6. Always fun to be around

  7. You are an AMAZING cook

  8. Your sweet kisses

  9. Your goals and dreams

10. You spoil me like crazy 

(but I'd still love you even if you didn't)

11. You are always willing to help those around you

12. Your love of the gospel

13. You always make me feel beautiful

14. You are extremely good looking!

15. You love to travel and experience new things

16. You are a big kid

17. You are so talented

18. You are mindful of others

19. You do everything possible for our family

20. You are spontaneous

21. Because you make my life wonderful

22. Because you will be an amazing father some day

23. You are always thinking positive and help me think positive too

24. Your personality and sense of humor

25. You love me for who I am

26. You are romantic

27. Your testimony

28. You make home a wonderful place to be

29. You are an amazing husband

30! Because you are my world, my everything!!!

 My wonderful hubby just celebrated his 30th birthday! I can't believe how fast time has flown. I am seriously the luckiest girl in the world to be able to spend this life with him!

I had a lot of fun planning his party this year. I had the fun theme of  "Turning 30 BLOWS" and had a million balloons, bubbles, candles, and anything that fit. We had a delicious ice cream pizza from Maggie Moos and had friends over to celebrate.

I was also able to surprise Brent with a trip up to see his family and have a small party with them and bowling. It was fun having everyone come celebrate his birthday and I know it meant so much to him. 

Thank you everyone that came and helped make this a memorable birthday for him! Love you Brent!!

7 years FULL of love!

I can't believe we are celebrating our 7 year anniversary!! These past 7 years have been such an amazing time and I have loved every minute. Not everything has been sunshine and rainbows, but I'm so grateful to have a husband who tries to make me smile and laugh everyday, who never gives up on me, who apologizes when he does something wrong even if he doesn't always agree, and who always does everything he can to make our life better. I am so lucky to be married to the man of my dreams, the most youthful, faithful, truthful, respectful, trustful, meaningful, cheerful, thoughtful, careful, skillful, hopeful, playful, mindful, and just plain WONDERFUL man I have ever met! These past 7 years have been so full of love and happiness and I have truly been so blessed to have Brent by my side. Brent you are my everything, my best friend, my support, my love, my LIFE! Thank you for everything you have done, for loving me, and sharing your life and eternity with me.

To start our adventure off we headed up to Sanpete. We were able to stop by and have lunch with my parents and sister. My family is so funny when we all get together!  Paige and Dad really know how to tease the crap out of each other... which in turn makes great entertainment for the rest of us. The evening went from Paige poking my dad's eye with a straw to making fun of Titanic in 3D to Paige's talent of nostril flaring - it was quite the meal. By the time we got our food we were all laughing so hard that it was a challenge to eat. I'm sure everyone in the restaurant was wondering what the crap we were doing!

We headed up to Salt Lake the next day. We ate at Olive Garden and then Brent surprised me with tickets to see The Hunger Games at the IMAX theater in the Clark Planetarium. It was so fun walking around Gateway Mall and going to the Planetarium. It had been so long since the last time I was there. We both loved the movie and had so much fun!

Brent then surprised me with a night stay at the Anniversary Inn. I have always wanted to go to Italy and Brent made my dream come true for a night (So sweet right! Made my heart melt!!!). Our room was decorated like Venice, including a bed in a gondola! It was so beautiful! There were rose petals sprinkled all over and cheesecake & sparkling cider in the fridge waiting for us. It was absolutely perfect! We ordered pizzas from room service, and snuggling in the reclined couch while watching movies all night. They had a huge jet tub with overhead fountains that I especially loved! Can't beat a nice relaxing bath!

 

On our way home we stopped at Brent's all time FAVORITE place to eat - Tucanos (a brazillian grill that is so very, very yummy!) I even got the servers to sing happy birthday to him since his birthday was only a few days away!

 Thanks again baby for the amazing and so special anniversary! I look forward to many, many more with you!! I LOVE YOU!!!