Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

And we can because Mike is just like that! He is awesome and gave the girls and I a weekend in Denver!  It has been a life long dream of Amy and Riley's to go to the American Girl Doll Store! The closest one happens to be just outside of Denver. So Denver it is!

We had a blast!

It was the dolls first time flying

Katelyn loves the view from the window. Flying over the Rockies

Sitting at the capital- One Mile Above Sea Level

We toured Margaret Brown's house- "The Unsinkable Molly Brown"
It was fabulously restored and we learned a lot about Colorado too. Mrs Brown was a survivor of the Titanic

Our rental Car after we had lunch at Subway


The pool was under construction at the hotel. I said to the receptionist- "Are you serious?!!! You must be joking!" So sensed my disappointment and hooked us up with some passes to the Jewish Community Center's pool. We love visiting an awesome JCC! So we went and swam there and finished with a little hot tubbin'!

Trying to take Katelyn down!

We also saw the youngest baby bunny ever!



And finally...
the much awaited American Doll Store!!!

I love this picture!!
You can feel the excitement!

On this Saturday there were a few activities around the store for the girls to do.

Amy was wrinkling a pretzel bag and it sounded like a crackling fire. When the lady rippled a poster board it sounded like a thunder storm.

Then they did a doll scavenger hunt and made a little tree house book. Fun stuff!

Katelyn was pretty bored but she found her look alike doll!

And she bought herself a mini guitar. Too cute to pass up!



So sad to say goodbye!

Then we headed over to the mall and went to the Disney Store and the Lego store

Amy found a huge moose. She has fallen for moose since her book report for school.

We were close to the Denver temple so we had to visit.

Then we headed back to the hotel for a nice swim with our dolls- I mean dinner and movie.




Denver is a nice city. Nice people, clean and TONS of shopping (where east coast meets west coast). We had a great girl's weekend!

Utah- This is the Place!

Sorry for those of you that do not currently reside in Utah....hopefully you have a warm spot for Utah in your hearts.

We love UTAH!!! This is THE PLACE!!!




In 4th grade the kids learn their Utah history. This year Amy's fourth grade classes put on a little Utah Program and it was fantastic! Made up of all songs that gave the history of Utah. Unfortunetly, we had some audio issues, but here is the link to the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0NOgid8lqU

I always get teary when I hear/sing the "National Anthem" and "Spirit of God" and now I can add "Utah- This Is The Place" to my teary list. This song touches my heart.

State Song Since 2003

Utah! People working together
Utah! What a great place to be.
Blessed from Heaven above.
It's the land that we love.
This is the place!

Utah! With its mountains and valleys.
Utah! With its canyons and streams.
You can go anywhere.
But there's none that compare.
This is the place!

It was Brigham Young who led the pioneers across the plains.
They suffered with the trials they had to face.
With faith they kept on going till they reached the Great Salt Lake
Here they heard the words..."THIS IS THE PLACE!"

Utah! With its focus on family,
Utah! Helps each child to succeed.
People care how they live.
Each has so much to give.
This is the place!

Utah! Getting bigger and better.
Utah! Always leading the way.
New technology's here...
Growing faster each year.
This is the place!

There is beauty in the snow-capped mountains, in the lakes and streams.
There are valleys filled with farms and orchards too.
The spirit of its people shows in everything they do.
Utah is the place where dreams come true.

Utah! With its pioneer spirit.
Utah! What a great legacy!
Blessed from Heaven above.
It's the land that we love.
This is the place

Utah! Utah! Utah!
THIS IS THE PLACE!



Fellow pioneer friends!



Amy and Riley BFF forever!





Cutest audience ever!

G-O-A-L!!

Brigham lives for soccer!  Well, that might be exaggerating a bit, but soccer is high on his list after video games and TV!











Any time one of the boys made a goal the coach would lift them up in the air!! Briggy loved it!

He had a great spring soccer season! He was with the same group of boys from the fall. Go BLUE THUNDER!!

Way to go Brigham! His very own shiny medal!

Rain Gutter Regatta

This year in Cub Scouts our ward chose to do a Raingutter Regatta!
This was a first for us and Tyler had a blast!
He made his own boat and it raced well. He hung in there for a couple of heats!

Amy's Softball Season 2013

Amy had such a good time playing softball in the fall that she wanted to play again this season. She has a few friends on the team with her and has made some new friends.


Her coach plays her mostly at 3rd base. She is one of the few on the team that can throw from 3rd and make it to the 1st baseman!

She has tried to pitch and did pretty well. Had one girl get on base and struck two batters out. She wasn't fond of the pressure that comes along with being pitcher.

Batter up!

On her way to 2nd!

HOME RUN!!!

She was so excited!!!

I Love to See the Temple

We took our semi annual trip down to the Salt Lake Temple to walk around the beautiful grounds.

It smelled so good and it looked so good and it felt so good!



Katelyn, of course, was our photographer! Unless we needed a picture of her.
The girls will be nice and sit and pose and SMILE for a picture...

and the puppies, I mean boys...

You gotta love Mike's camera vest







Right now Jess's favorite song to sing is "I Love to See the temple". She loves to find the Bountiful Temple up on the mountain and point it out.



It is really getting difficult to get a good picture anymore of all the kids happy and looking at the camera!

I was a little annoyed that Jessie wouldn't sit near everyone else, but I think her little sister intuition knew what her brothers would be doing sooner than later...

Amy wishes she would have been farther away too!


We love going to visit the temple grounds! Just Amazing!