Wednesday, July 8, 2015

June and July fun

We have had a busy and memorable visit to Logan and Idaho Falls!
We started out with a visit to Logan. We had a lot of fun visiting with Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Lana, my parents, and my brothers. We got to see Uncle Roy and Aunt Helen and Paul and Lisa as well!

We went down the Park City to ride the Alpine slide, went to the Smash Lab with Paul, visited Aunt Lana at USU (including her friend "Snappy the turtle"), had a great picnic in the park, went to the Logan city pool and water slide, went to the new movie Inside Out, went shopping, and everything in between. Enjoyed lots of good food together. Ethan had fun being a "crazy driver" on Aunt Lana's power wheels. As usual, he was fascinated with the stairs the whole trip and climbed up and down them everywhere we went. Adalyn was sweet as usual and loved meeting everyone!

Adalyn cuddling with Mimi
Adalyn cuddling with Uncle Ben
Ben and I on the alpine slide. Looks like I won!

After our Logan visit, we headed up to Idaho Falls to welcome home Kristen's younger brother Michael from his mission to Ghana. Everything worked out well with his flights so we didn't have to load up and drive down the Salt Lake like the other family waiting at the airport had to do! (They were all lined up at the airport with their signs and everything when they received word that their missionary wasn't on the flight because she had missed the connection in SLC).

Welcome home, Elder Gardner!
The three babies under the age of 9 months! (L to R: Finn, Ty, and Adalyn)
We did a day trip up to Kristen's grandmother's ranch in Salmon, Idaho. The kids had fun playing on the swing over the creek. We had a lot of fun riding the four wheeler and a little Honda dirtbike around on the trails.
Ethan eating some ice cream with some of his cousins (L to R: Ethan, Paige, Cade, and Ellie)
The pretty creek right next to the house
The kids went with Grandma Great to collect fresh eggs from the chicken coop (L to R: Emma, Grandma Great, Ellie, Cade, Ethan, Paige)
 One of the fields and surrounding beauty of the ranch
Another field with the creek
Ethan loved the swing! All the kids took turns. The adults took turns pushing them!
Ethan and I on the four wheeler. I thought Ethan would want to go on a ride with me but he just wanted me to drop him off at the swing 50 feet away!

We also did a trip to Mesa Falls. It is about an hour and a half drive away from Idaho Falls. Very beautiful area. Birders like Uncle Neil would like it as there are nesting hawks and other birds around. (Quick funny story: Ethan is potty training but on the long car rides we put him in a diaper just in case. We were pulling in to the parking lot at Mesa Falls when he asked "Am I wearing a diaper?" Quite the ominous question from a 3 year old, especially since we both knew that he wasn't wearing one... Sure enough, he had an accident!)
Mesa Falls, ID
Kristen, Adalyn, and Ethan before the short walk to the falls
Family picture at the falls
Kristen with Adalyn in her carrier
Of course, we also spent plenty of time in Idaho Falls with family. The girls all went shopping together, we went frisbee golfing, we set up some kid pools and an inflatable water slide in the yard, we went to the Rexburg temple, we went to the Fourth of July fireworks. Lots of cooking, eating, laughing, and fun.
Adalyn with her cousin Emma (middle child of Kim and Ryan)
Ethan playing with his cousin Ty (youngest of Jenn and Clay)
Adalyn all dressed up for church
Fireworks show
Such a memorable trip! We are happy to be safely back home. Big thank you to everyone who made it possible!
Ethan on the car ride, eating fruit snacks and watching Paw Patrol. Two days in the car each way made for a long trip with kids!

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Some recent pics

The Texas Tech museum had this Dino day for kids a couple weekends back. Ethan had fun with all the dinosaur themed activities!
Adalyn was in her car seat asleep so we let her sleep! 
Ethan doing pin the tail on the dinosaur. He pulled down the blindfold so he could see before he put the tail on!


Adalyn wearing her "mommy's little angel" jammies. There are little angel wings sewn to the back!

Great picture of Kristen with Adalyn and Ethan. I was originally taking a picture of Adalyn in her coat but Ethan wanted it to be a group picture!

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Two Times the Kids Equals Two Times the Fun!


Things are definitely crazier now that we have two, but they've also been more fun!


This is Ethan's "castle" that he made out of play-doh and his tools


Adalyn is doing so well and gets bigger every day.  Here she is in her cute hat. 


Sitting in her bumbo!


Today while I was cleaning up after dinner, Adalyn started getting fussy.  Ethan, being the good big brother that he is, went over to talk to her and play by her. She immediately calmed down.  I can tell that these two love each other already.  



I love baby yawns!



Since he got a little sister, Ethan has been getting in touch with his feminine side.  Here he is wearing one of Adalyn's headbands and then a pair of my boots.  He is always making us laugh.  









Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Some more pictures!


We put Adalyn on the blanket for tummy time and Ethan wanted to do tummy time with her!

All dressed up for church!

Ethan is all ready to fight a fire! His fire hat is from Firehouse Subs and has been stepped on a few times. I think it's time to head back for another one

This is interesting looking isolated thunderstorm off the the east of Lubbock. It didn't hit us but apparently had some big hail. It looks like a mushroom cloud!

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Adalyn's photoshoot

We had a member of our ward at church come and take some newborn photos of Adalyn. Here are some of our favorites!




Saturday, February 14, 2015

Valentine's Day-- with more Adalyn pictures

Happy Valentine's day! We need to put up a few more pictures of Adalyn
In her Valentine's day onesie with hearts on it


Ethan loves holding his baby sister but doesn't know about holding her head up!


We were sad to say goodbye to Kristen's mom Jan but we are excited that my mom is headed this way to help out for a couple of weeks! Lots of great support from family for our little addition.