Tag...You're It!

I'm actually surprised at how many things I haven't done. Bold the items you have done:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (I hope grade school counts...with Mr. Maiden!)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (someday...fingers crossed)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (Aaron's cooking does it every time!)
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
20. Slept on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (how about a rock wall?)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (a MUST-do for everyone!)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
7 7. Broken a Bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (I guess it doesn't count when you skip Isaiah, huh?)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (I'm going to count Kevin Costner's parents)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

I tag....whoever hasn't done it already.

Favorite "Romantic" Vacation

Ok, just putting romantic in the title makes me laugh...basically it was just a vacation without the kids...but romantic??? I wouldn't go that far! We went on a 9 day trip with my family to Hawaii...we probably fought more than we had "romantic" time together.

Anyways, here's the scoop...we went to Hawaii in June of 2004. We left Ashlyn and Morgan at Aaron's parent's house. We first spent a few days on Oahu hanging out on Honolulu beach and then to Laie to visit my cousin (and family). We picked up my sister who was (at the time) attending school there at BYU-Hawaii. We went to PCC and to the luau.

Then it was off to Molokai to visit some friends from my dad's mission. This is my family's favorite island! The people there are so friendly! Everyone is very laid back and easy-going. We spent a few days visiting people, hiking to Halawa Falls, and horseback riding on the beach.

Our last stop was on the Big Island (Hawaii). This was the first time any of us had been to this island, so it was a lot of fun exploring. We spent 2 days scubadiving, LOTS of time snorkeling and sunbathing, and we even went to see the active volcano (but didn't have enough time to hike out to see it).

It was a great trip, even if we weren't alone. The sights (banyan trees, bouganvilla, palm trees, gorgeous blue ocean), sounds (ocean waves, palm trees in the breeze) and smells (sweet plumeria flowers, kalua pig) of Hawaii and something you will never forget. And going to Hawaii with my dad is always exciting. He changes into a young 19 year old boy all over again! Thanks again dad! Memories I'll never forget!

Birthdays and Trips

These past couple weeks have been pretty busy. I celebrated my 27th birthday on Feb 23 (thank you everyone for your sweet birthday wishes!) and Peyton had her 1st birthday on March 3. I can't believe my baby is already 1! I still can't decide if I'm happy or sad about that. Also, the kids, Austin and I spent this last weekend in Boise with my parents. Besides the weather being a little too cold (it snowed on us), we had a great time! The kids LOVED swimming the most and a close second would be dinner at IHOP (breakfast for dinner). We also went to the Boise Zoo and went bowling. All Friday was spent driving around looking at houses and trying to figure out what part of the Boise AREA we like best. We are THINKING about relocating to the Boise area in June (don't worry Mer...we aren't any closer to making a decision...you'd be the first to know). If you know anything about Boise, please share. We could use all the help we can get!

So Much Random

Again...here's what we've been up to:

*The kids and I decorated the house for Valentine's Day just in time for Aaron to get home from his trip to California (Ag Expo).*Sarah (our friend moose that was born when we first moved into this house) has finally returned with her new baby that we've named Penelope.*We still have TONS of snow...and I'm praying that it is all melted by Easter (keeping my fingers crossed).*My parents returned from Maui last week and sent the kids some gifts (the girls LOVE their hula costumes!).*Aaron & I and Sky & Aubs went out on a double date a couple weekends ago to the newly opened Red Robin in Idaho Falls. It was great fun!*Sky & Aubs also had a slumber party with my 3 older kids. The kids came home with lots of stories about what they had done...it's so nice to have them live so close! We have so much fun with them!*We gave Peyton peas last night and she didn't like them. It was hilarious watching her reaction...spitting it out, gagging, etc.*Austin is doing well...he keeps us laughing. He bought a shirt that was about Ashlyn's size (for himself) and tried it on. Of course he has to ham it up for the camera!
*Peyton is getting so good at walking! She can walk from 1 end of the room to the next with just a little wobbling. It's so cute!

Favorite Family Vacation

I was just thinking about one of my favorite family vacations...and thought I'd share it with you. Since there is nothing exciting going on here to post about....we'll flash back to the past for a few minutes.

Almost 3 years ago, we decided (at the last minute) to take a trip to Las Vegas for a week. To make a very long story short...we had a blast! Many of you are probably trying to figure out why we would take our family to Vegas. Beginning when I was only a little girl, would make trips every other year to see my mother's parents, who live about 90 minutes north of Vegas. We would spend at least 1 full day in Vegas...from Circus Circus to the Mirage, Treasure Island and New York, New York....eat at In-n-Out Burger, ride go-carts, etc. Some of my best memories were spent on those long trips to Nevada. So, I wanted to go relive some of those moments with my own children, and visit my grandpa who still lives there.
So, we stayed at a nice condo for a week and did everything a family can do in Vegas (actually more than you think)....went to Circus Circus and watched the acrobats and played a few carnival games (I won my FAVORITE game and got a little purple bear); went to the M&M store (3 times over 1 week); went to the Mirage and saw the white tigers, dolphins, and the valcano erupt; went to the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay (AWESOME); ate at my favorite restaurant (Claim Jumper...and ate the best thing on the menu...The Widowmaker Burger); and hung out with some great friends (Camille and her fam).We also spent a day visiting with my grandpa in Logandale. He was 92 (at the time...he's still alive and turning 95 next month!) and stills lives alone and gardens like crazy! He grows everything he eats (even in the winter he grows things in his greenhouse). He is a MASTER gardener! I would LOVE to be as good at gardening as he is!On the way back to Vegas we stopped at a couple of my favorite places...Lake Mead to feed the carp and the Valley of Fire.It was a wonderful trip full of quality time with our kids. They still remember the trip and ask if we can go back all the time! I sure hope so!