Texas

We have loved being in Texas so far. It's hard being so far away from family but we're sure this is where we are supposed to be for now. Here are some adventures we've had so far.

Tori and Jaegen have made lots of friends!

There is a fun water park for the kids to play at that they love! Best part is, it's free! so mom and dad love it too!

We have a great mall right across the street from our apartment!

We have a rabbit who lives on our lawn.

Daddy has pan band parties with Tori and Jaegen.

Tori had her official birthday! She got a princess sleeping bag from mom and dad, a chair from grandma and grandpa Stout, a dance bag, princess candy for rewards, and we went to Chuck-E-Cheese!

We took pictures to send to work with daddy.

Tori and Jaegen found there favorite spot in the house.

Princess Party!

Tori turned 3 this summer and to celebrate we had a princess party. We invited friends and cousins around her age and when they showed up they got to walk into Tori's castle. They all came dressed up in their princess best!

They started with stations.They got to decorate their take home treat basket with princess stickers and glitter foam stickers and crayons and crowns. 

They got to get their hair done by Ashley, who is in beauty school right now. They got braids and clips and glitter put in their hair along with a princess crown to top it all off.

When they were all dressed up they got to take pictures with a princess! My mom, sisters, and a couple of friends dressed up as princesses for the party too.

After the stations we played a life size pretty pretty princess game (cake walk) where they all got a ring, bracelet, necklace, and earrings.

They then had lunch with pink princess punch (pink lemonade and sprite mixed) and then we played a treasure game where the little girls had to find the princesses treasure that was stolen by naughty pixies and hidden all over the living room. 

Then they got balloons and ribbon wands and went to the ball. They danced and had fun.

Then we had a princess castle cake that Tori is still talking about and ice cream.

After the cake  we opened presents and then watched a princess movie while we waited for the little princesses to be picked up.

See what cute Princesses (and Prince) we had!

24th of July and 4th Anniversary

We were in Hurricane for the 24th of July, which is Pioneer Day. Hurricane celebrated with a large parade and then games and booths at a park. The parade was much larger than the 4th of July. It was actually kind of sad how short the parade for the 4th was, but they did do really great fireworks on the 4th. We started out early and made it to the parade and sat in front of an elderly couples house and they offered us chairs to sit on. They were very sweet. After we watched a parade full of horses, high school bands, LDS ward decorated floats, and tractors pulling horse trailers full of little kids we walked a little ways to the newest park area in Hurricane, which actually isn't that new. It's the old play area of the elementary school that was recently closed. It was where I spent most of my elementary  school years and where my dad went to high school. We played lots of games, we watched Jarem and Gunner get dunked, Tori got her face painted, and we ate watermelon and walking navajo taco's. It was actually a lot of fun!

This summer Derrick and I also celebrated our 4th Anniversary. It's gone by so fast and yet it seems like we've been together forever! I married the best man in the world. We were most definitely meant for each other and he completes me in every way! I'm so lucky that he's part of my life and will be for eternity! I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't imagine eternity without him. We decided to celebrate by going to Tuacahn and watching Tarzan. I've wanted to go for years and I'm glad Derrick and I got to share the experience. We were surrounded by beautiful Southern Utah red mountains and the weather was perfect. Tarzan was a really fun show and we had such a great time. We were able to look at the St. George temple all lit up on our way home from the top of a mountain next to St. George. I wish I would have taken pictures there. It is actually were Derrick and I went after he proposed. We went and looked at the glowing temple and called our families to let them know we were engaged. Best decision I've ever made in my entire life.