Wow, how quickly the years have gone! This blog was last updated in 2013 and now it is suddenly 8 years later. I didn’t really understand what my mom meant when she said that the years are short but the days are long when the kids were little and I was drowning in diapers and naptimes. But it feels like overnight that now our kids are 16, 14, 12, & 10. Olivia has her license and a job, is in color guard and is an SBO at her high school. Zachary plays the trumpet and terrorizes his siblings and the dog. Zander plays lacrosse (after 5 years of baseball) and he remains the only child to break a bone and now can say he has broken both his leg and his arm. Sophia also plays lacrosse after cheerleading for a few years and is a really good painter. We moved to Herriman in March of 2020 after living in our Lehi house for 14 years, we were all a little sad to leave but it has been a huge blessing for our family. However I don’t ever want to move during a pandemic again!

I am currently in my second semester at BYU-I after finishing Pathways. I am currently working on my social media marketing certificate with plans to get my associates and then my bachelors about the same time Sophia graduates from high school. This week we were asked to make a blog post so I blew the dust off this blog to complete the assignment. The world of social media has certainly changed in 8 years and “mommy blogs” became Facebook and Instagram pages. I will always be glad that I captured these little snippets of our life on here though.

August 2013

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Zander learned to ride his bike without training wheels!

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We went for a hike with Lincoln and Jen, it was a bit more uphill then the reviews I had read but the big kids did great and Sophia got Jen to carry her for large portions of the hike.P1080078

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Zach lost another tooth on our first trip with our new camper!

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Olivia completed her daycamp.

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The three big kids took their first ever swim lessons, Sophie and I watched from the side of the pool.

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We went to Antelope Island, it was hot and the little flies freaked Sophia out!

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On last trip to the aquarium before it closed to move closer to us!

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Back to school night paper work.

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Our big 1st grader.

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Our sassy 3rd grader.

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First day for all three big kids!  Sophie and I spend the morning rearranging the linen closet.

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Camping up a local canyon, the woolly worm was a huge hit.

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Rob’s helpers while canning the peaches off our trees.

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July 2013

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July 4th popsicles

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Provo Balloon Festival

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Rare summer rain storm, the kids had a blast splashing in the puddles.Image\

Sunday park fun with grandma and grandpa.ImageImageImage

The kids had a great time the few times we set up our waterslide, hoping this summer has fewer water restrictions so they can use it more.

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Trip to Park City with grandma and grandpaImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage

Zach lost his first tooth!

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One random Sunday before church.ImageImageImage

Another trip to see great grandpa’s goats, Sophia had no fear of them, good thing great grandpa was there to keep her safe!Image

Fun stop at the manmade lake not too far from our house.

 

10th Anniversary Alaskan Cruise Part 2

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Excursion to Yukon Territory, BC

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The little tourist trap we stopped at was really lame but I got to hold a puppy that will be trained for the Iditarod, so that was awesome.

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On our train ride back we got a glimpse of the real trail, I can’t even imagine taking it on foot…

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A not so great picture of a whale.

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Our plates from the fancy chocolate buffet night, sadly not much of it tasted that great.

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On our actual anniversary we went to a super yummy Teppanyaki dinner.

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In Victoria, BC

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Last night on board the ship from Victoria, to Seattle.  

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10th Anniversary Alaskan Cruise Part 1

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Beautiful view of Mount Rainier as we flew into Seattle.  

 

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The best Ivars (on the waterfront in Seattle).

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I love feeding french fries to the Ivars seagulls.

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My first taxi cab ride!

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In Ketchikan, Alaska!

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It was so green, plants were growing everywhere.  

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Our day trip in Juneau was to this beautiful glacier, there were tons of these beautiful flowers.

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After the morning in Juneau we were back on the ship to go see another glacier, it was beautiful outside so I got some reading in while Rob hung out in the sauna.  The ship wasnt able to get very close to the glacier due to the weather and little icebergs but the ride in was amazing.

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June 2013

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“Hiking” Silver Lake with Jen and Lincoln, I am sad we didn’t make it up there more this summer.

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“Hiking” Cascade Springs, again sad we didn’t make it there more often.

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We love Family Nights at Thanksgiving Point (even more when our friends join us!)

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I took the kids to the zoo by myself, it was our first trip without the stroller and by myself and it went great.  It was one of those days I felt like I was really starting to get this whole motherhood thing.

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The kids went to day camps at Thanksgiving Point this summer, Zach loved his magician one.

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We stopped to see the Provo temple getting built, it is going to be beautiful!

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We threw a fun House Party the day before we flew off to Alaska.

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I took the kids tot the Children’s Museum once we were back from our cruise, the younger three love it there.

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May 2013

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Spring means the pelicans come back to the ponds in our neighborhood!Image

Trip up to the Salt Lake City Temple to see the flowers.ImageImageImageImageImageImage

Zander can be a bit crazy!

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Cute preschool Mother’s Day program, Zander gave sweet answers to the questions, too!ImageImage

Another visit to see Great Grandpas’s goats, this was a brand new baby.ImageImage

The 2nd grade put on a program, it was crowded and hot but Olivia did great.Image

Preschool graduate.

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Zach’s kindergarten class program, he did great as well.Image

These two LOVED walking to the bus stop.Image

All done with 2nd grade and Kindergarten!

 

April 2013

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Easter baskets

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My mom learning all about beyblades from the boys.Image 

Zoo trip with grandma

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Sophie LOVES to swing.

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Zach had the best time making omelets with grandma.Image

Olivia got her ears pierced.

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Great Grandpa Haslam’s goats had new babies, the kids loved them.ImageImage

At the Manti temple

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Happy 4th Birthday Zander man!ImageImage

Zach was student of the week in his class.Image

Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point.ImageImageImage

On a drive overlooking Utah valley and Bridal Veil Falls.ImageImage

March 2013

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Before church the day after the baptism

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So proud of my sweet girl

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Trying to take a family picture after Olivia’s baptism

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Easter Egg “hunt” in downtown Lehi

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Super full bathtub

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Olivia and me at Disney on Ice

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At Farm Country

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So fun to have a daughter who loves American Girl doll books and clothes

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and LalaLoopsy dolls, she is super easy to shop for

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Blowing out her candles

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Sophie sat still long enough for me to get a ponytail in

February 2013

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Having a mystery food dinner

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Warming up a bit in the smelly reptile animal house at the zoo

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There was still a lot of snow at the zoo but we got to see some animals moving about that are normally sleeping

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Enjoying the zoo on President’s Day

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Happy 6th Birthday to our Zachary!

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Super excited to get a beyblade

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Children’s Museum for Zach’s birthday

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Making hearts with reasons why we love each other for our bedroom doors