Salt Lake City Cemetary

I didn't know there were so many historically important people buried in one place. We went to the SLC Cemetary and visited some of the people we love. This is a map with some of them written in:




Bryce with Orrin Porter Rockwell.


Me with Spencer W. Kimball. He was the prophet when Bryce and I were born.


My Dad, brothers Danny and Mikey, brother-in-law Brick, and the kids at Pres. and Sis. Hinckley's grave.

Museum of Church History and Art

On our visit of Salt Lake City we did some fun things we hadn't done before. One of those was the Church History Museum.


The cousins pretending they are on an immigrant ship.


Noelle and I being pioneers. Doesn't she know that pioneer children walked and walked and walked and walked? I don't recall them being carried and carried and carried and carried.


Upstairs in the museum, they have a space for each prophet that tells about their life and shows some of their personal items. This is Pres. Hinckley's.


Ethan speaking from the pulpit.


Caitlin outside the museum. It was really interesting. I could have spent hours in there. There is so much information to read, you would really have to go without kids to enjoy it all. But I'm glad the kids got to go. I tried to explain to them what some of the things meant, so they could have a better understanding of church history. There are so many people that have suffered so much, so that we can have the blessings of the church. I hope I can teach my kids how important these things are.

6 Months

Noelle turned 6 months while we were in Utah, and today was her doctor's appointment. She is:

15 lb. 3 oz. (25 %)
27.5 in. (90 %)

So, tall and thin, so far. She is sitting up pretty well now and rolling around like crazy. She gives kisses now, but so far mostly to Mom. She also is really busy and active. She loves to kick her legs (especially in water) and grab at anything she can reach. She is such a happy baby and is always smiling. Our vacation did a number on her sleep schedule, though. So right now we're working on that.

P.S. I looove Utah grass!

Balloon Fest

We celebrated the 4th of July in Provo doing all the Freedom Festival stuff. We went to the Balloon Fest at 6 am to see all the hot air balloons take off.


Staking out the perfect spot for balloon watching and freezing to death. Avery and Noelle (in stroller), Ethan, Aunt Sara, Uncle Brick (with cousin Cameron), and Grandma Simons holding Caitlin.


The balloons getting ready to take off. Can you find the piggy bank balloon and the Smokey the Bear balloon?


Bryce, Noelle, and me in front of the giant coke bottle balloon. I think they said it was eleven stories high. It was too big to even fly because there was nowhere big enough for it to land.


It was such a beautiful day for flying balloons, so clear and blue. This was one of my favorite things of the trip.

Monte L. Bean, We Love You!

Some of you may know that we love to go to the Monte L. Bean Museum when we visit Utah. It has become a tradition and one of the kids' favorite things.

Ethan and Caitlin being monkeys with the elephant.


Little Princess Noelle getting acquainted with the King of the Jungle.


Caitlin had to have her picture taken with the cutest animal there, the dik-dik.


Ethan's nickname is Bear, so we always get a "The Bear with a Bear" picture.

Avery mostly stayed in her stroller away from all the scariness. Bryce was there too, but he was always behind the camera.

And the moment you've all been waiting for....

Our kids with the Olive Babboon....

This was Avery's and Noelle's first year with our friend. They took it pretty well.

If you'd like to, you can see how our kids have fared in years past.

Weeee're Baaaack!

So we're back from Utah and it's time to update all our stuff. We had a great time, but are glad to be home.

Our trip started off with a bang. We had left at 4 am hoping they would sleep through some of the trip. They didn't. We weren't even out of the Phoenix Metro Area before we had two kids throwing up. Noelle only cried part of the way, so we're counting that as a win.

So, by the time we got to the I-15 I was glad to see it and was anticipating being at our destination shortly....


'Twas not to be.

About an hour and a half outside Provo one of our rear tires blew. Bryce managed to keep us on the road and safely pulled over. We had been in the 80 mph zone (going 90ish), so we were grateful to be okay. Our back bumper got a little beat up, but the car seems to have recovered. Thanks to the family that helped us with the tire!

Ahhhh...June

We are loving summer and having so much fun. So far we are thankful for Costco...

And for the Lovells, for inviting us to a great pool party and providing the waterslide.


Our kids could slip and slide and run around in the sun all day long. Isn't it fun to be a kid?

Ethan, Caitlin, and Mitchell.
My kids get really silly when they are having fun with their friends.

Avery was definitely not going down that slide. Good thing we had a little pool just her size.

And Noelle had her first swimming experience. Doesn't it look like she and her cousin, Tyce, are having a blast?

The great thing about having the kids preoccupied, is that the adults get to sit around and enjoy each others company. Even if we are all holding babies. Yay for adult conversation!

Becky and baby Tyce

Brooke and baby Lydia

Bryce and baby Noelle

I am so thankful for anything that will keep us cool and happy this summer. And for good friends to spend time with. We are also looking forward to a couple vacations this summer. It will sure be great while it lasts. I know it will be time for school again before we know it.


What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade.

~Gertrude Jekyll