10 year reunion and my girls

I love my girlfriends! I really have such amazing friends! Below are some pics of the people I love.... top left corner is my old neighborhood girls (sugarhouse)...we had a baby shower for Nikki Stokoe at Happy Sumo, top right is some of my gym buddy's...we did a boot camp at Herriman high one day (of course my kids didn't last very long and wanted to be held most of the time but it was still fun!), bottom left (me and Suzy Q- love her!) and right are from girls camp with the other YW leaders...such a fun camp up at Lava Hot Springs!

10 YEAR HIGHSCHOOL REUNION!!!!!!

We had our 10 year reunion at Olympus High School because they are tearing down our school and rebuilding it. It was so fun to go with Tay because we didn't have to entertain each other (definite benefit of marrying your highschool sweetheart). We had such a great time hanging out with our buddies and catching up with people we haven't seen in a long time. I was kind of happy to have it over because I had to help with the organization (especially the raffle prizes). I loved highschool so it's fun for me to go back and re-live some good times. Too bad Tay and I didn't go makeout in the hallway or something :)

The not so happiest place on earth....

CALIFORNIA!!!!

In the middle of August we heading on our first big family vacation! It was bitter sweet. We had some great moments and we had some crazy not so great moments. The first part of the vacation was kind of a nightmare and then it got better. We started off at the "HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH" and it was definitely NOT the happiest place on earth for our family.

Disneyland was probably not the best idea. I had this vision of my two kids in the “happiest place on earth” and just loving it. But really putting two tired toddlers with no nap in a hot crowded place and asking them to wait in line is not a good idea. (and two tired parents that slept 3 hours the night before because of bad traffic). They actually really liked the rides but it was all the waiting and walking around in between that was a nightmare. Stockton literally wanted to be held by Taylor THE ENTIRE time and Mckaylee wanted to push a stroller rather than ride the rides. She would tantrum everytime we had to take the stroller away. Taylor was probably in one of the worst moods he has been in awhile. There were moments of goodness like the dumbo ride, it’s a small world, the carousel, and toy story ride, but they probably would have been happier just going to the pool and playground (and it would have been MUCH cheaper). Needless to say we left around 3:30pm. I think we will wait until they are 5 before we go again.

Once we left anaheim and got to Newport, Tay said the trip really began. The resort in Newport was beautiful! There was a playground and basketball and mini golf right outside the place and pools were all around. We stayed at the Marriot hotel in a great room for us. The kids had their own area and Tay and I were in the bedroom. The kids didn’t sleep the best but they weren’t horrible. We usually would wake up between 6:30 and 7:30 and stick the kids in the jogging stroller and go for a 6 mile run then come back and get ready and go to my parents Marriot. We just swam, relaxed by the pool (during nap time), watched movies, play at the playground, went to fashion island, the Irvine Spectrum to shop, huntington beach (with Kelly and Alison Tate), corona del mar, etc. Stockton was scared of the waves and Mckaylee wasn’t in love with the water as much as we thought she would be, but they loved playing in the sand so the beach was still fun. We really had a great trip. The drive was so long and we got stuck in such bad traffic both ways but considering Stockton and Mckaylee did great! We only had a few moments of close to meltdowns. I had to go sit in the back a few times but really we were super impressed with how amazing they were. WE DEFINITELY NEEDED A VACATION FROM OUR VACATION THOUGH...going anywhere with two toddlers is tiring. Love them, but we do anything that makes them as happy as possible. We also had a few rough moments on the trip when the kids were in bad moods.

My cute parents are so amazing! They really are the most helpful kind people out there! My mom just babysits almost the entire time...between my sister Kristin's baby, sister Kim's toddler Evan, and my kids my mom is super busy and she LOVES it. She wouldn't do anything else. I really have never met anyone more selfless when it comes to helping with her kids. I love her! The picture below is of Stockton, Mckaylee and Evan sitting at dinner with my mom. They all wanted to sit by "grandma Pam". So dang cute!!

I love the beach!!!!!!

Beautiful Midway

Tay's mom lives up in Midway and it is GORGEOUS!!

Love Midway almost as much as I love my babies bums :)

HAPPY 2 YEARS!!!!!

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY

STOCKTON & MCKAYLEE!!!!!

Stockton and Mckaylees 2 year birthday party wasvon Wednesday July 27th. It was super fun! Of course I said I wasn’t going to go way out and I kind of did. Not as much as last year but more than Taylor wanted :) We had a ton people show up. We are blessed with so many good friends. A bunch of my highschool friends came, a bunch of my daybreak friends came, and some old neighbors, and family. Suzy Smith helped me a ton to get ready for the party. I was so grateful for her and my father in law Cregg. We had a good time and the kids were loving it. I rented a giant double waterslide with a wading pool at the bottom and then just had water toys to play with. Our house is the perfect set up being on the park. We just grilled hot dogs, had cupcakes, salad, chips, fruit, drinks, etc. I did a water theme so the cupcakes were all blue frosting with fishies on them and then we had blue jello with swedish fish in them like little aquariums. (I didn't take any pictures and I am so sad! but I promise It was cute). Stockton and Mac played in the water for quite a bit then we bathed them and ate cupcakes but then they just wanted to be naked so when most of the party had left we let them rome around naked while we cleaned up. This was their favorite part...they love being naked :)

Happy birthday to my beautiful babies!

I can't believe you guys are two! It has been the best and hardest two years of my life!

(Mckaylee loves hot dogs and sausages so I love this picture)

I have so many great friends!

Daddy was the master griller the whole time.

Stockton dove right into the cupcake. Mckaylee wanted to eat the candle more than the cupcake. This is my favorite thing to watch!

The after party was the best....naked babies running around happily eating candy and cake :) (Including Matt Smith-aside from the naked part)

Lake Powell

LAKE POWELL TRIP -

MINUS KIDS!!

Tay and I headed down to Powell at the beginning of August with his mom and step dad, sister Teddy and husband Scott, brother Joe and his friend Kallie, and brother Matthew. We had such an amazing time!! It was a short but sweet. We left Thursday morning (which was really hard to leave the kids. Let's just say I have a really cute and sensitive husband and a few tears were shed) and we came back saturday night. We drove down with Teddy and Scott which was a treat because they live away and I miss them!!!! We got there in good time and got right on the lake and went on the camp site search. We found a great camp and from there on out we just chilled, water-skied, hiked, cliff jumped, swam, ate, roasted marshmallows, read, swam some more and had great conversation! It was just so nice to I guess be selfish. I didn't have to think about what I needed to do, what my kids need, etc....I just relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. I loved being with my hubby sleeping under the stars and just acting like we were just married. Tay was hilarious the whole time. He rolled up his shorts, stuck out his belly, and make the funniest/ ugliest face probably 50% of the time. He made us all laugh the whole time. It was also so great to just talk to the girls. I love hiking with Tay's mom and I loved having Teddy around. I'm grateful for family members back home that took care of my angels while Tay and I were able to get away for a little bit. Lake Powell is one of my favorite places/ vacations ever!