We Live Outdoors These Days

Lately I can't seem to keep my kids inside and with the warm weather we have been having it makes it a lot easier. From the time they wake up to the time they go to bed they want to be outside playing. Which I guess is a really good thing since it means they aren't inside just watching TV or playing video games or something not getting their excercise like a lot of kids these days. It reminds me of how I was when I was a kid. I loved to be outside. I hope it sticks with my kids as they get older.


We bought Peyton a kite this Spring and she has really enjoyed flying it on the windy days we tend to get quite often in Eagle Mountain. She does really good too. Can get it going all by herself and everything.




Houston is such a good boy when he is outside. For only being 22 months old, he is so good about staying in our yard. He just goes between playing in the sandbox, to climbing the playset to go down the slide, to chasing the dogs around, to petting and feeding all the horses hay one straw at a time.

Easter and My Dad's 50th

My dad turns the BIG 50 tomorrow so my mom decided to surprise him and fly us and my Grandma Carolyn down to New Mexico this last weekend. It also worked out good because we were able to spend Easter with my parents and brother Jason. Plus they had a lot of horses running which is always fun to watch. We flew in on a very bumpy plane ride due to wind gusts on Thursday afternoon.

Friday was the West Texas Futurity Trials at Sunland Park. They had 13 horses that they train that ran in the 11 trials so it was a busy day. They did pretty well qualifying The Mentalist which my mom owns a quarter of along with 3 other partners for the finals. They also qualified Unashamed, Miss Dash Ta Dial and WR Carver for the Juvenille.

On Saturday morning we colored Easter eggs and then went to the races again to watch Mark It Famous and Jess So Sixy run in the West Texas Derby. Mark It Famous ran a nice race and ended up running 2nd. Jess So Sixy had some bad luck, got squished out of the race, and ran 9th. Later that afternoon we went and seen the house that Jason is planning to buy in Santa Teresa that is almost done being built. It is a really nice house and I am so excited for him. That night my mom threw my dad a surprise 50th birthday party at the Frontera barn. There were a lot of their owners, friends and our family all there. We ate really good fajitas, appetizers, desserts and of a course good drinks. For his birthday my mom, Jason and us gave him 2 really nice saddle racks for his saddles that he has already won from winning the West Texas Futurity twice. That night Jason took me and Bradyn out on the town along with our friends Jed Vane and Cole Carlisle. It was a lot of fun but it made me realize that I am definately not 21 anymore.

On Easter Sunday the kids woke up and were excited to see that the Easter Bunny found them even though we were in New Mexico. My mom put together a little Easter egg hunt for them. After, we drove out to Vado where my parents own property and are currently building a house. It is going to be such a nice place for them. I can't wait to see it when it is all done. We then went to the races again to watch my mom's horse Porch Cat break his maiden and win at 870 yards. We also watched Gone To The Mountain win the Red Cell New Mexico Challenge. So it was an exciting day. That night we had a ham dinner at the trailers with our family and my parents friends, John and Chris.

Monday we went back to the track to watch some of their horses gate and then back on the plane for a bumpy long flight home.

Thanks mom for flying us down and everything else you do for us. We had a lot of fun and can't wait to go back. Thanks Jason for taking me and Bradyn out. It was a lot of fun even though I felt my age the next morning. And thanks dad for everything, hope you have a Happy 50th Birthday tomorrow!

Mini Vacation in St. George

This last weekend we went to sunny St. George seeking some warm weather and because Peyton had a dance competition down there. We left Thursday night and came back Sunday so it was just a short trip but was well needed. We stayed at Bradyn's families house in Hurricane and it was nice because there is a small backyard all fenced in that kids could play in, a swimming pool in the clubhouse, a playground, and everyday they went for a walk/bike ride around the neighborhood with Bradyn's parents. The kids enjoyed it more because they weren't cooped up in a hotel room and because we could all be together in a cozy little house.

Thanks Brent, ReNae, Hadley, Haylee, Preslie and Colter for spending the weekend with us! It wasn't as warm as we had hoped but we still had fun.

Riding and Enjoying the Sun

We have all been getting Spring fever. So because it was so nice outside yesterday, we decided to load up the horses and take them to the arena. It was perfect just 4 the of us. I am so proud of Peyton. She did so good and is slowly getting over her little scare from last Spring. I was riding when Bradyn took Houston for a ride so I wasn't able to get pictures of him riding but he loved it. He was just laughing and smiling the entire time.

Spring Fling Competition

This last Saturday, March 20th, Peyton competed in the Spring Fling Competition at Timpview High School in Provo. This was her 2nd competition of the year. Again she did awesome and so did her team. For their "Dog Pound" dance they took 2nd and for their "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" dance they took High Silver and Overall Best Costume.

Disney On Ice

Last night Me, Peyton, my Grandma Pat and my cousin Katee all rode the Trax up to the Energy Solutions Arena to watch the Disney On Ice Show. Peyton loved riding the train even though we seen a few weirdos. She was so cute, everytime they announced to have your tickets ready she would tell me to give her hers so she could show them. She is so funny, she listened to the intercom so closely and paid attention to the names of all the stations. The show was really good. Peyton loved it and is still talking about it today. And she really likes all the souvenirs she got of course. Thanks Grandma and Katee for coming with us! We had a lot of fun with you guys.

Random Fun!!!

Here are a few pictures that I have taken over the last couple weeks of the kids just goofing around.

On Friday, March 5th I took the kids to Gymcats for their friend Brett's birthday party. The kids love that place. This is Tate and Houston. I never could get a good picture of Peyton cause she was always on the move. Thanks Valynn for inviting us, the kids had a blast.


Houston AKA Mr. Joe Cool wearing Bradyn's shades


Houston tries to go outside every chance he gets which makes it hard with this unpredictable weather we are having. Almost 60 degrees one day and snow the next. He is tough though, don't care how cold, wet and windy it is. His new favorite is to have his big sister Peyton give him a ride in the Jeep.