The Walker clan: 2009

Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas 2009

Christmas was great this year! It was fun having the girls understand and get a little more excited (well at least Kendra understood more this year). We cut down our Christmas tree just outside of Vernal the day after Thanksgiving. It was fun. There was snow and it was warm. We had fun decorating it. The girls and I went to our annual Festival of Trees event with Grandma Hale, Auntie Erika, Auntie Laura, Anela, Kanani, Kekoa, and Alakie. We had to see Santa of course. We were saddened when we found out that the Santa that has a real beard that is always there wasn't scheduled the one day we went :( But all in all I don't think Kendra or Trisha cared. Kendra even liked going to him. Trisha just sat. Great fun though!

We spent Christmas Eve at Grandpa and Grandma Hale's house. We had a wonderful dinner followed with the Christmas story telling and gift exchange. It was hard to keep quiet order amongst the cousins while Grandpa Hale read the story. To much excitement! But all the cousins survived. Kendra and Trisha were given Barbies and a barbie car. Life couldn't get any better....so they thought till next morning arrived :)... We spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa Hale's house and Santa still found us! The girls are still to young (thank goodness) to pull the "stay awake all night" excitement card that we were even woken up by auntie Natalie because she thought we were awake and waiting on them. So we got to sleep in till 7:30 a.m. PERFECT! We sent Kendra in to wake uncle Greg and we all waited by the stairs till the Earl family was ready. It was funny to see the confusion that turned into excitement as the kid's saw and realized what Santa left them and that he really does come. Not just in the stories or movies! Kendra couldn't process everything cause she wanted to see what her cousins Annie Jane and Ethan got before her own stuff. What a fun and confusing morning :)! We had a great big breakfast after the Santa bliss and then onto the presents under the tree. It was a wonderful Christmas morning!!!

Later in the day we ventured back up north to Bryan and Jesenia's home to spend time with the Walker family. We had our gift exchange, played games, and ate yummy food. (Don't you love the holiday's) The little girls had lots of fun playing with all the new toy's. Blake and I got the game Ticket to Ride and I couldn't wait to play so we recruited Tori, Cody, Jason & Rachael, and Diane to play. It was so fun!

We went home that night at a decent time and it still felt like it was late. But we all felt like the boy's in the movie Christmas Story when we went to bed with BIG grins of satisfaction on our faces!!! It was a great Christmas!!!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Kendra is 3!!!

Wow my oldest baby is 3! And boy does she show it! What a cute girl she was that day. We let her pick anything and everything she wanted to do (that fit into mom's plans :) She was so excited to go to the store and get her birthday balloons. Of course she picked out a princess mylar and fun balloons to match. When kids are this age all you really need to get them are balloons. She played with them all day and for a few day's after. She helped make a princess cake with pink (of course) frosting. She picked out star candles and we were set. She couldn't stop asking when her family was coming over for her party all day. Finally 7:00 p.m. rolled around and Grandma and Grandpa Hale and Walker came over. Auntie Tori, uncle Cody came. Auntie Jesenia, Uncle Bryan, Seneca and Paelyn came as well. It was a success! She got her first Barbie's, some great clothes, and the Snow White movie. You know you had a great birthday when you ask the next day and the next day and the next when everyone is coming over to your party again! Happy Birthday my Kendra doodle!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Halloween 2009

It was a fun Halloween this year! Kendra was excited to actually wear her Snow White dress outside of the house and ALL day. What a treat! Earlier in the week we went to "The Enchanted Forest" at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden. The kids got to dress up in their favorite outfits...Kendra and Trisha in Snow White costumes of course...and walk through the museum to different stations with fairy tale characters there to tell them a story and give out treats for participating. It was really fun!
Halloween night we headed over to Bryan and Jesenia's little neighborhood for trick-or-treating and a little Halloween party with friends and family. We had a great time! Happy Haunting!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

WITCH-A-PALOSA

It's that time of year at Gardner Village when the Witches come out. We went with Grandma Hale, Auntie Laura, and cousins Anela, Kanani, Kekoa, Alaki. It was so fun to walk around and find the different witches milling around. Some were dressed to "their" finest while others were "pretty" scary :)

Grandma Hale got each of us yummy suckers from the candy shop and we looked in a few of the quaint shops as we strolled around finding the different witches. The weather threatened to rain but it only sprinkled a few times. It was a beautiful fall day! Good Times!!!

The Pumpkin Patch

The Great Pumpkin has arrived! Blake and I took the girls to a local farmers market and picked out our pumpkins. Kendra and Trisha were in pumpkin bliss! We would have had all of them if Kendra could have lifted them all. She kept trying but when it wouldn't move she just exclaimed "it's stuck" and move on to the next one. She then figured out that Dad might be strong enough...and lo and behold he was! We came home with some great pumpkins! Love this time of year!!!

Friday, October 9, 2009

Family Pictures

We took some family pictures up in Liberty while the fall colors are in full spectrum. Blake's mother Diane came and took the pictures. We did it right when a storm was blowing in so despite the weather and squirmy kids we did all right. Here is just a few of our favorites and funny tries :)

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Lagoon 2009

Lagoon was such a new excitement this year! We took our two girls to Lagoon for the annual Progressive Insurance day. We all get in free and they feed us so....why not take the kids...if it sucks then were out... $0 dollars (except for the $8 icecream in Pioneer Park..it was good though!). But it was a blast!!! Kendra and Trisha went on all the rides they could which were all the kiddie rides and some adult rides! Lagoon really has done a great job in updating their Kiddie Land park. We started out the day with just Grandma Hale, mom, Kendra, and Trisha. We had so much fun! Grandma was a good sport to help me out. We played hard! Dad was able to join us later that afternoon just as we finished going on all the rides once...that's how many there are...to do as much as we could again with dad. Grandma even took Kendra a Trisha on the tilt-a-whirl and scrambler while mom and dad went on a couple adult rides. We all had so much fun! Thanks Grandma Hale for coming!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

2009 Hale Vacation in Southern Utah

What a fun trip we had this year with Grandma and Grandpa Hale and cousins! We went down to Lydia's Canyon and stayed in a cabin/house from July 14-21.

It was a great place!

On the first day we drove down in caravan style with the Naluai's and Grandpa and Grandma Hale. We stopped at Cove Fort on the way down and toured the historic fort. We even got to play pioneer games. It was a fun stop.

On the second day we went to Escalante. We hiked some of the slot canyons. They were beautiful! We had a picnic by a cute stream. The weather was warm so the kids enjoyed playing in the water. Kendra really got into it. She took off her pants and sat in the water with only her underwear. What else could a 2 yr old ask for and not get in trouble :) It was so cute to see her in complete bliss! Blake and Keawe built a dam with some big rocks...such a man thing to do :). The hike was great with a little stream running throughout. We found some BIG BIG beetles along the way...good thing their not up here in Ogden! Later that night at the house we played games and filled up on junk food...yum yum!

On our third day we ventured to Zions National Park. The weather was warm but all the trails were mostly in shade so it helped tremendously! Especially with babies on your back! We hiked to upper and middle Emerald Pools and Weeping Rock. The kids had a blast with all the water to play in throughout the hikes not to mention a big pool at upper Emerald Pools to dive into...which is exactly what they did! Kendra and Trisha were in heaven being able to play in the water again in there clothes and it being okay :) We some well deserved ice cream at the Zion's Lodge in between hikes. YUMMY! Nothing like nice COLD ice cream on a HOT day! Pretty sure our heads sunk in a little deeper in our pillows that night.

On the fourth day we took a little rest from hikes and visited local sites. We went to The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. We only visited the bird section. It was fascinating. The birds were beautiful and fun. Some could talk. Some just mimicked. Some sang. Some just perched. But it was fun and informative. We then headed to Kanab and visited a fun "movie set" for small town movies I think? Then we visited an old Queen Ann home in Kanab called The Heritage House. It was fun to see the great architecture and antique items in the house. It housed a polygamous family in the early 1900's. We then headed home (past the sheriff vehicle with a dummy in it...He He) and played games again with a little more energy since we didn't do any hikes.

On Saturday the fifth day we headed back to Zion's Nation Park. We left a little later cause Brian and April had run a half marathon in Bryce Canyon that morning. Good for them!!! We headed to the Narrows. Another day in the water...what heaven! all the kids are thinking :)... Grandma stayed back at the river shore and watched the wee ones Trisha and Annie Jane. Brian and April took Grace and Trevor a little ways and then just let them play in the water. The rest of us trekked on through. It was a lot harder then I remember...but I was a kid then and nothing was hard then :) It got deep at some points and the older kids made sure they swam through it. It was spectacular in views and water falls and just the color of the rock. Thanks to the men for helping the kids because us girls had to help each other! :) The canyon was a cool 86 degrees even though it was well into the upper 90's outside of the narrows canyon. It felt good! It was a fun and tiring day!

On Sunday we had a good day of a little R & R. Brian and Aprils family had to leave so Brian could be to work the next day :( It was fun to have them there! Before they left we all gathered together for some family pictures. We missed Greg but we were all there. It was great! We then attended church in the small town of Glendale. After we made the small drive to Crystal Falls. It was pretty! We had good cool weather and great views.

One night durring the vacation we were playing cards. April was going in and out of the house. Well one of her trips back into the house she let in a very unwelcome guest! Out of the corner of my eye I see something fly in. I knew without seeing it right away it was not a moth! I screamed to my mom that something had flown in and was by her feet. She looked down and screamed and jumped as it flew up near her and landed on the kitchen curtain. Dad caught the GINORMOUS beetle in a plastic container and we all marveled at it. It was HUGE!!! YUCK!!!

On our last day we trekked to Bryce Canyon. It was great weather! Cool, rainy but very spotty, and sunny. We went to most lookout's and hiked the Navajo loop. Kendra and Trisha stayed behind with Grandpa and Grandma Hale. They did their own little site seeing while we hiked. The hike seemed a little more vigorous, but I think it felt that way after lots of other hikes this whole trip. I don't know if I could have done it with Trisha on my back. I was a beautiful hike though! It was amazing and awing to see big tree's way down in the sand stone figures. They grew so tall and straight! Such fun rock! After we ventured to Navajo lake and looked out. So pretty and calming. Laura and Keawe's family traveled to St. George and took their kids to church history sites. That would have been fun to see as well...never enough time.

We headed home on Tuesday. It was a bitter sweet leave. It's never fun to leave fun times! But it's good to go home and dream of the next vacation!!! We had to go home and pack up our house so we could move the next week from Logan to Harrisville.

I'm grateful for the time we have to spend with family especially in such a beautiful country. How could you ever question the Maker of this beautiful land we live in! Thank you to all my family for making it such a fun and memorable time. I love you Blake! Thank you for the great teamwork in hiking :) Can't wait till next vacation!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Father's Day 2009

Here's a shout out to my wonderful husband Blake! We had a great Fathers day! We did what any other man would have and should have done....BBQ :) Blake got a new little grill for Fathers Day. His old one was just that...OLD and only had one temp. HOT! So us girls thought what better time then Father's Day to give daddy a new grill. I know it's little but one day when we graduate to a real house we will graduate to a real grill
We of course had to try it out. But not just at home but up in the mountains! We broke it in with some fantabulouse Alaskan Salmon....YUMMY!!! And grilled pineapple...DOUBLE YUMMY!!! Blake is a great griller and it tasted succulent!!! The girls found the enjoyment of the dirt, rocks, bugs, and of course the water, but they could only look cause it is still roaring out of the canyons. What a fun time we had! We love you Blake (Daddy)!!! We are so lucky to have you in our lives to take care of us. Here's to the many more grilling times! XOXOXOXOX

Friday, June 19, 2009

Trampoline FUN!!!

Click on picture to enlarge

I used to love the trampoline when I was little. I still love it but growing older and well...lazyier...it is really a workout for me...pathetic huh! So I now take my joys in watching my kids jump. What fun energy it puts inside us all!!!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Trisha's 1st Birthday!

Wow I can't believe by baby is 1! Has a year really gone by? She has grown so much and yet she is still a baby to me. Maybe because her hair isn't very long and she still has twinkle toes when she stands. She is such a joy in our life! Here is just a quick glance through her first year:

There are a million other pictures I wanted to put on here. What a little dolly she is! She is still hanging on to just two bottom teeth and only wants to walk with help. Maybe she will surprise us and learn to walk and grow her other teeth all in one swoop. :)

For her birthday we had the Walker family over and had a pizza party. Yummy! She was spoiled with clothes! She looks so good! She got a baby doll from her sister Kendra cause she always plays hers and so we thought that would be a great gift from sister. She loves it! It's amazing to me the motherly instinct in such young souls. When we had cake she got her very own star cake. She, like most 1 year olds, didn't understand at first but once she tasted the frosting she took a few bites and then dumped the whole plate and licked the frosting off. Silly Trisha! It was a fun party. We had a little party for the Hale side during Sunday dinner and she got some great clothes, dresses, and bath toys. She shares her birthday month with Grandma Hale and auntie Laura and cousin Ethan so we had one big party. On the morning of her real birthday we woke her up (well she was awake) with singing Happy Birthday. She just stared at us like we were nuts but it was fun. Daddy made her chocolate pancakes for breakfast with a candle in it and later we went to the park. It was fun and I'm sure she will remember everything :)

Click on collage to enlarge

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Kendra the sticker master :)

(click on collage to enlarge)
The other day Kendra found Disney stickers and thought they would look good on Trisha. I didn't know what she was doing until I heard her say..."See mom see. Pretty Pretty." as she comes and grabs my hand and pulls me to Trisha. I had a good laugh! Trisha was such a good sport about it too. She didn't like me taking them off so much cause it pulled her hair, but she was enjoying it just as much as Kendra. Cute punkin doodle!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

The Easter Bunny Came

Another Easter has come and gone... We were able to get together at my mom's house this year with cousins and have a easter egg hunt. It was so fun!!! April, Laura, and I brought a dozen eggs and a different dye for them. Each of the kids spent precious, but a fun time dying their eggs. We had sparkle eggs, and marble eggs, and tin foil shinny eggs.

It was so cute to see them all put serious thought into what the current egg should look like. Cute Grace and Kendra just wanted to do PINK eggs and then they wanted out...

I guess it's more fun to NOT have to have a parent help. So they lost interest fast. But put good effort into it :). Then when all the eggs were dyed the "Easter Bunny" hid all the eggs and a few other goodies like gum, fruit snacks, chocolate, candy filled eggs, and capri-sun's. YUMMY!!! The kids had to watch a movie while waiting to go outside... I love how they waited :)

"we can see the tv from here" they said...he he he. I love it! Then we all headed outside for the fun.

To make it fair we told the kids they had to only look for eggs with their certain shape...Kendra had eggs with sun's on them

and Trisha had eggs with stick figure people on them... ran out of shape ideas :) After a while Kendra got the hang of it. She couldn't understand why she had to leave some eggs behind when they were right there?! Trisha just liked the "put the egg in the basket" thing. Great hand coordination!

All in all it was a fun day! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Hale!

Yes my baby is starting to stand all by herself! She's to little...

Here are there Easter dresses. They were so beautiful!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Logan is cursed!!!

I am really convinced that Logan is a cursed city! Or at least in the winter. Every time we leave this place to warmer weather like California, Vernal, Salt Lake... we come home to snow storms. I know my poor daughters can't wait till we leave again cause that means we get to "wee" (swing) or "slide" or "hop" (trampoline)...just go outside! You can't do that here.

Thank goodness for daddy's though cause they have the patience for the snow. These were just taken a couple weeks ago with the last snow storm. Hopefully this will be the last BIG snow storm of the season. I can't say last one because it's snowing today. ARRRRGGGG!

Trisha want's to go outside so so bad!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy Birthday Blake!

Happy Birthday Blake!!!

It was Blake's birthday March 4th and our little family had a family home evening/birthday celebration for him. Now if you ask why on Monday when his birthday was on a Wednesday that's because I had a surprise for him and it would be with the girls. So we had ribs and American Beauty cake (red velvet) for his dinner. His birthday present was a new gun...ya he picked that one out!

I'm not sure the picture of him and girls with the gun is my favorite...

And Then... We went to Disneyland for his real birthday :) It was a total surprise. He new we were doing something fun for his birthday...cause i had to ask him for money... but he didn't know it would be this :)

We came down to Salt Lake on Tuesday March 3rd because he had to take his Utah insurance test, which he passed congrats love!, and he thought I had a couple errands to run. Well after i dropped him off at the testing center I ran my girls up to my wonderful sister-in-law April's house to stay while we were gone. Then raced back to pick him up. Our plane was leaving @ 2:30 so we had to be there at least an hour early since we were flying stand-by. (thanks Mom!) My plan was to blind fold him and pick up my dad so he could take the car after we were dropped off at the airport but he said he would be sick...GREAT!!! Should I tell him now that we are going to a theme park for his birthday?... he was a little surprised to see that the girls were now with me when I picked him up and then when we went to my dad's work to pick him up he new that meant we must be going to the airport. Why else would we pick someone up and head in that direction. Blake even told me as we neared the airport exit on the freeway.."shouldn't we get off here" smart Alic! :) but at least he didn't know where we were going. We flew into San Diego and Natalie picked us up and we stayed at there apartment. Thanks Nat and Brian!!! I got to see the brand new little one Annie Jane. Anyway...We woke up bright and early Wednesday and drove to the happiest place on earth...DISNEYLAND!

We had so much fun! He got in free cause it was his birthday. He got a big button that sayed Happy Birthday Blake and every worker who saw it wished him a happy birthday. I forgot my camera...of course... so these pictures are from my phone that's why they aren't the best of quality. It was a little rainy- more misty the whole day but it kept the crowds down and the temp nice.

This is us on space mountain:

We ate at the Blue Bayou for lunch...YUMMY $80 later. We won't be doing that with the kids! Or really ever...but a wonderful place!!!

I hope you had fun Blake cause I did! He said he's going to surprise me for my Birthday with a fishing trip... This trip was totally for you not for me :) wink wink nudge nudge

The Walker clan