Little Miss Giggles

Kinsley's Christmas Recital

Kinsley loves to dance. This is her second year in dance class. Last year she took ballet and this year she's taking a ballet/tap combo. She likes it so much that she tells any listening (or partially listening ear) that she's a tap dancer. I'm glad that she's proud of her developing talents. Here are a few craptastic shots and a short video clip. Merry Christmas!

There Are Dinosaurs Living In Our Home!

Happy Halloween (right before Thanksgiving, ha)

Well I'm finally getting around to it! Our annual Halloween party was totally rockin' this year! We had oodles of peeps here. I definitely didn't get pictures of everyone, but we sure had a great time. Lots of games, food, music, and loads of crazy costumes. Shawn looked great as Captain Jack Sparrow, I went as Elisabeth, and the kiddos were our pirate mates. I actually remembered to have someone take a pic of me this year--ha I really was there I promise.

Yo ho, Yo ho a Pirates life for me! Happy Halloween!











For more Halloween Pics visit:

Halloween 2010

First Day of School

It's about time I post this! Kinsley had her first day of school on September 1st. In my mind I had planned to take some amazing pics, but turns out life is crazy as usual, and I only had time for a few snapshots before we left the house and headed of to class. I was a bit aprehensive about the whole thing. Mostly because I can't believe the fact that I'm old enough to have a kindergartener! I'm excited for her to move on, but have definitely been experiences those "please don't ever grow up" moments.
Kinsley loves being in school. She loves to talk about what she is learning and always amazes me with what she already knows. Kinsley is a smart kiddo and we're so lucky to have been blessed with such a vibrant, energetic spirit in our home.

Everett Stake Trek 2010

Shawn and I were asked to be a Ma and Pa this year for our LDS Youth Conference. We were responsible for seven teenagers for almost four full days--talk about a workout. No, I'm not referring to the teenagers I mean the trek. For those of you not familier with trek it's an opportunity to recreate the hardship LDS pioneer ancestory endured to make it 1400+ miles by handcart to SLC Utah. Similar to the experience someone would have had on the Oregon trail, LDS pioneers faced incredible injuries, starvation, and even death to prove their faith, determination, and desire to make it to Utah for religious freedom. Youth recreating this trek endeavor to "walk a mile in another mans shoes" in order to gain a greater testimony and understanding of the sacrafice and faith freely given by early Latter Day Saints. What a marvelous blessing and opportunity it was to make this great journey. Here are a few of my favorites from trek.....


This picture was taken our first night out at Bing Canyon. We had to attach a rope to the handcart to haul it up a huge hill. It made for a great picture at sunset!


We had the opportunity to have a Native American family from our stake come out and meet us on the trail. They handed out yummy beef jerky and did some traditional dancing for us later in the week--it was beautiful!



At one point on the trail Shawn had three praying mantis along for the ride.
The boy on the left is showing us his flour cake dough. We had an evening of flour rations. We all thought the flour was going to be our dinner for the night but we were later surprised when we recieved some yummy Praire Chicken Stew!


Here's our uber cute + awesome trek family. We love you guys!


I really know how to rock that bonnett don't I? Maybe you shouldn't answer that, lol.



The girls group hug after our super challenging womens pull. While the men were off with the "Mormon Batallion" the women had to pull the handcarts up 3 huge hills! Wowza's it was difficult! Although physically exhausting this was one of the more spiritual moments for me on the trek. I couldn't help but think about the courageous pioneer women who journeyed across the plains with the burden of nuturing, and were heavy with physical responsibility as well. It was one of those "the Lord will always make up the difference moments" for me and my girls.


Check out my nasty bug bites! That huge one on my leg still itches. I wish the bites remants from those terrible critters would go away, but I'll glady keep the tan! Now I just have to work on evening things out, lol.

Family Pictures

Okay so first things first, yes I'm still alive, no I obviously haven't given up on blogging forever, and maybe I'll try to do it more often :) Here are a few of my favorites from our most recent family pictures. We made our yearly summer trip to Utah and picture swapped with our best buds the Pextons again this year. Jeremy, www.pextonphotography.com is uber talented and took all the pics I'm not in. Each year we take each others family pics and then edit our own family photos--it's the perfect arrangement. I just can't envision setting up the tripod and running back into the middle of my family as working out :) Sadly I didn't getting any of Rylin. Apparently she had on her grouchy dress that day. Anyway enjoy and stay tuned for pics from our recent Trek.

I Passed!

Hey everyone. This is Shawn. I just wanted to let everyone know that I passed the Bar! I thought about adding a picture, because this blog has so many wonderful pictures, but what picture would I choose? A picture of the letter from the WSBA? A picture of me opening the letter? A picture of me doing backflips after getting the good news?
You must see the dilemma now. I couldn't possible upload a picture to compare to the exceptional photography that Andrea can do, so instead, I will leave a text only post....like my humor, a little dry {:0)[>======>

Kareena's Wedding

As promised here are some of my favorites from Chris and Kareena's engagement and pre-wedding session. I'm so grateful that we did the pre-shoot before the wedding because the weather on the wedding day was not our friend :( I didn't get very many images from the actual wedding day, because of the crazy weather. It was sunny for like two seconds, and then wind, hail, rain, and snow for the rest of the time. I did get a few pics and once I have a chance to edit them, I'll show you all some from the reception and the few from the temple. Sorry there are soooo many pictures but they couldn't take a bad photo, and I had a hard time picking my favorites!

Other than the weather on the big day we had a marvelous time in Utah celebrating, and visiting friends and family. I love going to temple weddings! They remind me of the covenants Shawn and I made almost seven years ago, and the richness of the blessings we now partake of because of our decision. Thanks Kareena and Chris for letting us be there while you began the greatest chapter of your lives.