Zion Weekend

We had our annual Heaton Zion trip last weekend. It was really fun but way too short! The Masons decided to make the long trek from Mesa to hang out with us this year. It was really fun to have them along as you can attest by the top photo! Brian is never afraid to have a little fun….

Fun, food and friends. Oh and some hiking! Can't wait for next year. 

Happy Birthday to me....

My birthday present was an unexpected surprise! Kurt got a bike a few months ago and hasn't even ridden his yet!! I knew we were going to look for one for me after all the missionary/summer vacation hoopla ended. So I was totally caught off-guard when this showed up on my birthday! I'm so excited to get all my gear and take advantage of the fall weather coming up.

Lake Powell 2013-Part 3:The Birthday Celebration

Todd giving the birthday speech for Andie.

Waiting to be serenaded!

It was Andie's birthday while we were on the lake. He hadn't told anyone that he had hired a helicopter to bring someone to serenade her and bring the birthday cake. It was kind of fun to watch the helicopter circle and then touch down on the bluff just above the houseboat. And....we got to end the day with our personal fireworks show!

No longer a teen....

Montana, the birthday girl, wanted to start the day out right! Amen to that!

Next, we headed out for a pedicure party.

Followed by a very brief hike with 2/3 of the family.

Her day ended with balloons, sugar cookies, flowers and a date with Stephen Hawks. I think it was a pretty good way to celebrate being 20!

And one last pic with some of the England littles before she heads out on the mission!

Happy Birthday Finn

I can't believe you are 18 today. As I looked through these pictures of you I couldn't hold back the tears. 

You have been a joy to raise.

You are obedient and kind.

You are righteous and sensitive to the spirit. 

You are motivated and disciplined. 

I am so grateful to be your mother. 

I love you!

Happy 16th Indy!

It's this boy's birthday today and I feel like a bad mom to not be there celebrating with him. He, of course, preyed on my guilt and persuaded me to let him miss school. 

16 is a big birthday so here are 16 things I love about this boy:

1. he's pretty handsome!

2. he's totally in to clothes and what he wears

3. he is much smarter than he thinks he is

4. he knows what he wants and will do anything to get it

5. he always smells nice

6. he loves little kids

7. he's really athletic

8. he's a nice person

9. he's got a major sweet tooth (just like his mom)

10. he handles his diabetes pretty well considering it's still a new thing to him

11. he's very creative

12. he has very neat handwriting

13. he's not afraid to be a trend-setter

14. he has lots of friends 

15. he shares a love of all things zombie with Kurt

16. he is an all-around good person

I love you bud!

My crappy birthday

My birthday this year was a really good one despite what the title of this post might make you think. I got to have breakfast with Kurt at Kneader's and a little shopping at Fashion Place Mall. That night the Hunters and Andersons invited us to take a razor ride from Wallsburg over to Daniels Summit and have dinner at the lodge there.

Ready to eat dinner!

The gang minus Jim (taking the picture).

gross.....

So, on the way back, we were behind the Hunters. There were cows all around during the entire ride therefore there was lots of cow manure on the trail. And there were quite a few puddles.... Dave happened to drive right through a puddle and a big load of manure which flung directly back at my forehead and all over my side of the razor. 

a little blurry but you get it

This is after Gina got most of the manure off!

It took me a minute to realize it wasn't mud! Then the smell hit me. It was pretty lucky that I had brought baby wipes. Otherwise I would have had to ride all the way home with that crap all over my face! It was still pretty gross even after I got most of it off. 

Despite that hilarious incident, my birthday was a success and will probably even be one of my more memorable ones. 

The sunset on the way down from the ride.

Happy Birthday Emerson!

Today Emerson turned 13! Her birthday always seems to fall when we are on vacation or on the way to vacation. So sometimes we don't celebrate it like we should. . But today we were in Laguna Beach celebrating on the beach with all the Brian family! Pretty lucky I'd say....

We love you Emerson! 

White chocolate raspberry, red velvet and pineapple upside down cakes!

We only had 12 candles....oops!

Yay for cousins!

Last Year as a teenager

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTANA!

Birthday breakfast courtesy of Josh

a few birthday gifts....

beautiful flowers from Josh

Dear Montana,

It's hard to believe you are already 19. The years have flown by and now you only have one more year as a teenager. You'll have your own kids before you know it. Dad and I are so lucky to have you as our daughter. You are beautiful, smart, kind, good, athletic, adventurous and so many other good qualities. We hope you enjoy your birthday! Love you tons!

Mom & Dad

The Love Bus

The only thing Indy wanted for his birthday was a VW bus. Obviously that didn't happen on his actual birthday. We had been looking but hadn't come up with anything. Kurt happened to be in Orange County the week of Indy's birthday. So he kept his eye open and looked at a couple different ones during that week. Surprisingly, he found one in our budget that actually runs pretty well. It looks pretty good on the outside but the inside is pretty rough! Anyway, a work friend of Kurt's ended up staying in California longer than he intended. So he cancelled his flight, bought the bus for us and drove it all the way home! Keep in mind that it's top speed is only about 60 mph, there is no air/heat and no radio.... He must have learned some serious patience on that ride!

Between spring break and Kurt's work trips we haven't been able to go get the bus in Salt Lake until this weekend. Finally, about a month after the actual purchase, we brought the car home to show to Indy. We were heading out the door to church this morning and Indy was being his usual grumpy self. As we were walking out the door I said "It's a good day!" The second he saw the bus he said "It IS a good day!"

He was pretty excited to say the least! It's going to take a lot of work to get it looking really good but I think Indy is up for the job. Hopefully he can have it shaped up by the time he gets his license next year!

Happy Birthday Finn

Finn turned 17 yesterday! I think he had a pretty good birthday. His friends took him to breakfast/lunch at Kneader's during school. Then he had a soccer game---which they won. He got to have his specially requested birthday dinner and dessert to top it all off. I had never made a Tres Leches Cake before but everyone raved about it! Any recipe from the Pioneer Woman is a pretty safe bet I've learned. Happy Birthday Finn! We love you!

Happy Birthday Kurt

Happy Birthday to my mountain man husband!

Emerson's 12th Birthday

Reagan, Emerson and Beth Ann (it was her birthday too!)

Here is our one and only picture from camp! Luckily it's a good one and it was actually taken on her birthday!

Yesterday was Emerson's birthday. I would say she had a pretty good day. Waking up at Heber Valley Camp in a cabin full of so many close friends made it fun for her! I made sure she knew that she wouldn't be getting any presents from us up at camp. She was okay with that. She had plenty of awesome presents waiting for her at home today.

The Big 18

happy birthday montana!

We hope you have the greatest of birthdays.

Love ya tons!

Birthday Presents

Tonight a special someone dropped these presents for the birthday girl over at our house. She is going to be so excited when she wakes up.

I decided to put her gifts from the family out as well! I think she is going to have a great birthday!

Finn's Birthday Surprise

Sunday after General Conference we stopped by Grandma & Grandpa England's house to give Finn his big birthday surprise.

He had no clue he was getting this! Grandpa dressed it up with a balloon and some signs.

I would say he was pretty excited!

This car was kind of a family affair. Grandpa helped Kurt get it all polished and detailed. Uncle Jay helped do some other work as well.

Unfortunately Finn didn't get to drive it home because he doesn't quite have his license yet. He still has a few more weeks of driver's ed. He's getting really impatient!