Our new bear lake house

Dan has always had a dream of owning a vacation property. He has been looking at homes in Bear Lake for over a year. I never thought we would pull the trigger so soon, but this house came up and it was a great deal and it made it an even better deal because Mindy and Remi wanted to join us in this journey.

It is a beautiful home in the sweet water area, on the mountain behind the Pickleville Playhouse. It is a five bedroom four bathroom home built in 2021. 

We got to go up and see it for the very first time at the end of April. It was also a work trip. Mindy and I have been shopping a lot and plan to re-decorate the whole house. The boys did an accent wall in the basement and helped hang up everything for us. It was a lot of work especially multitasking with the kids. But it was so fun to see it come together. It is such a beautiful home with a gorgeous view. We can’t wait to share it with others and also to come back up when it’s warmer outside.

Dave got a liver!

Dave finally got a liver! He has been quite through the journey for about six months or longer to try to get a new liver. He’s had three living donors that have all been super close and donating, but they would always fall up short on their last test. Earlier in the month Dave got a call from the doctor that they had a deceased mother, so they had him go in and get all prepped, but they found out that liver was not good. 

Finally, the next call that came back. Two weeks later was from the doctor about another deceased donor. He got all prepped again, and we had a good feeling about this one. And he finally went into surgery got his liver transplant. We are so happy! It will be a long journey with his recovery.

Hurricane

Just a week after spring break, we went back to Hurricane. Jason and Lindsey wanted me to take their engagements and bridals out there. So we made it a family trip and Mindy and her family came along too. The first night I took their engagement pictures at Sand Hollow. It was a beautiful evening and fun to get to know Lindsey and her mom and sister. The next morning we got to open the pool for the first time this year, and spent all day in it. Then later I met up with Jason and Lindsey and her parents again and we drove into Zion formal pictures. It was quite the process to get there especially for Jason and Lindsay being in their wedding attire. We had to hike and not very hard hike, but it was a whole lot harder than I expected. We stopped along the way to take pictures and then end it at a beautiful Lookout. It was amazing and I’m so glad I got to do it in my career. But I don’t think I want to do it again. the next day Dan and I got away went on a little side-by-side ride in the sand dunes. It was great! And it ended up being a very fun trip.

34th birthday

It’s my birthday! My mom and sisters and I all gathered at my mom‘s house to eat lunch and hang out with the little kids. After everyone got home from school I open presents. Dan was really excited that I wanted golf clubs. He bought me a brand new set, I’m excited to use them! Then we all went to Lucy soccer game. And then ended the night eating ice cream cake. It was a great day celebrating with the ones I love most! 

Easter 2023

We had a beautiful Easter Sunday. We first surprised our kids with their Easter baskets. And then ate a delicious breakfast. We went to church and celebrated and talked about the resurrection of Jesus.

Later that day, we went to my parents and had an Easter egg hunt. My parents finally got their grass in, so it was fun to run on and play on and be in the nice warm sun. I love this holiday and celebrating Jesus Christ, and that we will all live again.

Spring break at Capitol Reef

It's Spring Break! But it certainly doesn't feel like it. While we were packing up our trailer to leave to Capitol Reef, it was snowing at our house.

We were hoping there was no snow at our campground, and we lucked out. We stayed at a beautiful campground in Tori. But the first couple of days it was freezing. We went with Emilie and Tony and their kids and our kids having an absolute blast with their cousins. We hung out the first day and try to not freezer bums off.

The next morning, Dan and I freaked out a little bit because our water froze.

A sleeping bag also got stuck in our bunkbed. It wasn’t a great morning. But we ate breakfast and headed out for the park. The park was a lot warmer than our campsite. We hiked to an arch. It was a gorgeous hike. We even saw two mountain goats. We drove around the park a little bit and then headed back to our campsite where we went on a ATV ride and then eat dinner.

The next morning, we went back to the park and did a couple of hikes. One was through a slot canyon, which the kids loved because they could climb up the walls and hide in the holes. After we went and got fresh pie and homemade ice cream and hung out on the grass. 

The last day we did a quick Easter egg hunt. It was freezing and windy, but it did not stop the kids from having fun and eating candy. It was a great trip and we really loved capital reef! We’d love to come back when it’s a little warmer.