Wow I have not blogged in a Super long time and we have done a ton of stuff. So here is the speedy recap. For Thanksgiving we met my parents in Southern California and did the whole theme park vacation. We went to Legoland, Universal Studios, Disneyland and also hit the Queen Mary. I still don't think I have recovered. What and amazing time we had. You should have seen my mom on the Jurassic Park ride. Classic! I am very glad they could come with us. Shortly after we returned home Shane had his 10th birthday. I still cannot believe he is 10 years old. Crazy. Also in December Shane received his Bear award in Scouts. Our Christmas was wonderful. It was kind of different this year not being able to go to grandmas and grandpas. We missed them a lot. But we have some great friends and we spent Christmas with them. Here's to a new year!

So This Halloween ( Newollah!) was pretty spooktacular. hehe We had a really fun Halloween Party and trunk or Treat with our Ward. Miyah Was Cleopatra and Shane was a Swamp Zombie.(I am happy to announce that I think Shane is starting to grow out of his Zombie phase). Rather than try to do a wig for Miyahs hair this year I decided to just spray it with Black hairspray. All in all they looked really great.

I made about a million or so it seems sugar cookies this year and Jared super awesome hubby that he is frosted all of them for me. While we were decorating for Halloween this year I bought a bunch pumpkins like I always do. Jared said to me "do you really need 7 pumpkins?" to which I replied... "How long have we been married? Do you know me at all?" You all know how I love pumpkins. Anyway because Halloween night was on Sunday we didnt go out Trick or Treating but a few of our neighbors brought over some treats for the kids. We live by a lot of really cool people.

Other than all of the excitement of Halloween we have just been busy with School and work. But I would like to comment on how beautiful Yakima looks right now. I havent been out to take any pictures yet but the leaves are changing and the sun is shining and it is a wonderous time of year.

Happy Fall!

The kids finally started school at the end of August. So far so good. It is nice to get back into a routine. I took a few pictures on the first day of school but they were pretty terrible. Miyah had a weird smile on her face and Shane looked like a Gremlin " Bright light, Bright light." Not Pretty. This past saturday we went with some friends to a cool cave up the Chinook Pass called the Boulder Cave. It was a sweet hike. The Cave was really small and when you came out you were in a creek so we decided to follow it all the way back to the trailhead. Needless to say we all came home wet. It was a super fun day all around. On the way home we saw some cool fruit stands so we stopped at one called Thompson Farm. How sweet is it to see a place with your name on it? I am looking forward to getting out and picking some apples. I love fall. I hope you are all having a good one.

Ahhh I feel like there is so much for me to say but I don't really know where to begin. We have had a really busy summer but it has been so fun. In July we headed to Utah and Idaho for a vacation. We were gone for almost 3 weeks and wouldn't you know it I only took about 10 pictures. We had a lot of fun hanging out with our family and friends. We went to the Kennecott Coppermine which was pretty interesting. You should totally check it out on free day. We also went to Lagoon and Lagoona Beach. I loved the Lazy River and could have floated all day. (Proving yet again how lazy I am.) We also went to and this is no joke 5 MOVIES while we were there. It was so fun. We also had fun getting together with our friends. The kids loved hanging out with their old gang and of course I got to spend time with my ladies. But I tried not to drink any water while I was there if you know what I mean. Haha you preggos.

After Utah we headed up to Idaho. We got together with a lot of our friends up there. We had a really fun time with the family also. The kids swam everyday in the pool at Kim's house and asked for a pool repeatedly all the way home. While there we also went to a family reunion. It is always fun to see all of the cousins and stuff. At the reunion I participated in a watermelon eating contest. While I don't have a future as a competitive eater I did have fun even when my cousin spilled watermelon juice all down my leg. Ahh Good Times, Good Times. Also while we were in Idaho we drove up to Rexburg and saw the new Temple there. It is really beautiful. We went to BYU- Idaho to check it out and it has changed so much. Its like a completely different school.

We decided that when we drove home we wanted to take the scenic route so we drove up through Idaho and into Spokane [(It's this whole other country.) What movie?] It was really cool. We had never been that way and it was fun to explore a new area. It was a really pretty drive and we loved seeing the different types of wilderness. (Did that make sense?) We stopped at a rest stop in Montana and there were a bunch of domesticated squirrels that would run right up to you to get food. It was hilarious. We also made a stop in Coeur d' Alene. I seriously fell in love, It is so beautiful there. We stopped at this really cool beach that they have right in the downtown area. The kids swam in the lake and we had a lot of fun. It was nice to just take our time when we were coming back.

After we got home the kids started swim lessons and things are slowly getting back to normal. I for one will be really happy when school starts so we can get back into a routine. We hope you all had a very fun summer.

P.S. Here is a funny picture of Jared just because. :)

So I know I just posted the other day but I had to post this picture because I think it is so funny. Shane has never had a problem with allergies around Grandma and Grandpas dogs before but for some reason when we visited for the wedding everytime Oscar licked Shane he would get these sploches all over. So we kept saying "Don't let Oscar lick you", but it proved to be too much temptation and he let Oscar lick him for like 20 minutes. ( kids are so weird). Anyway he ended up with this rash all over his back and neck. Hopefully he has learned his lesson.

Oh and that movie was The Wedding Planner. Seriously Ladies.

So I finallyDecided to write about "Bennica the Wedding". We were able to go back to Utah for Ben and Jennica's wedding. It was a really fun wedding and we were happy that we got to see all of our family and friends. The wedding reception was at a place called Noahs and those Castle ladies that I have dubbed the wedding woman (what movie?) had the place decorated so cute. It was a really fun night. The next day Ben and Jennica were married in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple in a really beautiful ceremony. I am so excited for them and for his adventure that they have begun. We love you guys.

I know I am kindof late in posting this but Miyah turned 7 at the beginning if June. I have to say that I love this crazy girl. She brings joy to our lives everyday.

3 things I love about Miyah

1. She makes up crazy songs.

2. She is a little Sassy Pants.

3. She has a Beautiful Smile.

The Emerald City!!!!We finally made it to the west side of the state. Seattle is a great city. It reminds a lot of San Francisco- but a lot less stinky. Instead of the Bush Man who hides behind a branch and then asks for money, Seattle has a guy with 2 teeth who offers kissing lessons. Funny and creepy at the same time. We did a lot of touristy things including eating in the Space Needle. 360 degree views of the city. We rode the monorail but didn't see Homer Simpson piloting it. We saw the markets at Pikes Place and went to the aquarium. The kids loved the octopus and got to see him eat calamari. We didn't have time to see a Mariners game or see the music and science fiction museum. The Seattle Museum of Science was cool. We spent most of our Saturday there and had a blast. Even the drive over was great. Can't wait to explore all those forests and mountains.

Seriously I wonder what he is thinking.

"Hmmm I wonder who would win in a fight between a Zombie or an Alien?"

Seriously they do this on purpose.

I took these photos back in march but have been super busy. I thought they were pretty cool. I don't really know why they freeze the trees like this but a few times when I took my kids to school we saw the trees like this. Now they look like they are covered with popcorn. I totally love spring. I think it is my favorite season. Too bad my allergies dont love it.

Look who got paid today! First time in 2 !/2 years.

Thats my man!

So we finally made our big move to Yakima, Washington. We drove out here on January 30th and it was easy-peasy. Guy and Diane made the drive with us and helped us get all settled. They were a huge help. We hired some guys to load and unload all of our stuff so it was relatively painless. Our kids finally started school this last monday after a lot of run-around...Seriously! We live about an hour from Somer, John and Caleb and got to spend some time with them last weekend. It is fun to live so close to them. Jared started work this week and everything is going really well. He is settleing right in. Things here are going great so far. Thanks to everyone who helped us get here.

It seems like overnight I went from knowing hardly anyone in Utah to having a group of amazing friends. I don't even know how to begin to tell you guys how much you mean to me. I have had so much fun these last 2 years. You guys are crazy! I should have abs of steel from all of the laughing that I have done. Each of these ladies is very different but they all have a unique quality or talent that fits so well with each other that they make the ultimate super hero team for me. I know that I would not have made it through this last year without you guys around. You saved my sanity during the day by getting us out and doing things with us, and you chased away my loneliness at night. That meant more to me than you can even imagine. My family has been so blessed to know your families. We will miss spending time with you guys. Seriously... it seems inadequate to tell you guys these things in a blog but I wanted to let you know how I felt and lets face it I am a boobin' baby right now. So lets not say goodbye, but see you later. I look forward to many more adventures and years of friendship together. I am truly blessed to have you as my friends. I love you all very much. Thank you for everything.

Love, Heather

Lovin you, Lovin life!