Utah!

We just got home from a week long trip to Utah! We left last Friday and headed to Kanosh, Utah (that is where my dad's family is from). Kanosh's weather was wonderful. We didn't actually get to see much family. Ironically, everyone in Kanosh seemed to be out of town. But we still had fun playing at the park, enjoying the farm animals, and eachother's company.

Here are some pictures from the park in Kanosh:

This slide has been at the park as long as I remember. I convinced Brandon to go down it, and he was definitely nervious.

Melanie and Noelle love swinging... they could so this ALL day long.

On Sunday, we visited Grandma and Grandpa George. The cemetery was beautiful.

We spent 2 hours there. We even visited Aunt Helen.

This picture is of true love.

On Monday we headed to Salt Lake City. We had intented to go to the zoo, but half way to Salt Lake, it started pouring, and it didn't stop until sometime during the night. Tuesday we met a friend of mine at the Discover Gateway Museum. Kelli was so sweet to not only meet us for a fun day, but to get us in for free. THANK YOU KELLI! The museum was really neat. It was geared to younger children. On the top floor there was a helicopter. The kids LOVED it.

Here is my family, running the news.

And if you ever wondered what my kids would look like as bees... wonder no more!

On Wednesday, we picked up Elder Fairchild from the Salt Lake City airport. We drove him to Provo, took him to lunch, then dropped him off at the MTC. Elder Fairchild's family are good friends of the family, and he was one of Brandon's Teachers, years ago. It was a very inspirational moment leaving him at the MTC. He will be serving a mission in North Carolina, in the mission just next to the one Brandon served in 13 years ago.

We spent the rest of the day touring Temple Square. I love visiting the temple (doesn't matter which one) When we visited the Tabbernacle, my kids decided to test out the accoustics... by yelling. Slightly embarrasing. We got out as soon as I got a picture. In case you are wondering, sound does travel really well in there!

Across from Temple Square, there is a Church Museum (as you can tell, I love museums). It was really neat. The following pictures are from the museum.

They had a special Latin America exhibit. I had a lot of fun dressing up with the girls and learning how to dance.

Even Brandon got in on the action!

We had a lot of fun visiting Utah.

Flight School

The girls are both high fliers in their nifty home made airplanes. Here they are soaring the skies. (lucky that I was in my own special airplane and could take the picture).

One thing Noelle has learned, if you are going to fly the skies, you need to do it with a bit of courtesy. Here she is waving to her fellow pilots. Love that girl!

Dinosaur Eggs at the Museum

There was a dinosaur egg hunt at the Museum for Natural History on Friday, and our family HAD to go! We got there before the doors opened and stood in the line to get in. Here is the gang anxiously awaiting the fun that they were sure to have.

Melanie found her first egg sitting on a fossil. MORE EGGS!

Noelle even got in on the action.

In between collecting the different eggs, we enjoyed touring the museum and all their fun exhibits. Here are the girls in the family, locked up.

It was a lot of fun. Both girls collected 5 eggs, and then we finished our family date with a treat and some games. It was a lot of fun.

Lessoned Learned: Treadmills

Isn't it the truth that we always learn our lessons the hard way? And as a parent, we truly want to take all the pain away from our kids, but sometimes, you can't. right?

This is the case with the lesson Melanie learned yesterday with the TREADMILL.

Melanie's lesson: Don't play on a treadmill.

Mom's Lesson: Don't assume that Melanie can't turn on dangerous machines on her own, just muck sure they are unplugged.

Story behind the lesson: Yesterday we were at my dad's house celebrating his birthday. Everyone had just finished eating, and Melanie was playing on Grandpa George like he was a jungle gym. Grandpa got a phone call which he couldn't take with Melanie on his lap and set her down. I had been sitting right next to them, but I didn't hear Melanie ask Grandpa if she could play on the treadmill. What I DID hear next was a loud, blood curdling scream. I look over and my lovely daughter is pinned between the back end of the treadmill and the fireplace, and the treadmill was going FULL speed. I ran to her as fast as I could (of course screaming and wanting to cry) but the damage was already done. One of her knees, her wrists, hands, fingers, all were rubbed/burned by the fast moving belt of the treadmill. I suppose I should be grateful that I was so close that I could get to her that fast because I was able to stop it. It could have been much worse. Apparently she turned it on by her self, unknowningly to the highest speed, and it shot of her the back end. That would have been the end of the story if the treadmill weren't so closer to the fireplace.

Thankfully I had an Aunt there that is a nurse and she was able to look at all Melanie's wounds and determined that she didn't need to go to the emergency room. We have pretty princess band aids for Melanie, so she now thinks she looks pretty cute with all her "battle scars" (which is what I have convinced her they are all).

Here is her with some of her battle scars on her hand. You can't tell from the photo, but she had burns on all her knuckles, and in between each of her fingers on her right hand. And also on her wrist.

Her right knee was the worse. We didn't have a cute princess band aid for that battle scar, so Mom and Melanie made a cute rainbow band aid instead. I'm so grateful that it wasn't worse, and if could have so easily been. I'm thankful she had a thick shirt on and her chest and stomach was not injured (as she was laying with her chest on the belt as well.) I'm grateful that I had other family members so close by so that we could rescue Melanie right away (as I was a little panicked) and that Aunt Tammy was able to look at the wounds. And I'm thankful that we have both learned our lesson so that we can, hopefully, avoid serious pain in the future.

Daddy Daughter Camp Out

Saturday night, Melanie and daddy had a special Daddy/Daughter camping trip... in the back yard! Melanie and Noelle were crucial in the set up (as you can see)

Melanie was so excited, she kept running up to me and telling me "Daddy loves me SO much". It was so sweet. Everyone had a hand in pumping up the air matrice.

Here are the campers already to "turn in"

Aren't they precious?

They had so much fun, I couldn't get Melanie out of that tent until it was time to go to Grandpa's house the next day. We literally had to force her to use the "facilities" inside the house because she wanted to just hold it all day and play in the tent.

Thank you Brandon for making Melanie's night so special.

Bird Feeder

Today we made a bird feeder. Both of my girls LOVE birds. So... even though logically, inviting birds into my backyard while I am trying to grow a veggie garden isn't the best thing, we decided to make a bird feeder. Our feeder would be made of recycled material, cute, and fun... right? Right!

Both of my girls were involved in the decorating of the bird feeder. I think they did a great job! Melanie helped me fill it with seed. She was a great help!

Ta-da!

And finally, up in the tree.

Melanie then started chasing birds around the yard yelling "look birdie, it's food for you". Unfortunately, none of the birds were as trusting as my little red head. No worries, I'm sure they will start showing up in no time.

Pajammin'

Okay... so, I'm officially one of those moms that buy my girls matching outfits. But when I saw these pajammas, how could I resist? Seriously!?!

Thankfully, both girls LOVE their new pajammas. And... now Melanie has decided we are a family of Whales. (Just what mom always wanted to be, a whale!)