BABY #4 Due June 13, 2012

Our 6th Anniversary

Nathan and I celebrated 6 years of marriage over the weekend. We weren't sure we would be able to go out at first because of stake conference that night, but at last minute a babysiter was had. Nathan came home from school and then I took the kids over to the babysitters house. When I came back Nathan had made me a lovley dinner. We enjoyed our dinner in peace and candle light. Then there on the table hidding under a napkin was a gift for me from Nathan. It was a card, chocolate, and a fresh water pearl necklace from Dillards. I LOVE IT needless to say and wore it out that night on our date. We decided to go have some fun and check out Dave and Busters. We played games and won tickets which we traded in for sunglasses and a mug. Nathan won most of our tickets for us. I wasn't very good. Afterwards we went to Mcdonalds for chocolate shakes. Yum. Normally we would have cheesecake factory but neither of us felt like cheesecake. Next door was walmart so we went in to get a movie, but there was nothing. So we picked up the kids and came home. After putting the kids to bed we spent the rest of the night together in continued peace with a movie. How blessed we are to have a family and each other to share this life with and be sealed for time and all eternity so we can be together in the heavens also.

So Much to DO so little TIME

It seems to be that I wanted to Blog as a type of journal for me and yet I never seem to make the time to do it still. Good thing I have a good camera and do scrapbook or I might never remember anything our family has done. Well here are some of the recent highlights of our family times.
We spent June and the first week of July in Utah. Nathan worked for his brother. Then, we went on an RV trip for a week with Nathan's family. We celebrated summer birthdays with everyone. Later on Nathan and Matthew's actual birthdays we celebrated even more. While waiting for the new school year to start we took the kids to theme parks and the zoo. They got passes to the theme parks for doing the summer reading program. Then, school started. Matthew went into 2nd grade and Elaine started Kindergarden. Nancy is enjoying her 2 1/2 hrs of single attention while Elaine and Matthew are gone. I try to get her to take her nap since Elaine does afternoon class. Nathan has also begun another semester in his Master's program and teaching. In September we celebrated Elaine's birthday. Our car it 200,000 miles. Oh and Matthew fell at school and broke his arm near his elbow. He just got his 2nd cast off. He wore the first one for 2 weeks and had to put a second one on for 2 weeks. We went to our first MLB game and watched the Colorado Rockys play the Giants. It was lots of fun....especially because a friend from church gave us the tickets and they were CLUB seats. Awesome! The past months also included going to the Peach Festival, Lafayette Days, Ward Pool party, and Nathan's plant hobbie began. Well my birthday came in October and now the seasons are a changing! I actually turned on the heater last night. Time to take the AC units out of the windows. Nancy got to have a fun play date with her friend Adam at the WOW museum last week also. Good times. Coming up we have baptisms to attend for people at church, I am throwing a bridal shower, and 2 babyshowers, plus attending another babyshower. Halloween is coming and Super Saturday! Yea.

Water Fun In Alpine Utah

There is a little water playground a few blocks away from Uncle David's house. We walked over to it with some of the little cousins. They had lots of fun, but only for a short time because we went just as the sun began to leave. Still a good time though.

UTAH FOR THE SUMMER

That's right. We are in Utah.....Nathan is doing landscaping work for his brother at his new house in Alpine. We brought our cat too. That made for an interesting car ride. Nathan and I counted how many different state licence plates would could spot. We got 35 of the states during our 9 hour drive. We are having a good time with everyone.

Matthew's Field Trip

I helped on Matthew's Field Trip today to the Lafayette Florist and Eats and Sweets. He had fun and got chocolate ice cream.

Ward Cook-Off Party

The priesthood put on a family cook-off tonight and Nathan won most votes on his Empanadas for the main dish section. It was lots of fun!
Meredith, Me, and Tiffany hanging out

Matthew playing kickball

Ward Members eating and chating

Nathan taking a break from the kickball game

GREEN CHILE CHICKEN EMPANADAS!!! (this photo is from the day after when we had to make more to eat again beacuse they were so good)

Nathan and Elaine back in the kickball gameNancy enjoying her desserts!

JUMP MEN JUMP!

YEAH....JUMP!
PULLL! There was not very good traction on the grass.

RING AROUND THE ROSIES!

Longmont Golden Ponds

After a morning of chores and two days of being indoors, due to rain, we were ready to head out and enjoy the beautiful day together.

We packed a picnic lunch and ate together at the ponds. Yummy turkey sandwiches with avacado spread and cheese. Plus, cheese sticks, yogurts, goldfish, and juice boxes.

There was a cool waterfall going on beause of all the water that was built up from the rain and melting snow in the mountains.
This is a statue of V.V. Golden. Quote "A day fishing is a day added to life."

Land was donated to the City of Longmont by the V.V. Golden Foundation. Vernon Golden, who had mined gravel on this site, donated the land to Longmont citizens as a place to fish, walk and enjoy nature. THANKS VERN!

Father-Son Camping Trip

The boys missed the Stake campout due to illness over the weekend, so they went out last night to the Flatiron Res. and camped and fished together. They took dinner and smores, and then grabbed doughnuts in the morning. Matthew missed school today so he could spend time with daddy. I sent my camera with them so they could capture their time together. Matthew told me he had a good time with daddy and caught two fish on his new fishing pole he got earlier this month.

Fishing with Daddy

Since Nathan has been done with school, we have been going fishing in the mornings with the girls while Matthew is in school. Here are some photos from our time together on Monday 5/16.

Nancy reeled in this trout with daddy. She was so excited. I taught her to tell the fishes she is going to eat them and they are going to taste yummy.

Elaine caught a trout too with daddy. She loves going fshing!!!! These ones are from Monday, but man oh man she got to reel in one after another the Friday before...I just did not have my camera.

It was cold for a couple hours in the morning when we got to Thompson Res. so the girls hung out in sleeping bags together to stay warm.

Fishing Derby at Waneka Lake with the Lafayette Police

On May 7th we took the kids to the Fishing Derby at the Lake by our house. We registered Matthew before hand and since he was one of the first 100 kids to sign up he got a free fishing pole. Elaine and Nancy were not old enough to register. We let them all fish together with daddy. The kids caught one fish and Matthew turned it in for them. They got second place and a cool little fishing trophy. As part of the activities we got to take free boat rides. Nathan took Nancy and Matthew out on a Dragon Boat. I took Elaine out on a Pelican Boat. She wanted to go out on a Flamingo but it was being used. They also did a fishing clinic had another little progrom with birds. We had lots of fun.

Portraits of my loves

WHAT SWEET LITTLE CUTIE PIES!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

I have been a mother now for 7 years. It has been both tough and extremely rewarding! I love my children and feel so very blessed to be their mother! Thank you Heavenly Father for trusting and loving me enough to let me be a mother! Thank you mother for your example and raising me for this task.

Love, Stephanie

Easter Sunday