The Orchard

Last Saturday we went to an orchard here in Vegas. Kylie and Peyton loved picking apples. They just kept picking and picking. Finally after a loadful we had to make them stop. We walked around looking for more things. We got to find our perfect pumpkins (although it is slim pickings because we live in a desert!). Kylie found hers right off. Peyton on the other hand took forever. This stem is "too crooked," "too tall," "too yucky," "too small," etc. And he carried around a "booming stick" to boom us wherever we were. We had a great time!

Then the kids got to eat their fresh apples. They loved that! And we drank some fresh apple cider! So yummy!

After the orchard we found a really cool park. It had dinosaurs, flowers, ladybugs, everything a kid would imagine. So cute! We will have to go back there again.

Peyton picking apples...

Kylie picking apples...

Porter found his pumpkin...
Kylie and her pumpkin...

Peyton FINALLY found his. Just perfect!

Us at the pumpkin patch...

Our three cute kids...

Eating their yummy apples. Love the crossed legs, Kylie...

Kylie loved the slides...

Even Porter loved the slides...

Peyton having fun...

We found the dinosaurs...

At the park...

So cute...

Porter, always smiling...

Porter's Sleepy Time

Some of you know that we have been trying the "cry it out" method with Porter. It is sort of working. This kid is a bit stubborn though, and just cries and cries and cries. But for the most part, he is doing well. This morning nap he had finally fallen asleep and then later it was time to pick up Kylie from school. So I had to wake him up (which I hate having to do). He didn't wake up when I went in the room, so I thought this is my chance to get a sleeping picture. These pictures are so cute and precious. He is sucking his thumb, which we never really have seen him do. So cute! Love you Porter!!!

Chris

My 30 year old!

Happy Birthday to Chris! He's the big 3-0! Congratulations! :) Love you tons, Chris!

Kylie

My 5-year-old!

July 2009...

December 2007...


January 2008...


Happy Birthday to my sweet little Kylie who turned 5 years old today. I remember this day well 5 years ago and the weeks following. It was really hard to watch her struggle in Primary Children's and to recover myself there, too. But I honestly think what she went through made her stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually. Love you tons Kylie and thanks for being my "Punkin Bunny!"

Mt. Charleston

Last Monday we went up to Mount Charleston, which is only about 1 hour away, and went on a hike with the kids. We had never been there before, but we loved it, and will hopefully go back again soon. Peyton carried a stick, actually 3 sticks the whole hike. Porter got carried (the way I would like to hike), and Kylie loved playing red light, green light on the hike. There were a lot of dogs on the hike, and for some reason our kids are so scared of dogs, but they finally got the hang of it and would get to the side when another dog would come.

It felt like a whole other world from Las Vegas. Tons of trees, smelling the woods, it was great.

Kylie playing with her stick...

I love how Peyton is pouting in this picture...

Sitting on our log...

Love the background, and Kylie is a bear...

Kylie's first day of Kindergarten

Yes, my daughter is a Kindergartner. Tear. She is entering a whole new world, good and bad. She loved the whole time at school. She came home and said that there was a boy who kept getting into trouble and his name was Chris. She told me again today that Chris got in trouble again. (Those Chris' sure are troublesome...) Anyways, I will miss her helping me around the house, playing with Peyton and Porter, and everything, but she will be such a big girl in school and hopefully will learn so much.

Entering her classroom...

Coloring as everyone arrives for school...

After school. She doesn't ride the bus, but I thought it was a cute picture by the bus.

Utah

We visited Utah over the 24th of July week. The kids and I went up that Tuesday by ourselves because Chris had to work, and later had training in California for work. Chris later joined us that Friday. Anyways, the kids did so well for me on the car ride up. We only had to stop ONCE! I couldn't believe it! Even with Chris, we have to stop at least twice. But Porter took 2 1 1/2 hour naps, the other kids did great, it was so nice. We had a great time while there. We played lots with cousins, saw the Oquirrah Mountain Temple Open House (which would have been less than 10 minutes from our old house), ran through sprinklers, went to the splash park, did fireworks, and the list goes on. Here are a ton of pictures from our trip. We had a great time.

Our kids with Mike's kids, Joseph, Rachel, and Juliana...

Running through the flower sprinkler...
Our kids with Becky's kids, Nathan, Alex, Josh, and Ryan...

At the Temple Open House...

Porter playing with Grandpa...

Porter getting ready to eat Grandpa...

Hanging out at the Herriman Splash Park...

Grandma and Grandpa Nelson and the kids...

Throwing snaps/pops with Grandpa...

Peyton...

Cody lifting Peyton up for a slam dunk...

Kylie and cousin Jaden...

Porter, so cute...

Chris and Porter...

Kylie and Jaden getting ready to scream with the fireworks...

Fireworks time...