Our Trip to Utah

We had such a fun trip to Utah to see all of my family, a few friends, and a brother of Daves. We did SO... much in a week. It's been over a year since we've been back to Utah so it was fun seeing everyone. We spent time going up to my familys cabin, hiked up to stewart falls, went to Wingers (such good sticky fingers), went to the dinosaur park and farm area at Thanksgiving Point, went swimming all at the pool, Chuck E Cheese, and lots more. It's always so fun going home to see family and friends and just spend time together. Thanks fam! We had a blast with all of you.

Thanksgiving Point







Chuck E Cheese







Up at Stewart Cabin






Hiking up to Stewart Falls









My sister-in-law, Kaitlyn, made such a yummy apricot pie. We were all impresses with her cooking skills. Since they've been only married a year and she made it just right. What a great cook her mom must have taught her to be.





Jackson had so much fun being with his cousins Alexa and Nathan. They all got along and played so well together. They just loved running around chasing each other. This was so funny because when we went down to the ponds. All of a sudden Nathan tackled Alexa. It took us all by surprise.



Farm area at Thanksgiving Point



It was fun also seeing Daves brother, Kevin and his family. We got to ride on a hayride, Jackson rode on a horse, they saw all kinds of animals, and the kids went to jail.









It was fun seeing Jackson and Megans new cousin Rusty who they hadn't seen yet and neither had we. Its hard being far from family, but we do what we have to in the situation we're in. Someday we'd of course like to move closer to the west. But, for now we really enjoy the people, ward, and fun things we get to do out here in Indiana.

Cincinnati Reds Baseball Game

Here are a few pictures of us going to the REDS game in Cincinnati, Ohio. It's so nice to have so many things close by to go to like this. It only takes a hour and a half to go to a few big cities in different states like Ohio and Kentucky. That's what is so different here than in the west. Megan and Jackson just loved it! Jackson still is talking about how he wants to go to another baseball game.






It was fun seeing the fireworks they did after the game, even though they lost. It was the loudest and longest show we've ever been to. We seriously could feel our seats shake it was so loud. We really liked it, but I think Jackson got a little scared of it.

Trip to Nauvoo

This past weekend we were able to go to Nauvoo again. We had so much fun going to the plays they have, the oxen ride, the carriage ride, the temple, all the sites, etc. We were able to go a few years ago, but it was great going again to see the things that we weren't able to make it to the first time. It is such a beautiful city. The temple is just amazing inside and out.



It was so fun, we got to stay in this little cabin one night. We found out that a family went there to visit and decided they wanted to move there since they liked it so much and they started a cabin/hotel business. We thought it was a fun idea. I guess they name the cabin after a family from way back that lived there. They would use all the old wood and totally fix it up to the way it use to be.



This is a picture of Joseph and Hyrum Smith leaving Nauvoo, on their way to Carthage Jail. Joseph knew he wouldn't be coming back to Nauvoo once he left. What sacrifices he made for us to have the church. He was an amazing man. Going to Nauvoo is such a great trip to help you realize all that he and all of the pioneers did to keep the church going.






This is the house where Calvin Pendleton lived. He was a doctor that did free work for the people of Nauvoo at that time and a school teacher. He had a great last name. We had to take a picture in front of it being Pendletons. Dave is pretty sure we are related somewhere down the line.




It was so much fun also going to the pagent in Nauvoo which is of course the classic thing to do there. It's pretty crazy what they do to put it on. It goes on for a whole month so you can imagine the sacrifices people go through to put it on.





Jackson wasn't able to see being so low down in his own chair so Dave had a great idea to put his chair in the stroller to be higher up so he could see everything. Dave's always coming up with great ideas.




Going on an Oxen ride. Jackson loved to touch the ox and the horses there. Typical kid that just loves animals. He wasn't too happy to leave them.






We also stopped at Carthage Jail on our way back home. It is just a wonderful place to go in and see even though it is sad to see the place where our dear prophet Joseph Smiths life was taken. He lived great and he died great. People thought they could stop the work from moving forward by killing the prophet, but goes to show you today that that didn't happen. What a remarkable man he was! I would recommend going on this trip to whoever hasn't. What a fun and spiritual trip it is.

Demolition Derby

We all had so much fun at the Demolition Derby this year. We went last year too, the county fair comes every year here in July. There's always good food, rides, animals, and the Demolition Derby that goes on. This years derby was a lot better than last year too. I remember going to them as a kid and loving them and I still enjoy going to them. The kids had a fun time being there too as you can see. They were both really happy and good for us even though it was a late night going to it. A great family tradition to make.









The whole back of this B4 car got so crushed in. All the cars got hit pretty bad. And it was even funner that it was in mud.




Jackson loves playing with Play-Doh, like every child. We made some fun make believe food, a hot dog, chicken, mac n cheese, brownie, and of course, chocolate milk to have for lunch and then of course he had real food.

Happy 3rd Birthday Jackson!

I can't believe my baby boy, Jackson, is already 3 years old. He had such a fun birthday. We went to McDonalds, his favorite place to eat, for lunch and had cupcakes, went to Milk and Cookies at our library, and opened lots of fun gifts from family and friends. He sure got spoiled. I can't believe how fast he's growing. Next thing I know he'll be off to Kindergarten, so sad!









Jackson loved the gator golf that Grandma Shelley got him for his birthday. "Ahhh...it's eating my hand!" he's saying.



It was so much fun making a cake for him this year. I made a Thomas the Train Engine cake for him. I got a few ideas off of the internet and it actually turned out alright I thought for his party that we had for him.





We had a fun birthday party for Jackson at the park next to us with all of his friends. It was a pretty hot day so we had lots of drinks, popsicles, and cake. Jackson got lots of fun gifts from all his friends. We've been so lucky to have such great friends out here where we live. Happy BIG 3rd Birthday Jackson! We love you!

DETERMINATION PAYS OFF, FINALLY!!!

What is in this bag you might ask? Well, alot of you might know, but we finally caught our mouse that we've had in our house since March. After all the hard work of 15 mouse traps, i'll remind you, we have FINALLY caught our mouse. How you might ask? All I'll say is, 4:30 in the morning, 2 hours, a tall box, some blocking off of the closet, tearing Megans room apart, bleach, 409, and 2 mouse traps. Determination has finally payed off! Dave looked back to when we bought the first mouse trap and that was way back in March. So, it's been over 3 months of this dang mouse running wild in our house. We were sick and tired of it. So, we aren't quite sure if there are anymore, but we haven't heard any ruffling of paper in the closet yet, and hopefully won't again. Yay!!!





We put the 2 mouse traps into this deep box and let it get caught on one of them. I'll save you the trauma of the mouse picture when it was dead. I just needed evidence that we've got rid of the mouse. What a great feeling to not have a mouse in the house. HOPEFULLY!