Flag Football

We have been meeting up with Ryan after work on Fridays at Western Trails park to watch him play flag football with his coworkers.
The first week there were about 14 and this week there were 12.
It was so good to see Ryan have some fun and get out some aggression that gets all built up at work. They all enjoy venting about how crazy work is and running around getting all crazy.
Tyler loves to say, "go team daddy!" He loves to run all around the park while we're watching Ryan play. Jake loves to just crawl around and check out the grass.

team huddle...as if it helped.

Ryan was QB and loved every second of it. He was such a stud!

Jacob is still resisting the urge to walk- but he's got his bear crawl down pat. He does like to practice walking more at least...some day we'll join the walking club.

Tyler wants to play with the big guys so badly. He brought his own football this week so he could warm up with them at least. We hope that we will get to do this again!

La Madre Springs

We are making good use of our annual pass to Red Rock. Ryan called on his break from work and asked if we could go hiking again with the boys.

Well, Tyler zonked on the way there but woke up and did a 3.3 mile hike with us. If we're being totally honest he did just over half of the hike. I carried him piggy-back most of the way back since dad took Jacob at that time.

We didn't quite make it to the springs, but after hiking out we realized we were probably only minutes away from finding them. Unfortunately Tyler was seriously dragging so we thought it best to head back so he could walk it on his own (ha!).

I am loving all these outdoor adventures with the boys. I hope they (and we) develop an appreciation for the beauty in this blazing hot desert!

Mountain's Edge Ward Building Ground Breaking

this morning (at 8am?!) we had the ground breaking ceremony for our new ward building being constructed just a half mile from our house.

It was an EXTREMELY windy and cold morning, but it was beautiful and so special.

We are excited to have our church so close after traveling nearly 30 minutes to get to church right now. Our current building is technically even in another stake!

We'll be anxious to attend our new building in 10 months (so they say)

Fun Family Times

The weather has been beautiful (minus the crazy winds today) so we have been enjoying our time outside.


The boys have been having fun in their pool and sprinkler pad. Poor Jake is still crawling- and tearing up his knees. He has also turned into quite the outdoorsman.



Who doesn't love those blue eyes? I can't believe he's really one already. I need to take some time to remember all the little things this cute boy is doing lately. He "says" some "words". My favorites right now are; Tyler, night night, down (to go down stairs), dada, and today, woah!

Loving the Vegas weather. Loving the backyard. Love this cute little blondie.

Couldn't quite get a picture of Jacob's bear crawl. He's turned into Mowgli (from jungle book) just like Tyler did at the end of his crawling days. I'm sure its to save his poor knees because he likes to get around- but his knees are all red and scraped up by the end of the day.

Tyler and Jake have been enjoying the new sand and sand toys that we got Jacob for his birthday. They will let themselves outside and just sit in the box and play (and occasionally fight) to their hearts' content!

I found Jacob in the pantry with his puffs all over. He has figured out how to open containers with lids on them and he will get into just about anything. He was thoroughly enjoying himself spreading puffs all over the kitchen.

Last week we went hiking three times in eight days with our annual pass to Red Rock. The first time was with Heather and the cousins for Jacob's birthday, then the boys and I went back for another hike, just the three of us, then daddy joined us on Saturday morning after donuts and we hiked to the waterfall to show Ryan.

With Daddy with us, Tyler was able to be a little more adventurous and make it over to the waterfall. They had fun finding a way over there and climbing up into a hole to hide.

Jacob's 1st Birthday Party!

Hand, Foot, Mouth

Yup- an answer to why our sweet little boy has been not-so-sweet lately.

The little stinker got hand-foot-mouth disease somehow.

This also means we've been to the Dr. twice in 4 days.

At least I'm doing my part to pay off their school loans.

Poor Jacob is pretty uncomfortable though- supposedly the worst is over and now we just have to wait for these little blisters to go away from all over his hands, feet, and body and ulcers to go away that are in his mouth :(

What a way to celebrate turning 1!

Happy Birthday Baby!

My dear, sweet, Jacob is one year old today!

Today we had a blast celebrating Jacob's 1st birthday by hiking Red Rock Canyon with Heather, Ben and Maddy.

Sweet Jacob started off his day with a quick pancake breakfast and a doctor's appointment.

Big guy is now 21 lbs. (25%) and 30 1/2 in. (75%) I think he actually lost weight since his last appointment. That is kinda strange since he eats like a linebacker!

The kids had a blast hiking back to the waterfall. The drive was beautiful and the scenery on the hike was amazing too.


Goofy kids showing us just how strong they are holding up the big old rock they found. Love those faces :)

Not the greatest picture... by far...but this is how Jacob rode- in style. Nobody told me my hat was all messed up from Jake pulling on it, and my hair, the whole time. He was a little under the weather from his shots that morning- but he still loved being outdoors.

The kids all wanted to get wet at the waterfall but we only let them put their hands in. Of course Ben fell in and got his shoes soaked and Tyler intentionally stepped in after seeing Ben get wet. What fun.

Getting ready for the fun drive to Red Rock. We had fun being all together in the car and the cousins always love to watch a movie in our van.

The whole gang! Left to right Jacob, Laura, Tyler, Heather, Ben and Maddy.

The pictures are backwards- but this was in the morning after our Doctor appointment. Jacob got to open his present- some totally awesome sand toys to play out in the sandbox. The untold story is that Tyler had already opened Jake's presents so I made him put everything back in the gift bags down to the pretty tissue paper and all. Tyler actually did pretty well but he couldn't wait for Jacob to open his present so that he could play too.

The adorable birthday boy enjoying the other part of his gift. On Tuesday daddy helped to empty out all the old, rocky sand, scrub down the sandbox, and buy new, wonderful, soft sand. It feels like the beach at home :)

Birthday breakfast made by Tyler. Jake slept in a little bit, had his hot chocolate brought to him, and got to come down to pancakes waiting for him. What a way to start a birthday!

He loved pointing out his birthday sign all day and he didn't even notice the gifts or cards on the table until Tyler opened them up for him.

We can't believe this sweet boy is one already. We sure had fun celebrating with you today, Jacob. We are so blessed to have you with us.