Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Almost every spring we go up to McCall with Billy's parents to their time share.  It is so nice of them to invite us (or do we invite ourselves?)  This time the weather seemed a bit warmer than normal.  We even enjoyed a nice few sunny hours playing in the sand by the lake.  Billy and the kids dug a huge hole.  They would fill it up with water, break down one side, and try to get the water to funnel down their trenches until it made it down to the lake.  It took a few tries, but finally they got it.  We enjoy the relaxing down time we have whenever we go. Even though this picture is a little blurry, it is one of my all time favorites.  

With the warmer weather came bare feet in the grass,  playing with cousins...  in the sandbox,  and playing with neighbors in the backyard! Spring 2011

All dressed up and actually somewhere to go! I borrowed my sister's dress (thanks Ang) and got super cute new shoes to go to the Boise State fundraiser auction.  Billy's work sponsored (or whatever you call it) a table, so we got to go with some co-workers and friends.  We enjoyed a delicious dinner and enjoyed watching people spend a LOT of money in support of our Broncos.  We almost won the vacation to Hawaii- well, maybe if we had bid on anything.  ha ha.  Billy's boss did win the auction for a puppy that was there, so that made for an interesting night.  Go Broncos!

Easter 2011   Apparently I don't wash my kids' faces.  Good thing they still look cute.

For the end of tax season last April we took the kids to Wahooz for a night of family fun.  We did it all....  Mini-golf  Landon pretty much just carried his club around and threw the ball...  Brayden enjoyed all the elements of the course...  and Brooklyn just had a ball chasing after her ball... and all the kids enjoyed having their dad around!  Brooklyn REALLY wanted to ride the boats...  happy girls... enjoying the track and later enjoying dinner...  and a few more rides!

Every now and then, between the running around, the busy-ness of life, checking of the to-do list.... between the bickering, the screaming, the pull our your hair moments... there is a little quiet.  And you might happen upon something like this...   and you run for the camera to capture the sweet, little moments like these that remind you how great life is. (Brayden and Landon- April 2012)

Last March, (ha yes, I know March was a long long time ago) my parents invited Brayden and I to meet them in Stanley to ride the snow machines.  We stayed in this dinkey little hotel.  It wasn't much to look at, but it had an awesome natural hotspring pool in an enclosed barn a ways down by the creek. We reserved  a time slot, rode the machines down and enjoyed a good soak.  The water was so hot!  I don't think Brayden even got all the way in.  The barn had huge doors that opened towards the creek and mountains.  While we were soaking we got to watch the stars and see a fox hunting along the creek.   The next morning, we all went riding down to the lake.  It was so beautiful.  I think we only saw one other group of people, and they were on snow shoes! Brayden and my mom and dad My heart about flew out of my chest when I looked back and saw this!  My mom and Brayden were fine and only tipped over because they were going so slow and...