Oh what do you do in the summer time?

WE SWIM...

By ourselves

Yes, they both have a pool, one had a ton of holes in it, so we bought a new one, but I was able to do some amazing work with some duck tape and now we have 2!

They swim together,

And with friends!

We do a lot of swimming!

Outing to the Zoo

So we took Bailey to the zoo last year and decided that she was a little young and we would'nt go again for a couple of years. Not to mention the day we went was the first day in weeks that it hadn't rained, the zoo was packed, and it was HOT!! That may have been a part of our decision to wait.


Well Bailey is growing up way to fast and she is so cute about everything new and gets so excited that how could we deny her a trip to the zoo. My niece Lyndsie is back in Logan and a trip to the zoo couldn't take place without her and one of Ben's brother's friends Eric moved to Logan recently to go to school so he came too. Neither one of them had ever been to the Hogle Zoo before! What!!! I didn't know that was possible. But they probably just wanted to be with Ben and I, we are pretty cool to hang out with, two old people with two little girls, what a party.


On the way to the zoo Ben asked where the directions were...ok not a great start to the trip, but I reminded him that I was trying to get the girls ready and out the door and since he was driving the directions were his responsibility. Luckily for us we have a navigation app on our phones so we did make it with out any issues!


We had so much fun! Bailey loved all the animals, being with everyone, riding the carousel, the train and a surprise visit from Aunt Wendy! And on a random side note Ben and I ran into a childhood friend, yep love the Hogle Zoo. Hinkley was amazing! She was such a good baby, she didn't cry once all day. We were on the road by 10:30am and weren't home till about 10 that night and the only time she cried was around 9:00pm. I love that little monkey.


My sister met us at the zoo and than we headed to her house to relax and let Hinkley stretch, she had been strapped in her car seat or stroller all day. Than we all went out to eat with my sister, her husband, and my niece Lexie. Than we had a little issue, I changed Hinkley's diaper 3 times at my sisters house and with the other 2 changes before that I was totally out of diapers, so dang it, we had to make a quick stop at Target! Oh darn! I got the cutest winter pajamas for Bailey and diapers for Hinkley. What a day!

Well Hogle Zoo can't wait until next year to see you again!

And we're back!

It has been a busy two months. We moved into scary house and I HATED it. A big thanks to everyone who helped us move though.


We were only in scary house a few weeks when Hinkley was born. She arrived as scheduled, the only thing not planned was her size, she was 8lbs 1oz and 19 inches long! My dad's comment was "No wonder Alisa was so big!" She has more hair than Bailey did and her skin is a little darker. She is definitely her own little person. Neither Ben nor I think she looks at all like Bailey did. Thanks to all the family and friends who came, called, emailed, sent text messages, etc. We appreciate your thoughtfulness. I was in the hospital for 4 days and was happy to get released.

Bailey was so cute with Hinkley when they first brought her into to see Hinkley and I. She sat on the bed with me and she and I both had to be holding Hinkley. Whenever anyone, even Ben or Grandparents, tried to take or touch Hinkley Bailey just cried and cried. She has done great with her and is such a little helper. Actually Bailey has done amazing with all of the changes in her life since March. Three houses, tax season, and a new little sister.


Two weeks after Hinkley was born we moved into our new house. I don't have a picture of the finished product, sorry. This picture was taken a month before it was done. Thanks once again to everyone who helped us move. Especially those who helped us move all THREE TIMES! We were in three house in three months something I don't advise. We are loving our new home, we are still not settled in, but with a new born and still recovering from surgery it's as good as it can be.

Hinkley is doing great and growing WAY to fast! Sometimes I can't believe she is here and she is already a month old! She does amazing at night only wakes up once or twice. She LOVES to cuddle and its so hard not to cuddle with her constantly, which may explain why there are still boxes all over the house! I love her little smiles and she is a mommas girl which I love too!

To all who didn't know my parents got their mission call to Frankfurt Germany. I'm trying to be happy about it. Just hard to think of them gone for so long and so far away. And Congratulations to Scott and Sommers on thier new baby boy!

Hope to catch up some more but Hinkley is paging me

An Awesome Weekend

Ok, Ok so I know that today is Friday but once again I'm behind so we are talking about last weekend.

On Friday, of last week, I went to a craft fair with my friend Krista. We haven't hung out for a while so it was great to see her, talk, hang out and of course shop! Hopefully we can get together again sometime soon.

On Saturday Ben and Bailey took me to Brigham City to meet my sister-in-law Brenda, my niece Lyndsie, my nephews wife Kristi, and Brenda's mom Kenna. I said goodbye to Ben and Bailey and we headed to Salt Lake for the weekend. We had great food and went to Tai Pan, IKEA, Target, and the mall. Our main purpose was not for shopping but for a show. Lyndsie and I danced most of our lives and we love to watch "So You Think You Can Dance" so we all got tickets and went Saturday night to see the tour they do of the top 12 dancers of their last show. We had an awesome time together, it was so much fun. Our original seats were on the floor of the E Center but that put us level with everyone else who had seats on the floor. So Brenda was amazing and after the show started talked to an usher and got Lyndsie, myself and Kristi moved to a box on the side of the stage that put us so close to the dancers and the stage that our chairs shook! After the intermission Brenda and Kenna were able to move seats and be next to us too. The dancing was awesome and it was so much fun. I spent way to much money and needed the whole day on Monday to recuperate! I missed Bailey and Ben, but it was good just to get out and play.

Since my last blog!

Well I know it's been about 2 weeks so here goes on trying to update our lives!

General Conference was AWESOME! I love General Conference and Ben was great about watching conference and not football! What was probably the cutest thing was that Bailey was soo sick of being with us cooped up in the house that when Eric (our amazing picture guy) came over to give me the proofs of our family pictures Bailey had to get as close to him as she could! I think she was just so happy to have someone new to hang out with. Eric is so sweet with her that he just snuggled her back!

We also celebrated Ben's 30th birthday in the past two weeks. I got him to leave work early that day and we went out to dinner at Texas Road House with our friends Tyler and Tiffany - Cara :) I promise we WOULD have invited you and MitChell, but I was told you were already going that same night. Lyndsie was great to babysit while we went to dinner and when Ben and I could eat again we had Banana Cream Pie, Ben isn't a fan of cake, with Bailey, Lyndsie, and Eric. Happy Birthday Ben, we love you!

Ben's sister Misti come into town and spent a Thursday night with us. She had training in Ogden and we were closer than home. It was great to see her and I wish she could of had her son Corbyn with her so he could play with Bailey, but maybe next time. The very next night my sister-in-law Brenda (Lyndsie's mom) came into town. We did some shopping and they went to Tap Dogs together and came back to talk. On Saturday morning we had breakfast got ready and went shopping again! I loved it and Ben and one of Lyndsie's friends came with us this time too. After shopping we met Eric at Firehouse for a wonderful lunch. After lunch Brenda headed back home, but we all had a great time.

Ben and I also celebrated our 7th Anniversary. I can't believe it's been 7 years, since we knew each other 18 years before we got married I really can't imagine my life with out him. He is a wonderful Husband and father. He works so hard so I can stay home and be with Bailey which is a huge blessing. He is my perfect match in every way. And after 7 years I still love that we can laugh together and enjoy spending as much time as we can together. I love you Ben.

Sometime during this time frame, Bailey got a package in the mail from Shaydon. I have the most amazing sister-in-law. When Sommers and Scott came to Utah they went shopping at IKEA and I had mentioned one time that I wanted these bibs that Shaydon had and Sommers remembered and not only bought us some but mailed them to us. After Bailey opened the package she had to put on her bib and wouldn't take it off for the rest of the day! Sommers is a wonderful sister-in-law, mother, wife, and aunt. Thank you Sommers and Shaydon!

I also went to Menopause the Musical with Lyndsie. We really didn't enjoy it as much as most of the older women that were in the crowd, but it was fun to spend time with Lyndsie. I have LOVED having her in Logan this year. After the show we went to Caspers Ice Cream and we both got a Hot Shot. It was soo good.

This last Saturday Ben decided that we needed to really enjoy college Football. So we got tickets and went to the USU game at 1:00pm. Bailey decided that a nap just wasn't going to happen for her that morning so we took a napless child to the game. She did pretty dang good until about half time. She was hot, tired, and really frustrated that she just couldn't move very far. So we went home to we get out of the sun and get some rest. Ben got a ride home from Tyler, thanks for bringing him home! :) There was a BYU game on that afternoon also so after the game we woke Bailey up (a little crazy) and headed to Shawn's house, he works with Ben. For the BYU game which started at 4:00 but thank heaven's for DVR we got there at 6:00 and were still able to see the whole game. Lucky us, and lucky us that BYU won! After the game we got pizza and Eric brought over the Proposal which I have been dying to see, so thanks Eric for hooking us up!

Wow, I think that's about it. Sorry if this blog is a little long, but I honestly haven't been on the internet for about 2 weeks, just haven't had a lot of time!

Food, Food, & other things!

On Monday night (of last week) Ben mowed the lawn and after neither one of us felt like cooking so we went out to eat!

On Tuesday I cut Bailey's bangs! My Mom has cut Bailey's hair for over a year now, but she really needed a trim and No Mom. So I called a friend got some advice and went at it and THANK HEAVENS they turned out all right! I cut her bangs because we got family pictures taken that night by our good friend Eric Webb. He took the pics of Bailey and Shaydon. We haven't had family pictures done ever so it was time. Eric did a wonderful job and was awesome with Bailey, who didn't like the idea of being outside and not being able to run and play. Lyndsie came with us and was able to help control and make Bailey smile which was awesome! After pictures we all went out for pizza.

On Wednesday I went out to eat with my cousins Katie and Avery who live here in Logan. We went to Olive Garden and had some great food!

On Thursday my friend Angie, from high school who I haven't seen in a year, came to Logan for the day. She had some appointments and than after that she and her daughter came over. We went out to lunch and talked for a few hours. It was awesome to see her and the girls were so cute together.

On Friday I went out to eat with some friends from where I worked before the Bailey days. We went to FireHouse and had a great lunch. It was great to see them and keep in touch with them.

More time with Family and Friends

On Monday (last week) we met the Tyler & Tiffany A. Family for dessert and time at the park. We had a great time, it was a little cold, so we didn't stay as long as the kids would have liked. Their son was so cute with Bailey and their daughter and Bailey had fun on the swings.

On Thursday Scott, Sommers, and Shaydon came to visit. They showed up around 11:30pm, crazy kids! We talked for a little bit and than went to bed. Friday we did some shopping, had lunch, and than I talked a family friend Eric T. W. into taking pictures of Bailey and Shaydon and they turned out amazing! THanks so much Eric!

After pictures Scott and Co. headed out to my sisters in Sandy. About 2 hours after this we headed out to Burley! I know we were just there, but we were able to go to Ben's little brothers football game on Friday night, the Pumpkin Patch on Saturday and Ben was able to watch the BYU football game that afternoon. After the game was over on Saturday night we headed back to Logan! I was exhausted! But we had sharing time on Sunday!

I love that the weather has gotten cooler! I absolutely love this time of year, I love the decorating too. So I was so excited when I was able to go to the Pumpkin Patch with my Mom. I was able to come home with all of this and Bailey loved walking around with all of the pumpkins!

Trip to Boise

Last week one of Ben's friends got married in Boise it is about a 5 hour drive and made for a very crazy Friday.

Bailey and I left gymnastics early and headed home. Ben and Lyndsie (my niece) were already here when we arrived. We made it out in good time, but because we hurried so fast we didn't get time to grab lunch so we stopped in Tremonton at a Burger King. It's usually fast but we had to wait for 20 minutes for our lunch which slowed us down. My parents had a funeral to go to and they were keeping Bailey so we dropped Bailey and Lyndsie off at Lyndsie's house and hurried to my parents house to drop off bags and the dog.

We made it to Boise about an hour and a half before the wedding. We dropped all of our bags off at my brothers house, chatted with his wife and kids for a few minutes, changed our clothes and off we went. The wedding was nice and we knew some people from home. After the wedding it was back to Eric's to change clothes again and head over to my other brother Scott's house. We hung out with Scott, Sommers, and Shaydon until around midnight and headed back to Eric's.

On Saturday two of Eric's kids had soccer games that morning so we hung out with them and then headed out to meet Scott and family for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel. Breakfast was good and it was so much fun to hang out with my brothers and their families.

After breakfast we headed back on the road to my parents. Watched the BYU game, hung out, went to church the next day and were back on the road for home sweet home.

And of course no pictures so these two pictures are some old ones from this summer of my nieces and nephews!

Keepin' Busy

Last week Bailey and I still had four days of swimming lessons. I am really glad that we signed her up for the classes, but I was ready to be done smelling like chlorine and ready to get back on our regular schedule. This picture is before class on the last day - she closes her eyes in a lot of pictures just like her father.

On Wednesday of last week Lyndsie and Brenda (my niece and sister-in-law) came to finish making arrangements for Lou to move up here. Bailey and I were able to have lunch with them at Cafe Sabor (Yummy) and they left that afternoon to go back home. Of course I didn't have my camera with me so no pictures.

On Thursday Bailey decided she would try to step off the top of our outside cement steps. Her nose didn't look to bad that day, but when she woke up on Friday morning her little nose wasn't pretty.








On Friday we headed to Idaho. It was the big county fair and it's tradition for my whole family to head home and we all go to the fair/rodeo together. Thanks Dad for buying all the tickets and thanks to Brenda for watching Bailey.

On Saturday we met with Kelby O. he was a good friend of ours from High School. He came over to my mom's with his wife and family, Ben and I haven't seen them since their wedding. They have two cute little boys and it was great to see them for a little while. Bailey also decided that she needed to try on the football gear that my brothers and I had when we were little, she's cute in them, but I was thinking ballet shoes instead of football pads. Also not a big Cowboy's fan.

My AMAZING sister-in-law Sommers also made Bailey a cute skirt and flower that matched a onezee for Shaydon, we never got pictures which is way sad. But I will put her in the outfit and take pictures. Thank you Sommers for always thinking of Bailey and for being so darn crafty!

Family Reunion

This last week was busy, but fun and it went by fast. On Monday we celebrated Jon's birthday-it was the week before, but Monday was as soon as we could all get together. We had a great time and the girls played great together. On Tuesday Sherri and the girls came over for a little while in the morning and in the afternoon we met at one of Logan's gyms. Her two oldest are taking swimming lessons there and I went to sign up Bailey for a Mommy and Me swim class. On Wednesday Bailey and I had Story hour and had Tyler over for dinner. On Thursday we ran errands.

On Friday was my Mom's extended family reunion at Bear Lake. All but my brother Todd (and family), my sister-in-Law Sommers, and nephew Brandon came. They all arrived in the afternoon so after we hit the sidewalk sales we headed up. We had fun seeing everyone. We came home Friday and Saturday night to get some sleep and allow everyone else to sleep. We were a little worried about Bailey. On Saturday we headed to the lake and play on the beach. Bailey loved the water! She hated coming in, but the older kids were so cold from the water their lips were blue! Bailey got Grandma and Papa to take her on rides frequently and had a blast playing with Zach, Lily, Nic, and Shaydon. All play really well together and the older kids are soo good with Bailey. Bailey also learned that Lexie is fun to hang out with and was constantly grabbing a hold of her finger. My sister-in-law Yvonne bought some toys for her kids and of course hooked up Bailey with the toys, which Bailey has to sleep with, take to church, and everywhere else.
We had a great time and everyone made it home safe. A huge thank you to everyone who helped/played with Bailey.

On Sunday Dad, Mom, Scott, and Shaydon stopped by for a quick bite to eat and a little nap. Mom brought the lunch - food she had packed for the reunion. And since everyone was traveling home Ben and I took the kids outside to play while the rest slept. They are hanging out in the empty pool and Shaydon's hat was buried in the trunk so he is wearing one of Bailey's. Ben and I have both said how much we would love to live closer to Zach, Lily, Nic, and Shaydon so that Bailey could be with them more.

The Zoo and Other Adventures

Ok - So I know that it's been awhile again! Two weeks ago I went to lunch with some friends from Head Start - where I used to work. Alicia, Susie, Cami, Cassie, and I (with Bailey) met at Fire House. We had good food -Cami was awesome and ordered her dessert first which I loved. It was awesome to see everyone. I love being a stay-at-home-mom, but I do miss seeing my friends and having adult conversation during the day. I hope we can all get together and have lunch again soon before another year and a half goes by.

We also went to Summerfest with Tyler and Tiffany last week. It is always great to hang out with them and their kids. Maddie was so cute and giggly! Tiffany and I saw some cute pictures and I still feel bad we had to leave early! We left early because Jacob and Breawna came to spend the night. And it was back to Fire House for dinner. We played the Wii, talked, and laughed ALOT. We love spending time with them and hope they come back soon.

Last Saturday Ben was AMAZING! The crazy rain was starting to get old so Ben took us to Layton for lunch, shopping at the mall and shopping at the amazing store of Target! I love Target!

Bailey also became 18 months old. She went in for her appointment and had a wonderful time - she got three shots, but stopped crying as soon as the nurse gave her a Dum Dum Sucker. She is healthy and doing well and weights 23lbs. She is also in the 74% for her height which I was happy to hear, but I guess I didn't stop growing until I was about 4!! :) Ok not really, I never hit my ideal height of 5'2. After her appointment we had some friends over to do some swimming which was fun.

This last week my niece Lyndsie came to visit me (ok really Bailey). I love it when she comes to visit, we went to lunch at Olive Garden and Ben loves that Lou likes Cafe Rio (not my favorite place)so the two of them always get take out and I eat from a different place. She played with Bailey, saw some friends from HS, and I took her around campus to try and talk her into coming here. Lyndsie is worse than Ben and give Bailey whatever she wants. We taught Bailey how to say "please" in sign language and she gets what she wants every time with Lyndsie!

Also Bailey has been old enough to go to nursery for a couple of weeks now, but I have had a hard time letting go. So I didn't take her until last week. She saw her friend Lucy in there and walked right in and started playing with the toys. She was a very big girl. She didn't cry at all when I left - she might have been embarrassed that I stayed so long! :) I went and checked on her three times and I had to open the door each time, the doors do have windows for parents, but like I said before I didn't reach my ideal height and the windows were too high. Bailey did great though and we hung her handout on the fridge. But we will see if I can be a big girl next week and let her go again.

So this last Saturday we went to the zoo. It was my summer goal to take Bailey to the zoo. Ben was a good sport and humored me. Bailey slept on the way there and it was the first Saturday that we didn't get rained on and so there were a million and one people there. Bailey was an awe of the camels and loved the giraffes, but her favorite part of the whole bloody zoo was the carousel! I took her once because Ben had a headache we rode on the giraffe and NO I couldn't reach the foot straps and if I couldn't no little kid could. She loved it so much Ben took her again. And I have decided that we probably won't take her back again until she is three so that she really knows why we are there!









And again Ben and I would like to thank my sister-in-law Yvonne for Lily's hand me downs 99% of what Bailey has on in these pictures and all of her wardrobe this summer are from them so thank you SOOO much. Also the first two pictures are ones Ben took. She looked so grown up in the first one nibbling on her pen sitting on her own couch and in the second one 5 seconds later she is throwing a fit!