New Mexico

We just got back this past weekend from visiting Aunt Julie and our Cousins in New Mexico. They just moved to Albuquerque a few weeks ago and since Uncle Russ was traveling I decided to head out with the kids to keep them company. We had so much fun and already miss them so much!

Albuquerque Aquarium

I love my nephews and my little niece. Parker is a crack up! He loves running around the house with his gloves and goggles and is truly convinced that he is really on a dirt bike! I love it!!

Our "Hike"! It was more of a slow walk because we had 6 kids under the age of 5 with us, but it was beautiful and a lot of fun. The dry heat felt so much better than our Florida humidity.

Cooling Off

My kids love Sadie!! Brooke was smothering her the whole trip and was trying to teach her how to play dolls. She keeps talking about Sadie and calls everyone we see "Her Sadie"

For our sanity we ended up at the park almost every evening.

Fruit Anyone?

I just got back from the grocery store and my little red rat got into the fruit while I wasn't looking. She just can't help herself!! My watermelon has little handfuls taken out of it and there are bite marks all over the pineapple. Anyone want a bite?

Dinosaur Museum and trip to Utah

The kids and I always have so much fun when we go to Utah. They love their grandparents and just being on vacation. This summer Nana took us to the Dinosaur museum and both Dallin and Brooke have been infatuated with Dinosaurs ever since. They loved everything that they saw and had so much fun with Grandma.

Orlando Airport

So. . . .we got a little stuck on the way home from our trip to Utah. After going to the airport 3 times and trying to get on multiple flights, I finally decided that if I wanted to get home I would need to fly into Orlando. Doug agreed that Orlando seemed to be our only option and made the 3 hour trip North to come pick us up. I have been wanting to go to Disney World with the kids all year, but know that while we are in school that probably won't be an option. Fortunately, the airport seemed to excite the kids just as much!!

Fourth of July

Great BBQ and huge fireworks! Another perfect 4th!!

Saturdays

I love the weekend. Doug's home and we can relax after another long week. My great friend Effie let us know the Home Depot was doing projects for kids on Saturday's so we headed down this past weekend. The kids had a blast making little boxes and they were so proud of their little creations.

Swimming

This is going to be a great summer for the pool! Dallin and Brooke beg me everyday to go swimming and they are becoming quite the swimmers because of it. In Orlando I told Dallin that I would jump in the pool with my clothes on if he would jump off the side into the pool. Everyone in my family tried to get him in, but luckily for me...he was too scared. I've been trying ever since, and then one day he just jumped in. Now he can't stop!! His favorite trick is jumping over Doug and a close second is his cannon ball.

Orlando

I have been looking forward to this trip since Christmas! And it was more fun than I could have imagined. My parents, and Amanda & Kurt came down to visit and we all met up in Orlando at a house that they had rented for us. It was so relaxing!! The kids swam all day and when we weren't swimming with them we were reading or just talking by the pool. It was such a needed vacation for us all. My only disappointment was the Doug was not able to come with us. He has finals the week that we went, but he was thankful that I had something to do so that he could study without distractions.

Great Friends back in Florida!

Staci and Andrew came down and stayed with us for a few days this past month. It was so much fun!! We have missed them so much and it was a blast catching up on what we had all been up to since last summer. Since Dr. McFarland is a wealthy dentist now, he treated us to a great seafood dinner. We also were able to see Staci's parents and spend some time with them at their hotel and the beach. Doug was able to take a day off to come with us to the Lion Country Safari. We love them and their family and are so thankful that they made the trip to come see us. Dallin and Brooke both love Maddy and it was so fun to see them play together again.

Ft. Lauderdale Beach

Lion Country Safari

Dallin really enjoyed the mini golf game with Doug. Brooke preferred to sit on all the animals along the way.

Easter

This was the first year that the Easter Bunny came to our house. Brooke and Dallin were both so excited. They got kites, treats, and some new coloring books and crayons. The night before I cut out bunny feet and put them on the floor. The next morning as the kids came downstairs I told them that the Easter bunny must have come and stepped in some paint on the way (I couldn't find enough paper around the house in one color...I know, they are awful looking rabbit feet). They started to follow the foot prints into the front room to find their baskets when Dallin said, "Mom, I think that these aren't his real foot prints. I think that he just put these papers down because he didn't want his feet to get dirty on our so dirty floor." Way to blow my Easter. It was a huge insult considering I had just mopped my floor the day before. At least Brooke thought it was fun.

Last Play Group

We have had so much fun with Dallin's friends. A lot of them are leaving Florida this next year and we will miss them so much. Play group has been the highlight of every week for Dallin.


(Brooke sneaks into Dallin's playgroup more often then she should. It has been quite a challenge to get her to not scream every time I drop him off.)

Miami-Dade Fair

Our good friends Joe and Lucy go to the fair every year and we have been wanting to go with them since we got to Florida. We finally made it this year and we all had a blast! There really is nothing like fair food, great entertainers, and farm animals!

(The kids got to make their own butter. It was a major highlight for Brooke. She devoured hers in just minutes!)


My Nebraska Corn Husk'n Boys!