It's a ......

Some of you already know, but it's true.....I'm pregnant!! I'm due on May 2 with a baby girl! We are so excited! It's definitely not how I pictured my first year of teaching, but at least I'll have the whole summer off to be with the baby. It's funny because two of our friends are due within days of me too. Something must be in the water.... :) So our lives will get much more exciting and I'll finally have something fun to post! :)

Lava Hot Springs

It's been a family tradition for years to go to Lava Hot Springs in October. This was the first year in a few years, that everyone was able to be there. My brother was back from his mission and my sister and her family were all able to come up. As soon as it starts to feel like fall, I think of Lava. I love the weather when we go up there. Even though we do basically the same thing every year, I still love it. This year the guys had a great time playing basketball and football most of the day Saturday and then we walked around the few shops in town and ate at the Royal that night. My brother had been wanting to hike/run up to the L on the mountain for years and has been betting us on how fast he could do it. So this year it was finally put to the test. To our surprise he actually did it really quick. From town, he got to the L in less than 15 minutes. It was very entertaining for us and the few passer bys to watch him hike that mountain. Sunday we slept in and then some of us went to the hot baths and then had lunch at Johnny's. It was a great weekend full of some much needed R and R.

Ky, Ry, Bree, Blake, and Jordan chillin

The boys playing basketball

With my sister and her two girls

Cheering for my brother as he reached the "L"

On the the stopping points on our annual walk.

With my nephew.

Jackson Hole

A few weekends ago, we went up to Jackson Hole with my family. After a bunch of planning, it finally all came together. We drove up Friday and mostly shopped around town that day. That night we went to Bubba's (my favorite) for dinner. Saturday morning we woke up and headed to the put in of the Snake River. It was the first time for everyone in my family (except Troy) to go down the river. Needless to say, my sister and mom were a bit nervous :). But, they survived and I think......they really enjoyed it! I'm so glad that we were able to go and that I have family that loves to do things like this. Thank you to my in-laws who were so nice to take my whole family down the river. (You're the Best!!!) That night we all went to Bar J Wranglers (another favorite in Jackson). They are seriously so much fun. For those of you who don't know them, they mostly sing old western songs and then make jokes. My niece was laughing hysterically the whole time. She loved Brian, who is also my favorite. On Sunday we checked out of the rooms and drove up to Yellowstone. My sister and younger brother had never been there either. We stopped by Lewis Falls and then walked around the hot pots by Old Faithful. After that and lunch it was time to make the trek home. We finally arrived back home about midnight. Thanks to everyone for coming and making it a memorable trip!

At the put in of the Snake

Siblings.....Oldest to youngest (it may not look like we like each other, but we really do :)

My sister and her family by the Snake River

Me and my parents and brothers (Sorry we didn't get a picture like this with you Lana)

At the Bar J Wranglers show with my niece and hubby

The whole gang at Bar J
THE Bar J Wranglers

At Lewis Falls

The "kids" at Lewis Falls

Jordan at the Depression geyser :(

My parents waiting....and waiting....and waiting for Old Faithful

4th of July

On the 4th of July we headed down to Provo with my family. We had a BBQ at my aunt and uncle's house and then my sister and niece went to Stadium of Fire to see the Jonas Brothers while we all watched the fireworks from the Stadium just up the road. We also set off a few of our own fireworks. The boys were like little kids shooting off and catching the parachute guys. My niece loved those the best too.

My niece, nephew, niece and us. I adore these kids like they were my own if you can't tell :)

A HILARIOUS picture of my niece!!

"Hanging out" in the front yard.

Watching some fireworks.

The guys smoking themselves out.
Ky Ky "loving" the fireworks!
Ky "not so sure" about the fireworks.

Ky "not liking" the screaming fireworks

Ky "observing safely" from inside :)

Jordan running to catch the falling parachute guy! You can barely see the red parachute, but I still think it's a funny picture.

Ky loved the parachute guys!

Waiting for the stadium fireworks to start.

Pack Trip

I recently went on a pack trip with my hubby, his dad, brother, and a few of their friends....yes, I was the only girl :(. But it was an amazing trip! I seriously will remember this trip forever. We drove up to the trail head (Turpine Meadow) about a half hour out of Jackson Hole. We slept there that night. I slept in the truck while the guys slept under the stars on cots. Unfortunately, they didn't see the stars because it rained during the night. I was sure glad I was nice and dry in the truck. The next morning we saddled and packed up the horses (all 18 of them for 9 people) and set off on the 30 mile trail. Jordan took me on this trip to try to get me sick of riding horses and even though we were on the horses for 8 hours, it didn't work! I think I actually want to go more now. The scenery was sooooo pretty. I was seriously in heaven! I couldn't have asked for better weather the whole trip. It was nice and almost every day. We saw a few eagles, elk, deer, and heard some coyotes at night. Jordan even saw a grizzly that was luckily far away. I'm so glad that I was able to go. I would do it again in a second!

The horses at the trail head.

Getting ready to ride.

So pretty!!!

The pack line of horses carrying all our luggage and food!
My cute cowboy Waiting for the others...
Going into my favorite meadow....the pictures just don't do it justice at all!
Jordan and his dad in front with the pack string of horses.
My favorite meadow!! It was seriously SO GORGEOUS! I could live there :)
Stopping for lunch with my poor tired puppy. I think he's finally recovered from the trip.
Cool waterfall by the trail.

It was a bit muddy so my shirt was just a lil dirty...

The view from our campsite.....now is that not amazing! I could wake up to that everyday.

The men in the kitchen. It was quite the setup. (Notice the dogs hanging out for the chance at any piece of food) :) That's where Koda was the majority of the trip.

Jordan's big fish!
My fishy!
Koda loved when we caught fish. He was so funny trying to play with them.

The happy family :)

My all time favorite picture of Koda.

At the ranger's cabin.
Another pretty view from the ranger's cabin.
Our day ride into Yellowstone's south border.

The "trail" on the way to camp. Let's just say it was a tad bit wet.

At the parting of the waters (Continental Divide). You can't tell but there were probably 10 mosquitos on my face and about 50 on the rest of me. It was ridiculous. We stayed just long enough to get one picture.

Heading back out on the trail.

The most gorgeous view of the Tetons on the way out of the trail.