Gila Valley Temple Open House

On Wednesday May 10th we took a road trip with Ryan & Heidi's family and Tara & Dallin's family up to the new temple. It was really neat to be able to walk through it with the boys. They really liked it and said the mirrors and the baptismal font were their favorite things. It was a fun day. We ate lunch and stopped by Heidi's parents house to see the cows and donkeys and then headed home. It was a really nice day. I am excited for the dedication and think that we will really like it. I have never been to a dedication before and I am excited that Alden will get to be able to see it dedicated too. What a special time we live in. We are so lucky to have temples being built all over.

Going through the temple was a great way to help the boys start building a testimony of it. Alot of my nieces and nephews were able to go through it too. I am glad so many of us were able to see it. I hope all the kids realize how lucky they are to have had such a neat experience.

The kids found a cool frog outside and had fun looking at it. It was very interesting looking and so we had to take a picture. We are dorks we know. :)

First Water Hike

On May 1st we decided to be spontaneous and go on a hike. We figured it would be the last cool day for a long time and we better enjoy it. Tara and Dallin were brave enough to join us and we had a really good time. The boys had so much fun climbing up rocks and exploring. I was a little nervous they would run into a rattle snake or something but we didn't. Alden had sharp enough eyes to spot a gila monster though so that was pretty fun to look at. Brig wasn't brave enough to climb up as high as Dallin and Alden but he did a great job and hiked the whole thing with us (about 4 1/2 miles total). I was very impress he did such a good job. Dallin's shoes are off in this picture because they were having fun watching things fall down the side of this rock hill thing they had climbed up. Boys sure know how to entertain themselves.

Lila really enjoyed being out doors. The weather was really nice and she had a great time. I was very happy that she did so well the whole time.

Dallin and Hyrum Chillin out while we took a water and snack break. Hyrum didn't seem to enjoy it as much as Lila did and they ended up turning back early with him. He fell asleep finally when they were heading back. Poor guy he had just had too busy of a week with them moving into their new apartment and so much craziness going on I guess.

Scott and the kids. Lila was asleep for this picture she took a nice nap and woke up ready to play some more and eat lunch.

Me and the boys. We got enough sunscreen on that no one got sunburned. I was really worried about that since we are all so white and we were outside for so long.

The boys wouldn't sit still for too long for pictures they just wanted to keep going. If only I could bottle up some of their energy and use it for myself we would be doing just fine. We had a great time and plan on hiking some more next fall when the weather cools off a little.

Lila pics

Lila has discovered cupboards and the dishwasher. She happened to pull out this bowl that looks like a hat that the boys like to use for popcorn and she stuck it on her own head. It was so funny and so I ran to get the camera. By time I was back and ready to take a picture she had moved on to something else. We tried to pose her but she wouldn't go for it. Lila has figured out how to climb onto the dishwasher lid. That is her favorite spot and she loves to play in the water and get the dishes all out as I am trying to load them in. She is so funny. She is very determined and not easily distracted either the little stink.

When the boys go into the bathroom to take a bath Lila is very jealous. She loves the water and bath time is her favorite. She stands at the door and bangs with her hand while yelling. It is one of the funniest things ever. She use to crawl over to the door and lay down trying to look underneath and cry so she has improved and I was never lucky enough to get a picture of her doing that. I can't believe she is already 11 months old. She is getting so big and independent.

Dallin's "Let's Play Music" recital

Dallin did his first year of "Let's Play Music" this year and really enjoyed it. It is such a fun class and really helps the kids get ready for regular piano lessons. The kids had a recital to end the year and Dallin sang and did all the actions very well although we could not crack a smile out of the kid. He looked like he was not very happy to be up there. I guess he must be related to Alden. Puppet shows were one of the favorite parts to the class the kids loved watching the story unfold while listening to music with out any words.

This year the kids played bells they had so much fun with it, but all year long Dallin kept asking when he was going to get to play the piano. He is very excited that finally when it starts up again next school year he will be on the keyboard.

The kids doing the solfeg signs (sound of music anyone??). They learned so much with this class I really would recommend it to anyone that wants to give there children a strong foundation at a young age and it is so much fun they don't ever realize they are learning so much. It has made such a differece for Alden now that he is in piano lessons. Sorry the pics are so bad we got there just 5 minutes before it started and were stuck clear in the back. His teacher combines with a couple other teachers so it makes for a large audience. Dallin has had a really fun month. In addition to finishing up his music class he also got to go to the Phoenix Children's Museum for a kindergarten field trip. Scott went with him as a chaperone and he was soooo excited about that. They had a great time. Unfortunately Scott didn't have the camera with him though. He is a fabulous student and is such a good boy. He impresses me all the time with how much he is willing to help out with Lila and be my helper. I never would have imagined when he was 2& 3 years old and throwing tantrums that he would turn into such a wonderful kid. We are so lucky to have him in our family and I hope he always knows how loved and appreciated he is.