Memorial Day Weekend!

Memorial Day has come and gone in a hurry. I missed being in Brigham to see my dad's grave site and all the beautiful flowers. I think about him a lot and especially this time of year. I love seeing the Hawaiian Lei that my Mom orders for his headstone. She always orders a bright red carnation lei from Kula, Hawaii, a place where my Dad served his mission and dearly loved. Here in Saint George we have had an active weekend. Mark's brother Luke and his family have been here all weekend looking for a home to buy or rent. They recently sold their home in Draper and will be moving to Saint George in a month. We are excited to have more family close to us. We are hoping they can find a home somewhat close to our neighborhood. We welcome any family and friends to come and visit any time! The above picture is the view outside my kitchen window as you can see our house is right next to the Virgin River so hopefully the 100 hundred year flood that hit in 2005 won't happen again until 2105 by then I'll be long gone!! (hopefully in heaven)

Kissing Cousins!

This is a picture of Brianna and her cousin Preston about a year ago!

This is a picture of Brianna and Preston from this weekend! My how they grow fast!

Brianna going in for a kiss!

Losing It!!

Brianna is very upset because she wants a piece of candy from the drawer and she had already has 3 pieces so I told her no! I am afraid she has inherited my sweet tooth!

Brianna loves to get into my closet and pick out all my high heeled shoes. She then proceeds to wear them around the house all morning, however the sound of high heel clicking on tile floors all day can make one a little edgy!!

Summer heat comes early to Saint George!

Well we are getting are first taste of the Summer heat this week. Temperatures hit 104 degrees yesterday. Brianna and I will be spending most of our summer days at the new Washington City Pool. I helped work the open house for the new recreation center and I have a feeling it is going to be a very popular spot for a lot of Saint George and Washington City residents. Mark has been training for some races and plans on running the Saint George Marathon this fall. He has been getting up at 4:30 a.m. in the morning 3 times a week to run with a group of guys he met at work. The temperatures in Saint George in the summer months can be 90 degrees even in the early morning hours. I hope I can survive!! Everyone tells me the first summer is the hardest! Our house in located right on the Virgin River and that seems to cool us down a little especially if there is a slight breeze. A group of girls from my Ward invited me to run a 5k race next month. The race takes place at 11:00 p.m at night at the Sunbrook Golf Course. I guess we run on the golf cart paved paths for 3 miles. I let you know if I survive it! I told Mark yesterday that Brianna and I may move to Montana for the summer months and meet back up with him this fall, he did not seem to like the idea too well!! The above picture is one Mark took of the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park last summer. When it is 110 degrees here I am going to picture myself wading through that river!

Our latest purchase!

Our life is so exciting that the most adventurous purchase we have made lately is Brianna's new potty training toilet seat!

Brianna likes her new toilet seat but not for its intended use as you'll see from the following pictures!!

Brianna using it as a hat!!

Brianna using it as a picture frame! Don't worry this seat is clean!!

Showing off Mark's photography talent

I hope you don't mind me showing off some of Mark's scenic pictures he has taken over the past 5 years that we have been married. This is one of my favorites from Nauvoo. This is a statue of Joseph and Hyrum on horse back and it sits in front of the Nauvoo Temple. Mark took this picture at sunset so the statues appear almost life like. The statue is entitled "Calm as a Summer's Morning"

Brianna's Music Class

Brianna and I go to a music class for children every friday morning at a local LDS Church. A bunch of mothers from the area organized it and we take turns leading the kids in songs, reading books and marching to music. Brianna was very involved this week because we sang a lot of Barney which are her favorite.

Singing along with the peek a boo song

Not as ugly as I once thought!

We have a few of these ugly plants in my yard and I wondered why they planted them but this Spring they have started sprouting out bright pink flowers so I guess I will keep them in the yard. I am not sure what the name of the plant is but they are planted all over Saint George. I miss working in my Brigham City yard. I love gardening and even pulling weeds. We only have a small yard in the front of the house and it only takes me 10 minutes to mow it. I know it is strange but I love to mow lawns! Mark said I could go around and volunteer to mow my neighbor's yards but I am afraid they will find me a bit weird!

Nauvoo the Beautiful!

I came across this picture that Mark had taken of the Nauvoo Temple and realized it was 3 years from today that we were in Nauvoo. If you have never been to Nauvoo, save the money and plan a family vacation to go there. It is such a beautiful and peaceful place and the spirit is so strong there. Mark and I attended a session in the Nauvoo Temple and it was so amazing inside and I could feel the spirit of the pioneers within its walls. April and May is the best time to visit Nauvoo because everything is green and in bloom and the humidity has not hit yet.

More Cotton Days Fun!

Mark and Brianna just sitting back and watching the quirky and some times unusual Cotton Days Parade!

I thought this was so funny! This guy has some how rigged up his tractor to drive like a horse and buggy he was actually controlling it with horse reins!

Every parade has Darth Vader and his friends marching in it right? Just another quirky small town thing!

A small petting zoo was set up in the city park and Brianna really liked the baby lambs.

But not so much the horses!

Great Weekend!

We had a really nice weekend. Brianna and I flew to Salt Lake City (thanks to my sister Kathy for the buddy pass). I attended Women's Conference at BYU with my Mom, three sisters and niece Emily. It was a wonderful conference we heard several awesome speakers including President Monson, Sheri Dew, Julie Beck and Mary Ellen Edmonds. I feel a renewed sense of responsibility to be a better Mom and woman in the gospel. The spirit is so strong when 20,000 LDS women gather in one building. Mark drove down Friday and met us in Provo and we ate dinner at Magelbys Restaurant. Mark did not seem to mind being the only man at the table. I want to thank my niece Mckell for taking off work and watching Brianna for the 2 days while we were at women's conference, you are a life saver!! Mark, Brianna and I drove to Elba, Idaho on Saturday Night and stayed at his sister Kathy's house. We were there for a baby blessing not just one but THREE baby blessings! Mark's sister and 2 Udy Sister-in-laws all had baby boys over the past 3 months and they decided to bless them all the same day in Idaho. Ren, Tyler and Chase were all blessed by their Fathers and it was a really neat sacrament meeting. Thank you Kathy for letting us stay in your beautiful home.

Cotton Days in Dixie!

This week is Washington City's annual Cotton Days celebration. This is their big event for the year. It started on Monday night with a movie in the park and fireworks. This Saturday we are going to the breakfast and parade. Mark may run in the 10k race. The grand marshals for the parade are Washington City Residents Coach Lavell Edwards and Cheryl Rogers Burnett (the daughter of the late Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.) I laughed when I read that because that seemed like such a funny combination but maybe Lavell is a big Roy Rogers Movie Fan!! This is a picture of Washington City Hall. Washington City is named after George Washington thus the large statue of George's head on the right!


This is an antique tractor show in the city park that me and Brianna went to. I still have a little farm girl in me!

New Job !!

I am starting a new job next week. Washington City just finished building a new Recreation and Aquatic Center. I will be working 2-3 days a week from 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in their Day Care. I get to take Brianna to work with me and they give us a free family pass to the recreation center. I feel very lucky to find such a job where I can earn a little extra money and get to take Brianna with me. This is a picture of the new center.

High Lands Park

This is our favorite park in all of Washington County. It is only about 10 minutes away from my house and it is located up on a bluff. The views of the red cliffs reserve are incredible and the toys are the best anywhere.

Brianna's Used Wagon!

We got this wagon at a yard sale last week for a $1.00. She likes to ride in it while we go get the mail. It is a little rusty and squeaky but for a dollar you can't be too picky!

Gecko In the Garage!!

Hello Mister Gecko!

As I was cleaning out my garage I heard some thing scurrying in the corner and to my surprise a huge gecko came running out! I let out a big whoop and scared both me and Brianna!