To Remember

Our family blog is meant for a small audience of the people that care the most about us and we about them. It is our family record of memories and experiences that will help us remember how blessed we are to be together. The joyous opportunities in life are meant to help us through the challenges of life. We have much to be grateful for-blogging it helps us REMEMBER.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Yes...We are alive and well in Salt Lake.

So we have arrived in Salt Lake and are taking every opportunity to explore what the city has to offer. It has been an adjustment but we have had a great time so far. Prepare yourself for a random but fun-filled compilation of our day-to-day. Maren was loving the fountains at City Creek. Pay attention to the water behind her not my inability to take a non-fuzzy picture of Maren.

Spencer doesn't take many pictures-I am usually the one taking, but he couldn't resist taking a picture of me and Eva sleeping in the exact same position. Genes are pretty crazy! (See Eva below).


We are grateful that Maren has a friend in the ward! We have started the Joy school program with them and have enjoyed the time together. I love living down the road from Liberty Park. It is a classic city park-a mini central park of sorts. They have this fun wading pool with little streams that flow into the pool representing the rivers that lead to the lake in the Salt Lake area. They also have duck ponds, paddle boats, a "castle park" meaning a large play structure that looks like a castle-sort of...to her anyway. They also have the Tracy Aviary, tennis courts and a pool. We love to go on runs around it as well.

I just loved this sculpture behind Maren and she did too. It is located just outside Temple Square.

We took a trip to the Church History Museum and Maren quickly found the kids play area. I love this shot.

We stopped and had a little picnic by the temple. It was a beautiful day.

One of the first days in Salt Lake we took a drive up to "This is the Place" monument.

We then hiked Ensign peak. Maren felt like a real hiker. It was fun to see the view of the whole valley.

The whole fam.

I love this picture of Maren. I feel like I know what she is going to look like as a teenager. She is getting so big! We had a great time with the Smiths at a Bees game. Maren was so excited to meet the giant Bee.

Time at home. I feel like we have a little more of that going on in the day because I find it hard to get out a lot with two little kids in a big city. Cities have their conveniences and their inconveniences. Its been good for these girls to have time together and for me to bond with them more and to get creative. Maren loved being the big sister and Eva loves to play with Maren.


Maren is blocking the door because she didn't want me to come take the toys that she hadn't cleaned up (after I had asked her several times). I think she was convinced that this barrier would keep me out!

Love this shot. It is the epitome of Eva right now. She has been our little rascal and our little sweetheart at the same time. She is all over the place with her army crawl and she can't wait to walk. She doesn't want to be left out of anything. She has quite the sense of humor and loves her family.



One great thing about moving back to Utah is seeing a wide variety of old friends from college. It is amazing how you can pick up where you left off, always staying great friends.

We also went to the State Fair. Maren loved it. She is still talking about it. The balloon clown made her a BYU cougar in honor of the BYU game that night.


Mom making a fool of herself and Maren loving it.

Miss these girls and all my friends back in Forest Grove! I will also miss this great little Chinese restaurant! Oh, the fond memories I have left over!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Last Memories of Oregon:(

My surfer husband :)

Coming in from the FREEZING COLD. Luckily the wet suit is made for the colder water. Thanks Uncle Mark!

Wish those were my tan hands... but they are not-they belong to my tan friend Jen.

The Girls.

Maren and her friends

Spencer rockin the skim board.

The Guys.

The fam. Miss those days. Goodbye Oregon. Don't forget us! We will be back sometime soon.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Beach House at Cape Kiwanda

The fam at Oswald West Beach

I love the moss in the background. I sure miss this place!

Exploring the tidepools

Found a starfish tangled in grass.

Spencer saved it like any good Oregonian would.


Before heading to the beach house we had to stop at the cheese factories in Tillamook. We had never gone to the Blue Heron before. It was fun to see.


The front of the beach house. I love the colors and lighting.

My other favorite beach-Kiwanda!
Sheer bliss!

We hiked up the sand hill.


We left our mark so Oregon would not forget us!

Friday, August 3, 2012

6 Months

Can't believe she is already 6 months.



Maren wanted to join in on the fun with her "I am 3" shirt.

July Cont...

In case you didn't notice, we love the beach. This little girl loves it too. I couldn't hardly get her to look at me, she was so enthralled by the texture of the sand.


Then I got these couple of treasures.

Oh how we will miss the beach.

Berry picking. Another pastime that I will miss. We went with friends one afternoon.

Look at this place. Does it look like it is located in the middle of a city? I think not. Yet, it is. Something unique about Portland is it is surrounded by a forest. We went hiking through an aviary. I think Maren is going to wonder where the forest went when we move. We'll just have to take trips to the mountains to make her feel more at home. It is amazing that the only home she knows has been Oregon. How the time has flown.

Maren took this picture-the reason she is not in it. Pretty good, huh?


This girl has to touch everything.

We sat and watched salamanders swim around.


This one is in honor of my ten year high school reunion coming up this November. We were the golden eagles. I am even wearing a gold-ish colored shirt which was one of my class colors. It was a fun afternoon.

July!

The Princesses.


4th of July breakfast fun brought to you by Spencer


We started the morning with the parade in Hillsboro. They threw more candy as us than we collect at Halloween. 

A classic scene in Oregon. One of the things that makes Oregon unique.

Our little girl hanging out in a bumbo. We had dinner with friends.

We finished the night watching the Washington DC concert and fireworks. We also decided to go see the local fireworks that turned out to be...interesting. It was a fun filled day to say the least.