Banff Canada

We spent the first part of August in beautiful Canmore and Banff Canada. My Mom's parents, Grandpa and Grandma Johnson, take the whole family on wonderful vacations every few years and this was no exception. What a wonderful week! We missed McKay SO much and I would love for him to see this beautiful part of the world sometime.




















The trip providers. These two are such generous, loving people. I have so many fond memories with them and am so grateful for the opportunities they've provided me to see some beautiful places. Thanks is not enough Grandma and Grandpa! You are such great people! My Grandpa is holding bear spray...more on that in a minute.



















My Mom mentioned Chayce looks like my Grandpa when he was a baby. He's very sweet with my boys!















We had a picnic lunch at Lake Barrier the first day we were there. It rained quite a bit during our trip, but this was one of the clear days. The water in this area is such a pretty color. It's due to a substance from the glaciers that mixes into the water.




















Peyton loves to go for walks with Grandpa and he's always willing to take him!







































Peyton found a way to entertain himself by throwing dirt everywhere. LOVELY.















My Mom flew standby and we both crossed our fingers she'd make it on my flight. Check in was stressful for me and I was SO grateful when she made it on! We had fun spending so much time with her! She's such a huge help to me!















We went to church in Banff on Sunday and heard from the missionaries in that area. It was a neat experience. Their branch only has about 12-20 active members! The chapel was full the day we went due to visitors! The YW president said there is one inactive girl in their branch...she said she never knows what to expect each Sunday with visitors...could be none to 15 girls any given week! I'm grateful for where we live in that respect!

After church we stopped at the Banff Springs Hotel. It's over 100 years old and beautiful!















Monday we drove to Lake Louise for the day. This place is amazing. Again the water is the most beautiful color.

































My Grandparents took the whole family to the restaurant at the Lake Louise Chateau hotel. It was great! We made it around half the lake before it started pouring rain!















Tuesday we took Jack to the shuttle back to the airport and shopped in Banff. They have tons of little shops...including yummy candy and dessert places which we had to try! The fudge was delicious!















Each night we'd all meet up for dinner. All of my Mom's sisters are in this picture...Melinda, Laurie and Julie (along with Shawn, Grandma, my Mom and Chayce). I enjoy their company and we have great chats and good laughs. We all took turns make dinner for each other and each of them were delicious!














Wednesday my Grandparents took everyone on the Banff gondola ride! I'm not a big fan of heights but I handled it just fine! The view at the top was worth it!














This was really the only wildlife we saw during our week...a little disappointed about that! These mountain goats greeted us at the top of the gondola.















Grandpa and Grandma on the gondola.



















Here's the amazing view! It's weird to be eye level with the top of the mountains!




















I took the extra 1/2 mile walk to the lookout point...this was at the top of it. What a fun experience this was.














All week I really wanted to see a bear (from inside the condo or car of course!) We had a few sightings on the lawn of our condo and one bear chased a man to the top of his truck! Sadly we never saw one...this was the next best thing at the gift shop at the gondola!




















We didn't make it to the Columbia Ice Fields, but this is the huge truck that drives you there. The tires were double the size of Peyt!















Thursday was spent doing odds and end things in Canmore (the city we stayed in). We made it to the grocery store to raid their shelves of Canadian chocolate (it's way better than ours!) Even Kit Kats taste better! That night we celebrated my Grandma and Brandon's birthdays. It's always sad to end such fun times!















This was Peyton's first time flying. The boys did great on the plane (thanks to my Mom...again!)

This was my first time out of the country and it turned out to be a great experience. I hope I can stamp a few places in my passport in the coming years. I love to travel and am grateful for this experience we had. Thanks again Grandpa and Grandma!

Bountiful "Bubble"

I had a wonderful childhood growing up in Bountiful. When my parents told us we were moving to Orem the summer before my 9th grade year I was so upset. Thankfully it all worked out and I made friends in Orem that I'll have forever. A few weeks ago my Mom decided to take us on a trip down memory lane and take the boys to the South Davis Recreation Center, formerly known as the "Bountiful Bubble". In the winter they would cover their huge pool with a big white tarp...thus the name of bubble. We had so much fun swimming here year round and it was fun to take the boys (although its completely different now!)















They have a really fun pirate ship for the kids to play on. I've heard the Lindon Pool has added something like this that I'd like to go try out!















Chayce loves the water much more than Peyton ever did at his age. I'm so glad because it makes for a fun swimming activity with both boys!















Peyt had a great time running around all the different water toys. I think the "shooting guns" was his favorite part...he hung out here for quite awhile.















Uncle Jack came along with us. He's so great with the boys! Thanks for hanging out with us Jack!




























What a fun summer activity! We ended the fun with a delicious dinner at the Mandarin restaurant. It is SO good. My parents loved to eat there when we lived in Bountiful, and I don't think I appreciated good Chinese food until later on. I think McKay and I need a date night there!

Thanks Mom for a great day of fun! We love Grandma adventures!

The backyard is DONE!

In the recent history of my life this has to have been one of the best days. It is SO great to look outside and see green grass! McKay has worked so hard (with a few manual hours of labor from me too :) Now we can enjoy this space and let the kids run free!















I really like this little addition. I'm hoping to plan rose bushes to climb up the archway.















Yeah for green grass and a finished backyard!

4th and 5th

I love the fourth of July...and it was great that we could celebrate three days due to it falling on a Sunday this year. We celebrated Wendi's birthday on Sunday...















Chayce was being so happy and cute with Grammy...I love that little guy so much!



















Grandma Shoell came to visit so we had to "try" to get a picture with all the kids. Good thing mine were so happy to be involved.














Family fourth picture. I think we've taken a family picture in Wayne and Pam's backyard every year since we've been married.














Grammy gave the boys their own flags and Chayce LOVED it!



















We were up bright and early so I could run the Freedom Run in Provo. I did the 10K and ran just over 8 minute miles. I was proud of myself. Marathon training is much harder than I thought so this was a good break from the routine!




















My parents also came to support!















After the race my parents and I took the boys to the parade. I think they enjoyed it.



































We also ate a delicious breakfast at Magleby's Fresh followed by Toy Story 3. It was so cute! We finished the night off with a yummy dinner with the McArthurs and fireworks. What a fun holiday!

Our Swing Set!!!

McKay won a television at work over a year ago now. We didn't have a need or place for it at the time so McKay kindly let me trade it in to go towards a swing set for the backyard. McKay was hesitant to let me get it because our yard was nowhere near ready to put a swing set in. Well...a year later, we were finally ready to have it built! It was a very happy day for me (and the boys!)
















A few hours into the project...
















McKay's brothers Dan and Kimball as well as Davy were kind to come help us put this thing together. Lisa came over later in the afternoon to help finish it all up. Without the help it would have taken McKay and I two full days!
















Davy and McKay mastered roof building and had it up in no time. Davy and Lisa built their own swing set the summer before so they provided a lot of experience!















Peyton is thrilled to have his very own swing set to play on. I think his favorite parts are the pirate telescope and ship wheel.





























The finished product! It has since been evened out...and grass now covers the ground!

Grammy's Swingset

After many many years of play and fun, Grammy and Papa decided to get a new swing set. A few weeks ago we took a few pictures with the old one...































This is on the swing attached to Grammy's playhouse. It is SO cute and the kids love to play in it. I'll have to include a picture of the playhouse sometime.





























McKay and his boys...fun to think about McKay running around this same backyard as a young boy playing on the swing set.




















Pam was so sweet and bought the boys the fourth of July outfits. They are so cute.

Daughter of a King, Girls Camp 2010

I will admit I am not an outdoor kind of girl...but girls camp was so amazing! I LOVE serving the young women in our ward. They are such a delight to be around.















All of our girls were able to come up for at least a portion of camp. It was great to spend good time with them and get to know them better.















They did such a good job on their skit. This little Jaedee in our ward had me laughing so hard...a little too hard with not enough sleep! Here are Prince Charming and Cinderella together.














Wednesday night it rained pretty hard so all the leaders cuddled up in our tent. We had a great time hanging out together also! I serve with pretty amazing ladies!
















I will say there is something very great about sitting around a campfire at night. I do think its my favorite thing to do outdoors...especially if there are hot dogs and smores involved :)















Here are all of our lovely ladies during our hike. I am so grateful to be a part of their lives. They are wonderful young girls who will turn out to be fabulous women. Thanks for a wonderful week at camp!