Spring Break- GOBLIN VALLEY!!!!!

If you haven’t been to Goblin Valley you HAVE to Go!!!! It’s incredible!!! With my Birthday money we went out and bought some more camping stuff and decided to go on our first real camping trip just as our family. We had a BLAST!! We loved everything about camping, hiking, climbing, eating, sleeping, the camp fire, roasting marshmallows, having smore’s …and especially being all together.

Goblin Valley is a kids dream playground, with more rock to climb on than humanly possible! The weather was perfect..not to hot or to cold. We have heard that the perfect time to go to Goblin Valley is in the Spring or Fall. It gets really hot in the summer and as you can tell there aren't any trees to shade you!

Our days were filled with exploring, climbing, jumping, hiking...It was perfect!

We found some really amazing caves where we could get out of the sun, rest, goof around, take pictures and admire the wonders of God's creations!!! There is so much in this world to enjoy!!

Kolby was such a sweet baby, he slept in the snugly most of the time. Sophie loved the backpack, even though she walked a lot too!!

This picture on the left, if you look close you can see LeGrand and Brayden, They had fun climbing up really high! The picture under and to the left is a close up of them. How fun is this!?!?

I know this may sound silly, but I wish I got more pictures....I know, we took a ton, but the battery die in our camera, so I wasn't able to get lots at our campsite, or the campfire...but you get the idea! We are still pretty new at this camping thing, but every time we go we will get everything set up faster and faster. The kids were great helpers. Brayden was so excited to blow up the air mattresses all by himself. He practiced at home several times before we left.

Isn't our tent cute!! We love it!! It was so relaxing to be able to come and relax and read (we were reading Prince Caspian on our trip, but have since finished it. The kids loved it and can't wait for the movie to come out!!) and take a nap between hikes!! We feel so blessed!! When we were driving home and I asked everyone what there favorite parts of our trip were, everyone said they LOVED the campfire!! Roasting hot dogs for dinner and marshmallows for our smore's, and just throwing sticks in the fire...they loved being piro's....

These pictures are when we hiked the "Little Wild Horse Canyon". It is actually just outside of Goblin Valley but it is an amazing hike!! The whole hike is 9 miles and we obviously didn't finish the whole thing, but we probably hiked 3 miles and the view was incredible and we had sooooo much fun!!! This is a MUST if you go to Goblin Valley!!!

The kids looked so cute with their walking sticks and maps....

Oh I love this picture of Kolby!!! Isn't he adorable!!!

Sophie wanted to lead us back to the car. She was a really good guide!! (See the upper left) Now look at the lower left picture...isn't that so cute. LeGrand is the best dad ever, Sophie looks so small compared to him.

We had and incredible Spring Break. We love being together and createing so many wonderful memories!!

Spring Break- Hiking in the American Fork Canyon

On Monday of Spring Break I got the brilliant idea, it was to go and hike up to Timpanogas Cave...Yeah I even went online and looked at the details of the hike... So we got all loaded up and all excited to go, we drove there only to see that there was lots of snow still up there and that the Cave was closed for the Season. I can't believe I didn't think of that...our snow at our house just melted, I guess I just assumed that it would be melted up there too. I felt pretty dumb, the kids were disappointed that they couldn't go into the "Cave" but we decided to make it a fun day anyways!!! We found another nature trail in the American Fork Canyon and we went hiking! We hiked to a picnic area and had our lunch. We played by the river, climbed on rocks....it ended up being perfect even if it wasn't what we had planned to do.

Aren't they just the cutest hikers you have ever seen?!?!?!

Adelyn is growing up so fast. Brayden found her a hiking stick and she loved it. Thanks Brayden!!!

Here's my big Bray-Man!!! He is such a mountian goat. He loves exploring, climbing, throwing rocks into the river and leading the way!!

Kolby was happy and content the whole time. He looks so small next to his daddy. I love these guys!!!

Sophie get the most improved hiker award. At the beginning she was tenative and scared, always wanting to hold my hand...but then she became a little mountian goat too. She realized that it can be really fun to go hiking and exploring!! Good Job Sophie!!

Adelyn is so beautiful!! She was having a great time but then got alittle worried when we saw a sign that said "Stay on the path, rattlesnack reserve" She was really brave though and we didn't have any problems after that of "Staying on the path!" ;)

Here is a picture of how much braver Sophie got. She walked over to this big rock with Brayden and climbed up it all by herself!! Brayden was a big helper too. He's such a good big brother!!

Our four amazings kiddos!!! I'm the luckiest mom in the world!!!

Brayden was flinging his rope to the tree so he could climb up it. What a goof ball!!;)

Adelyn did the whole hike all by herself too!! What a big girl. Thanks for being my special helper Addy!!

Kolby helped me get lunch all ready. My little buddy!!

Being out in the nature felt soooo good since we have been cooped up inside all winter because of the cold and a new baby!! Spring is beautiful, it's so rejuvinating and I love it!! It's fun to go out and do family activities outside again!!!

Here is my climber man!

Our cute family!!! I love you guys!!

Wow, everyone was pretty tired, it was the kids idea to do a sleeping picture. I love it. Everyone did really good, except I think they forgot to explain the idea to Kolby!! ;) We had a great day. I love spending time together. Fun memories!!

Please, I Need your ideas!!!!

Hey everyone, I was hoping to get some ideas from all of you!! I need some new fresh idea's of things to do for LeGrand for things like our Anniversary, Valentines Day, Birthday, Father's Day...you get the picture.... These could even be just because I love you ideas.... He is so creative and I love it...the only problem is I feel like I'm out of idea's... OK, I'm looking for thoughtful ideas, not necessarily something that you can buy(although that's an option too) ..maybe something you can do, something that comes from the heart. For example...on our 6th anniversary LeGrand gave me something that I'll always treasure. He gave me a journal, on the cover he had written ..."Reason why I love You". Everyday for that whole year he wrote in that journal why he loves me. It was so sweet and thoughtful...I love it....I know it's not a competition or anything but I want to do something for him that is thoughtful and amazing! I know you have great idea's of something that you have done or have been done for you. I think this could be fun especially when we all share our ideas!! Thanks in advance!! I can't wait to hear every one's ideas!! (Hint, the journal idea is cheep, thoughtful and if your honey is anything like mine he would love it...)

Starting off Spring Break the right way!

Saturday was an incredible day. In the morning we went over the the LaVell Edwards Statium where there was the spring scrimmage. Before the game there was a kids clinic...we were all so excited, Brayden dressed up in his football outfit, Adelyn and Sophie in their cheerleader outfits... There were tons of people on the field along with lots of the BYU football players. The football players were playing with the kids. Each position had a station, i.e. quarterbacks, wide recievers... We went around and waited in each line for our turn. Brayden had fun plowing into these guys.. It was cute...but the cutest part of it all was when we had got thru about half of the stations and LeGrand asked Brayden if he wanted to go thru them again...Brayden said "No, I don't want to play with those guys, I just want to play with you Dad!!!" I loved it...yeah who needs BYU football players when you have LeGrand Laing as your daddy!!

Ever since LeGrand was a little boy he has loved football. I'm not just trying to brag here but he was REALLY good!! LeGrand dominated in High School and then after his mission and after we got married he played College football. The plans were to come and play for BYU(that was his dream for as long as he can remember) anyways while he was playing in California he hurt his neck and couldn't play anymore. It was tragic!! I know LeGrand had fun with us, but I could also see that it was hard...This was his first time actually playing football on "this" field. I know sometimes he wishes that things could have been different, because if he was able to play he would have torn it up. LeGrand I love you and I'm grateful that you are still in one piece and can play sports with our children. I will always think you are the Best Around!!!

I love these pictures...we love to have fun together. Adelyn got in the fun too. What a doll!! I love seeing LeGrand and Brayden playing football together. I know LeGrand loves it too, and as Brayden gets older and older playing catch will get even more fun!

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Saturday Afternoon was way fun too!! We went on our first family bike ride of the year! Since Kolby and Sophie needed to be in the trailer...Adelyn got to ride her bike. At first she wasn't sure of the idea of getting booted out of the trailer...but then she got really excited about riding her bike. We rode out to the duck ponds, about 2 miles from our house. We have done this lots of times before, but it was long for Adelyn. I was alittle worried before we started until I saw how cute Addy was and how determined she was!! She made it the whole way all by herself!! I was riding next to her and I would keep asking if she needed to rest...she would say "No, I can do it, I can do it!!" It was so amazing to see such dedication and endurance in her. Adelyn we are very proud of you!! Good job Honey!!!

Good Job Adelyn!! You are such a big girl!!

What a fun family!! I love you guys!!!

Brayden you are such a stud. You are so speedy on your bike that I can hardly keep up with you!!

We brought a lot of bread and pop corn and the kids had a blast feeding the ducks and fish!!

Isn't this so beautiful. We are surrounded by tons of beautiful places.

LeGrand is such an amazing husband and father. When I just sit and watch him with our kids I feel so blessed and grateful to have him in our lives. He is such a good example to them and he always makes sure that everyone is having fun!!! Thanks Honey!!

One fun thing about bringing popcorn too was that the kids were able to eat the popcorn too. Does it get any better than that?

If you can see it, LeGrand is helping Kolby feed the ducks for his first time!! Cute!!

We had so much fun and got all worn out...Thanks for a great day everyone!!