To Box Canyon we go!

Last weekend we set out on an adventure to find Box Canyon and go see the waterfall--and an adventure is what we got! We had a tough time finding the parking lot but we made it and after we got all geared up (my favorite is the giant first aid kit hanging from the carrier) we set off walking to find the trail that drops down in the canyon. We walked and walked and walked....and missed the trail! We ended up walking probably 1 1/2 extra (that's not that far but when your both carrying a little cutie and Bryke is walking all by himself it felt like forever!) so we backtracked and found the trail and headed down in! Bryker was such a little trooper and did a great job! Grady slept the whole time and Keegan needed a lift from Daddy :) The waterfall and water were so pretty and we had a great time exploring. I love our time out in the wild {as Bryke calls it} as a family! We treated ourselves to the Creamery in Buhl after our fun afternoon-yum!

such a good day!

life lately-May

 I am trying to play catch up so here are pictures from May!

Grady and Daddy taking a nap together is about the cutest thing ever!

Love him!

We had so much fun this day playing in the rain and finding giant worms.

These were Grandma Kris and Grandma D's mother's day presents--cutie boys!

Grady is 4 months old!

Grady baby you are such a sweetheart! You have been a dream baby while I have been in school and I couldn't be more grateful! You are so quick to smile and bring a smile to everyone's face that you meet! At your 4 month check up you were 26.6 inches {93rd percentile}, 16 lb 12 oz {76th percentile}. This month you rolled over for the first time!

We love you sweet boy!

life lately--April

These little boys have my heart. Being a mama is tough! I'm writing this post way after these pictures were taken on a day when I had a big mommy mess up--I said shut up. I feel so so awful and ashamed that I said that to my sweet babies. I was so frazzled after a trip to town and running late to try and get dinner to the missionaries and my little people were pushing every button that they knew of {excuses}. I don't think they really understood what I said, those words never get said in our home. But I knew what I said so with tears I stopped the car and told them that I was sorry and that we needed to say a prayer. They asked why and I told them because mommy needed to say sorry to Heavenly Father and ask for help. We prayed for momma to have patience and little boys to be better listeners and that we could be kind to each other. It was short and sweet but exactly what needed to be done. I hope I turned a bad mommy mistake into a teaching moment for my boys. I want them to love the Lord and know that He is real and always there for us. I know these things are true with all my heart. I also know that I couldn't do this amazing and amazingly hard calling of motherhood without the love, guidance, comfort, forgiveness and understanding of my Savior. I am so thankful for the knowledge that I have of the gospel and the atonement. Where would we be without it? The fact that I can pray not only for forgiveness but for my Savior to take away my feelings of shame, hurt, sorrow and everything else can be eased  and replaced with love and comfort, what a blessing! I know my Savior loves me. I wish I would have never said those words to my littles and I made a promise to myself to try my very hardest to {never} do it again but through that experience I felt my Savior's love for me and saw the tender mercy of sweet boys who easily forgive and offer a smile and kiss for their mama. 

I am not going to give up. Tomorrow I am going to try harder and I am going to be a better mama than I was today. I love you my sweet little boys. Being your mom is my greatest joy!

that smile!

Grandma and Grady at Mackie's camo birthday party

this boy is so silly and hase about a million different faces!

late night or was it early morning {probably both} snuggles with mama

the thumb sucking is about the cutest thing I have ever seen!

SLC

Vacation time! Ter had a work conference so we all loaded up and made it a family trip! Poor Ter though he was working while the boys and I played. We drove up Thursday night and the boys were so excited to get to the hotel. They slept great and then Ter headed out early Friday morning and I was on my own. I think I learned pretty fast that traveling with 3 little boys is tough! We got some pretty good looks down at breakfast. We went with Joel and Tesha and their family so that we could play together while the dad's were at work. 
After breakfast we tried out the hot tub and then got ready (oh goodness, packing up and getting all our stuff packed up and down to the car without losing any of the boys was a huge success-thank heavens for luggage carts!) and we headed to the zoo. All of the animals were pretty active and the boys had a blast with the Vincent kiddos. Tesha's parents treated all the kids to a train ride and the boys were in heaven. After the zoo we were meeting Joel and Ter at Scheel's which meant driving back to Sandy in {rush hour} trying to follow Tesha! The boys were all asleep and I prayed the whole time that they would stay asleep and that the other drivers would be nice and just let me in! We made it and I was SO relieved to pass the driving off to Ter!
 Then we headed to Cabela's and had fun spending a gift card Ter had gotten from work. Then we zipped by Temple Square, Bryke was pretty disappointed that we couldn't get out and go in :) We made it to Grandma Aileen's house late and chatted for awhile and then they fed us a yummy breakfast the next morning and then we were off to the Tree House Museum in Ogden which was so much fun! From there we headed home from our mini-vacation. Bryke had a bit of a breakdown because he missed the hotel and wanted to go back, it was sad but I couldn't help smiling. Overall, it was such a great weekend!

loving the hotel!

best zoo trip-we saw all the animals!

Bryke thought the Rhinos were getting just a little too close :)

my sweet little crazy boys! Grady was such a little trooper!

Bryke with is buddy Maylee and the cutest little baby orangutan 

the Tree House Museum!

Keegan could have stayed on the fire truck the whole time

I love this picture! Grandma Aileen with Grady