Bonnie Springs

Today the girls and I went to Bonnie Springs with a group from our ward. It is an old west/petting zoo by red rock. We had so much fun! It was such a fun way to start out the weekend.

The girls loved sitting on the train (that only runs on Saturdays, darn it) with their friends (polly pocket included!). And seeing all the animals at the petting zoo. They enjoyed looking at all the animals but were too "chicken" to touch the sheep, chickens, ponies, or pig. Bummer I imagine those could have been classic pictures!

They did however love touching the deer. It was so fun seeing a deer walking around just waiting to be touched and mauled by toddlers. Audrey touched the deer repeatedly but she was as quick as a flash every time and I just couldn't catch it on camera.

They both really loved the ducks and turtles

Audrey thought the buffalo fence looked like fun to climb

And insisted on climbing it no matter how many times I tried to talk her out of it

But she was really proud of herself being at the top of the fence while Kirsten sat in the stroller!

Yes we still live in Vegas, why do you ask?

Afterwards Layne and I treated the kiddo's to shakes at In N Out

Home Sweet Home

We made it back to Vegas a week and a half ago. We spent Friday night at Riley and Crystal's house. It was a blast staying in their home, the girls loved playing with their cousins and were only slightly terrified of their cats. Chelsey and Cody met us in Salt Lake on Saturday and we shopped at Ikea, Tai Pan, Target, and DownEast. I LOVE shopping with Chelsey, she is so much fun (it also helps that Cody entertains Audrey ha ha). Audrey did great the last two weeks of the trip. She was great traveling and better behaved than she is at home. The last week we were gone Kirsten started missing home and her daddy badly, she became very whiney and needy.
But as of Saturday night that all changed. We picked Kirk up from the airport at 7. The girls and I were waiting at the bottom of the escalator when Kirk came down. The girls ran to him and he engulfed them in a huge hug. It was so wonderful to have him with us again. There is nothing better than hugging your spouse after a two week absence.

Even though Kirk had only been in Utah for less than an hour we decided to drive home to Vegas that night. After an hour on the road the girls both fell fast asleep and Kirk and I had a 5 hour drive to talk and catch on on life, it was pretty great to have so much one on one time together. We got home at wee hours of the morning. I had Kirk go in the house as soon as we pulled up to turn on the AC and see if our fish was alive after 3 weeks. All of the water had evaporated except a teeny tiny puddle that was just big enough for the fishes head and there he laid. Great thing about a beta fish? They are impossible to kill. That's right, he was alive! We slept until late in the morning. I guess a smoke dector ran out of batteries in the middle of the night and woke up Kirk and both girls, but I slept through it! The girls are delighted to be home. There is nothing as wonderful as being home together as a family. Kirk worked from home all but about 11 hours of last week. We had  lots of daddy/husband time, which was exactly what the doctor had ordered. Especially since he will be traveling next week and all but one week next month (but hey, we are racking up hotel and airline points so I'm thinking Hawaii next year!).
We are so happy to be home again.

A few bonus pictures of us at the lake with the Coopers before we left Vernal

Farewell London, HELLO Beautiful Dynelle!!!

Although it has been a fun trip to London, full of adventures and dinners.  I am glad that i have already checked into my flight and am headed home.  When i checked in, i realized i'm one of THOSE travelers that the airline upgrades their seat because they fly enough that the airline cares.... Not sure i'm happy about that!  

Now on the other side, it has been a really hard training class.  Not the students mind you, but the students are expected to go out into the various parts of the world that they represented and be able to pitch the software that i just taught.  The problem is I only had 2 weeks to teach them a product that takes at least 1 year to master.  I just keep hoping it's enough (for their sakes)

Also, I am pretty sure i'm going to take a try at another blog, for myself.  I discovered i have a nack...  It does in fact have to do with dinners.  And i thouroughly enjoy doing it.

If you have already heard the story i'm sorry.  It all started when i was on a trip in Canada.  I went out for dinner like normal.  Dressed in my work clothes (business casual).  I of course asked to be seated away from the bar, and was very quick to order the chef's special.  Within minutes the entire atmosphere of the resaurant shifted gears.  I got a new waitress, instead of a waitor that took my drink????  Within 10 minutes (really good timing for how busy the place wasy) i had the chef himself bring my plate.  I could consider myself to have had 3 waitresses because they would all check on my meal every time they passed by.  And about 15 minutes into my meal, the head waitress (i could tell because she had the head-phone w/ speaker jack on, and she was in a huge hurry)  but she stopped and made sure everything was up to par.

In that moment I realized I was meant to be a Food Critique!!!!   Because it's fun!!!!

Since then i have convinced the Cheesecake Factory in Chicago, and as of tonight the Urban Zing (Indian Restaurant)!

Both meals were very good.  Although the Salmon Tikka was ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS!!!  they Kabbab Shrimp, chicken, and various parts of a lamb. They also had a garlic flan, where it was real minced garlic.  My mouth is still burning from that!!!  The Shrimp was cooked really well but the lamb was a little overdone.  And the chicken, thogh dry had an amazing flavor.  So i would have to come back to the Salmon as well as the Crystal Glass Cup of coke and the salmon that made the dinner worth the time!  Attached are some pictures!

The presentation was done really well, not the difference of the look of the food between this one and the indian restaurant the other night.  Colors just worked here, and the food looked good, which is always a plus!

 I do have to note that before and after dinner there were some fun sculptures to see around the shopping area that i wandered through.  

Especially the waterway.  Doesn't that look like a freakin awesome hotel to stay at????

And a Beautiful sunset, to remind me tomorrow i see my BEAUTIFUL GIRLS!

Goodbye London, 'til next time

Dear Dynelle

I missed you so much as well,  Sorry i didn't blog yesterday.  I just didn't feel like I had an interesting enough day.  Well truth be told I was reading the Hobbit in the tub and fell asleep enough times i figured i should just get in bed.  There i said it... now everyone can mock!!! :)

Today was pretty good.  It was a long day.  After I moped through breakfast cause i didn't get to talk to you cause my computer and phone didn't ring... I headed to work.... and arrived by 7:00..... And so i started doing triPods.... wishing i had something better to do with my life...............  Through the day everything went very well.  Today i decided there is no gain to this group of students to the test i normally give.  They are trying to learn the material to give demonstrations off, they are taking it pretty seriously.  Giving them an hour test only takes time out from their opportunity to learn.  That and i'm pretty sure most of them are done learning, and were since Monday :).

So for entertainment today i tried something new....

Yes, you guessed it... Dark Chocolate Kit Kat!!!

It was as good as you would expect...

And so my day continued at the same rate it began, slowly moving toward when i could be home and talk to you again.  The cabbie that picked me up from work was the same cabbie who bailed on me last thursday and had a million excuses!!!!  He in the end offered to continue to pick me up morning and night as needed until I leave (two days).  Tonight i continued my rampage to complete all the triPods i have recorded in a week and am just finishing as of 9:00.

So not too bad...14 hrs of work to keep my mind occupied until i can see you again.  Saturday, here i come!!!

Can't wait!!!!

Dear Kirk

I missed you terribly today. I am very ready to have you in the same country with me. Perhaps even the same state, city, or  house? Please? 4 days and you will be all mine!

So, you didn't blog today? I didn't get to talk with you near enough today and was really looking forward to reading your blog. Sigh!

We had a fun day though. The girls were up early, of course. And to spare the Coopers I took the girls on a drive this morning. We drove around Maeser looking at cows, horses, and sheep. We ended up at the city park and I let the girls play to their hearts content. It was so nice to let them play I think I just might do it again tomorrow.

After breakfast, clean up, and naps we headed up to Paradise. I didn't prepare for a car ride with Audrey so it was...well a car ride with Audrey. The girl just really hates to be confined. Kirsten fell asleep on the way up there and got a much needed nap. We arrived at Paradise just in time for lunch. Camille made a delicious lunch that the girls didn't take a bite of, well Audrey took one bite and spit it back out. It was awesome to be up in the mountains. It was so so so beautiful. It was so green. The lake was very full and gorgeous! I really want to take you back there with me. Remember the time we went while we were engaged and walked around the entire lake with Garrett? And he was goofing off and lost his shoes? There is a lot more water this year! Audrey was totally in her element. She was delighted every second we were there. We went on walks through trees and over rocks. They picked flowers and blew dandelions. It was the perfect day. Kirsten loved swimming in the lake. The weather was so nice I couldn't help but strip them down and let them swim. It was a perfect day. And I missed you so much.

Kirsten, Audrey, and I fell asleep on the way home. It was awesome. We came home and ate dinner then I bathed the girls and put them to bed by 6:30. It was wishful thinking. I just barely got them to bed at 9:15. But I made chocolate chip cookies and my mom came over and everyone had smiles on their faces all evening.

I love you.

I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow.

Playing at the park at 7 am

Cleaning her feet with wipes in order to stay happy in the car

Pretending to eat lunch 

Your girls 

Eating rocks, don't act like you are surprised

Paradise was so beautiful and very peaceful

Throwing rocks

Our sweet daughters

Love the sneaker look? 

4ish days and counting!

Dear Kirk
For the record I like the way your deodorant smells.
We had a good day today. It started very early with Audrey wetting the bed. We did laundry, watched the ipad, organized our room, had breakfast, and jumped on the trampoline all before the Coopers woke up.
Camille and I went walking, it is alway entertaining when we have four girls accompany us. It rained a lot last night so it was nice and cool. I'm really going to miss this weather when we get back to Vegas.
Our jewelry kits arrived Saturday so Kristy came over and we spent most of the afternoon making our necklace dangles. They are really cute, you are going to have to take me out at least four times so I can have somewhere fun to wear my new jewelry.
This evening we went up to Remember the Main. I can't help but think of you repelling down the face of it every time I go there. I think one of my favorite memories was one of the times you repelled down and I ran down to Remember the Main from my house and waited for you. Those were such fun times. You would have had fun with us tonight too. The girls had a blast playing on the park. Although both girls have had the runs today, Kirsten at the park. I had to put a pull up on her because she didn't quite make it to the toilet in time one time and she was very excited. She said "oh thank you mommy, princess!" I was worried it might set her potty training success back, but it didn't. She was excited to change back into underwear before bed AND had stayed dry. Score!
After Remember the Main we stopped by my parents house. The girls played on the swings, with the train, ran away from the dog, and ate licorice. It was a wonderful evening. The girls were exhausted by the time I put them to bed and were almost asleep before I could leave the room.
We all miss you. We are ready to have you home.
I love you, so very much.
I hope you have a wonderful day.

Love,

Dynelle

jumping on the tramp

breakfast with Abigail!

Camille showing off the jewelry she made

Letting Aurora swim in the water spout at Remember the Main

Longday...

This morning my day was well defined by the guy who booked my cabbie.  He explained to me as soon I showed up, "It's going to be a LONG day huh?!"  He then clarified that instead of the usual name for the first day after Sunday (it being Monday for those who weren't sure) should be "Longday."  We should just rename it so we know what to expect :).  I laughed about that all day!

Today I realized every teachers worse nightmare.  The day when you go to class and one of your students gives you Deodorant is never a good sign.  The funny thing is, i swear i have worn deodorant every day.  And after a day of analyzing this i determined that he must have smelled my breath (although he says he gave it to me because he knew i would like the brand that can only be bought here...) because i'm so much more likely to forget to brush my teeth than forget deodorant???  I really swear i haven't missed deodorant in years!!!!!

Another student decided that i needed a new marker so brought one from his personal stash, so i would just give up on the existing markers and throw them away.  It worked

And finally I came home to my laundry done by the hotel (which i had asked them to do) but with my socks packaged like i just bought brand new socks.  I even put one pair on to see if they FELT like new socks.

And now i am wrapping up my day producing triPods of the recordings i have been making for my students for when i'm back home in Dynelle's arms, they will not call me back!!!

Good Night!!!