Trip to the Cabin

We went to the cabin this weekend.
It was A LOT of fun!

We had A LOT of good food...dutch oven dinner, smores, hot dogs, and more!

We went on some fun hikes.

I love this picture!  

I think Darin is incredibly handsome!  

Lucky me!

This was my first time to Provo River Falls.

Look who's doing SUPER AWESOME walking!!  

Go Lindsay!!

We shot some BB guns!

Matt got in on the action.
I love this face on Matt!

Yes, I too got in on the action!

We do have an indoor bathroom at the cabin, but Matt LOVED going in the outhouse!
Silly boy!

I LOVE these next two pictures of Lindsay!  Her eyes were extra blue!

And I feel like Matt looks like a teenager in this picture!
Look at him so casually leaning back on his elbow!
What a stud!

Thanks mom and dad G for the fantastic weekend!
And thanks Darin for being the best husband ever! 

Happy Cinco de Mayo

We had a fun pre cinco de mayo party with the Hodgkinson cousins.

We started out by making "chili peppers" by using tootsie rolls, pretzels, and candy melts.

Aren't they cute?

Next we made maracas using easter eggs, spoons, tape, stickers, and cheerios. 

Then we had a parade shaking our new maracas!

After lunch we had "almuerzo" (lunch) -- quesadillas, rice, and fruit.  

And Gracie and Heather had to leave after lunch so they missed the pinata.  We missed you!

Check out that pinata!  Yes, I made that by myself!!

Look at that face!  That is some serious concentration! 

Candy!

At the end of the party they each got to take home their own "mini-pinata!"

That night we had a fiesta!

FHE in the Canyon

Monday we had a combined Family Home Evening with my siblings in Mueller Park Canyon. It was a beautiful night—just perfect for roasting hotdogs!

We enjoyed being with the family.


We roasted some hot dogs (or in Lindsay’s case ate them raw).

The kids LOVED their “special drinks.” (I don’t let Matt drink soda very often, so when he gets some he gets REALLY excited!) 

Kristy brought the best dessert! She brought ice-cream cones and then we filled them with marshmallows, chocolate, recess peanut butter cups, rolos, nuts, bananas, and strawberries. Then we wrapped them in tin foil and roasted them in the fire! SOO GOOD!!!

Some family love.

Some cousin love.

Even though Kristy's dessert was awesome, we had to roast a couple of Heather's jumbo marshmallows too!

Thanks Kristy and Heather for doing all the "big stuff" for dinner!  It was fab!  

(And we missed you mom and dad and Rick and Heather!  Love you guys!)

Best News Ever!!

Lindsay had her testing today and here are her scores (she is 15 months right now).

Gross Motor: 12 months
Cognitive: 14 months
Fine Motor: 15 months
Social: 15 months
Language: 18 months

And get ready for the best news….her therapist thinks she’s doing so well that she will get to “Graduate“ on May 18th!! Wahoo!!! Yay Lindsay!! No more physical therapy every two weeks!

I remember when we first found out about Lindsay’s condition the doctors wouldn’t give us a straight answer of how she would be mentally or physically because it can vary so much from kid to kid.  But, as far as I can tell, she is doing AWESOME!!  Again, we’re feeling so grateful for all those prayers for Lindsay! 

What a happy day!!

Now, I'm even more excited for her cat scan in June!  Bring it on!  Happy happy day!!

A Big Change

A little over a month ago Darin and I got called in to meet with the Stake President. He told us that he had called a new Bishop, and the new Bishop had asked Darin to be the 2nd councilor. I was surprised, but I was also really excited for Darin.

(Here is the new Bishopric--Brother Ita, Bishop Fultz, and "Brother Gunnerson.")

...Then, the Stake President dropped the bomb on me…I had to be released as Young Women’s President. (Insert Haylee sobbing here).

 I have known for about a month that this was coming, but Sunday was the day that it actually happened. I thought that I would be ok—especially having known about it for so long, but I wasn’t.

 The girls were all so sweet, and wrote me cute notes after it happened. Here is a picture of our last Sunday together. Aren’t they cute girls? And aren’t my councilors cute too?

I am REALLY going to miss being with these amazing girls--and women!  But I am also really excited about their new Presidency--they'll be awesome!

One thing that has made the change easier is that we LOVE the new bishopric (and their wives)—we already have plenty of parties planned together.

On a side note, it is REALLY weird that Darin is a High Priest. We had a High Priest party last weekend and everyone kept saying, “Boy you two are young!” “I have a daughter your age!” or "I have a grand-daughter your age!” I think we heard that like 20 times. Ha ha!

So, if you have a little extra time in your day--pray for this woman to survive the 70 minutes in sacrament with two busy kids--and no husband!

Red Butte Gardens, and then some.

Kristy and I took the kids out to Red Butte Garden this morning. It was "free day" but it was more like "freeze day" it was SOO cold! It even started snowing! We were only there for about 5 minutes before we left. (At least we weren't out any money right?)

It was really pretty even though it was cold!

On the way home from Red Butte we decided to stop by and say hi to "Grandpa Clark" at his office.

Dad even took the kids over to the warehouse and gave them a little tour where the shirts are made.  Matt loved it! Here is a short video of part of the "tour."

 

Thanks Kristy and Dad for the fun morning!! We missed you Heather and Heather!

Easter Outfits!

I know this is really late, but I wanted to put up these cute pictures of the kids in their Easter outfits! Enjoy!

To the Zoo!

I used to work at a summer camp for kids with disabilities. I worked there for 6 years. I LOVED it!

 I ran into one of my favorite coworkers, Danielle, a few weeks ago, and she is still working with one of our "campers." We all took a trip out to the zoo, and it was a GREAT day!

Here are a few pictures from the day:

Matt laughing at one of Heather's jokes while checking out the elephants:

Lindsay went on the carousel for the first time! A little nervous at first...

...but then she really started to like her ride on the "lady bug."

Of course we had to "measure up"

and we had to play with the ball

It was so fun to see some old friends! I think I have a picture similar to this one of Heather and me from like 10 years ago! She is a cutie! (Yes, I went makeup-less to the zoo...yikes!)