Girls' Night Out and Primary Activity!

We had a pretty fun weekend! It started Friday night when all of the girls' in the cul-de-sac got together for a girl's night out. It's been quite a while since we've all gotten together so we had a really good time! This is also the first time we could ALL make it so I'm glad I could go! We all met out front at 5pm and went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse (delish) then went bowling (Jake had Jazz Playoff tickets so I missed out on that part). Love these girls'!
I'm so glad we live in a cul-de-sac and I'm happy that Winter is over so we can all come out of our hiding places and have a fun summer together. Thanks girls' for a great night!

On Saturday we had a Primary Activity and toured the Visitors' Center at Temple Square. We had a pretty good turn out and really enjoyed ourselves. Jake and I haven't been for about 8 years and Lydia has never been so it was fun to be together as a family and learn more about our church and its prophets and leaders! Even though none of Lydia's little buddies were there, she still managed to enjoy herself!

I just love her cute little face!

Utah's Historical Sites!

I guess this was the weekend for visiting some of Utah's historical sites. Although all of our activities had at least one thing go wrong in each, we made the best of each situation and made some fun memories!

Friday

Red Butte Garden

While the guys were away at the Spring Game, us girls' decided to head to Red Butte Garden, the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West (over 100 acres). The kids had a lot of fun. The only problem was that we went a tad too early; hardly anything had bloomed yet. Oh well!

They loved rolling down the hills when we first got there. Anything to wear out kids' is good in my book!

The Golden Spike

After the boys got home from the game, we headed up north to Brigham City for some yummy steak at Maddox! The we were off to the Golden Spike.

On May 10, 1869, the Union and Central Pacific Railroads joined their rails at Promontory Summit. Golden Spike National Historic Site commemorates this incredible accomplishment of this nation's first transcontinental railroad!

Here we are standing on the last tie laid on the completion of the Pacific Railroad! Pretty cool! By the time we drove all the way out there, the place was closed so we didn't get to see the trains. Lydia was so bummed about that and to this day still talks about wanting to see trains!

The Spiral Jetty

We figured since we were all the way up north, we should also visit the spiral jetty which was constructed in 1970 during a drought. Within a few years the water levels returned to normal and the great salt lake covered the Jetty for more than 30 years. In 2004 it re-emerged and has been covered and uncovered by the lake ever since. So we thought since it was showing, we should go see it. Well, this is all we got to see of the Spiral Jetty:

A bunch of cows along the road to this thing they call the Spiral Jetty! You wouldn't believe the road you have to take to get to this place. It said it was only a 15.5 mile road...well, when you're only going 5 mph, it takes a REALLY long time to get there. I thought I was going to go into labor because of how bumpy it was too. After over an hour of this, we decided to surrender and try to conquer the Jetty another day! It sucked to turn around but we wanted to enjoy the Jetty and couldn't do it in the dark! So we headed home and consequently, the guys missed a playoff game because of that stupid road!!!
Anyway, here's a picture I found on the Internet of the Spiral Jetty! The Jetty is made of all black rock but because it was under water for more than 30 years, it started turning white due to salt encrustation from the Great Salt Lake's water. I thought it was interesting! Anyway, we will get there someday!

Sunday

On a side note: We spent a lot of the day after church outside playing in the backyard because of the perfect weather. We jumped on the tramp, played kickball and Lydia rode her trike. In between all of this, Lydia finally noticed the trees and how they are finally blooming. But Lydia didn't know what was going on. As soon as she realized they looked different and prettier, she said, "Hey, who decorated our trees?" It was adorable. I love how kids think. I just answered and said, "Mother Nature." Of course she said, "What's that?"

Ah, how I love Summer!!!!

Monday, FHE

Antelope Island

Of the 8 years I've lived here, I've never been to Antelope Island so I made it my mission to get there this year. I heard that the earlier in the year you go, the better off you are due to the bugs not being out yet to annoy you!

A few weeks ago, we invited some friends to go with us for family night, but every Monday, without fail, the weather was horrible! So we waited and waited until finally, the perfect day arrived, yesterday, April 19th! So we headed north with our friends Anabel, Joe, Brielle and Mathias to see the sites! By the time we got there, we only had 1 1/2 hours to visit 28,000 acres of land. Whoops!

We went to the white, sandy beach area first and the girls' had a great time playing and throwing the sand. This was the only place where the bugs were out and so dang annoying! But once we left this area, the bugs didn't bother us again.
Love these girls'. They always play so well together! I never have to worry about them fighting or anything. They were so cute together all evening! I think Anabel and I took like 100 pictures each. We're both trying to figure out our camera's and their different settings. I know the girls' and our husbands were getting annoyed with our "okay, one more picture" comments! :)
I love this picture. There's just something about daddy/daughter love that I can't get enough of! Lydia loves her daddy! We were on the hunt for Bison the whole time. Apparently there are over 500 Bison on Antelope Island and I wanted a picture of some. Well, just as we were about to give up, Joe spotted a single Bison off into the distance. Turns out, there were about 5 in a little group together. They were too far off down the huge hill for my big, pregnant butt to get any pictures close up though! What a gorgeous view!

On our way out, we got to see the most gorgeous sunset!

So we had quite the weekend. It was a lot of fun hanging out with our buds and enjoying the beauty that Utah has to offer!

Dino Museum and Little Lyd's

We headed off to the Dinosaur Museum for the second time in a few weeks. This time we invited some of Lydia's cousins and what do you know? Lydia wasn't as scared this time. She was still a tad weary of the dark but she didn't cry this time like she did last time. Whenever she has some adolescent support, she always does more than she does when it's just me!

Sorry the pictures look so crappy! I'm still trying to figure out how to use my camera in horrible, indoor lighting!
This time Lydia was into the trees in the water area. She collected them all and built an island to put them on.

Matthew, Lizzy, Will and Lydia

I think I've made my last tutu. I mean, I've made so may for her that I think I've used every color I can think of that she'd like. But this time I made a filled tutu instead of the other kind I usually make. I think it turned out pretty cute for my first time and not really knowing what the crap I was doing. Actually, the model for this tutu far outshines the tutu itself!!! Lydia's sweet little face just makes me smile!

I've been taking a couple of camera classes with some friends so I can actually figure out how to use this thing I call a camera. I mean, you spend the money on the camera, you might as well learn how to use it!

I'm trying to learn about shutter, aperture/depth of field and all that fun stuff. I'm a beginner but once again, my precious Lyd's makes any picture look good!

Then we headed outside for the afternoon and enjoyed the nice weather. I told Lydia to run around a lot so I could figure out my AV/depth of field mode on the camera.

It was fun hanging out with Lydia all day in the backyard taking pictures. She's becoming more like her father every day; an outgoing ham who poses for the camera any chance she gets!!

EaSteR WeEk!!!

What a fun and busy week we've had this week. On Wednesday we hung out with some friends for dinner and Easter egg dying! Lydia was so into it just sitting there next to me dying her eggs. It was so fun how into it she was.
Here's Madelyn, Lincoln and my Lyd's!
Lydia making marble eggs.

Thanks for dinner Watts'. It was yummy!

On Friday afternoon we went with some friends to the aquarium to see the new penguin exhibit! It was pretty cool to get that close to penguins. I don't think I've ever been able to see them that close up, diving and playing games with one another. Here's Madelyn, Iza and Lydia.
Madds and Lyd's

Brock and Lydia trying to pet the sting ray (they never touched one, the sting ray were being lazy and never moved)!

That night we went to visit my dad in the hospital, then out to dinner we went, just the three of us. My dad is doing very well, by the way! Thanks to everyone for your continued thoughts and prayers.

On Saturday we enjoyed a full day of conference....very nice!!!

Sunday, Lydia woke up to find that the Easter Bunny had come to visit. There were baskets for all of us (except for Jake...I know I heard the Easter bunny say he wasn't bringing gifts for the mom's and dad's this year so I must've missed the memo that stated we were getting gifts after all! Way to make me look like a jerk...again)! Thanks a lot! :)

But here are Lyd's and Larry with their loot!

Lydia got the cutest little bunny and so far she's been a hit!

In between conference sessions we headed to Rod and Sue's for brunch and an Easter egg hunt. Here's Lydia with her BFF Elizabeth before the hunt began.

The Hunt...it was in a few of the rooms downstairs but they all seemed to want to stay together!

Lydia showing off her dollar in one of the eggs...

Then we headed home for the last session of conference and the last egg hunt of the year (she went to 4 total...crazy!!!).

Lydia was running around like crazy looking for the eggs that the Easter Bunny left her. Every time she found an egg she'd say, "EGG!!!" Every time. It was so cute the way she said it!

I can't get over how precious Lydia is. She was so good for all 8 hours of conference talks. She'd either be playing quietly by herself, reading books in her room, listening to the talks or finally, doing this...

So precious. I love it when she's all cuddly and well behaved. I seriously don't know why the Lord chose Jake and I to raise this precious little angel. She's your typical 3 year old with a lot of learning to do but there's just something so special about her. It's like I haven't even had to raise her; the Lord just instilled in her these amazing qualities and I'm so happy to know her and to be able to help guide her down the right path.

Conference was so amazing this weekend. I learned a lot and I now realize, even more than I did before this weekend happened, how important our role is as parents of these amazing, young, impressionable children. I'm so grateful for those 8 hours of amazing talks and spiritual songs. I love that I continue to have a wonderful guideline on how to become a better person, mother and wife on a daily basis. I love that sweet reminder twice a year!