Pioneer Day Celebration

Last week was kind of crazy for me so I will just tell you about our Pioneer Day celebration.  We decided to celebrate on Saturday the 21st since Brad didn't get the 24th off from work.  In the afternoon we went to my parents' house for a pool party and a barbecue.  I totally forgot my camera!  Aleah and Cade are getting so comfortable in the water.  It was fun to watch them play in the pool.  Aleah could have stayed in the pool all night if we had let her.  After the barbecue we headed over to my house for some fireworks.

The plan was to light the little ones first and then get the kids in bed and then when it was dark light the big ones.  Well, that didn't happen.  So Aleah and Cade ended up staying up until 9:30.  Which made for a really hard Sunday!!  But they LOVED the fireworks.

Brad and my Dad trying to decide which ones to light first.

All the kids waiting for the fireworks to start.

Our packet came with these torch things instead of sparklers.  I didn't think that they were as cool as sparklers, but they were safer for the kids.  I guess it is fun as long as there is a stick with fire on it and you can wave it around!

Every time Brad did a big firework Cade would say, "It's going to be a loud one." and all the kids would cover their ears.

They had so much fun and clapped excitedly after every firework.

Clean up was pretty easy since it was not too dark and we had two amazing clean up helpers!

Wow, Aleah is Three and a Half!

Brad had to go to Texas last week at the last minute.  We really missed him!  Aleah and Cade were just getting over a little cough thing that they got while we were at the cabin.  So it was tuff.  But we celebrated Aleah's half birthday with some friends at Thanksgiving Point. 

Every time I look at Aleah I can't believe how grown-up she looks!  She is such a joy and such a chatterbox!  She loves to tell us stories or as she says it, "I need to tell you a question.".  Tucking her in bed takes a little more time now because she always has so much to tell us.  When we say, "Good night Aleah, I love you." she will say, "I love you too." and then we have to respond or she says it again and again getting louder each time.

When all the fires were going on we talked about remembering to pray for the firefighters.  Her prayers became stories.  "Please bless the firefighters that they can get the hose and spray water on the fire to get the fire to go down.".

The other day we were playing hide and seek.  It was Aleah's turn to seek.  Everyone hid, I hid in a suite case that was on the floor by my closet.  I didn't quiet fit so my head was on the floor right next to the suite case, but I closed the suite case over my back.  Aleah walked past me three times and then Brad tried to help her find me.  It went something like this:

Brad:  Aleah, is Mom over here? (walking over by the closet)

Aleah:  Nope!

Brad:  Are you sure?

Aleah:  (walking into the closet and stepping on my hair) Nope, not over here.

Me:  I could not hold it in any more and so I started laughing!

Aleah:  I found you Mom!  (She had no idea why I was laughing so hard)

She is like her Mom, she loves to be upside down whenever possible!

She loves her brother!  She loves to make up games and teach Cade how to play them.  She loves spending time with him.  She has just started teasing him, ugh!  She knows what bugs him and she loves to push his buttons.  But most of the time she is a very caring and loving sister.  Always looking out for him and making sure that he is taken care of.

If there is music then there is dancing!

She is such a cute friend!  It is cute that the kids in her primary class always want to sit by her.  And when we get together with friends the first few minutes are spent running around screaming because they are so happy to be together.  This is Beckham, Cade, Aleah, and Boston, ready for the wagon ride.

Riding the horses was the highlight of their day!

A quick story about Cade.  As we were getting ready to go to Thanksgiving Point I gave Aleah and Cade two quarters to put in their little coin purses so that they could feed the ducks.  They made sure that they didn't lose their coin purses because they were very excited to feed the ducks.  When we got to the ducks I told them to get out their money so that we could feed the ducks.  I helped Aleah get some duck food.  When I turned around Cade was standing by the fence and his coin purse was open on the ground.  I looked in the purse and his money was gone.  I said, "Cade, where is your money? Let's feed the ducks.".  He looked at me with a big smile and said, "I did!  I did feed the ducks Mom!". Sure enough, there were two quarters on the ground inside the fence by the ducks!  Luckily, we were able to reach the quarters and we got him some duck food.

Our New House

Well, since Brad got delayed four hours (luckily not stuck) in Texas because they couldn't get the door on the airplane to close properly, I will tell you about our new house that we are building.  By we I'm not saying that Brad and I are actually going to build the house ourselves, but we got to design it!

When we moved into the house that we are in now we knew that we would only be here until we had a baby because the backyard, ummm how should I say it, there really isn't a backyard.  We were very hopefully that we would eventually have a baby and had no idea that we would get to have two! 

About a year and a half ago we started feeling like it was time to move.  We started looking at houses and then our realtor told us that we wouldn't be able to get what we want out of our home if we sold it.  So we switched gears and decided that we would rent until the market changes or for as long as we enjoy renting it.  We spent a few months paying off our cars, refinancing our home, and saving up for a downpayment.

It was February of this year that we felt like it was time to start looking again.  Brad really wanted to buy an existing home this time around.  He wanted big mature trees and stuff like that.  I'm kind of the type who likes new homes, but I was willing to go with an existing home this time.  We looked and looked and looked.  Our realtor was pretty much part of the family.  Anytime we got in the car Aleah and Cade would ask if Tyler would be going with us.  They would call him on their cell phones to see if he would be there.  That's how much we were looking.  Nothing felt right!

Our realtor convinced us to look at some new homes.  We instantly fell in love with one of the floor plans.  But we didn't feel right about any of the lots that the builder had available.  So we looked at other builders, nothing!  Then we got the idea to find our own lot.  Luckily, the builder of the floor plan that we loved would build on any lot.

Our search for a lot began.  Again, we looked and looked and looked!  Aleah and Cade didn't like looking at lots as much as they liked looking at houses.  I guess there's not much to do at a lot.  We thought we found the right lot and then we realized that it was wrong.  Back to square one we went.  If you are not noticing the pattern yet then let me just tell you, it was hopeful and excited to dead end, every time.

Finally, and it came down to the wire, but our builder closed on our lot and everything fell into place.  It was such a relief!  On top of feeling like the lot is right for us, we also got the house for the price that we wanted!  It's so amazing to see how we were lead in this process to where we are now, but at the time it was very frustrating.  And I didn't want to mess up.  We had two more people's lives to take in to account this time.  Last time it was just Brad and I and that was easy.

Our lot is in American Fork, right on the border of Highland.  Seriously, our backyard neighbors are in Highland.  One of my requirements was that it wouldn't be too far from my friends.  It makes moving feel do able when I think that I will still be able to get together with my friends!  I really have the best friends and I don't want to move away from them.

Our house is going to be a two story.  I'm a little nervous because Brad and I have never lived in a two story together and I'm afraid that I'm not going to like going up and down stairs all the time.  But, the family room is vaulted so hopefully that will help.

On July 3rd we went to the design center right before we headed down to Brian Head.  I was a little overwhelmed at first, thinking about everything that I had to choose.  But, I did my research and got some good opinions from my amazing sister-in-law Crystal and I actually had a lot of fun.  You can't really tell from this picture how gorgeous it is going to be.  So you will have to come and visit us!

Now we are waiting on permits and then they will break ground.  We are excited to get into a home with a backyard for Aleah and Cade to play in, but sad to be leaving our beautiful home and wonderful neighbors and ward.

Let's Go Hiking!

Brad and I decided that it was time to get our kids in to hiking.  So two weeks ago we went on a hike to Bridal Veil Falls.  It was perfect.  A short little hike, some water to cool off in, and a wonderful picnic under a tree!

The next day we had our annual Stone cousin party at the park.  We had a pretty good turn out and enjoyed visiting and playing!

 This friendly T-Rex was a favorite. 

Cade and his cousin Luke figured out how to make the water shoot out of the drinking fountain.  They were laughing and have a great time soaking each other.  It was hot and they are boys, so what else would they be doing?!

Then we headed down to Brian Head for the 4th of July.  Brad took the week off from work so that we could have a little vacation.  It is always nice to spend time with Brad!  We went down to Parowan for the parade and festivities at the park.

 Playing some frisbee while we wait for the parade to start.

Cade getting his face painted.

Aleah getting her face painted.

We enjoyed the parade.  Aleah and Cade danced with the high school dance team.  Cade has started doing stomps as part of his dance moves, it's awesome!

After the parade Aleah and Cade ran some races and won a popsicle.  They have been looking forward to running in the 4th of July race and they have even practiced for it many times on our deck.

We went GeoCashing for the first time with Aleah and Cade.  They loved it!

Aleah was in charge of the GPS and she lead us to the treasure.  Yes, she is wearing mittens.  It was cold and I didn't pack pants for everyone.  But I did remember jackets and luckily their mittens were in my purse.  Hooray for purses full of random things!

Getting closer!

We found it!

Now, which treasure to choose?

Aleah chose a barbie from a 1990's McDonalds happy meal and Cade chose a dino-car thing.  What wonderful treasures we found!

On our way to our second GeoCash.

This one was a micro and it was up in the tree.

I'm so thankful for the freedom we have!  I'm thankful for all those who have protected and who are protecting our freedom!  I love spending time with my little family and with my extended family.  When I asked Aleah and Cade what their favorite part of the vacation was they said, "Uncle Joel made me trench toast!".  Thanks Uncle Joel for the yummy and memorable french toast!