Boise Trip

Around the 20th of April Carson and I packed up the car and headed out to Boise for a two week stay. Eleven hours in the car wasn't fun but we broke it up by staying in Idaho Falls for one night with Misti. Keith surprised us by flying out two days later and got to stay for four days, he had to head to Boise for work to pick up a truck and drive back to Casper. Needless to say we were pretty happy he got to join us for a bit. We were busy everyday doing something usually with family. From lots of cousin time, park time, the zoo, out to eat, shopping, lunch with old friends, girls nights, baby blessings, and sleepovers, we had quite the time with family! Here are some pics from the trip.

Visting cousin Ivory (Keith's brother's family) in Idaho Falls the night we stayed there.

Boise Zoo with cousins-- Brielle, Hailey, Katy, Aiden and Abby.

Excited to ride the carousel at the zoo.

Brielle, Hailey, Carson

BBQ at Cita and Grandpa's. Carson is surrounded by girl cousins!

Heading to the Nampa Rec center for free swim day!

Meridian Temple site! The temple is coming along! It's about 10 minutes from my parents, the Boise Temple is about 25 minutes from them so this one will be closer.

Shopping with cousin Emma, we had lots of sleepovers with Holly, Kirk and Emma 

Camel's Back! My favorite Boise park!!!

Fanci Freeze after Camel's back with the cousins.

Holly and Emma.

More Camel's Back.

My new niece Abigail (Abby). So happy we got to be there for her blessing.

Hot days call for water fun!

Lunch with some of my high school best friends-- Danni and Mary. 

Playin' on Grandpa and Cita's five acres with the cousins. They have quite the garden, I'm jealous.

Climbing "castle hill" with some of the siblings. Many days after school and on the weekends were spent playing on this hill. So many good memories. We walked clear to the end of it, something I've never done.

Trip back to Casper, drooling boy. haha. So glad Misti got to ride with us for half the trip.

Man, I miss everyone already! But we'll be back in August!

Lovin this.....

This is kinda my favorite song right now....actually the whole album is. If you haven't seen the movie, do it!! I love it! It's on Netflix. Really makes you think about what's really important in life.

Wyoming Bucket List

Back in the Summer when we moved to Wyoming I had the thought to make a bucket list. Slowly I've been compiling ideas of things we need to go do and see while we live here in the Cowboy/Equality Sate. Here's my list so far....I'm sure I'll think of more things along the way and after talking to friends that have lived here years. (The list also includes nearby things I want to do in other states that are close like Colorado and South Dakota.)


1. Yellowstone--Check
2. Martin's Cove--Check
3. Thermopolis (hot springs)--Check
4. Devils Tower--Check
5. Natural Bridge--Check

6. Thermopolis--Go to the Dinosaur Museum
7. Go camping on Casper Mountain
8. Cheyenne Frontier Days
9. Go Fossil Hunting
10. Sinks Canyon State Park
11. Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody
12. Camping in the Bighorns
13. South Dakota--Mt. Rushmore
                              Custer St. Park
                              The Badlands
                              Deadwood
                              Wind Caves
                              Crazy Horse Monument
14. Denver-- Go to the temple
                      Aquarium
                      Zoo
                      Rocky Mtn. National Park
                      Garden of the Gods

That's it so far....I'm sure I'll add more, especially after I research Colorado some more, there's so much to do there and so many gorgeous places in that state. Hopefully we'll get some of these checked off this year!

Here are some random March photos....

Jackson Hole fun.

New bookcase for Carson. He was so excited to put all his books on it!

Riding a pony at the 4-H Carnival.

Girls Day with Athena--Eggington's for Breakfast and Cinderella afterwards.

Sick Sundays call for marble run building.

Valentine's Day & February

February has been quite a fun and busy month! The weather has actually been pretty warm too--between 50s-60s (except this weekend we were surprised with snow). We had such a fun Valentine's Day, we spent the day in a little town called Thermopolis  and went swimming at the hot springs. It also has one of the top rated dinosaur museums in the U.S., we'll have to check that out next time we go back. It was seriously the most perfect weather, we explored the World's Largest Mineral Hot Springs near by (it reminded me of Yellowstone) and enjoyed the beauty of Wyoming.

Here's a look at our Valentine's Day and the month of February....

At the beginning of the month Keith spent a whole week in the mountains doing winter survival training for work. He had a blast, got to play on snow toys all week, and sleep in a cozy hotel at night (no sleeping on the mountain thank goodness).

Wednesday crafts with Emmett and Sophie. They painted and assembled sailboats!

Valentine's floats! We had Emmett for the day while Athena and Sophie were in Denver so we played, went to the mall play place (Carson's favorite) and out to see Big Hero 6.  Athena brought over stuff for Valentine's floats and the boys were in heaven!

Wednesday field trips--a girl in my Ward organizes field trips to places around Casper every Wednesday. This particular Wednesday we went to a train museum in Casper that had all sorts of model trains, tracks, and villages, it was quite a site!

Out to DQ for my friend Kuulei's birthday (she's hiding). Carson had fun with her two kiddos.

Thermopolis.....

They had an indoor and outdoor pool with a hot tub. They also had two outdoor slides and one indoor slide.

This is what we did the majority of the time....catch Carson coming down the slide.

Outdoor pool

Maybe this will be our new Spring Break tradition?! Growing up my Dad would always take our whole family to Givens Hot Springs in Marsing, Idaho over Spring Break. We always looked forward to going and have so many memories there. (Kirk and the dominos, "And I said "Forget it" lady, eating outside when it was so cold, exploring the old train nearby, riding in the back of the old white Toyota pick up, Dad stopping at a fruit stand on the way, apparently almost drowning, buying candy at the store inside-- the long licorice ropes were my favorite.) Good times.

Exploring the mineral springs

Crazy swinging bridge

Beautiful Wyoming

Carson was so excited to put a lock on the bridge like everyone else, make a wish and throw the key in the water. (ours was a combo lock so we can open it next time we go). 

Yesterday we had a going away dinner at Old Chicago for my friend Wendy. I met her in my old ward before we were switched. She's actually married to a guy I knew at Byu-Idaho! Small world. She's moving to California and I'm sure going to miss this funny/sweet girl! (She's the gorgeous blonde in the middle)

We'll miss you Wendy!

I hope March is as exciting as February! I know at the end of the month it will be pretty fun since my brother and his family and my sis are visiting!

This guy...

Little Man is 4!!

Little C turned four on the 29th!! I say this every year but I still can't believe how old he is getting. It truly is bittersweet to see him grow, he amazes me everyday with his smarts and personality, although he can be Carson Crazy sometimes we sure love him to pieces.

We celebrated his birthday with strawberry pancakes, jumping, jumping and more jumping at Jump Craze, and lots of pizza, fried chicken, root beer, cake and presents at Pizza Ranch. Seven of his good friends here in Casper came and they sure had a blast. My favorite was seeing Keith and his boss get so worn out from jumping and trying to get out of the foam pits. Hilarious! The evening was spent playing with all of Carson's cool new toys!

Carson and Reagan. We still haven't perfected taking a moving shot without it being blurry.

Keith and his boss trying to get out of the foam pit, this was hilarious!

Keith throwing Emmett into the foam pits

Before--Emmett grabbing onto Keith's leg and pulling him into the pit

After..haha

Two silly boys--Carson and Emmett

Friends and some of their kiddos--Jamie, Julie, Marie, Athena

The "boy" table--Ash, Andrew, Carson, Emmett

Cake Time!

All the kiddos--just missing Kaelyn who had to leave early

Lego Robot!

Opening presents

I constructed this fort for Carson--this was one of his gifts from us.

Carson's pump action shotgun from Keith's boss! haha Gotta love being in WY now.

Happy Birthday Little Man! We sure love you!