Elephant Butte

Lambsons Lake Trip July 18-20th.

We got to go the Elephant Butte Lake in southern NewMexcio with Seth and Ashlee and their kids. Eli and Sara and their boys, and Koriel and Katelyn. I was lame and only took 4 bad pictures. But we had a last, jet skiing, tubing, kayakying, and canoeing. Yep my parents canoe that has been sitting on the side of their house for 30 years still floats and works great! Thanks for letting us borrow all your stuff Mom and Dad.

Britton has put a lot of hours into the jet ski and it is working so well, ran with out a hitch! It got filled with water on a roll over, but Koriel and Britton were able to use the canoe to drag it back to shore and drained it with no problems. 

I also got to practice doing some open water swimming, only abut 600 yrds. but I don't think it will be so scary for the triathlon now. 

The kiddos loved playing with their cousins. Conway and Elle love the beach and splashing around. the sunburns were bad and our neighbor campers were crazy but we all had a great time and can not wait to get 2 new jetskis for more summer fun in the future.

 The canoe was a great toy to put a bunch of kids and get a good work out.

 Conway wore this hat when he was little like baby Baylan. He did such a good job for his first lake trip

Uncle Koriel makes a pretty good motor, we used him a lot!

 Getting the jet ski ready to launch.

 Cheesey cute smiles! we love playing with cousins!

Wheeler Peak

We got the opportunity to Hike Wheeler Peak, the tallest mountain in NM with a group of YW for Santa Fe Girl's Camp. 1 day hike to the base of the mountain set up camp at William Lake. 2 Day hike Wheeler peak, 3 miles to top, and back. 3rd day hike back out. 
I have done it 4 times now and this was Britton's 2nd. We had gone in 2009 with Maressa, Kaelan, and Koriel. This was Britton's first experience leading a group of teenage girls in an activity. He did great, and we had awesome girls! They were all troopers and everyone carried their own weight.  One girl forgot her sleeping bag though, so Britton gave up his and shared mine with me... You can imagine how well that went. Luckily we took Rusty hiking with us so he kept me warm, snuggling with him. Rusty did a great job  hiking we but a pack on him and he carried all my water and snacks all the way to the top of Wheeler and he does not have the ego problem he was totally content being the caboose with me. They made a new trail that switchbacks a lot more so it was not to bad, 3 miles long now, but a lot easier to manage, minus the lack of oxygen. All the girls made it to the top, but we did not stay very long because of 60 mile an hour winds that would have blown the little 100lb. girls right off the mountain. The wind is definitely annoying but a blessing too, no bugs and never got hot. :) It made me excited to take my kiddos hiking and camping when they get old enough to  carry a pack. and made me really excited to go to girls camp with Elle when she turns 12. :) Britton says he still rather go to Boy's camp then Girl's camp.... silly guy.

 Rusty actually really like swimming in the ice cold water

Wheeler peak annd Rusty in the background

Thank you to Danielle, Mom, Dad and Maggie for keeping Conway and Elle! Thanks for making it possible for us to get away, and taking such good care of them! We love you all so much!

Soccer Baby

Conway played soccer, a 3-5 years old league. I was an assistant coach. Don't laugh I have some skills, I know not to touch the ball with your hands, I can teach that. :)The season began the end of April. we had 2 weeks of practice before the games started and we left town for a month. We made it back in time to play the last game of the season.  Conway scored a goal, and played maybe half of the game, taking himself out for personal water breaks.  It was fun but torturous at the same time, if you can imagine 3-4 years old do not always follow directions and there are usually tears if things do not go their way. My son being the worst.

 Orange Crush Baby!

 

 Good Goal Team!

 

Warming Up

Elle learned to say "ChEEEEEse!" really well this week for the camera, it was so cute. Can't you just hear her in the pictures? "CHEEEEEESE!"

 We went to warm AZ this last week. We got to play with our Great Grandparents, we loved it, they give us candy any time we ask! We got to wear our shorts and pretend that it was actually summer.

When we got home it snowed.... at least we were warm for a week.

 Swimming in Tucson.

 Playing outside in Safford

  We finished the trip off in Las Cruces with some of our favorite people. We went to a scary circus and realized we don't need to go to a circus again anytime soon. The cotton candy was really good though even though it cost $5! Elle loved playing with all the boys and showing them she could hold her own. Conway and Orion learned wrestling is only fun if you just wrestle, Their Dad's  took them to the movie and they loved it. Sara and I got to hang out and go to my new sister-in-law's bridal shower. Only one more month until the wedding! So fun.

A week ago I french braided Elle's hair, this is a life long dream for mine coming true! Picture proof it existed, because it only lasted 5 min. It was a beautiful 5 min. 

Hope you are all warming up!

Zoo

Britton and I love when our kids start learning animals and their sounds. We can not wait to take them to a zoo as soon as they start saying, "moo and grrrr..." So we took Elle to the zoo for the first time this week. It was even a big hit for Conway with this being his second trip. If we lived in a town with a zoo we would definitely be season pass holders. It was awesome!

 "Guys, no sudden movements there is a REAL monkey RIGHT over there."

 Lion cub Conway

 This look was on her face pretty much the whole time, she was just amazed at all the animals

If you could not see her pure exhiliaration in the other pictures this is proof it was an exciting yet exhausting adventure. In the car 5 min. after leaving the zoo, didn't even finish her snack.

Cuteness

Here are some funny videos for the Aunts and Uncles. Love and miss you all tons.

The second video is of Conway and Elle watching the animal video Sterling posted on face book last week.

https://vine.co/v/MbWet2MpDaB

They loved watching this video, we didn't know how to turn the sound on it at first. Watching it in silent the laughed, watching it with sound the squeled. So cute.

We are going to the zoo tomorrow. So we will be posting more pictures soon.

Seriously love you all so much and the amazing things you are doing in your life. We pray for you all daily. Love love love love

Love it!

Britton was playing some pump up music this morning before heading to Ulitmate, one of the songs he picked was The Man By Aloe Blacc. Conway of course needs to break out his dance moves, so they are both in the family room singing and getting their groove on. Then from the kitchen I hear Conway say "Dad, I sing I am the man, you just hum" Conway putting Britton in as a back up singer. Oh I died laughing, that kid is too much for me sometimes

 Yoga time! Getting our stretches in. They are both getting a lot of playing in lately, I am kind of seeing that light at the end of the tunnel where they will actually entertain themselves here and there and Mom doesn't have to be around 24/7.

Here is the picture of the kids painting Valentines for everyone. Yes they have more paint on themselves then on the valentines. And yes Elle is sucking on the paint brush. As you can tell we roll crazy around here.

They are both growing! Elle has grown over 3 inches since October and is less then an inch shorter then Conway at the same age. Conway grew an inch since October as well. We had to go through their dressers this week, only 4 and 5T for Conway and 18month clothes for Elle. My babies are getting so big!

 We love sending our Love to all of Valentines. Know that we love you all and are so grateful for the blessing you all are in our lives.