It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I love this time of year so much. I just wish it didn't fly by so fast. I'm even learning to love the cold and snow. I don't really like being cold, but there's something about bundling up, going outside, and feeling the brisk air on my face that I do like. I also love the warm, giving spirit that it puts people in. Even though I was quite enjoying shoveling the driveway (and I'm being serious), I appreciate my neighbor coming to help me with his snow blower. Of course there are occasionally people that completely miss the spirit of the season, but I usually just try to avoid them, if possible.

My sweet Ethan wanted to come outside with me while I was shoveling, but I didn't want him to get all wet. So while I was outside, he decided to get himself ready to come and help me, and he came outside looking just like this. What you can't see in this picture is how he's only wearing one sock, and no shoes.

I was going to edit the other post with a picture of our Christmas tree, but instead, I'll just post it here.

Getting ready for Christmas

This year has just flown by, and my favorite time of the year is here. Advent began yesterday, and already I feel the need to start playing catch-up, since we missed it. Last year we made a cute little handprint wreath, and I was late last year, too. It seems time has a way of sneaking up on me, and I'm never ready for anything on time.

We also put up our Christmas tree tonight. I still need to do one more string of popcorn, but then I'll edit this post and add a picture. The kids put the ornaments on the tree this year, for the most part, and it makes it fun. Ethan likes to put four or five ornaments on one branch.

I'm really looking forward to a joyful season full of Jesus. It's the most wonderful time of the year. :) And to that I'll add one of my favorite Bible passages for Christmas:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-5,14)

Family Pictures

Jason took some pictures of our family the other day, and he did a really good job! It was a little too sunny, so that made it hard, but I really like how they turned out anyway.  Now I'm trying to decide which one to print and put in our 8X10 frame.  Maybe eventually we'll get a bigger family picture printed, but since I can't think of a wall to put one on, it'd have to be that small.

So, help me decide.  I think I already have my favorite, but I want to hear some opinions.  There were a few others he took, but since blogger is being so slow uploading, and I think the choice is between these ones anyway, I'm not going to post them right now.  I'll post some of the other pictures in another post later.  Which one is your favorite?  (Make sure you click on the pictures--these little ones don't look very good)

A Sad Boy

Last Friday, when Mom and Dad were here visiting, Ethan decided he was going to be really ornery.  We've been trying to potty train him (which is not going well at all), and I can't really remember exactly what he wanted, except that he was crying non-stop.

Finally he sobbed, "I can't take this anymore!"  How can you not laugh at feel bad for the poor boy after that?  He really is my ornery boy, but he sure is cute.


Jason took the picture in this post, by the way.  He's a great photographer!

All baby animal shows aren't good for kids

Last night the kids and I were watching a how on PBS about baby animals.  One segment was about ring-tailed lemurs.  First the show explained that lemurs traveled in groups for their own safety.  Then it showed a baby lemur clinging to it's mama's belly, but said that the baby lemur was too weak, and it dropped to the ground.  Lemurs aren't strong enough to carry their babies, so if the baby is too weak to hold on, it can't be carried.

The rest of the pack was leaving the mom and baby behind, and the mother couldn't decide whether to stay with her baby (and probably both die), or to leave it behind and rejoin the group.  She would walk a few feet away, and then come back, and then a little further and come back, and you could tell she was having a hard time leaving her baby.

But then she finally left, and both my boys starting sobbing.  They were so heartbroken.  I've never seen them cry over something that didn't affect them.  It was a little bit funny, but sad at the same time.  More sad, though.  I kind of wished we hadn't have watched the show.  Because the segment before that was about male lions killing small cubs so that they could mate with the female/mother lions themselves.  Couldn't we have stumbled upon a happy baby animal show? 

An example of love

What difference do it make?

I received a book for review from Thomas Nelson Publishers (if you read my book blog, you'll have read my review already). It's the follow up book to one called Same Kind of Different as Me, which I haven't read, but plan to. You can read more about what the book is about here.

I felt like this book was talking directly to me--like I just got a good smack upside the head from God to get my attention. I needed it! Here are a few good quotes from the book:

After talking about how some people go out and serve the homeless on Thanksgiving or Christmas, one of the authors (a former homeless man) says this:
"I ain't got no way to read the mind a' God, but I 'xpect part a' His business is makin it Christmas for somebody ever day. If all the Christians--I mean all of 'em-- got outta the pews on Sunday and into the streets, we'd shut the city down.
We'd shut down hunger.
We'd shut down loneliness.
We'd shut down the notion that there is any such of a thing as a person that don't deserve a kind word and a second chance."

"A lotta homeless folks has been hurt and abused since we was little bitty. At one time or another we loved or was loved by somebody. We had hope. We believed. Then hope flew out the door, and everything we had was gone. For a lot of us there come a time when nobody was willin to take us in. Nobody was willin to help in no kinda way. All the doors was slammed in our faces, and next thing you know, we just sittin on the curb with everbody passin us by, won't even look at us.
Even though you is still a human bein inside, even though you mighta been a little boy once with a mama, even though you mighta been married once with a house and a job, now you ain't nothin. And once that happens, people rather come up and pet a stray dog than even say hello."

This book seriously broke my heart. But I think that's a good thing. I think God's heart is broken over all of the poverty, the hurt, the people in need. I want my heart to be broken over the things that break God's heart.

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
(from Hosanna by Hillsong United)

Help meeeeee!

I can't stop myself. I've left the look of this blog alone for the most part, but I keep changing my book blog. I'm talking daily. I don't know why. It's fine how it is, and then I think, "maybe I'll just see what it looks like if I make a different header, or use different colors."

And I never seem to be satisfied with it. It's never perfect. I kind of wish there was no editing options. Can someone take the option away from me? I want to quit trying to change my blog, and just post like a normal person. I can't do it, though! I need an intervention.

Less Posting, More Other Posting

I haven't been posting very much here on this blog. First, because I don't have a lot to blog about. Sure, I could blog about our trip to Arches, and I will. But I really don't have any good pictures. I'm still waiting for certain people who said they would e-mail me some pictures to e-mail them to me.

Otherwise, not a whole lot of interesting things happening. I started women's Bible study this morning. We're doing a study on Genesis, and I'm pretty excited for that. I didn't do women's Bible study all last year, because I was so busy with MOPS, so I'm glad to be back into it.

If you're a reader, I've been posting more on my book blog than here, if you'd like to follow that blog or read it to get suggestions. I have excellent taste. ;) Reading is pretty much all I've been doing for fun lately (besides other things that I can't think of to blog about), so that's where you'll find me. The link is on my sidebar.

Summit Triathlon

Last weekend I completed my first (maybe only) triathlon. It was a beginner triathlon: 1.5 mile run, 6.5 mile bike, and 200 yard swim. My time was 50:57, which was almost 10 minutes faster than my goal. I was pretty darn pooped by the end, but it was nice to say I've done one. I might try again next year if I'm in better shape (and I plan to be!). Here are some pictures, thanks to Dallas for taking them!

Finally---woo hoo!

After a few years, I FINALLY got my pictures from Paris framed. These have been sitting rolled up in a tube since we went, I think back in 2005. I am a huge procrastinator, and sometimes I just need to decide to do things and get them done.

So we went to Michaels, and despite being shocked at the cost, we went ahead and ordered the framing. When I picked them up yesterday, I was very pleased. They looked better than I expected. I wanted them hung on the wall by my staircase, and couldn't decide how to hang them. Troy wanted to do side by side, but I didn't think it looked as good. Plus, if you're a tiny bit off, and they're not even, it's really noticeable. So I suggested putting one lower than the other. The stairway goes down anyway, so I thought it would look okay.

And I think it does look okay. I couldn't for the life of me take a good picture of them, though. The right one was always blurry. And in this picture they look crooked to me, although they're not crooked on the wall. Anyway, here is the finished product. I love them so much, and I bet they're happy to be out of the tube.

Wasting Time

Today was the first day that I had both of my older kids in school for a full day, and just Ethan and me at home. I got to thinking how little I get done in a day, and I can't really figure out where my time goes. I want to be more productive. There are so many things that I want to do around my house, books that I want to read, etc., but nothing ever gets done.

I think the internet is my worst time waster. I tell myself I'll just check my e-mail, or check Facebook for just a minute, and I find myself sitting at the computer for hours. So, I've started thinking about what wasteful things I can cut out so I can start doing the more important things.

The first thing I did was cut down on the blog links that I have in my sidebar. I tried multiple times to catch up on my blog reading, and I never could. There was just too much, and I don't need to read that many blogs. So I narrowed it down to 10 that I can read every day. Then I saved the rest in a blog folder under my bookmarks. If I ever find my house clean and everything I want done, Ethan asleep and the kids at school, I'll have a nice, relaxing time reading blogs. Why are you laughing? One of these days it could happen.

My second thing I'm planning to do is cut back on TV watching. I really don't watch that much. Just one or two shows about three days a week. But I know that fall is coming soon, and all the new fall shows will be starting. If I start watching something, I'll get sucked in and won't want to miss it. And I want evening time after dinner to be family time. I don't want the TV to always be on. I'm ashamed to admit that at just about every dinner, we have the TV on. I don't want that, but it's not always my choice, unfortunately. So my plan for the fall is to maybe pick one show to watch, or if I can, none at all.

But back to the internet. I need to think of a better plan to not spend so much time on the computer, but still get the enjoyment that I get out of certain parts of it. I really like to read blogs. I love getting new ideas for my house, and just seeing what other people are doing. But I want to be reasonable. I like staying in touch with people on Facebook, but I don't need to spend so much time there either. So I'm going to have to think of a computer time schedule, or some way to limit myself that is enforceable. Like maybe a computer seat with an automatic ejector that will throw me out when my time is up.

Just some goals I'm thinking of with the kids back in school. I'm going to keep thinking about ways to be more productive and to actually feel like I've gotten something done at the end of each day.

A quick chuckle

I have pictures in my camera of our trip to Arches with my family, and I could probably think of a thing or two to say about it. It was a great time, and being out there in God's creation was wonderful, even if someone put fine sand all over that I had to hike through. ;)

But before I forget, I wanted to share something funny Kevin said. We had just hiked up to one of the arches, and were on our way down, and Kevin said, "I was almost to God." Hey, at least he's not trying to build a tower or anything.

It's a Sickness

I can't stop messing with my blog. Even when I like it, I get the urge to change it. And right now I don't care for the header all that much, but I finally had to give up last night because my computer was being so slow, and it was two in the morning. Good thing Troy's gone on a business trip, or he'd think I was crazy staying up that late.

I almost wish there wasn't the option to edit the looks of my blog, because as long as it's there, I'm going to keep changing it. I can't stop myself.

Editing to add: I changed back to my old header. I really do like it. Maybe I'll satisfy my changing urges with just changing the background and the text colors and stuff.

Gifts at My House

Awhile ago I tried joining along with Ann at A Holy Experience listing things I was thankful for. I didn't keep up with it, and I'd like to begin again. So, a few gifts for today:

~Ethan cuddling next to me on the couch
~Digging my feet in the sand at a beach, in Utah!
~A friend to call at any time, to talk or to hang out with
~Phone calls from a husband gone on a business trip
~Walking on soft green grass
~Playing with my chubby little nephew
~Bounty from the Earth at the local farmer's market
~Seeing a grandpa and his grandson work side by side

Anniversary

After 10 years, you still make me smile. You still make me laugh. You're still my best friend, the one person I can talk to about anything. You still make my heart race. You still mean the world to me. You're still my favoritest person in the whole world. I love you, Troy!

Decorating

I've been trying to add some more cute touches to my house. If there wasn't so much clutter all over the place, I think it would look a lot nicer. Where can I hide my clutter? ;) The counter tops in my kitchen seem to be a magnet for every single thing in our house.

I just bought the case thing that says Paris at Hobby Lobby. It was half off, and I thought it would go cute. I'm not sure I love the setup on the top of these cabinets, but I don't know what else to do. I'll take any ideas!

I bought this flower container that I was going to put above my cupboards, but it didn't work. So I decided to pretty up my mantle. It'll never look fancy like in the magazines because my TV is up there, but I'll do what I can, I guess.

Fun at the Pool

Yesterday Christy invited us to go swimming with her and her girls in the pool by her house.

Kaitlyn wanted me to get a picture of her jumping in the pool.

Kevin does a lot better in the pool with his floaty swimsuit.

Here's Ethan with his usual ornery face. Although I don't think he was ornery at the moment.

Christy and I. Please ignore my chin and droopy eye.

Here's Christy's youngest, Gigi. She didn't want me to take a picture.

World of Blogging

I have been blogging, but it has been on my other blogs (links to the right). I would put it all on one blog, but I don't want this one to become inundated with posts about my runs. No, I haven't been spending a lot of extra time in the bathroom. I'm talking about getting outside and running. But come to think of it, neither of those are particularly enjoyable. I have a hard time deciding which is worst, almost.

I also read a lot (although I have been slowing down lately), so I blog about my books on a different book blog. Same thing with movies, when I remember.

And lately I've been spending WAY too much time looking at other peoples' blogs. Do you know how much time you can waste doing that? You could spend hours. You could even find that's it's 1:00 in the morning, and you're still on the internet, looking at blogs. And then there are blogs that spotlight other blogs. It's getting a bit ridiculous, if you want to know the truth. Not that those blogs are ridiculous, just the time I'm wasting. What's even worse is that I'm looking at all these blogs and websites about homemaking, getting all these great ideas, but never having any time to do anything because I'm looking at all these blogs and websites about homemaking to get all these great ideas. Do you see my problem?

Anyway, I will share a couple of my recent favorites. We'll start with Organizing Junkie. Then move on to Like a Warm Cup of Coffee. Then mosey on over to At the Well . I'm not even going to tell you about Today's Creative Blog, where you'll find out about a bunch of OTHER blogs. Because I'm not mean, and I don't want to pass on my time-wasting problems to you.

Night in Park City

For our anniversary, Troy and I went and stayed at a bed and breakfast in Park City last Friday night. Mom and Dad were nice enough to watch our kids, so we could have some time to ourselves. We stayed at the Woodside Inn. There were some nice things about it, but we wouldn't stay there again because the bed was hard and uncomfortable. Our bed at home is ten times nicer.

On Friday night we did a lot of walking along historic Main Street. We stopped in a few shops waiting until the restaurants opened for dinner because we were both starving. Finally it was eating time, and we went to The Eating Establishment. We had gotten a coupon at the B&B for a 2 for 1 entree. On the coupon, it also said they would add a 17% gratuity to the bill. Well, the food was good and we were stuffed, but we got our bill and the waiter had added about 30% gratuity. We really didn't want to pay that much, but it feels petty to call the waiter over to tell him we didn't want to give him that big of a tip. If he had made a mistake on the other portion of the bill, it wouldn't have been a big deal. So we didn't say anything.

The rest of the night was spent walking around Main Street, and walking back and forth to our bed and breakfast. There were some really cute houses on the walk. There was one that was purple that I really loved. I don't know if I personally would like a purple house, but this one sure was cute.

On Saturday we went to the outlet mall. We thought we'd spend maybe an hour, and then have time to do something else before we had to pick up the kids. That didn't happen. We ended up spending about four hours there, and shopped right through lunchtime. We both got a new wallet, new watches, and a few clothes. I'm not used to wearing a watch, so it felt a little weird at first, but I found one that was cute enough that it made up for the weirdness.

It was a fun couple of days, and I love spending time with my honey. I wish it would have been longer, only with a softer bed.

Coupla Pictures

Here are a couple of pictures from the women's retreat. Nothing too exciting. In the first one I'm in the pinkish red shirt, and in the second one I'm in the green shirt.

Easily fixing up your blog

A couple people have asked me how to do the blog prettifying thingy, so I'm going to explain here exactly what I do. Then you'll all know how easy it is, and no one will think I'm amazing and talented anymore, but that's okay. I will teach you how to fake it like I do.

To make a header, I go to scrapblog. If you already have an account there, go ahead and sign in, if not, click on "get started for free". From there, you can either choose a theme, or just start from scratch. In the past, I've always started with a theme, because then it's all matchy to begin with, and it's easier. This time I started with a theme, but then didn't use a thing from it, so I may as well have started from scratch. So that's where I get my headers. Once you make it, you have to publish it, and then you can save it to your computer by clicking "export as jpeg" under the file tab.

I also usually grab a couple of backgrounds from scrapblog and save them to my computer, because they'll have something that matches my header. My current background, though, I found by doing a search for fabrics that matched the patterns in my header. You can also search through scrapbook paper online and find backgrounds that way.

On the blog template, I believe I used minima. To add your own background, upload whatever background you want to photobucket or the like, then use this code when editing your html:

background:url("Your image URL goes here");
background-attachment: fixed;

That portion will go underneath the part that says
body {
background:$bgcolor;

You will then need to upload a background for your writing portion. You'll add that under the outer-wrapper portion, underneath the width. Copy and paste this:
background:url("http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o205/endoux/trees_Page_41.jpg") repeat left bottom;

You can use the above URL, if you're just looking for plain cream colored background, or upload your own the same way you did the other background.

Then, to widen your blog area, you just need to change a few numbers. Find where it says #header wrapper; underneath that, change the width to 940. Then find #outer wrapper; change that width to 940 as well. Underneath that, find #main wrapper, and change that number to 674.

If you don't want the border around your header, then under the header-wrapper section, where it says border, change that to 0px. And under the #header section, change the margin and border to 0px.

I believe that's it. You don't have to have a lot of knowledge of html. Just look through and play with it a little, and then preview after each change, so you'll know what didn't work if something looks wrong. If someone wants to make some changes and needs help, let me know and I can walk you through it.

Ooh Boy

I kind of want this. It looks like it would be tough, but if I could commit to it, I could get in pretty good shape. Maybe get rid of my belly. Oh Beachbody, why do you tempt me so?

On another note, I'll post some instructions for spiffying up and widening your blog later. It's not hard at all.

WILD Weekend

This weekend I went to a women's retreat at Big Canyon Ranch. I'm tired and sore, but it was an awesome weekend. We did so many fun things, and it was a great time of fellowship as well. On Friday night we went on a hike, and the view at the top might be one of the most beautiful places I've seen in Utah. It was green and absolutely gorgeous.

On Saturday we did rock wall climbing, and a bunch of other team activities. That's where I got my bruises and soreness. This morning my group did paintball. I've never done it before, and it was really fun. I'd love to do this kind of thing every weekend. I took my camera but didn't have an opportunity to take any pictures. I'm hoping to get some copies of pictures. I hear there's even a video of me getting hit by (or running into and bouncing off) a giant ball and doing some rolls. I'm not sure if I want to re-live that, though.

Done!

I have spent hours today figuring out my blog design, and tweaking it to make it wider, designing the header--all with a killer headache. But I like it! This is what I've been wanting, but couldn't quite get before now. So I'm leaving it, except for possibly changing the background sometime.

Still Playing Around

I'm still messing around with my blog look. I kinda like the simplicity of this look, with very little wasted space. I also like the white. But then sometimes I miss having a background pattern. I know what I like when I see it in blog design, but for some reason, I just can't get mine there. Maybe it's because it's mine, and I'm too big of a perfectionist.

So, if every time you come to my blog it looks different, it's because I can't make up my mind and I'll just keep changing and changing it forever.

Happy Homemaker

I have a confession to make. I would love to be the kind of woman who sews beautiful quilts, who could sew my own curtains, basically one who is crafty and stuff. Sometimes I see something that is way cute, and I think, "I could get out my sewing machine and do that. It can't be that hard." And then I remember what happens every time I pull out my sewing machine. It starts bad and gets badder. Yes, badder. I end up wanting to get a baseball bat and smash the thing to pieces, a la Office Space (with the copier).

I wish I could be a pro at that kind of stuff, but I don't know how to get from the bumbling sewing machine idiot I am to that place. How does one do it? Is there a special gene that I'm missing? I have a hard time even threading the thing. And don't think it's because I haven't read the directions, because I have. Also don't think it's because I need someone to show me, because I've had that too.

So I don't know whether to keep torturing myself, or to figure that it's just not one of my talents, and never will be. I'm okay at other stuff. I can design my own blogs without any problems. I can read a book like nobody's business. The thing is, I really would love to be able to sew. I love going to fabric stores and picking out cute fabrics, I just can't do anything with them.

Stuff

I recently read Passionate Housewives Desperate for God. It was a book that definitely gave me mixed feelings. As I was reading, I kept thinking "but what about . . .", and then I realized that most of the time there really were no buts. This book definitely goes against the popular culture of today, but it really was backed by all kinds of Biblical support. So often we discount what the Bible says because it isn't relevant or it's not current, but God's word is unchanging.

This book made a very strong case for women staying at home, submitting to their husbands, having a serving attitude, among other things. I think I read this at exactly the right time for me, because I often feel like I hate being the mom, I hate staying home all day, I hate being the one who has to cook, clean, etc. That attitude is so against what God wants for me. So many times in the Bible we read about Jesus serving others. That was the example He set. Dying to self---it's a very hard concept, and one I suspect I will continually struggle with, but reading this book definitely helped.

Yesterday Kaitlyn and I went to see the new Harry Potter movie. It's been a long time since I read the books, so I can't really say if it followed the books or not. I think I liked the movie. What I remember of the nearly three hours in the movie theater was being really cold. I had goosebumps the whole time. It was unpleasant. Next time I'll remember, even if it's 90+ degrees outside, to wear pants and bring a jacket.

I decided to try the triathlon at the end of August with my Dad and Jason. It'll give me a reason to exercise, and right now I need some kind of motivation. I'll be writing more about it on my fitness blog (link to the right). I will say that this morning I biked about 3 miles, then I thought I'd try a little bit of a run because I felt pretty okay. I ran about a half a mile, and then I wanted to pass out. No, I don't mean that I felt like I was going to pass out (even though I did), I mean I wanted to. I hate running that bad, and passing out would have been an end to it, I think. At least the triathlon is only a mile and a half. I think I can work up to that, and then never run again. Ever.

Sour!

Well, I tasted a plum from the tree. It was edible, in the same way a lemon is edible. I'm hoping it's just not all the way ripe, though. We'll give it a couple more weeks and see.

Tree

Last year we bought a tree for our front yard. We bought what we thought was a decorative flowering plum tree. Not so much. There is definitely fruit on this puppy. I'm thinking it's probably edible, but no one wants to be the guinea pig. We really didn't want a fruit tree, because they're messy, but now that we have it, I'm really hoping we can eat the fruit, otherwise it's twice as bad. So, is it edible? Anyone know?

Bee's Game

Last night we went with our small group to a Bee's game. It was a lot of fun, but it was really hot. By the time we got to our car at 10:30, it was still 95 degrees outside. I usually don't mind heat, but my hands and feet were swollen from the heat, which is not pleasant.

Here's me and my honey:

Kaitlyn doesn't like this picture, and to that I say too bad. I think she's cute.

Here's Kevin:

Ethan enjoying cotton candy:

Trying a new look

I decided to try a completely different look. I get annoyed with all the wasted space on the sides of my blog, and I wanted something a little simpler. I'm not sure if I love this, though, so it may change again.

I have spent hours changing things around, trying different things, and so I think I need to be done, at least for now.

Prayerful Decisions

First, before I talk about anything, I wanted to point toward an excellent blog post I read this morning at Holy Experience. It's found here. That blog has consistently been my favorite.

Onto the other matter, I have the opportunity next April to go on a two week missions trip to Kenya. I really want to go, but would it be good to leave my kids for two weeks? Ethan will be 3 1/2, which I think is probably around the age Kevin was when Troy and I went to Europe for two weeks. And this is for something so much better.

The main thing I'm worried about is the cost. I know that if that's where God wants me to go, He will provide. Somehow I will be able to get the money. This is something I really want to do, but I'm not sure that Troy will agree on the costs or the time I would be gone. It would also take a lot of support from family and friends.

I've been praying about it, and will continue to do so, but I would also appreciate prayers. Thanks!

Date Night

Troy and I went out for dinner at MacCool's. The two times we had been before I ordered the chicken, which is huge, and is like half a chicken. I wanted to get something different this time, so I ordered the lamb shank. We weren't sure what a shank was, but I figured meat is meat. Turns out it's a leg. It was all delicious, but I'm sure it didn't help me in my weight loss goals.

Then we walked around at the District, went to Target and bought a couple of movies, looked in clothing stores where everything is made for teeny tiny girls, walked by the ice cream place and thought about getting ice cream, but Troy was too stuffed. I coulda made room for some dark chocolate and peanut butter ice cream, but whatever. It's always nice getting out with my favorite man.

Alpine Lake Hike

Here are some pictures of the scenery on our hike. I'm not a great photographer, but these pictures practically took themselves.

Alpine Lake Hike (with people)

We took a 3 mile hike around some lakes. It was so beautiful! The next three pictures were at the end of the hike, when we were all tired, but it was such a pretty place for picture taking, we had to take advantage.


Here's one of the lakes we passed by. We took a break so the kids could play and rest a bit. Kevin was such a trooper. He walked most of the way, and only cried a little bit.

The kids thought this was a cool tree for picture taking.

This was the first lake we passed.

Ethan had it good on the hike. He sat on Troy's shoulders for most of the way, and mine for a little bit. He's small, but when you're hiking uphill he gets pretty heavy.
We passed this little creek a few times along the way. Either that, or there was more than one creek.

Taking a break.

There was a stump that was perfectly shaped like a chair. It even had a back and everything. You can't see it, but it was a good place for the kids to rest.