Snow Won't Get Us Down...Too Much

Is it too much to ask to have just one weekend where all of us are free and it doesn't snow?

I guess so because this wasn't the weekend. While the forecast called for snow I was really hoping that it wouldn't snow. I even got up last night in the middle of the night and checked to see if it had snowed. Nope, sweet!

But then when I woke up this morning, I was greeted by this.




However pretty, I'm ready for spring and WARMTH!

Stuck inside I let the kids make goop.

What's goop you ask? Well if you don't know, it's just cornstarch and water. It is pretty cool because it changes from a semi solid to a liquid and back again depending on how it's being played with.

They enjoyed themselves.

A little too much.

Good thing it is super easy to clean up.

After lunch we refused to be stuck indoors anymore and decided to go for a hike.

We went on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. It's a very easy trail and pretty quick. I'd say we were done in about 20-30 minutes, just about right for 36 degrees outside.

Here we are at the beginning of the trail.


It was so cold, we had to keep reminding the kids that they needed to wait until the end of the hike to play in the snow so that they would stay warm.

Aren't they cute!


What can I say, he's dang good looking. :)

Sadie really enjoyed the hike and every now and again would let out a squeal. :)

I do have to admit that the snow can be lovely.






Finally at the end, the kids started walking through the puddles. Wes was about to tell them to stop but he changed his mind and told them to "let loose." They did. :)

Little Jump

Little Splash

Big Jump

Big Splash

I love how Novalee looks rigid preparing to be splashed and Jared is looking right at her like he knows what he is doing. What am I saying he probably did. :)

Here is a video of them getting thoroughly wet! You might even hear Wes in the background telling them to jump. :)


Snow or no snow, it was a good day! :)

Wes' Birthday Cake

Now don't judge the execution of this cake too harshly, I thought the idea was clever enough.

But I was feeling pretty rushed after Wes called and said he was coming home early, plus I was taking care of the kids, I ran out of frosting and well, I was sewing.

So now that I've given my excuses, I should say that Wesley really liked it.

That's all that matters, right? :)

How Will She Do It?

Regular?





Mowgli Style?




Or Dead Man's Crawl?


Only she knows...


But I have a feeling we're going to find out soon.

28

That is Wesley's magic number today!

Happy Birthday to a man that is incredibly handsome like this:



and even like this:



Who is such a hard worker and has so many qualities I could only dream of possessing.

Thank you for being my best friend


my support


and my husband.


We kind of like you a lot. :)

Little Miss Muffet Sat on Her Tuffet

Two Days, Two Hikes

The weather finally was warm enough (It was in the 50s) to go outside and explore parts of Utah this week.

And luckily Wes is about to start his final rotation for optometry school so he has been home all week.

So Tuesday we decided to try a trail near the Bountiful Temple called, Holbrook Canyon Trail. When I say near, I mean very near.


This picture is me standing with Sadie at the trail head.

Of course there's still snow on the ground here.

Nothing new.

We've had snow on the ground continously since the second week we arrived in Utah.




We were all so happy to be outside.




We really thought the iced over river was very pretty.





It was just so nice to finally get outside!


After such a great time we couldn't resist hiking again the next day.

This time we decide to attempt Ensign Peak. It was incredibly windy yesterday.

It even got the locals talking about the high winds.

But it was warm and we didn't want to be stuck inside. So out we went.

Not only was it windy but very sunny, so after four attempts trying to get all the kids looking at once, we gave up.



So you know how I said it was super windy? Well we made it all the way to the top, (Wes and Novalee first) at which point Wes' hat flew off his head and over the side while he was grabbing a hold of Novalee because the wind was pushing her towards the edge (don't worry she was pretty far from the edge but definitely getting blown about).

When I reached the top with Sadie the wind was blowing so hard that pebbles were pelleting us.

So while we made it to the top, we never even touched the monument because after seconds being up there we determined it was too dangerous to stay.

So no picture at the top. :(

But here is one, going back down after the winds calmed a little.



Here Wesley is rescuing his hat.


Safely home we enjoyed our afternoon.

Then that night it did what it does so well here in Bountiful.



In case you can't tell, that is snow. But it was dark so this was the best I could do.

I'm glad we went out when we had the chance.

It's Hard To Believe But Novalee's Four

I always just thought Novalee would be my little baby girl forever.

Maybe I had that stuck in my head because she has always been very petite.

Or maybe it was because she took almost a year to grow out of 12 months clothes and Jared was in them by the time he was four months old.

Those that read this post get to go down memory lane with me. :)

Here's Novie at 1 week.



6 months


12 months





20 Months



2 years




3 Years






I don't know how it happened.

But I just blinked for a moment and she grew up...




On Saturday we celebrated Novalee's birthday.


Kacie, Sam and DJ came over.

I think Novalee had a really great time.


On Sunday night I gave my little girl her last hug as a three year old.

Then Wes got up early Monday, he went to the store and then made her breakfast in bed. She got all of her favorite things (except candy) Mickey Mouse Pancake, Orange Juice, Bacon, Egg "Like Wesley likes" and blueberries.

She was a happy little princess.

We love you Novalee, you bring so much spunk and happiness into our home.