Hiking

We are planning on doing some serious hiking this year to get our kids out and enjoying the out of doors.  This will not only get us in better condition, but we will be able to spend more time together as a family.  This last week we did a favorite hike that is very popular in Sandy.  This is the Bell Canyon hike.  We did not hike all the way to the falls, because it is far and dangerous for small kids.

Our kids did have fun and did a great job doing the hike considering I led everyone around the east side of the reservoir where we all stepped in mud and slop up to our ankles.  If you look close in some of the photos, you can see our dirty shoes.

It was a fun time and it was a productive morning--which most mornings are not.

Honey? Do you need a restroom?

At the top.

Sleeping baby.

Looking for trout.

The view.

It Feels Like Spring

We have had some weather around here that is almost spring-like.  It has been in the 50's and 60's although this looks like it will change next week.  The kids got a trampoline for Christmas and were waiting for the snow to melt so we could put it up.  We had a lot of snow this year, but the snow was gone by the end of February so up went the trampoline.  They have had a blast and friends have been coming over to play everyday.

Joaquin finished Jr. Jazz and will be playing soccer here pretty soon along with Laney.  It should be fun and as spring gets closer, life is looking brighter and brighter.  We still have our family difficulties and Shauna and I are hoping that we can have the spirit in our home on a more regular basis.

A Sweet Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is a time to remember everything good about relationships.  My dear and lovely wife Shauna has been the best friend, wife, and lover I could ever imagine.  We have had our challenges, but have also had our success and triumphs.

I want to let her know how much I love and appreciate her this day (well I am a couple days early) but in any event she is awesome and is a wonderful person and is always willing to serve others and bless their lives.  She is a great example to me and has always been patient with me when I get out of line.

Love ya Shauna.  You are the best person I know.

Happy Birthday!

This post is for Laney who is a wonderful, beautiful, smart and loving seven year-old today.  She has been talking about this day for several weeks.  Laney makes our family complete and brings us together with her penchant for wanting everyone to be involved and happy.  Last night for FHE she had a game where she wrote everyone's name (including Nana and Papa) on a heart and we had to say what we liked about that person.  It was a great activity and brought the family together and the spirit into our home.  

So on this wonderful day we have to celebrate Laney and her unique and loving personality.  Here's to you Laney!  Hope you have the best birthday in seven years.  We love you with everything that we have.  

We Have Found Ourselves in the Future

Here it is 2016 and we are making our way through the fog and mist of parenthood with the frequent break in the clouds to see some great sight or hear some charming voice.  Shauna and I are running on little sleep these days with kids wanting to wake up and wake us up in the wee hours of the morning.  The more people you add to a family the more wild and wholly it becomes in the household.

Last year we had a good run with a new baby and kids making strides in school and the like.  Joaquin is now 9 years old and becoming very independent and a great reader.  He is also getting his sports down and having a blasts doing it.  He has a great natural curiosity about just about everything under the sun and he and I have spent hours talking about planes, animals, books, people, and sports.  He as become a great helper around the house when the TV is not on and knows how to get things done.  

Laney is an artist extraordinaire and can spend a lifetime drawing, painting and coloring.  She has some real skill in this area and is reading well to boot.  She is also in dance and loving the activity and even went on a run with mom the other day.

Ruby is also a curious cat and is into everything.  If it is missing we all go to Ruby to find out where it is.  She is also in dance and had a wonderful Christmas recital a few weeks ago during a blizzard.

Sam is a sweet kid and very patient.  He is all you could ask for in a fourth child.  He is mellow and good natured which makes life easier for two worn out parents.

We love all of them very much and know they are great kids.  We look forward to a wonderful year and glance back a 2015 with fondness.

New Year's Eve at the Tillotsons

NewYear's Day with cousins

Family Night

Awesome kids

Christmas

We had a pretty awesome Christmas this year focusing on having the Spirit of Christ in our home and making an effort to pray for this during family and personal prayers.  There has not been a marked change to the daily routine of fights and teasings, but I have noticed some incremental changes--especially with Joaquin who has been exercising more restraint and being good natured to his siblings.  He has also been more helpful and cooperative.  He is starting to mature and grow up into a fine young man.  The girls are also enjoying the abundance and safety we enjoy, but they are struggling a bit more, but individually they are as sweet as can be.  It is when they are together that they sometimes too much.

At church two weeks ago Shauna was in the choir so I had all four kids.  Everyone was being good, but then E got on the whine train and would not stop.  First, it was Ruby was sitting to close; then it was she did not want Ruby to use her crayons;  then it was she wanted to put her feet up on the bench.  Needless to say I was not feeling the Christmas spirit much and took her out in the hall to let her know it.

However, all in all it has been a wonderful Christmas season this year.  On Christmas Eve we went bowling with the Arvidsons and had a blast.  They are good friends and our kids love to hangout together.  Also, it snowed a good deal on Christmas Eve totaling about six inches of snow.  It was a nice white Christmas.  We got a trampoline and Shauna bought me knew shoes and some much needed clothes.  The kids have been asking for electronics and we are holding back because we think age 12 is when we will start with that.  Here are some pictures of our last couple of weeks.

Here's to the Spirit of Christ being with us all year long.

Gingerbread houses with the Arvidsons

Sam spit up on Ruby's head.

Sweet kids.

Merry and Bright!

Christmas Eve at Nana and Papa's.

Name sake

Nana gave the girls dolls.

Too much Christmas spirit apparently.

New PJ's

Christmas Eve and day.

Morning

Happy and healthy