Duck Creek Utah

Within minutes of arriving at our cabin in Duck Creek Utah (by Cedar City), Carter had found "Spike". All the kids oohed and ahhhed over him. We found him a couple of times throughout the four days we were there.

After not being able to get the whole Stuart Family to join us...(some people have to work every once in awhile, Joe), we settled for bringing Clark and Katelyn along. Uncle Anthonly and Aunt Rachel joined us too along with Alyssa (almost a BYU student) and Sabrina and Oliver.

We have heard great things about Duck Creek and WOW! We were not dissappointed!


These boys played in the woods behind the cabin the entire time we were there. It helped that this amazing fort was already here....they felt like it was destiny to get this cabin!
All they added was this towel as a flag.
We rented four wheelers and ohhh man ohhh man now we want our own!
WE loved all the trees!!
Carter was happy to teach Clark how to play one of his favorite games: RISK. Clark loved it!

INSANITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm embarassed to post this picture, but this was a big day for me. I officially finished my INSANITY work outs. Its been the absolute hardest workout I have ever done. I did it for 60 days. Its from the same company as P90X. (Beach Body). It is difficult to say the least. 3 couples from the ward started it together. One couple dropped out after about two days. Another couple made it through about 5 weeks....Jared and I kept going. Then we traveled a lot and Jared missed a few days, then he cut his toe open outside on one of the rocks by the pool. It kept breaking open....so it was a Insanity career ending injury for him. So low and behold.... I was the only one to finish. It was hard to do it in the summer. I did these workouts on the beach in Hawaii, in Utah at my mother in laws house, at my brother's house, at a hotel in Idaho. Everywhere. I can honestly say I am proud of this accomplishment. Did I lose any weight??? Not according to the scale, but many people have asked if I have. Apparently toned fat looks better than flabby fat!!

What's next???? Half marathon I hope!

My birthday day

How nice that BUZZ Light year got to sing to me this year!
We went out to dinner with the Shakespears and Oldhams for my Birthday. We didn't plan it but these two gals were actually my counselors for the last several months/years in YW's. They are great friends. We ate at Sammy's Woodfire Pizza YUM! We went over to the Shakespears afterwards to share my Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie. I get this every birthday and it is such a highlight of my year. Jared makes it from scratch....he's a good husband!
My older kids were out of town vacationing with my parents and a lot of their cousins. It was weird to only have 3 kids for a week.

Ashley and Andrew get married!!

Aren't they so cute!! I adore Ashley my sweet niece and now her new husband. They are great kids who totally have it together. Andrew served his mission in Ashley's home ward/area. Since her Dad was the bishop at the time....the missionaries spent a lot of time at their house. It didn't take long for Andrew to notice what an awesome girl Ashley is. He asked Ken if he could write her after she left to BYU two years ago. He got home from his mission in Florida last Christmas. It only took three weeks before these two knew it was meant to be. They had spent a lot of time getting to know one another through letters. It was really nice that her parents (my sister Kim and her husband Ken) already knew him and adored him too. A match made in heaven. It was a neat week to be there to see these two finally make it official in the Bountiful Temple. Congratulations guys...we love you!!
Ashley has always been so beautiful....I got to enjoy her living with us in Minnesota for about 8 months when I was a Junior in High School. WE all smothered her with love as a baby!!
This would be the best family picture we got....Cole had a major case of "being a terd-itis"

Cousins and Buds
Dapper Dan

We found this cute dress in Utah at a boutique type store. Hanna LOVED it!
Ashley's siblings: Alyssa, Audrey, Andrew, and Aaron
The first Dance as a married couple
I turned around and found Carter dancing with his cousin who is a little older than him. It was one of those instances where your child grows up in a second right before your eyes. I almost started crying....but mostly tears of JOY because he is such a great kid and he makes me so proud.
Daddy twirled and dipped Hanna over and over.
Mom and Dad celebrated their 45th anniversary together two days before the wedding.
My brother Clark that I rarely get to see or get pictures with....he's a music video producer in Hollywood so he works a lot!

My Birthday

This year for my 30 something birthday....I was a very spoiled and lucky girl.
First I got to go to a series of Photography classes which ended in a field trip on Saturday night a few weeks ago. It was very informational, fun to be in a learning environment again, and exciting to discover some new things about photography. It was also expensive. That's where the spoiled and lucky girl part comes in:)

As if that wasn't enough, my husband happened to be able to get a few days off from work starting on Thursday so he decided to pack up all 5 of our children (actually I did the packing) and drove to Utah a few days early for the wedding we were heading to, to be with his family. Oh poor me to have to stay home and have 3 days to myself, gasp whatever would I find to do!!!

I did have to do a lot of shopping for the wedding which was the real reason we were all heading to Utah because I needed a dress and so did Hanna. I also got a pedicure with Missy and lunch at our favorite Greek Restaraunt. At night I headed to my photography classes. On Saturday, I got my nails done for family pictures and the wedding....I know right! I was feeling quite pampered at this point.

It was a little odd (in a liberating way) coming home at night to a quiet house where no messes had been made all day. It was a little lonely every once in a while, but just the right amount of time so I didn't have to miss my family! Thank you for an unforgettable birthday, honey....the only problem now is me asking for this every year. I am very loved!

Here are some pictures from the Field trip after all my classes where we were supposed to go and practice everything we had learned all week at our classes: Photography 101, Lighting, and Photoshop.

Station #1 Brynlee, Portia and Halle: There were these cute little girls dressed to the hilt that we could pose however we wanted and practice our skills. The idea behind the field trip was a mock birthday party with the theme: Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice.












Station #2 Ms. Danielle the teenage model on this cool bike with basket






Station #3: The birthday table where we were to practice taking pictures of details









Station #4 The candy Buffet....more detail shots....