Moab Trip

This past weekend, we got to go to my cousin Cory's wedding. We had arrived in Moab late Friday night and got up early the next morning to head to the wedding. He wanted it at one of his favorite hunting grounds in the La Sal Mountains, about an hour south of Moab. It was such a beautiful ride up the canyon even until we hit the right spot. It was a small, quiet ceremony just like the bride and groom wanted it to be with a spectacular views of the mountains and newly changed leaves.
The kids kept busy while we were setting up by playing with leaves, branches, and just stretching their legs from the long drive.

Kayli & Cory- the newlyweds

Kiersten, my Mom, and Michael just taking a time-out break from all hustle, the pictures and trying to calm down car sick stomachs.

Papa was nice enough to keep Luke under his wing and take him and Kiersten on walks around the open meadows. (Aren't those leaves beautiful!)

I wanted a quick picture of me & my kiddos with this gorgeous back drop. The kids on the other hand wanted to play with Papa and the other kids- notice the not so happy faces....

I even got a few minutes to spend with my Grandma Shaw. What a cutie grandma!

So after the wedding, we drove back to Moab where we had a yummy luncheon at a local restaurant called the Broken Oar. Then it was off to hotel to get some rest for some (and to give the kids a chance to get some wiggles out), and for the rest of us, we helped set up for the reception that was held at the LDS stake center in Moab. It was quite beautiful and a lot of hard work was put into making it just right.

The next morning we got to stay for their (the newlyweds) son's blessing and had a fun luncheon at my aunt's home. Then on our way out of town on Sunday afternoon we stopped at Arches National Park...we even went on the right weekend because it was FREE admission! That fit right in our budget. The kids did not quite understand why looking at rocks were so fun, until we hit the first of the Arches at the Windows. Uncle Dan and Papa were nice enough to take Kiersten and Mikey (Luke was asleep) on a hike to one of them.
Kiersten was so excited for the hike, and then both she and Mikey ended up on Papa and Uncle Dan's shoulders for the final part of the hike. Oh well.

So here was our only stop of the trip home. Uncle Dan, Grandma, Kiersten, and Mikey pausing in front of th Visitor's center, that would be our only quick pit stop before we made it all the way home with NO other stops. It was such a quick but fun weekend. We loved being with the family, seeing the scenery, getting out for a few days, and I hope it is a trip that we not soon forget!!!

Gift of Music

For anyone that has not heard me brag about the O.C. Tanner Gift of Music- here we go. This year was the 13th concert and it was just amazing! Carolynn and I went two years ago as our first year and it was just as amazing as this year. This year was the American Songbook. It starred a guest conductor, the Mo Tab, Utah Symphony, and then two guest singers that have both been on Broadway and they definitely lived up to the expectations. Here is the Utah Symphony. We weren't suppose to have cameras so this is my attempt of sneaking a picture so it didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. They (the whole ensemble) played music from the 30's, 40's and many more Patriotic music. They also played classics from South Pacific and Man of LaMancha.
But one of my favorite parts was when they played all the songs from each branch of service from the military. It was awesome! When they played the air force song, Elder Uchtdorf stood proudly, and when they called for all those who served in the Navy...our beloved prophet (as seen blurry above) stood proudly. I know there were many more from the quorum of the twelve who also stood, but that was as many as I could see/recognize from where we were sitting high in the balcony.
Carolynn and her two friends that went with her.
Me and Tami.

So in case you could not tell- it was an AWESOME night. Tami and I joked around that we got to hang out with the prophet. In our defense, we were both at the SAME activity on the SAME night, even though we didn't sit by each other...we still got to be there with the prophet. Yes, I know I am a geek.

But who could leave Salt Lake without seeing my favorite part of the whole city... the temple. Just seeing it brings back wonderful memories that I can simply not see it and not love it.

So overall, a great experience and it is definately a tradition I plan on conitinuing. So anyone else who wants to go, let me know and I will help get tickets for you when they do their next show.

Christmas???

Week 3 already?! Here we r with big smiles. Well we were at the BYU game yesterday vs. UCLA, well I guess if you want to call it that. For those of you who may have missed it or just for my blogging obsessiveness, the game was set to be a tight, closely fought challenge for the Cougars. With the UCLA Bruins coming into town after having knocked off the number 18 Tennessee Volunteers even after throwing 4 interception in the first half.
ESPN's analysts' had all selected UCLA to be the cougs and end their,now 13, game winning streak. I was concerned about this game seeming how the Bruins were out for revenge from the bowl win that we had over them last year. In the last 12 months we have now played the Bruins 3 times, splitting the last 2 games, and each time they have had a different coach.
To start the game the cougars secondary,whom I was worried about, help the Bruins to 3 and out and then we drove down the field for a 70+ yard drive. The game could have ended there and I would have been very happy. Rachel made fun of me cause I told the neighbor Albert as we were leaving that I would be happy with a 10 point victory. Well, to made the rather awesome game short my friend, turned brother-in-law and I were quite happy with the outcome and felt like it was Christmas when we scored on like 3 of 6 plays in a row.
At one point I mentioned to Rachel that she wouldn't need to get me anything for Christmas. All of the people around us laughed and later when I had lost my voice from screaming in excitement I mentioned that in the span of 5 minutes I had lost the voice and the fellow in front of us turned and said "and your christmas present too".

This one is one that will not be forgotten for a long time and even the irony of another blocked field goal made me feel like the only thing that could hinder us from the BCS,
yes that's right I did say BCS, is beating ourselves and that always dreaded, yet lately elating, last game of the year.
*Updates will now be issued in Cougar blue like my blood BABY!!!

Camping- Cabin style

Okay, so this weekend was nothing like we had been planning for the past few weeks. We had been planning on going to Payson Lakes for a weekend and just enjoying the last bits of summer possible. Instead, we ended up going with Lance's cousin Allison and her family, Carolynn, and Ty & Scott's kids to a friend of Allison's cabin. We had no idea what was up there or what we would have to work with, so we packed everything like we were going camping. We did feel like hill billies when we pulled up to the cabin and saw this-see below. We were in shock. A beautiful cabin that had running water, electricity, two family rooms, 4 bedrooms that were huge, 3 bathrooms and so much more. Wow!
Allison and Carolynn and everyone else who was up there, definitely gave it big thumbs up. We even got to borrow the four-wheelers that they brought up and the ones there at the cabin. Luke was instantly in love and cried every time he had to get off. I even got my first try riding one all by myself. I was instantly hooked and finally understood what all the fuss was about.
We also got time to just relax, put puzzles together, play games (both board and Wii & Guitar Hero) and get to know each other better.
We even got to enjoy the beautiful signs of nature and got a taste of the upcoming changes in seasons. Kiersten and I also picked acorns from the gazillion oak trees to show to her new preschool class.

We got to see a relaxed side of every body and the kids loved the time they got with Grandma Hansen & the cousins.
To make it feel like camping, Lance dug a fire pit so we could roast S'mores and enjoy the stars.

The next day we got to get out for a minute, and head 20 minutes south to Manti where we got to look at the temple and then go to a park for lunch. What a great opportunity on such a beautiful day.

When we left that night, Kiersten demonstrated how she definitely got her mother's queasy stomach because as we took the Mt. Nebo loop (scenic drive) we had to make multiple stops to relieve her stomach. She even took one of Luke's diaper bags (for dirty diapers) and made it into her own barf bag. Overall, it was a great trip and we loved the chance we had to get to know Lance's cousin & her family better. It was just such an awesome weekend.

Luke & Cap'n Crunch

Okay.... so the other day the kids & I were getting ready to go somewhere. I was doing Kiersten's hair first, I got her done and sent her off to finish getting ready, when I hear, "Mom, I think you will want to see this", and this is what I got......

My sweet, innocent, soon to be two year-old, showing off how much trouble he can get in within a matter of a minute.
His delicious concoction- Cap'n crunch laced with a hair gel glaze.
He was so proud of his "good job". Luckily he hadn't try to eat it quite yet!

Kiersten's First Day of Preschool!

Oh my heck! I can hardly believe the day is finally here...our baby girl started preschool today. She is so excited. We went and met her teachers yesterday and got set for the big day today. So here she is already to go. We had to go and get her a back pack before school started because none of the ones we had for her were big enough to hold her "homework" folder.So here is the big girl herself, sporting her new bangs (that had to be cut because of her cutting them- they were finally long enough to try and fix). Doesn't she look so cute!
Giving her baby brother a big hug good-bye (one of many throughout the morning).

We stopped by to see Daddy after we got her big girl back pack.

And then a quick kiss good bye and we were on our way. She was so excited she could hardly stand it. She was so brave to go into class all by herself, and she was cute to even come back and give me a quick hug and kiss before she was ready to be left alone. I won't pretend that dropping her off didn't make me shed a few tears. I just had to keep telling myself how much fun she was having (over & over & over).