HORSES!!!!!

The kids (Lydia mostly) have wanted to ride a horse for MONTHS (maybe years) and we finally found a place for them to ride! We are leasing the horse for a very small fee, the owner appreciates us exercising her horses. We can go as often as we want for as long as we want! It was so much fun. I think Darwin was almost in tears to be back in his comfort zone. Lydia was extremely peaceful and just content, you could tell her spirit was pleased. Trevor loves animals and was happy to be with calm horses. I enjoyed taking pictures of them loving horses! They did so good, they followed direction and did almost everything Darwin asked them to. (there are life lessons to be learned in circumstances such as these...) They took great care of the horses and had a wonderful time. It is so beautiful here, there are many horse trails weaving through the neighborhoods and lots of places to ride safely. It was a wonderful day.

The video below is of Lydia. She learned very easily how to command the horse. She had a great time, even though she got bit by the horse while she was trying to feed her carrots! Notice in the video how calm Lydia is and how she is able to direct the horse.
They both learned so much that day.

We went ICE SKATING!!! Lydia thought she would be able to skate like Barbie in The Magic of Pegasus! She was a little frustrated and rather disappointed. But she still had a good time and said she wants to go again.

Trevor on the other hand was SO GOOD! I think he is a natural! He was a little nervous at first, then he just took off! He was skating in the middle of the rink! (I still wont venture form the edges...) He fell maybe 20+ times and came home with the NASTIEST bruises but he didn't even feel it! We all had a great time! It makes me appreciate Hockey players and figure skaters even more!!!!

Western Sunsets!

Wow, just another amazing ocean sunset! We went to La Jolla beach for a walk and happend to catch this AMAZING sunset! They are all beautiful, but this one was SPECTACULAR!!!!!!
Don't you wish you were here? Come Visit!

"The Star of India"

Trevor in on the "Star of India" right now reinacting the Gold Rush! This boat is the OLDEST working boat in the world!

Bella Days

We have been dog sitting my sisters dog. The kids LOVED her. This is the best way to have a dog, like a TIMESHARE! We played for 3 weeks then she went back to her parents!

Just LYDIA

Sooo funny!!! I am not sure if this is a self portriat or if Trevor is the Camera man. There are LOTS of pics of Lydia on my camera right now, she LOVE the camera and is quite the poser! You'll see lots of her for a few posts!

Legoland

We went to Legoland for Trevor and Lydia Christmas Present! It was so much fun! This homeschooling thing is AWESOME! We have been able to got AMAZING discounts to all the fun things. We have been able to see so much. There are restrictions, but we just work with in them and get great deals! I like this homeschooling thing
.


"Uh, how do you get this thing to go faster?" This is a good park for kids ages 4-12. Some of the rides, like this one are a little slow.
Trevor was THRILLED to find this one! His Indy hero
So cool, there were tons of things made all out of legos! If I had charged my camera before we left I might have gotten a few more pics. duh

Indiana Jane? ? ?

So, more Trevor taking pictures and Lydia posing for them. Lydia found Trevors Indiana Jones costume and came down stairs for a photo shoot!!! I love all the personality in these pics!!!

"TIGER"

We have a new bird "Tiger". Trevor picked him out and he is AWESOME!!! He is well mannered and just beautiful. Trevor took this pic.

Actually, I was looking through my recent pics and there are TONZ of Lydia. Then I recalled a frequent phrase in our house... "Trevor quick, take a picture of me!". So most of our pics are of Lydia and Trevor is the camera man! Funny!

New Rule. "Ask mom before you use the camera!"

We went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park before Christmas. They do lots of fun things, crafts, story time, shows, santa, and a SNOW HILL! This is trevor playing in the snow in 55 degrees. Ok, it was really more like a slushie/snow cone texture but not too bad for San Diego!
You've gotta have at lease one Santa shot every year!
Funny kids. It was model of a half an egg shell, I think this was their favorite part of the day. Simple amazement. Darwin liked it too, I have pics of him in the egg shell but I thought I would spare your eyes!

SAN DIEGO ZOO

Wow, the zoo is so beautiful! The trees and plants are AWESOME! I felt like I was in a different country! This is us watching the Panda Bears. They were so funny to just lay in a hole and covert themselves with bamboo leaves and eat away! Kung Fu Panda was our favorite movie for WEEKS!


Riding the copper turtle. Yipee
Lydia was chosen to be the "Helping Wizard" for the magic show! She LOVED it!

"My Cousin Vinny"

Trevor has a cousin Vinny that does some really awesome stunts (tricking?). Trevor thinks he is AWESOME so he has been practicing to do some stunts! The video is kind of skippy, sorry.

My Little Princess!!!

She is such a HELPER! Lydia wanted to help me put my vitamins in my pill box. She worked on this for almost an hour! Don't worry, I was right there with her and none of the vitamins I let her work with were dangerous. She loves to be with her mommy.


HA HA HA!!! Lydia loves to play with the dinosaurs and snakes! I about fell over laughing when I found these with a tutu and flowers! What a little tom-boy.

Two Things

My Friend sent this to me, I thought it was fun so i sent it on. Anyone want to reply to it??

Two Names You Go By:
1. Lisa

2. Marvelous

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now: (other than clothes)
1. deodorant

2. extra weight

Two Things You Want Very Badly At the Moment:
1. my desk cleared

2. my shoes off

Two Things You Did Last Night:
1. went to Legoland

2. read a homeschooling book

Two Things You Ate Yesterday:
1. italian sandwich from subway

2. 2 year sharp cheddar cheese...yum (hm, could be the extra weight problem)

Two things you are Doing Tomorrow:
1. going to the temple

2. teaching trevor about the 5 senses

Two Longest Car Rides:
1. To Vermont

2. and back, with a 2 week old baby

Two Favorite Holidays:
1. Easter

2. Christmas

Favorite Vacation:
1. Carribean cruise

2. Im living it! I still feel like I am on vaca. 68 degrees today!!!!!!!!

Two Favorite Beverages
1. Sangia

2. Seltzer water with grape juice and lime

Leeds!

We went to St. George for Thanksgiving week. It was soooo much fun to see all the family and friends. We sure miss everyone. It was nice to drive back into town and have it confirmed that we made the right choice in moving to San Diego. As much as we miss St. George, San Diego feels like home. BUT, we had a BLAST while we were there! The kids collected eggs and milked a goat! We went for walks and played with the cousins. Uncle Landon took Trevor geode hunting! We only had about 2 hrs before sunset but we were lucky enough to find one! Thank you Uncle Landon!


We had a "Cousins sleepover" at Aunt Debbies house (blessed Aunt Debbie). The count of kids changed through out the night as some decided to go back and sleep with their parents! But, I think the highest count was 17! It was so much fun. Uncle Dale slept over too to help the adult child ratio. Dale and Hyrum told the kids stories in the morning and played charades. They had a great time!!!!

We all really enjoyed our time there. Tessa is a GREAT cook and Debbie is a GREAT grandma and aunt. We are looking forward to going back for a visit, just not sure when...

SEA WORLD!!! So much FUN!!!!

So far, Sea World seems to be the kids favorite! We had such a good time. They LOVED the rides there too. It will be fun to see how they like LegoLand.


Fascinated by the shark tunnel.


Every kid has to have a giant lollipop once in their lives, hopefully only once...

Grandma and Grandpa West

My parents health has been declining rather quickly the past few months. I am so grateful we have been able to spend so much time with them in Arizona. This is time Trevor and Lydia will never have again. They have had the opportunity to get to know Grandma and Grandpa better, these memories will stay with them forever.
Mom has always been so good with Children. She loves them and they love her. I guess that is why she had 8 kids!
Lydia loves a chance to pull a face!
My father has been so wonderful. He has been such a good example of peace. His testimony is evident in all he says and all he does. He is an educated man that is very wise. I love to hear his simple council. I have truly been blessed with amazing parents. Full of love and full of faith.

LYDIA DANCING ! ! !

Tide pooling!!!

We went tide pooling at Cabrillo National Monument! There was a GREAT sub-low tide of 1.7. That only happens a few times a year and when it does you can see all KIND of creatures you don't normally see! We even saw a star fish! This pic is of an anemone eating a crab! Trevor thought this was the HIGHLIGHT! We did this with a homeschooling group. I LOVE homeschooling and all the time I get with my kids. It is seriously awesome.



Trevor and Lydia crawling out of a cave on the coast line


Trevor following a blue herring. He got much closer than I thought he could


Isn't this a AWESOME coast line? It was a little windy but still good temperatures!
I LOVE San Diego.

Trevors 9th and Lydias 5th Birthdays

Lydias princess cake! It was a suprise for her and she LOVED it! It was a fun party.


All the cute little princesses at Lydias party! We made wands and crowns. It was so fun having a house full of little girls!


Trevors Indiana jones cake. He baked the cake and designed it all himself! Its Indie rescuing his partner that is tied to the explosive candle on the other side of the snake pit! Too funny!

All the boys with the Whips they made! They are getting ready to go on a treasure hunt. FUN


Before their birthdays we had a fun cake and ice cream birthday celebration at a park in St. George. It was so fun to see all our cousins and friends again. We miss you all TONS!