Taylor is ONE!

A few pictures from Taylor's Birthday Party on Saturday night...

We had such a fun time with Taylor at her birthday party. She was so cute just sitting on my lap while we opened her presents. Thank you to everyone that came to celebrate with us and for the fun toys. She is loving playing with all her new things!

Addie and Tay- future BFFs!

"I can't believe our baby girl is one!" Well she really isn't a baby anymore. She has almost mastered walking, and within about a week! It is so exciting to watch her grow and learn everyday.
The Birthday Princess

This is about as close to a smile as we could catch on camera- and with a mouth full of frosting. Poor kid, there was so much frosting on this cake I think it made her sick. But she did have a good time eating with her fingers and feeding mommy and daddy!
Not many smiles that night at the party but at least there weren't any tears- that is until we started the cake clean-up.
I wish I could say I made this cake myself but that is not one of my talents. We bought the cakes at Smiths- very yummy too!

More Jackson Pictures

Don't all the tourists have to get a picture in front of the Antlers? We never have so I felt it was a must!

The water is GLASS! I wanted to water ski soooo bad!

Cascade Canyon- looking up at Mt. Teewinot. This picture turned out pretty nice I must say.
The back side of the Tetons. The colors were so beautiful up in this basin.
Brody- he was prepared with the can of Bear Mace that of course was not needed, luckily I guess.

We were so close to Lake Solitude (7 miles from the boat dock) but we had to turn around so we could make it back to the dock to catch the last boat across Jenny Lake. Five years ago we made it about this far as well and that time we knew we were going to miss the boat but we had to turn around or else we would have been hiking back in the dark. One of these trips we will plan better and hike to the Lake and maybe even further. Then we'll really be in bear country!

5 Year Anniversary!

September 24, 2003

My husband is my hero. I am so thankful for a wonderful husband who is the best at: being a daddy, making us smile, fixing ANYTHING, being sweet and silly, cuddling and kissing, protecting, comforting, and serving others. We learn more about each other everyday. 5 years has gone by fast and we have spent some fun times and rough times together. We are so happy to have a little baby girl too and can't wait to make our family bigger!
Brody and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary last Wednesday. Actually we didn't really start the celebration, since Brody worked all day and night, until Thursday when we left for Jackson Hole, WY. This is one of our favorite vacation spots, and also where we honeymooned! What a beautiful and relaxing weekend it was.
Thursday we had planned on going on the Alpine slides after eating out at "Billy's" but come to find out, they closed the slides a week before. We couldn't believe it! So Brody humored me for an hour or so while we shopped! We found Taylor the cutest onsie to bring home to her. Then we headed up into Grand Teton National Park to camp for one night at Signal Mountain.
Mount Moran

We found the perfect camp spot at Signal Mountain

After a cold night under a clear sky in our tent we got up to go drive through Yellowstone Park- hoping to get lucky this time and see a bear. But, no. We haven't seen a bear in a few years up there. We took the pictures that day with our 35 mm camera and I have not gotten the film developed yet but I will post pictures when I do.
Friday and Saturday night we stayed at a condo in Teton Village. We had a blast going out to dinner, playin' games, and going to bed early. But dang, I never sleep as good as I do at home in my own comfy bed. Saturday we went on a long hike up Cascade Canyon. We took the boat across Jenny Lake. Starting this hike at 11 am was not early enough because we had to be back down to the dock by 4 pm to catch the boat back. So, unfortunately we did not make it to Solitude Lake again but we still hiked 13 miles in 5 hours. Yes, I am pretty sore today. Guess my Turbo Jam work-outs and walks weren't enough to get me in shape.
I will have to post more pictures of the hike. Cascade Canyon is beautiful!
Sunday we left early to come home because we missed little Taylor. Thanks to Brody's parents and my mom for watching her. We picked Taylor up at my grandparents house in Snowville where my mom had stayed with her. My grandpa said he thinks we should make a trade for her and was willing to give me 4 ducks, 2 sheep, and 3 horses! I love my grandparents. They are the most honest and good people I could ever know. Taylor had a great time with them too. I don't think she even missed us while we were gone.
This was a much needed vacation but it is good to be home now. Miss you Jackson!


What gorgeous mountains! I can't get enough!

My Little Sweetheart

Taylor has been especially sweet lately. We have been making a few changes with her so it has surprised me that she has been so pleasant. First of all I have been weaning her from the bottle for the past month or so. She is down to her sippy cup for breakfast, lunch, snack time, and dinner, and then gets a bottle in the evening. It's gone pretty well. She would only fuss with her sippy every once in awhile with the first meal. Then last week we cut back to one nap a day because she was really seeming like she wasn't tired till almost 11:30. So ever since she started napping from noon to 1:30 or 2:00 pm she has been more happy. You would think an hour and half is not enough for her I know, I still wonder myself, but she also sleeps 12 hours at night still so she must be getting enough.
I love being a mommy so much and Brody takes such good care of us. He loves to rock Taylor to sleep and just snuggle with her. Usually when he is the one to put her down for a nap he ends up falling asleep in the rocking chair with her. Last night I filmed him reading her a story when putting her to bed. It was so precious. She loves books.

We miss daddy at night during the week. I wish he could get on day shift.
I am very thankful that I can stay at home with Taylor. She is so fun. I love to listen to her talk gibberish and growl! That is her new thing. I think she was getting the kids in trouble behind us during sacrament meeting yesterday. They kept whispering, "say it" and then she would growl. It is hard not to laugh!
Our other favorite thing that Taylor does right now is "charge" while she is crawling. Whenever she goes full speed ahead she puts her head down. She used to fall on her face when she first started doing this. Brody says "Ramming Speed!". I have got to get it on camera.
On a side note, we finally started the sprinkler system project last weekend. My brother in law Blake came to help. Annie and the kids came out too. Taylor had so much fun playing with the boys all day. They would have her just bustin' up laughing. Oh, I love to hear her laugh like that! The boys even helped Brody and Blake and I digging trenches.

Well, Tyce helped a little more than Paden. This is Paden playing in the rain.
Thanks again Ann and Blake for the help, and coming out to see us! Brody still has a lot of work to finish on the sprinklers but we are getting there. We were also able to check "Concrete" off of our list. The patio and dog run/shed pad was poured last Friday. I can't wait to finish the yard. Brody needs a break. We are planning on getting sod next week when we get back from Jackson. Hopefully all goes well.

Movie Weekend!

Aside from the yard work last weekend, Brody and I decided to rent a few movies since I did not get to "get out". We ended up with the following: "Dan in Real Life", "I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry", and "Passage to Zarahemla". Dan in Real Life was the only one that was worth seeing again. It was pretty funny. We love Steve Carell and can't wait for "The Office" to come back on next week. We also really like Dane Cook. He is hilarious. It was weird to see him so serious in Dan in Real Life. This is my favorite part from the movie. We were laughing so hard Saturday Night! Watch this!

"The Ruthie Song"


Oh, I love it!!!

Missing Logan

It has been too long since I have been to Logan. Logan has always been like a second home to me. Growing up my dad's family had a cabin up the canyon and I have so many memories there. Sadly, there was a fire at the cabin November of 2001 and it was devastating. I will never forget that night when I was home all by myself and this guy calls telling there has been a fire at our cabin. I was so scared and I couldn't find my parents. When they got home I had to tell my dad and I will never forget how hard that was. Now, with all the craziness my dad has been through in the last few years the cabin will not be rebuilt. It makes me cry when I think that I will not be able to make memories there with Brody and our children.


This weekend I was really wanting to go up to Logan and the Aggies vs. U of U game today. Go Aggies!!!
Brody and I had originally made plans to go to his cabin in Island Park but those fell through because we have so much work at home on our yard. We still did not end up getting tickets to the game, I guess we were a bit discouraged when we found out they were over $30 a ticket.

So I have just been thinking about how much I miss Logan. It is so beautiful up there. I have not only spent many weekends up there at the cabin in the past but Brody and I used to live up there half the summer in a tent or friends houses in Bear Lake. We will make it up there this fall I am sure though. We have to take a drive up the canyon to see the gorgeous colors, and I have to go to Fredrico's!

Yum, they have the best salad and pizza ever!

Due West Concert at Bella's (Melina's)

This is probably pointless to post this since it is just a few hours away but there is this new band called "Due West" playing at the restaurant Bella's (used to be called Melina's Mexican Restaurant) in Farr West. Maybe no one will even read this where it is Friday afternoon and most your evenings are already planned but if you do happen to read this and looking for something to do for date night, come to Bella's in Farr West for dinner and a concert. The concert is only $7, it is outside, and starts at 9 pm so dress warm. I saw this band at a club up in Park City and they were awesome! I think they will go big in Nashville.
Anyway, have a good weekend whatever you do.
Bella's Farr West
2651 North 1850 West
Ogden, UT 84404

Bye, Ash