It's been a while!

So, I am a little behind. Or maybe A.L.O.T. behind. We have been busily enjoying life. Here are a few things we've been up to. School started a little over a month ago, and suddenly time is just gone! We moved, and are all settled in our new ward, neighborhood, and schools. Tyson is at Pony Express Elementary in 4th grade, and the girls are at Vista Heights Middle School. It is so fun for me to be working at the school where the girls are. It is a great blessing to wake up and be thoroughly excited to go to work! It is a new, and extremely grateful feeling.


Tyson on the first day of school. (Notice his shirt is on backwards?)



Kylie on the first day of school, in my office. (It is now decorated!)



Tyson is a quarter of the way through his soccer season, and has decided soccer isn't as bad as he originally thought. He is playing on a competitive team this year, which includes some travel, but he loves it. His team is learning a lot, and slowly improving. We'll leave it at that! But most importantly, they are having a great time together.


What a good lookin' soccer player!



Go Tyson go!



We went up the canyon a the weekend before last, on our way to Tyson's soccer game in Heber. Along the way we stopped and shot bb guns, did some fishing and went on a little hike. Tyson's BFF Carter came along so Tyson could enjoy these activities with a buddy. Then, last weekend, we went up the canyon again, and took some family pictures. Oh, we also climbed the "Y" a few weekends ago, and it was a little harder and steeper than I was thinking it would be. Sydney's BFF, Brooke came along on this trip. It was an amazing view though, and totally worth the effort of climbing 1000 feet in about a mile! It has been such great weather, and we are trying to get out and enjoy it before winter rears it's ugly head. It has been so HOT for September, but you won't hear me complaining one bit. I know the snow will be coming way to soon!


Tyson, Carter and Sydney at Cascade Springs.



Enjoying a little stroll in the mountains. Beautiful!



Love this picture of Brian & Syd.



Is this scary or what?



Tyson and his BFF Carter



Don't ask if they caught anything!



Top of the "Y". What a view!



Tyson and Brooke were troopers. Sydney, not so much.



A few family photos we took:











Brian and Tyson, and all the Wade boys in the family, went on their annual "Boulder Mountain Trip" over labor day. It is Tyson's favorite trip in the world becuase he gets to spend 3 whole days with his cousin Corbin from Atlanta. It is a crime these boys are not closer! They had fun doing boy stuff, while the girls and I had even more fun doing girl stuff. They fished, played baseball, shot bb guns, hiked and whatever else it is boys do while in the mountains. The girls and I got our hair done, painted our nails, watched chick flicks, ate at some yummy resturaunts, and of course shopped. I don't know who looks more forward to this boys/girls weekend, but I hope this yearly tradition goes on forever! Sadly there are no pictures of us girls, because Brian snuck the camera with him!


I freaked just a little when I saw this picture of the boys carving away. Yikes!




The finished result of the carving. (I think Brian helped, too!)



Nothing like playing baseball in the fresh mountain air!



My boys. Two peas in a pod!

Kylie's 14th Birthday!

A few weeks ago Kylie turned 14. Oh boy, she can officially go to stake dances! YIKES! I am WAAAAY late posting about her special day. Guess it was 2 Family Reunions, a new job, and looking for a new place to live, being just a few of the reasons for the delay. Kylie's 14th Birthday was spent in Washington State with cousins, aunts/uncles and Grandparents. We went out to breakfast, minature golfing, to the beach, and then back to the resort to celebrate with coconut cream pie, her favorite. I honestly don't know where to start with Kylie. (warning: exessive bragging to follow) I can't imagine our lives without her. She is seriously the greatest daughter EVER. (along with Sydney!) Kylie is funny, smart, beautiful, giving, thoughtful, sweet, and has made such great choices in her life up to this point. She always thinks about the best choices to make, and wants that for everyone around her too. She is an unbelivable example to her younger siblings. She makes us laugh all day long. She is sooo RANDOM. We love her sooo much, and sometimes don't feel worthy to be her parents. I could brag forever about this girl. Seriously forever. Just know that I don't lie, and I'm telling you....This girl makes me proud to be a Mom. VERY PROUD. Kylie and Sydney are gone to girls camp all this week, and I am feeling a little lost without them. Those two keep us so entertained around here. Never a dull moment when Kylie is around! Happy 14th Kylie, now if we could just get you to clean your room by your 15th birthday, we'd really be in business!

Kylie teaching Abby the "party" symbol. See what I mean by good example?



Kylie being a "baby hog" as usual.


Kylie and her BFF.

Puerto Rico

I am soo far behind on blogging it isn't even funny. Here is my first catch up post. Brian and I spent a week in Puerto Rico for our 15th wedding anniversary last month. We had a great trip. Our favorite things were: hiking through the El Yunque National Rainforest, touring the caves (can't remember their name), kayaking through mangrove trees into a bioluminescent bay (the water GLOWS!! You couldn't go out until it was pitch dark...so this was waaay out of my comfort zone. Boy was I glad Brian talked me into it though. Once in a lifetime opportunity!), touring old forts, and shopping in Old San Juan. We had a really fun time together. It is a pretty crime infested island, and very poor, but way more lush and green than Hawaii. It is almost jungle like in parts of the island. We had some great history lessons, intense heat and humidity, and a few unbelievable downpours. Overall I think it was one of our favorite trips together. Sooo much to tell...so little time. Here are a few highlights of the trip. Sorry they are in reverse order. I am too lazy to re-arrange them all!!

Happy 15th Anniversary!



Brian gave it his best shot..but the snorkeling in Puerto Rico wasn't very good!


Touring the caves. Can't remember their name, sadly. They were awesome, though!


Entrance to the cave



Inside the cave


Hiking, hiking, hiking! We need to learn to RELAX while vacationing!



A little waterfall we found while hiking in the El Yunque Rain forest



The fortification included a city wall that surrounds a lot of the island


Overlooking Old San Juan. Man it was....OLD!


Loved this place!


Another look inside the fort. We spent almost a whole day here it was so cool!


San Felipe del Morro ..the history for you.


This is where the big wig officers would hide out and get plans for attack together


View of the Fort


One of the first places we visited, San Felipe del Morro. A huge fortification built to protect San Juans harbor. It was waaay cool!



Arriving in Puerto Rico! It is a beautiful place!

Florida!

So after our quick, but awesome time in NYC we headed down south to Florida. It was HOT HOT HOT! We had a great time visiting Universal Orlando, Universal Islands of Adventure, Siesta Key Beach, Cocoa Beach, and hanging out at our resort. We opted out of Disney World because our kids are more into the thrill rides than Disney princesses and such. We were kind of bummed because the huge new Harry Potter world wasn't opening until the following weekend, but much to our surprise they were letting people in for a few hours for a sneak peek. We were headed to a roller coaster and suddenly found ourselves in the middle of Harry Potter world. Way cool! We were a little sunburned, a whole lot exhausted, and had a weeks worth of great memories by the end of our trip!

Universal Orlando


Jurassic Park


The water rides SAVED us! We ended up soaking wet, and LOVED it!


Tyson and I with the Harry Potter Castle behind us


This picture is for my bro in law Michael...the Ron Jon Surf Shop...where he used to go school shopping! Bring back memories Michael?


YIKES!



Popeye and Olive Oil stopped by for a visit!


The following pictures are for Becky and Brenda...my sisters who are HUGE Harry Potter fans! I KNOW they would have LOVED all this...I didn't really get most of it! So fast forward if you aren't a Harry Potter fan!

The Castle






A big bird??


A huge hallway with pictures on it...and the pictures CHANGED before your eyes...or the people moved in them. It was way cool!


Dumbledorf's library. (sorry...NO idea how to spell his name?)




A candy shop complete with chocolate covered frogs!


The Hogwarts Express!


People were drinking this stuff like it was real beer! Guess I should have tried it!


Ok Becky and Brenda...I hope you enjoyed that! My camera battery went dead trying to help you feel the Harry Potter spirit! Now, back to our trip....


Brian and the girls enjoying the ocean.


Our one and only tennis experience at the resort. We decided it was too HOT for tennis in Florida!



Goofing around in the pool!


I took a lot more video than I did pictures, and I don't have the patience to load them tonight....maybe later? But don't count on it! In other news:

Kylie left yesterday for Trek. I am feeling a bit anxious about her trip, and maybe a little tiny bit of how a Mom feels sending their son out on a mission. (except it is 4 days not 2 years!) I am SOOO glad she is going, but really hoping and praying she has a great time, and returns home safe. I know it is going to be so hard for her, but I hope she learns and grows from the experience. They went to Martins Cove and the weather called for 90 degrees each day, with not a shade tree to be found in the place, so I've heard. Oh man, I hope she survives! We have been sewing our little hearts out getting her skirt, bonnet, bloomers, and aprons ready. Heather had just got back from her Trek, so she had plenty of great ideas for us, helped us sew, and loaned us her spare clothes. She saved us big time! We had to have her at the church at 3am this morning! YIKES! She was upbeat and happy at 2:30am, so I couldn't ask for more than that!

Heather hard at work sewing! I would have helped...but I had to take pictures!



Kylie cutting out her bloomers


Think we made them big enough? Maybe she was going to sneak Sydney in there with her!


The cutest pioneer ever! Keep her in your prayers the next few days! :0)


Brian and I are leaving tomorrow for Puerto Rico for our 15th anniversary trip. Good thing I am quitting jetBlue soon, these trips are getting ridiculous! Ridiculous in a good way!