Alice in Wonderland

Erika had the opportunity of performing with the Old Barn Theatre this year and it was a great experience for her.  This was our first experience doing a play with this theatre.   As with the Garland Children's Theatre, it is a non-profit organization all run by volunteers.  It is run by a board of directors in an attempt to provide positive experiences for the actors and good entertainment for the community.  Ticket sales and donations keep the program going.   I would've loved to do it with her, but with a new baby it wasn't possible this year.  Someday!  It was quite a bit different than the Garland Children's Theatre in that a lot more was required of Erika.  It is a bit more professionally done and required a lot more practices.  This was a "Jr" production, so it was almost all children in the play, another reason there were a lot more practices.  I was very lucky, though, because there were about 6 other families in my ward who also did the play and so we were able to carpool and take turns helping at the practices.  It is located in Collinston, Utah, about 10 min away.

Erika was the Cheshire Cat, at least a part of the Cheshire cat- the tail :)  She was on stage almost the whole show and did so great at memorizing her lines.  

It was so fun to watch her perform.   We are so proud of her for her hard work!  

Aaron's parents came to watch Erika the closing night of the show on June 27th and Kyle got to stay with them while Aaron and I headed up to Rexburg for the day with our 4 other kids.   Aaron really enjoyed seeing his old classmates and reliving some memories there.   

They had a couples dinner in the evening at Sugar Salem High School.  We left Jared, Heidi, and Jordan with Aaron's aunt Renee and took Kaylee with us.  

We also got to spend a few hours with Grandma Parkinson in the afternoon.  This was the first time she has ever seen Kaylee.  Last summer when we came up to her house, I was pregnant.  

Kyle's Baptism

Kyle was baptized on November 30th, 2013.  Aaron had the opportunity of baptizing him.  It was a very special day for our whole family.  This was the Saturday after Thanksgiving and we had just spent two nights up at the cabin at Strawberry with my family.  Aaron's parents came and spent the night Friday night.  It was great to have such wonderful family support!   

Our family in front of the Garland tabernacle where Kyle was baptized

We had been trying to help Kyle prepare for his baptism for several weeks before the big day.  He got a new set of scriptures for his birthday.  We had a really special family home evening the week before, when I got out his little baby blessing outfit and talked about how much (and how quickly) Kyle has grown from an infant to a boy.  It sure flies by!  It has not been a cake walk, and I suspect there will be some challenges along the way, but just as quickly I will turn around and he'll be a man, dressed in a suit and ready to go out into the world.  Scary thought!!  I have heard said before that once a child reaches 8 years old, they're pretty-much the person they are going to be, meaning they've developed their personality, many attitudes and ideas about life that they will carry with them.   I hope that we have prepared Kyle enough to approach the teenage years.  (Not to say there still isn't time to teach and progress...)

Anyway, as I held up that little white infant outfit and compared it to the white jumpsuit he would soon wear, it was a real eye-opener for all of us to see the comparison, and there was a sweet spirit there.   I read a few entries from Kyle's journal that I had written when he was a baby.   It was really touching to think about how sweet and small he was and how much we have grown to love this boy.   We are grateful to have Kyle in our family and love him so much!   We are also so proud of Kyle for his decision to be baptized and know he has desires to choose the right and follow our Savior.  

The following day after Kyle's baptism was fast Sunday and I was pleasantly surprised when Kyle got up to bear his testimony!  This was his first time.  I am glad that he is growing in the gospel and has righteous desires.  

Aaron's Dream Hunt

Aaron had the opportunity to go on the hunt of a lifetime this October!  He has put in for the Deseret Land and Livestock draw every year.  After only 11 years, he was so excited to find he had drawn out for the hunt.  There are people who will pay $15-20,000 to go on a hunt like this so it is an AMAZING opportunity!  I was so excited for Aaron to accomplish one of his dreams in life.  He was also very lucky to be able to take his dad with him.  Together they had experiences they will never forget for the rest of their lives! 

They were put up in a fancy lodge with good food and even their own hunting guide!   Aaron was assigned to Amos for the whole week.  He soon found that Amos was one of the best guides around and he knew his stuff.  For the first 3 days, he was led up close to bulls that he considered HUGE but Amos just told him to hold out- they weren't quite big enough.  Huh?!  He couldn't believe what he was hearing.  These bulls were bigger than any he'd ever seen in the wild!  Finally on Thursday, he found the bull he had always dreamed of.  He shot the biggest bull that was shot that week by any of the hunters at the lodge.  It is definitely one that we will mount and hang on our wall. 

I am so proud of Aaron and so excited for him that he got to have this amazing experience!

On November 23rd, Aaron also had the opportunity of going pheasant hunting with his good friend Andy over by Vernal, Utah.  Erika and Kyle also got go go along and spend time with Mahri and Aezlyn and had a blast!  All Aaron's practice shooting to prepare for his hunt had really paid off and he shot a lot of birds!!  He was grateful for the generosity of Andy's uncle for allowing them to come!  It was a long drive, but well worth the trip!

My Husband the Handyman

Okay, so when I married Aaron, I knew he was a wonderful guy.  But,  the longer we are married, the more he surprises me.  Fortunately, most of those surprises are good.   The longer I am married to Aaron, the more I learn about him, and that's fun!   And, the more I learn about him, the more I grow to love him.
Anyway,  this winter he has gotten busy on a bunch of projects around our home.   I have been so amazed and impressed with his handyman skills.  Even more impressive to me is the fact that he wasn't born with them, and they don't even come naturally for him.   He has really gotten out of his comfort zone even since we were married and made it a goal to learn how to do things on his own.   I am just so proud of him!   Okay, enough babbling and I'll show you the pictures....

Two summers ago, Aaron built this two-car garage in our backyard.  This is his workshop/ truck and toy shelter.  He did an incredible job, I think.  Since the weather has been cold and there is less to do outdoors (especially without snow) he had been busy sheet rocking and organizing his garage.   Now, that's some man cave!  

 I also never knew when I married Aaron that he cared so much about things being organized.  Wow- I thought I was an organization freak, but I guess I'm not.

I wish I had the before pictures but forgot to take one.  Since we will be moving some bedrooms around within the next few months due to our new addition,  Aaron went ahead and built some organizing shelves in two of the downstairs bedroom closets.  He just came up with it all on his own.   I helped a little- speckling, caulking, and masking, and he did the rest.  

Then Aaron got out in our garage and built a large shelf in the back corner for other big things in our garage to make some room.  

And, last but not least,  we were so sick of the clutter of bikes all over in the way so he made a bike rack out of wood for the side of our garage.  I was really happy about this.  Now we just hope that the kids will use it  :)

I realized the other day that not many things make me happier than a good honey-do list done.  The other day Aaron dropped everything and did all my honey-do's.   I was one happy honey.  So, I can't help but brag a little.  I never knew I married such a handyman but boy is he ever!  

The perfect Father-Son Weekend

I think Aaron has been waiting for the day to arrive for years- when Kyle could finally be his "outdoors buddy".   The weekend of October 21st, they went out and made some memories.

It was Fall break so school was out on Friday.  Aaron took Kyle out all day to Devil's Creek up by Malad, ID.  Aaron had gone up there the weekend before with his dad and brother and they had done very well.

Well, it was a dream come true for Aaron and Kyle.  Kyle absolutely LOVES fishing and hunting, I guess it is just "in his blood".  He was so excited, he got up so early that morning and was ready to go.  Out on the lake, they caught over 20 fish and Kyle kept saying, "We're going to catch a monster fish!"   They did end up catching 3 very large "monster" fish and brought some home to eat.  Kyle had the time of his life and didn't want to stop.

The next day, Saturday, Aaron took Kyle out hunting.  A friend in our ward showed him a good spot where his family hunts that was only about 15 min from our home.   They ended up getting a little spike, just perfect for Kyle's first hunt.   It was quite a hike to finally get him, and Kyle was a trooper.  He kept up with Aaron for the most part, and didn't complain.   He was so excited to come home and show us what they got.   We didn't get much meat from him, but it was a good starter.   I was glad that Kyle and Aaron were able to have such a successful weekend together, and to have such a good time together.

A Weekend to Remember

I had a few of my dreams come true this last weekend.   Aaron and I took off on a romantic getaway to Las Vegas.  We have been there twice before, the first time being our honeymoon.  We spent a week there for our honeymoon- we stayed in the Bellagio and it was so wonderful.   It is such a good memory for me.  We were like two hicks from the country entering a whole new world.  We had fun just exploring all the different hotels with all their elaborate detail and unique settings.  Yes, there is some bad in Las Vegas, but we have found that it is not too hard for us to just stay away from it.  You can still have a lot of fun in Vegas even if you don't gamble.  It is actually such a beautiful place with lots of things to explore.  

Standing in front of the Bellagio while the fountains were going off- So beautiful!!

The biggest dream that came true this weekend was going to see Celine Dion.   When she left Las Vegas the last time, I thought she was done for good and we had lost our chance.  She went on a world tour for a year and we actually had tickets for a show in Salt Lake but for some reason she ended up cancelling the show and we got our money back.   After that, for one of our anniversaries, Aaron did something very romantic.  He bought the DVD of her concert "A New Day" and brought me to the seminary where he had moved all of the desks in his classroom and we watched it on the big screen.  

Later, we were so excited to find out she was going back to Las Vegas and we bought tickets (clear back in October.)  

The show was SO AMAZING!!   It was so good, I almost couldn't believe it was happening.  I have never seen a singer perform with so much passion and emotion.  Aaron and I brought some bioculars (which was really nice) and were able to watch her face a lot.   You could tell she really loves what she does.  And, no one can do it like her!!   This was such a dream come true for me.   I told Aaron, "If I died tonight, I would die a very happy woman."  

One of my other dreams came true as we were driving down the street and I saw the sign for "Benihana".  I said, "I know where we're going to dinner!"  I went there for the Prom back in high school and have wanted to go back ever since.   This was the perfect opportunity.   We had a great time watching our chef "Yong" cook our meal while doing tricks for us.  

Isn't it pretty?  (I'm talking about the course)  Yes, he's handsome too, but he's mine   :)

Aaron enjoyed a nice round of golf at Badlands golf course.  It was so beautiful and peaceful there.  He did well- got a 76 on a pretty difficult course!   He said I was his good luck charm.  I was his cheerleader, while I enjoyed a book on the golf cart.  :)

After golf, we went to the "Ethel M. Chocolate" factory for a tour.   It took awhile to get there from the strip and after all that, I have to admit I was a little disappointed.  The "tour" turned out to be just walking down a hallway with a glass window on one side where they make the chocolate.  The day looked like it was about over and the workers were packaging the chocolates at the end.   The other side of the hall had pictures and narrative about the history of chocolate making.   At the end of the hall was their chocolate shop, which was of course their objective in getting us there.  It was interesting, but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone going to Vegas in the future.  It wasn't worth the trip.

Outside the factory they had a really unique catcus garden which was actually really pretty.  

One thing we have learned about Las Vegas is that there is SO MUCH to see and do- shows and nice buffets, fancy hotels, and smaller attractions, some free and some not.  But, even the free ones have to be worth the effort because it usually takes some time to walk or drive to see them.  We walked around on the strip for awhile and it was good.  We went on some 4-D rides in the Excalibur hotel.  Every hotel has something interesting to see.  But, staying at the Bellagio was so great!  It is just so classy.  We were celebrating our anniversary (6 mo exactly from December, and we don't really travel the week before Christmas).   One night the hotel had left a fancy box of chocolates on our bed with a note saying "Happy Anniversary".   We also really enjoyed relaxing at the pool, which was so beautiful!!!

I especially want to thank Aaron's parents for watching the kids while we were away.  It was a sacrifice on their part and we really appreciate it.  We couldn't have done it without them!

Overall, it was such a wonderful vacation-  a TRUE VACATION, not a "work-ation", which is what we call them now when you are hauling around 4 kids.  They are fun too, but just not the same.  I love my husband so much.   I can't imagine spending life without my best friend.

What an amazingly beautiful fish. He ended up being 36 inches. Good times!

My husband- the outdoorsman!

Aaron after fishing up near Challis, ID

Well, since we just celebrated father's day,  I wanted to focus for a few minutes on my amazing husband.  I am so thankful to have him in my life.  Aaron is a great dad.  He helps out with the kids as much as possible and tries to teach them by example and precept.   He also takes the time to play and have fun with them, something I don't always do enough.

Showing off his catch for the kids (The fish is about as big as Heidi!)

I believe that in order to be a good father, one must first be a good husband, as this has such a huge impact on the kids.   Aaron is such a wonderful man- everything I could ever want as a companion and best friend.   He sees the best in me and helps me to be a better person.  He has so many qualities that make me want to be better.   He is a happy person, hard-working, thoughtful and appreciative of me.  He is always striving to learn more and to be better.  I am thankful for how hard he works for our family.  He is very goal- oriented and when he puts his mind to a task, he doesn't stop until it gets done.    He also likes to have fun.  We have a little motto in our family- "we work hard and we play hard."  I am grateful we can have fun as a family.

Aaron also had a thirst for gospel knowledge and I am thankful for all he is able to share with me and our children.  I don't know how I got so lucky, but I know I did and I am so grateful.  Thanks Aaron, for being a great husband and father.  I hope you know how much we love you!!  

Aaron and my dad hunting for cow elk this last January.