A Mini Reunion

On the way back from Utah, we decided to take a detour through the Rockies into Denver for a trip down memory lane at the Bean's house.

Rick was Dave's roommate at BYU and Anna Marie was my roommate at the same time....needless to say we went on a lot of double dates.

As you can see, the household of pink has hit the Bean household as well...one of Dave's other college roommates has four girls.

We were treated to lots of great girly performances in the basement.

And the sleepover lasted late into the night!

Thanks again for the Bed and Breakfast at the Bean's! We found out just after leaving that the Bean's were going to break their girl run with a baby boy!

Fourth of July in Utah

We worked out a pretty great way to visit Utah this summer with Dave sandwiching business trips on both ends of the visit.

One of our favorite traditions is taking our kids to the Thanksgiving Point Farm. Kyler was the perfect age for it, but apparently Aubrie liked it too!

Kyler wanted nothing to do with the pony rides though.

We also loved seeing family we don't get to see as often as we wish...like Great Grandpa Joines.

and even Aunt Natalie...

and Becca (and Chris) drove from Phoenix to visit.

The kids loved playing at the Children's Museum.

This was the second Fourth of July in a row that we spent in Utah. I think one of my highlights of last year was seeing Stadium of Fire. So we went for a repeat performance, but this time went as a girl's night.

We saw David Archuleta and Brad Paisely. Surprisingly, I liked David's performance better than Brad's.

Kyler enjoyed the trucks and horses at the 4th of July parade

As you can see, we definitely now have a boy in this house!

Sunday morning, prior to church, Aubrie, Ellie, Dave, and I were able to be at the Conference Center for a live patriotic broadcast of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Fourth of July might just be my favorite holiday, and hearing this huge and talented choir singing of our freedom was incredible! I think everyone deserves hearing the choir in person sing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." It is life changing!

Thank you Grandma T. for housing us, spoiling us, and providing great memories! We love you!

Post-it Girl

If you happened to open up your Sunday ad this week, or stumble into Staples, you might have seen Aubrie on this label package!


Earlier this summer, Dave had an emergency at work where his group had a last minute need for a kid model to put on the Post-it label packaging. As Dave has the most (and cutest) kids in the division, he was asked to spare one for the cause. Aubrie was thrilled to get out of school for a couple hours for the "photo shoot" and enjoy the pay of free pizza, cookies, and soda.

Aubrie picked the name "Sarah" for the name tag on her shirt in the image.

Summer 2011...The trailer

Every year we have a tradition of Dave making a family summer vacation video. This year we even have a movie trailer for the film that will be debuting on the blog in a few weeks. Enjoy...

A future rocker!?

The next Justin Bieber? Just maybe. He's got the hair, the drum skills, and the ladies love him (at least his 3 sisters do). Enjoy Kyler's debut on the drums (shirtless, of course!).


Thanks to our dear friends, the Gilberts, for letting Kyler play uninhibited on their drum set! He now has an obsession for drums or as he calls them, "bums!"

Teyah is Four!!

This cute Indian Princess turned 4 this summer!


The Native American theme was her pick of course, and it turned out super cute! It was a nice break from the standard girl b-days we have done. Lauren and I sewed the dress ups and made the cake and had so much fun doing it! Did I ever mention how it was the best months of my life having my sister live with us?! Anyway, the girls looked darling!


Even though Kyler had the cutest"Ky-Boy" outfit on, he wasn't so into the hat or posing for the camera.


Lauren sewed an extra costume for Teyah's doll "Morgan." Then Grandma bought her an American Girl doll that is a Native American named "Kaya." Those two dolls sure are loved!

For the party, Dave created a homemade teepee that the girls played in and pretended to roast marshmallow's over a construction paper fire.


The girls decorated their treat bags, played a trading game, had "pony" rides, and of course...


ate cake! I was pretty proud of this one, but like I said, Lauren gets half the credit!


As per tradition, we rode the rides at the mall with just the birthday girl.


We love our Teyah!

About Teyah...

1. She added "rockstar" to her full name and always introduces herself by her first, middle, and last name plus "rockstar." She demands that we say rockstar when saying her full name and insists it is her real name. Hilarious!

2. She really loves her sisters and is always trying to keep up with them and do the things they are doing.

3. After getting her tonsils and adenoids removed and a new set of tubes, I think she only had one minor illness this winter! This is AMAZING!

4. She has been in speech therapy and occupational therapy since September. Her therapists just love her and say she has been a hard worker and a quick learner. Because of this, she probably won't be in speech therapy much longer. Her articulation has come a long way this year. Great work Teyah!

5. Teyah marches to the beat of her own drum and chooses dolls, stuffed animals, etc. which is what she wants and is not influenced at all by other people. When purchasing her Kaya doll, the AG salesperson even commented how so few girls choose dolls that are not their own race, but the ones who do tend to be more unique and creative. This is Teyah for sure.

6. She is uninhibited in so many ways and super affectionate and happy... One time she asked if she could give the random stranger lady sitting next to us at the movie theater a kiss. She will walk up to her teacher at school or church and hug and kiss them. It took a long time for her to learn to kiss them on the cheek instead of the lips! I think she has finally learned what a stranger is and that we don't kiss them, but not because she doesn't want to!

7. She loves soft things -- blankets especially. She will not sleep without her "little yellow blankie."

8. She is a lefty! Her hand will still tire though, and then she will start using both hands and sometimes switch off to her right to give her left hand a break, but it always starts out in the left hand.

Teyah's positive personality brings so much joy, love, and affection into our home! We love you!

Teyah's field trip

Teyah and her cute Joy School friends enjoyed a beautiful day at Gibb's Farm.


We have to post these pictures because this field trip started Teyah down a path of loving "Little House on the Prairie" books and everything Native American...teepees, kayaks, trading, log houses, etc.


She loved this old-fashioned country school room and now everything is all about this era! I love preschool obsessions! They are so fun and quirky!

End-of-school-year fun

The cutest fairy ever arrived at the Fairy Tale Ball

And the most expressive Kindergarten singer performs the Spring program.

Like most things, Ellie is all business.

She was surprisingly sooooo excited about this program. I think perhaps her favorite part of her Kindergarten year was all the songs.

Aubrie beautifully performed her piano recital piece. She is becoming quite the pianist.

And quite the ballerina. Next year she will dance two days a week!

These two divas danced as a Gargoyle and Night Mite in the children's ballet held at this famed theater.

Some Firsts for Teyah

Teyah completed her first year of preschool (Joy School). This picture is sooo Teyah. We were going to have her take off the glasses, but it's just so her that we decided to let her be. She is a true fashionista.


This might have been my favorite year of Joy School. Or do I say that every year? This group of kids were just darling, sweet, and fun.


These all-star mom's are what made it such a success. I love this program and what it has given me and my children. In the fall I will be starting my sixth straight year teaching it! Crazy!


Teyah had her first dance recital this spring too. She loves trying to keep up with her big sisters, and she really loves to dress up. We were a little afraid how she would fare at the recital, but she pleasantly surprised us. She tends to dance to the beat of her own drum and not the one that her teacher suggests, but she did pretty well sticking to convention this time.


So fun to have the true ballerina Aunt Lauren to watch and be part of it!

Summer....Finally!

Fortunately, the third snowiest winter on record in Minnesota is now a distant memory.

But, we had to post these pictures so when our kids tell their children about this winter, they have proof of their stories.

This is a place where people love to talk weather and share the worst weather stories ever, and for the first time, everyone this year said they never remembered a winter quite like this one. It was intense!

Here's the proof that winter really doesn't last forever, and summer here is truly heavenly.