Aspen turns four

Just some of my favorite shots of Aspen through the years, who also happens to be the biggest goober ever!

Trip

My little sister Demri got married last Friday. The wedding was in Manti, Utah at the LDS temple there. So beautiful and I'm kicking myself for not snapping a photo of it.
What a beautiful wedding! And it was a wonderful day. The sealing in the temple, the luncheon, and the reception; such a blast, and so much fun. I wish I would have taken more photos myself, but was way too busy catching up with friends and family I hadn't seen forever! Demri and (her) Eric were so happy.
Congratulations, sis!

On Saturday Eric and I headed down to one of our favorite places, Moab. We wanted to show the kids how awesome Arches National Park is. We met some of our friends there, Dustin and Rachel, who live in Boise and wanted to check it out.
Arches is one of those places that is gorgeous all over; every nook and cranny. I really have to restrain myself from just seeing things out of our camera lens when we're there.
Aspen in front of some pictographs somewhere between 200-400 years old. I believe they're Ute.
On the trail to Delicate Arch (the one you see on the Utah plates) with Dusty and Rach. This part of the trail is all slick rock; so amazing!

At Delicate Arch.

After Delicate Arch we went to Sand dune Arch, which is hidden away by huge mounds of red rock. You'd never know it was there if the park didn't tell you about it. Inside is the arch and tons of beautiful orange sand. I knew the kids would love this place, and they did.

It's so easy to feel God's presence here; that's probably why I love it so much. Eric and I spent lots of time here before and right after we got married; it's been 5 years since we've been back.



Climbing trees before leaving. The trip was too quick and we miss it already!

It seems like both of my children somehow got the heads up on the terrible two's and wanted in early. I guess the freedom of angry expression is too tasty to pass up! Oakley is more of a drama queen than Aspen ever was; let me illustrate. Lets say he is wronged in some way. First he gets a pout, then looks around for a good spot of toy-free floor and then slams his little booty down. He then proceeds to tilt back until his head is on the floor, and then starts to wail. When Mommy and Daddy start to laugh the poor little thing gets so confused! I only wish I had a photo of him lying there on the floor. If he wasn't so cute the whole thing might get old. But it doesn't.

1. Eric comes home one day telling me Scentsy is having a chocolate cake baking contest. I'm excited and decide: yes. I'm doing it!

2. I sweat for 3 days deciding what kind of chocolate cake to make. Finally, I figure things out: dark chocolate with raspberry filling.

3. The day I make the cake comes and goes, and my biggest concern is actually transporting it to the Scentsy judging table! But we made it, without any scratches.

4. Eric informs me I've gotten second place! I receive this classy trophy right here (that I absolutely love) and display it on our mantle.

5. I decide I like cake baking contests.....I get to make a cake, and only have to eat very little!!

6. Here's the recipe for the cake.