Family Hikes and Time up the Canyon

I absolutely LOVE the seasons in Utah. Especially fall. I love being in nature and want my children to grow up appreciating all of God's creations and having a love of the outdoors. More than the first half of the summer was filled with activities (Mary Poppins, etc.) that didn't allow for a lot of outdoor family time. So the end of summer and beginning of fall, I tried really hard to get up the canyon as often as I could! We spent some time with Boose Boose at Silver Lake, did lots of picnicking in beautiful areas up AF canyon, and went on a hike up Cecrete Lake. That hike was quite the adventure. I now know not to hike on Labor Day! We had to park down by Alta Ski resort, then stand in a line for 45 minutes to shuttle us up to the hiking trail. Reese had fallen asleep in the car on the way there so she was Miss grumpy-pants and as soon as we started hiking decided to scream and scream the whole way up there. Finally after 30 minutes of straight crying/screaming, we got to the part of the trail that was all big rocks and she decided to have fun climbing on all the "sparkly" rocks. Good times!

Cecrete Lake:

The girls have loved being out in nature and I am glad I got a canyon season pass because I plan to make full use of it next spring and summer! I'm not sure about camping with all 4 of our little girls, but for sure picnics and exploring will be happening ;).

Baby #4 is a BOY, I mean GIRL!!! Our Crazy Gender Adventure :)

Well, at our 16 week appointment, our OB was very kind to do a ultrasound for me (he doesn't do them for most patients unless there is a reason he needs to). We were told we were having a BOY!!! I was so excited to do a surprise for Cade because he understood I wouldn't be able to find out until 20 weeks. So the girls and I went a bought blue balloons and put them in a big rubber maid box and in the bottom was a sign that said, "It's a boy!"

I wish Blogger would allow me to post videos because it was completely epic and amazing. I told him that Emma had a "surprise" in the box for him, so he walked over to it, opened it and the balloons flew out. Nothing registered until he saw the sign and shouted, "STOP IT! STOP IT! Are you serious? Are you serious?" He didn't know I was recording and his genuine excitement was so perfect to get on video tape. So of course I texted that video to all of my family and we showed Cades' family when we drove to Arizona the next day. We posted the video on social media and the likes and comments just came rolling in! It was perfect. And I had to get some pictures with the girls and their blue balloons :).

But then…
we had our 20 week ultrasound. At the very end the ultrasound tech said, "are you ready?" She then typed out "IT'S A GIRL!!!" What??!! Are you serious? She had no idea we were already told something different. But sure thing…it is definitely another little girl! We are so happy that we are having a healthy baby. It was hard to be told one thing and then being told the opposite after we already had our hearts and minds set on the first. However, we are grateful for every spirit that comes into our family and know this little girl will be a huge blessing to our family!

New School Year! Reese- Preschool. Emma- Starting K Twice

Reese started her first year of preschool at Learning Dynamics. We absolutely loved this school when Emma went there and even though the drive is not convenient AT ALL we still felt like Reese could really benefit from going to this school and from Mrs. Johnson. So far she has LOVED going to preschool and hasn't had a hard time going at all. Reese always looks forward to going and loves being a big girl like Emma :).

 Emma was so excited to start school this year! Her teacher at Manila Elementary was Mrs. Crockett. She started at Manila and at the end of September, she switched schools. (Love this first picture where she can't stand NOT doing the "Elsa hand" in every picture taken of her).

Emma got into Lincoln Academy in Pleasant Grove. It's a charter school just up the street from our house and we are very excited! Because that means that all of our children (hopefully that is the case) will be able to get in now. It is a great school, with great teachers who focus more on academics and smaller class sizes which are easier to teach. When I told her we would be switching schools, she said, "that will be fun!" She was so excited to meet a new teacher and new friends. I love that about her- she loves life and new experiences.

Cade and the Prescott Hall of Fame

Cade's High School track team was being inducted into their High School Hall of Fame in August. At first we had a plane ticket for Cade to go down, but as it got closer (two days before) he decided he really did want me and the girls to be there and that it was worth the 20 hours of driving. So we packed up and just left to Arizona! It was a quick weekend but fun. There was a luncheon that we all ate at, then went to the football game where they did the recognition during half time. We are proud of him and it was fun to see something he was a part of 15 years ago!

Then it was Saturday and everyone went to the Corn Festival (well, except me cause I wasn't feeling great). It looked like they had a lot of fun though!

Cade's First Century Bike Race!!!

We are SO proud of Daddy! This was Cade's first time training and finishing a century bike event. This was an event for his co-worker and friend Bryan Byrge who was killed over a year ago in a bike accident.

He says now, "if I knew it was going to be that hard, there's no way I would have signed up for the hardest relay." There were a few different events that you could have done and he has always wanted to do a Century, so he signed up for the long route!

But there ended up being many people who didn't finish and of those who did, and have finished many many centuries before said this was by far the hardest century they have ever done. And this was Cade's FIRST!!!

I am SO proud of him and for accomplishing this. He puts him mind to something and does it. I love that about him.

The girls and drove around and went to cheer him on the last bigger hill of the race. He said that was exactly what he needed at that moment. There were times during the morning that I felt like the girls and I needed to stop what we were doing and pray for Dad at that very moment. He was able to finish (he just about died, but he finished!) and we are proud of him!

Anniversary Number 8!

This year was a little different than past anniversaries. This year we decided to go camping just us two together and spend a day in the woods. First we started off the anniversary with going to our new LDS temple (tradition every year). We went through the Payson, Utah Temple which my Dad was the main designer/architect on it. It is absolutely gorgeous inside and out. SO much detail.

The next day my Mom watched the 3 girls and Cade and I spent the time up AF canyon at Timanooke Campground. It was beautiful weather and we enjoyed it so much. We made tin foil dinners, roasted marshmallows, went on walks, made dutch oven peach cobbler, played card games and watched a movie on a lap top in the tent. The next morning after making dutch oven breakfast casserole, we decided to pack up and head to the Provo River to float down it together. We were very much looking forward to that, until we showed up and they changed their hours on us and weren't open for us to do it :(. Boo. So we went back home a little early. Grandma Bleak said the girls did great and we had a wonderful time spending our 8th Anniversary in nature.

I am so grateful for my wonderful husband. Marrying him was the best decision I have made in this life. He is so giving of his time, talents, abilities to me and his 3 daughters and puts his all into everything he does. He truly does. He constantly wants to be better, do better and always puts the Lord first. I look up to him so much and he inspires me to be a better wife, mom and disciple of Christ. I love him and all that he is.