Thanksgiving

We decided to stay here in Vegas this Thanksgiving so that we wouldn't have to have the stress of driving in bad weather for such a short trip.  Wednesday I spent the day making my first pumpkin cake roll that turned out okay :) Thursday I cooked candied yams, creamed carrots, and apple crisp while Jordan watched football and played with Kynli.  It was a nice relaxing day actually.  We met up with my sister and her family at her good friends house for appetizers and dinner.  Alyson, her friend, had the table set up so cute for us.  She even had mini cornucopia's on our plates filled with reese's and peanuts.  It was really nice to have it at her house with my sister.  However, it was definitely different than being at home.  We really missed our families this year.  The next day I went out to shop for a bit while Jordan stayed home with Kynli.  It was nice to get some shopping done with no distractions.  That night we went to Town Square to eat and do a little browsing in the shops.  Kynli got to see Santa and get her picture taken with all of us.  She definitely was more worried than she was last year.  She still gave him a high five though.  Saturday I took a hike with my sister to the top of Lone Mtn. by our house and then I cleaned and put up Christmas decorations.  It was nice to get all this out of the way before the routine week started again.  We even got some outside lights up! I think....I'm even done with all my Christmas shopping!!!!!! Time to make some Christmas goodies and get ready to go up to Utah in a few weeks!

Halloween Festivities

Now that Kynli is old enough to start to enjoy Halloween, we were able to have some fun this year! We kicked off the holiday by heading to St. George to the Staheli Family Farm.  I wondered if this farm would really be worth the 2 hour drive, but it so was! It was so nice to get away and be outside doing something different.  It was good weather and it was so laid back.  You pay to get in and then get to enjoy all the different activities that are there.  This includes a bounce bubble (which Kynli LOVED!), a small petting zoo, horses, swings, playground, slides into corn kernels, horse tire merry-go-round, duck races, pumpkin patch, tractor ride, and rope swing.  Kynli had a lot of fun and got super dirty doing it.  She was so tired after.

Our neighborhood had their annual Halloween carnival the next Saturday and Kynli won a prize for her costume!! We know it was all thanks to our sweet neighbor down the road ;) It's such a fun carnival all for FREE! Kynli rode the ponies, played in the jump house, got her face painted, ate lunch, and saw the fire trucks!

On Halloween we trick-or-treated around our neighborhood a little and then met up with my sister and her family in another neighborhood down the street.  Kynli got the hang of trick-or-treating really quick at our ward trunk-or-treat and was pro by the next night on Halloween.  She walked up to the doors and would take the candy and put it in her bucket.  She would NOT let go of her bucket even though it was so heavy!  We finally convinced her to let us hold it by giving her a piece of her candy.  She had a lot of fun, but was literally exhausted after. 

Our Summer Vacation in Utah

Jordan had a whole 3 weeks off this August for his summer break, so we headed up north to Utah for a week and a half.  We had a lot of fun visiting with all of our family and friends.  We were able to take Kynli to the Hogle Zoo for the first time and she LOVED it, probably as much as we did!! It was perfect weather for the zoo and the animals were super active.  I think Jordan and I may have liked it even more than she did :) We also got to some some time down at the Diamond Ranch with Jordan's family.  Kynli got to see all the puppies and ride the pony and 4-wheeler.  She's a cowgirl at heart like me....I know it! :) We even took an early morning 4-wheel ride to the top of Willard Peak.  Seriously gorgeous up there!! It was also our 5 year anniversary, so we were able to get away for a night thanks to my Mom.  She watched Kynli so we could go out to Prairie Schooner for dinner and then the Alaskan Inn for a little getaway.  It was the first time I'd left Kynli overnight, but it was nice to get away.  My Mom ended up watching Kynli the next night too because we headed up to Yellowstone with some good friends to go camping.  We met up with Kynli, my family, and Jordan's family the next day in Jackson Hole.  It was a nice break for both of us. We were able to run the Snake River while we were in Jackson and had a blast.  The first run down the whole right side of our boat went in the river....but were all quickly accounted for and brought back in the boat.  It's been a while since we've been up there and it was so nice to be there again!  We headed back home and had another week and a half to relax and get things done around the house.  It was the longest break Jordan's had from school so far and we enjoyed every second!!!

This girl loves dinosaurs! This is her growling like one ;)

Riding Sunshine

My FAVORITE picture!! Could it possibly be any prettier?!

Out by the river behind Alaskan Inn....so peaceful

Camping in Yellowstone at Grant's Village.  LOVED our campsite because....

....you walked down a short path to THIS!!! Yellowstone Lake.

Nerve racking! It was a long switch back hike to see this, but soooo worth it! But I must say I was really nervous standing near that little fence.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh

There they go!! Shawn, Ryan, Anna, Kathy, and John all out of the boat!