Cedar City

Since the beginning of the year when they announced that the Cedar City temple would be completed in the Fall I've been looking forward to taking our family to the open house.  The tickets were gone in seconds and we were unable to get any for the day we wanted to go... so we decided to head up and hope that we didn't have to wait too long to tour the temple.

We woke up really early to drive up so that we could get there when they were just starting the tours.  We made great time and got there around 9:30.  After parking we took a bus over to the temple.

We were lucked out and were able to get right into the next tour.  The temple is just gorgeous.  I love to point out all the little details to our kids.

Afterward, Lydia wanted to take a picture with Jesus.

I'm so glad we had the opportunity to take our kids to see the temple!

After the bus ride back to the car we changed into comfier clothes.

Since we were nearby we decided to take the opportunity to stop at Staheli Family Farm and see what all the fuss was about.

We had so much fun playing outside in the beautiful weather and exploring the farm there.

These swings were pretty awesome.

Lydia loved seeing all of the animals.

They all really loved jumping on this giant air pillow.

And they loved being rolled around in this giant tube as well.

We even went through a giant corn maze.  Unfortunately, everyone was pretty hungry by now so they were a little grumpy when we went through it.  But we did find our way out!

After the cornmaze we went back to the farm and James participated in a pumpkin seed spitting contest.

We ended our outing by stopping by Chic-fil-A for lunch.  

It was a really great day!  I'm glad that we made the time to take our family up to the new temple!

Nevada Day

The boys were out of school for Nevada Day so we decided to head to Springs Preserve and check out the new playground.  I forget that they do free admission on Nevada Day... so luckily we got there right as they were opening for the day and we beat the crowds.  

The new playground is so much fun!  The kids played on it forever.  It was nice to be outside and enjoy the beautiful weather.

There were musical instruments, 

big slides,

and lots of climbing.

This was a really neat part of the park where the kids could paint with water.  I need to set up something like this at my house!  They loved it!

We also were able to check out the new Water Works exhibit.  We need to go back and explore it some more.

Daily Sunshine

 Lydia dressed up in her Cinderella dress and decided she needed a prince to dance with (she's been watching the movie lately).  Since James was the closest brother available she told him, "James, dance with me!"  She thought it was so much fun!  She is a lucky girl!

Lydia's birthday fun

Lydia was so excited about her birthday!  In the morning, after playing at the park, we came home and made a "pink and purple" cake.  She was so happy to help make it--her ballerina bear helped too.

Lydia's nursery leader came by and brought her a balloon and a treat.  She was in heaven!  (And she has the best nursery leaders!! We love Sis. Cook and Sis. Henricksen!)

She was so excited for Dad to come home because she knew that it meant she could open her gifts!  It was so fun to see her get excited about each and every one!

I worked extra hard to get her new quilt done in time for her birthday.

And then it was cake time!

I really loved this picture,

In the end, she didn't really want the cake at all... just the candy sprinkles.

Lydia is at such a fun stage right now where everything is exciting!  We love her in our family!

Daily Sunshine

Lydia loves to make this funny little face.  So after I took her picture doing it she insisted that I make the face too and she grabbed my phone to take a picture.  This little girl is my cute little buddy every day!

Lyddie-bug

Oh little Lydia!  You are the best little girl--the perfect combination of girly and rascal.  You don't have a problem keeping up with your brothers but you sure have them wrapped around your little fingers. You can't wait for school to get out everyday so that you will have them to play with.  As soon as they are done with homework you are begging them to play outside with you.  

You love to make us laugh and "your guys" know just what to say to get you to be funny.  You also say things that are hilarious even though you don't mean them to be.  Like when you tell one of us, "it's all your fault!" or when you tell Dad that he's in trouble for messing with the crockpot (even though he's just helping me get dinner ready while I am at choir).  When getting you dressed for church in a new dress that had straps you told me you were going swimming and then when I put a sweater on over it you said the sweater was "so fancy."

When your pacifier finally bit the dust a few months ago you cried every night and would yell at me, "You broke my paci!!"  It was a pretty sad time for you.  And a sad time for me because you stopped napping.  Now you have quiet time by yourself.  Sometimes you play so nicely and other times you come down with a sticky face and hands... and I discover that you found William's stash of dum dums and you ate every single one of them!!

You are my sweetest little buddy.  You love to make popcorn every day and cuddle up with me to watch a show.  Anytime I want to bake you are ready to be my assistant, pushing your chair across the kitchen.  Anytime I say something like, "You're my girl" or "You are so beautiful" or "I love you" I get a "you're my girl" or "you are beautiful" or "I love you" right back.  Even though you are just being a mimic it is still so sweet.  (Although I really love it when you declare "Dad's my girl!")

**Doing this interview was a struggle.  She wasn't interested in answering questions and she's slightly obsessed with Halloween right now so every answer was based around that.

What is your favorite...
color? yellow (I was surprised about this!)
food? treats
toy?   little people house
show? my spooky show (a dvd from the library that has halloween episodes of pbs shows... before this she was obsessed with the Curious George Halloween movie)
animal? spooky one (when I tried to clarify she said, "ooooo! like that!")
book? The bird one
song? Halloween one (Mr Jack-o-lantern)
What do you like to do?  play games on the ipad and watch my spooky Halloween show
Who is your best friend?  my girls (Piper, Eden, Whitney)
What do you want to be when you grow up? a ghost outside on Halloween
Do you have a boyfriend?  no!

I am - 
I am afraid of -

I like - 

I like to eat - treats at the party

I don't like - 

I know - 

I want to be - 

I like to watch - a show

My hero is- 

I cry when - "I cry like this... waaaa!"

Mom gets mad when - 

Mom is happy when - 

I can't wait for - 

Something Mom says to me -

Something Dad says to me - 

My favorite place to go is - 

My Mom and Dad make me laugh by - 

I know my mom loves me because -

I know my dad loves me because -

James the Entrepreneur

James has been working to earn money for SeaCamp this coming Spring.  During the weekend of our neighborhood garage sale James set up shop at the park.  He had made monster cookies and caramel corn to sell.  In addition to that he sold pomegranates from our tree and some World's Finest Chocolate.  He made a good chunk of the money he needs to earn so it was pretty successful!

While James worked hard at flagging cars down Lydia played at the park with her friend, Kora.  These little girls are so cute together.

 Kora's older sister, Soriya, even made them crowns to wear while they played.