Hiking up Foothill

The view from the top.

We took the kids for a hike in Foothill park on MLK day. The weather was in the 70's and it was a perfect day. We had such a great time. There were a few falls here and there and the boys got a little tired but they did great. Ammon was very friendly to the people passing by and would yell out, "hello!" or "I like your dog!" He also collected some hay in case we got hungry. The hike is perfect for a younger family like ours and the view was beautiful.

We are loving living in Windsor. Not to rub it in Kas, but the weather is amazing and more and more we are thinking about settling down and making this our permanent home. We have had weeks of 70 degree weather and sunny skies, in January! This is why it's expensive to live in California. But the real estate market has dropped and it's getting more affordable!

I think it took me a while to blog because I've got lots and lots of pictures. So instead of doing it all at once I've decided to take it one event at a time.

Easy Actions

If you're like me you might be a little overwhelmed by photoshop. I have photoshop CS. Thanks to my sister Kasey who gave it to my sister Lindsey who passed it on to me! I found some free actions you can download from The Pioneer Woman's blog but didn't know how to load them into photoshop. Alas I came across a lady who posts on the PW's blog and she has a website with free actions on it! First she teaches you how to load them and then gives you some free ones. So fun and much less time consuming when you want to edit photo's. Plus I've learned so much so quickly. Once you press on an action you have to keep clicking OK as it goes through each command and so I actually see what is happening to the picture and can write the steps down!

burnt

vintage

brighter

vibrant

B & W

crisp

soft and heavenly

The one I started with.

Most of you are probably already aware of these actions! I just had to share my excitement with you.

An old one from Utah. But I love it.

I was going for an old vintage photograph look here.

I don't know what those are called on his sleeve. But I think it's cool.

I'm not into blogging right now. I don't know why. But I'm just not feeling it. I hate that guilty feeling of knowing you really need to blog but don't want to. I just have to remember that this is a way of keeping a record of our family history.

I've been having some fun with my camera. I met a local photographer who's going to start a class next month with me and a few other girls. I'm so excited to get some hands on training!

Last Saturday Ammon started basketball. He LOVES it! Everyday he asks when he has practice again. Tomorrow is his first game. We haven't been doing anything exciting this week but we seem to stay busy. The weather has been beautiful and I've been walking the kids to the park a few times a day. Rylee is crazy. She is always running away and has now started to tackle other kids. She's not doing it to be mean but to play with them. She will do it to people we don't know which is a little embarassing. She also loves dog's, babies, and bird's. Next week is my sister's reception so I'm going to take the kids up to Humboldt to spend the week with my grandparents who are visiting. I can't wait to spend a whole week of one on one time with them!

trip update

Utah was great I got to see this girl and this little boy:

We stayed at Hotel Pearson with our friends Drew and Celeste. They are so accommodating and wonderful hosts.

We ate, ate, ate and shopped. Then ate, ate, and shopped a little more.

Ammon LOVED playing at Uncle Dane's house. He would have stayed there forever and played with his "twenty cousins". He also loved going to Cabela's with Grandpa. My poor parents when we go on vacation with them Ammon just assumes he stays with them. We did take him back with us two times. At least he's the easiest of the three!

Jody took Ammon sledding at Rock Canyon Park in Provo with Uncle Wayne and Tanner. Cohen just watched because he didn't like getting cold. We saw lots of family. It was good to see so many people that we don't get to see often.


Oliver is the most PERFECT baby. Not only is he very handsome but so mild-mannered. I must have kissed him at least a hundred times! It was great spending some girl time with Linds. Though I hope next time will be a bit more relaxing. We were always on the go. We did have some fun at our photo shoot on Temple Square!


As you can see Alex looked gorgeous and seemed really calm on her wedding day. Everything went perfect.

The ride home wasn't too exciting. Ammon got pretty bored. Cohen and Ammon fought from Lake Tahoe to Windsor. We gave both Rylee and Cohen Benadryl which knocked them both out from Elko to Reno. We stopped in Truckee to let the boys play in the snow for a few minutes. I got VERY frustrated with Cohen from Sacramento to home. Every time I would say something he would stick his tongue out and blow spit. When we were about five minutes from home he wised up and apologized, "I still love you mommy." That's how he apologizes. I was planning on putting soap on his tongue but decided that two hours after the incident was a little too late. Next time....

Poor Roo. 11 hours in the car is no fun.

Ammon's boredness got the better of him. If you can't tell his shirt is tied around his head. Still not sure what he was going for there.

And my favorite quotes from the trip:

When we got back home, "It's good to be home, mommy." -Ammon

After Cohen tutted in the hotel and Jody said, "Cohen did you just tute?" And Cohen said, "That's just what bum's do Daddy." Can't argue with that!

"Tell me if you see any cowboys!" -Ammon At least half a dozen times as we drove through Nevada.

We are home and back to normal life. It's kind of nice. I'm back to my regular work out schedule. I have two Pampered Chef parties this month. I got a nice fat cold sore on my lip that is KILLING me and causing me some aches, pains and chills throughout my body (is that normal)? So far I've been Wendy, Master and a Power Ranger this week. Cohen has been Peter Pan, Karate Kid and a Power Ranger. He makes me fly to Never Neverland a few times a day. I can fly when he puts "sprinkles" on me. We also got a letter from our landlord. They are raising our rent $200 starting next month! Ouch. In case you're wondering we already pay $1600 a month and that really stretches us. And we knew we were getting a deal. It only took them 18 months to figure it out. So if nothing else it's given us a good kick in the butt to get going on purchasing a home in the next year, downsizing to save money or moving. At this point I'm up for anything! Cheer's to a Happy New Year!!!

P.S. I'm too lazy to photoshop. The nerve. Some people.

picture perfect