Boston and Much, Much More

For our 10 year anniversary Cort surprised me with a trip out to Boston. I have never been there and LOVE seeing new places and just driving around imagining what life is like for people who live there and what it would be like for me if I was born there. We drove up the coast to Maine, stopping in Salem, Mass., saw some witches, had brunch in Dorchester, Mass. at a quaint little place, drove through New Hampshire, and stopped at a beach in Kennebuckport, Maine along the way. It is so beautiful over there. It is so green and there is so much history. We also did as much tourist stuff in Boston that we could sneak in. The bridge where the shot heard around the world, Paul Revere's house, Bunker Hill, (my calves are still a little aching after walking up 294 steps to the top of Bunker Hill.), the Boston temple, Concord, Mass., Sleepy Hollow cemetery, Harvard in Cambridge, Mass., and then our last day we took a ferry over to Martha's Vineyard from Woods Hole and rented mopeds and cruised the island for the rest of the day. My favorite part of the whole trip was without a doubt, Salem, Mass. with all the witchy stuff, Sleepy Hollow cemetery and Martha's Vineyard. But it was all great. We put 649 miles on our rental car in 4 days. A trip to remember. For sure.

favorite things

Easton is in LOVE with Elmo. Whenever we mention Elmo he turns to the side and "sings" the theme song to Elmo's World, while shaking his hand. "Emo's Wor, du, du du," It's very endearing. He has a couple of Elmo's that he loves to love on. His eyes beam with excitement when ever they are near or whenever we mention to him anything about his precious Elmo. I LOVE the age he is at right now. I wish we could freeze time and enjoy him at this age a little longer. It all goes by way too fast. Elmo and Easton friends forever.

Talan's turn

Talan started preschool with Mrs. Peggy this week. He calls her Peggy. Instead of Mrs. Peggy. "I'm going to Peggy's house." "Peggy said...." It's adorable. When we went to the meet and greet before school started, Talan turned to me at the front door and said "bye mom." Without a dash of hesitation. I told him I got to stay with him today and he seemed as though he could careless. He reminds me a lot of Taylor that way. Very independent. He loved his first and second day there. He is now our little scripture star. Today he was telling me all about how Nephi went and got the plates from the bad man. So grateful that we have our very own Mrs. Peggy.

1st day of school outside of Mrs. Peggy's house

Second day of school with his kindness bucket. The idea behind the kindness bucket is we all have buckets we carry around and when we do or say nice things to each other it's like we are filling each others buckets up. So, in his class they all went around and said nice things to each other and as they did that they got to put a red rock in each others bucket's symbolizing the nice things they did and said to each other. Oh how I would of loved to have been a fly on the wall as these sweet little 3 and 4 years took turns saying nice things to each other! I'm sure it was very entertaining to hear what they came up with. We love our Scripture Star preschool! I know Talan is going to grow and learn so much this year.

August 16, 2011

Cort and I have been married for 10 years. 10 years ago we were sealed for time and eternity in the Manti Temple in Manti, Utah. In the same place and on the same day as my mom and dad. I wanted to do it on that day and in that place as a tribute to my mom. 10 years, 4 kids, 7 years in Herriman Utah and 1 year in Mesa Arizona. Hard for me to believe. Where does the time go? Hope the next 10 will be as great as the first. (I have a hunch that they will be!)
2001 Engagement picture. Awe Young love.

2002 Hawaii.

2003 Our little family. Taylor at 6 weeks. Getting ready for our first night out after her birth.

2004. Us and my brother and sister in law at my little sister's wedding.

2005 Couldn't find the bulk of my 2005 pictures??? Not good.
2006 Us on my 30th birthday.

2007 Family pictures 3 months after Talan was born. The kids all look so young. Sometimes its so hard looking at pictures of them at this age. They sure are changing and growing up fast.

2008 Disneyland in October. My favorite time of year to go. Matching sunglasses. WOOT! WOOT!

2009 Family Reunion in Arizona. Picnic in the Pines. 6 months pregnant with Easty.

2010 One of our last days together in our house in Herriman.

2011 Just the two of us on the actual big day. Picture courtesy of Talan. He was so funny trying to take it. It took a couple of tries and this is the best one he got. :) When he took it he said "I got it!" So cute.


It's been a great ten years, good times and bad. Happy and Sad. I wouldn't change a thing and look forward to the future together. Yesterday at lunch Cort asked me "10 years ago did you think we would be where we are?" The answer was a definite no. Funny how that works. And then it made us think about what the next 10 will bring. Lots of changes I am sure. That's the one thing you can count on in life right, is CHANGE. Happy 10th Cort. Thanks for putting up with me all these years. Love you!

back to school

I can't believe this day is here. Taylor started 3rd grade today and Chase started kindergarten. They both have been so excited for their first day. I know it's going to be a great year.

First day pictures

Chase knew exactly what he wanted to wear for the first day. He picked it all out. Even his shoes. And I let him. :) Doesn't he look great!

Taylor kept saying this is going to be her best year yet and when I asked how come, she would say cause "3rd grade is always the best!" Love, love, love her!

Walking to school. We seriously live like one block from the school and if it weren't for this heat we would walk every day! We were glad to run into to some of our great Arizona friends on our way.

Chase found his name right away

Chase did SO good. I knew he was a little nervous. When I hugged him goodbye I could feel his little heart pounding away. But he didn't let it show. He walked right to class when the bell rang and his teacher Mrs. Dill put him right to work as her helper with the door. He looked back a couple of times and blew me a kiss when it was time to go. When did these kids get so big!?? I don't remember okaying their growing up! So bitter sweet!

Where's Chase?

After we dropped off Chase I HAD to go peek on Tay. She spotted me through the window and waved at me with a smile and then gave me a look like "I'm good mom, you can go." I couldn't help it though, and I snapped a quick pic of her! I'm pretty sure the little girl looking at me in the picture is wondering what I am doing. Happy First day back Taylor and Chase so grateful I get to be your mom.

Waiting to drop off their best buddies so we can go home.

One last picture of Talan riding Chase's scooter heading home. It's just the 3 of us now...and it's VERY quiet. 1:45 can't come soon enough!