Forever.... and a day

Okay, so I haven't posted in a while. Perhaps so long that no one will read this because they've forgotten all about us. But... here's some snapshots of what's happened.

Bug-a-Boo LOVES Jamba. She'll walk right up to the counter and ask where her Jamba is.

Bug-a-Boo trying to be like her sister.

Dance class for Principessa #1. She LOVED it!

With her 2 cute friends.

Party Time!! (He's not going to be happy about this... shhh! Don't tell. :)

Great times with friends, princesses and super heroes.

Big # 5!

Happiest place on earth.

Notice the sticker? This is right after Bug-a-Boo went to the first aid station for an allergic reaction to sunscreen on her face. She couldn't even open her eyes there for a while.

Rapunzel's crown. Yes, thank you.

(We have TONS of pictures with my Principessas and the Disney ones. But we'll limit ourselves...)

Other than the terrible car ride down and back (let's just say we went through a lot of bags), we had a great time! Thanks Grammie and Grandpa!

Maybe I'll post again before Bug-a-Boo's birthday. Stranger things have happened....

Welcome, Welcome

Welcome to CaP! Cute little bundle - all 6 lbs of her!

Proud Papa!

Happy Birthday to the Mama!

Girly party - eating Fondu!

Famous Mrs. Backers - check out those frosting flowers!

Merry Christmas!

This is not the Christmas picture. But I think it shows a little personality on the part of my girls. Principessa #1 is looking at the quarter we paid her to smile. Bug-a-Boo is wondering when she can finally get up and leave. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

Birthday Fun

We were so happy to have Nunny come visit for Bug-a-Boo's birthday and Halloween. We had a great time trick-or-treating (on Saturday out here), shopping and eating. Thanks for coming NUNNY!

Dancing

Presents

Cake (and trick-or-treat sucker)

Trick-or-Treat

Tricking Nunny

Bumblebee Power

Bug-a-Boo's new bike

Seven years of marriage and I finally get a jack-o-lantern. Thanks Nunny for the encouragement! :)

Dinosaurs and Cornbelly's

We went to Utah for about 24 hours one day toward the end of October. We packed a lot of fun into those few hours! We saw the dinosaurs at Thanksgiving Point. I think we could have spent half the day there. Good times with cousins!

Aunty Ange

Cousins & friends

Principessa #1's island

More cousins

Working on her island

We also went to Cornbelly's. They had so many fun things, but it was FREEZING! Next year we'll head there earlier in October to take full advantage of the warmer weather at the beginning of the month. The girls liked the cow train and the princess playground. They got to ride in Cinderella's carriage and on the horse pulling the carriage. They also got to dress up as their favorite princess. Although, as you'll see from the pictures, they were plump little princesses due to the cold weather!

The cow train with Uncle Jacob

Sleeping Beauty

Belle

Carriage

On the horse

Pumpkins

Animals on the loose

Outdoor Adventures

Huckleberry picking - someone wasn't too happy about the prickly bushes

All the equipment necessary to pick and eat huckleberries
At one point, I felt like the mom in Blueberries for Sal ...

Paint Pots in Yellowstone National Park

Old Faithful - It didn't quite go high enough or long enough...

Maybe the wind had something to do with it.

Waiting for Old Faithful

Entertainment while waiting

KUDOS

Kudos to you TRJ!!

YOU DID IT!

We love you and are so proud of you!

A Note

Dear Mom:

I know sometimes you don't like Mother's Day. Sometimes that's because your kids do silly things. (They do silly things - not you.) You've done many a great thing.

I like Mother's Day because I get to remind you about all the wonderful things you have done. (Even though my Hallmark Card that says it best is sitting on my shelf, waiting for you to come pick it up.)

Mom, I love that you took me to the library when I was little. And even sometimes when I was bigger. I remember looking at the books. And loving them. I'm glad you let me get Strega Nona again! I like that you introduced me to Blueberries for Sal. And that you read to me Dr. Suess. What a great mom you are!

And Mom, thanks for letting me take piano lessons when I asked. And then helping me stick with it, even though I threw some major fits. It's was all worth it! (Right??)

Mostly, thanks for being there when I needed/need you. And for teaching me how to live the gospel. And for helping me to love the temple. Last, but certainly not least, thanks for showing me how to serve and love others. You do it SO well! (There's probably about ten thousand people that could back me up on that.)

So, on this Mother's Day, just in case you forgot already, YOU ARE A GREAT MOM!!

love,
me

PS - Note to self: take more pictures of Mom, even though she won't like it.

PPS - THANK YOU also to all my "other" mothers who have helped me through the years!