Las Vegas

We went to Las Vegas for a whole week in July with Derek's whole family. It was so much fun to get away and have a more relaxing vacation where we didn't have to constantly be running around. We went to the BMX bike races, Circus Circus, M&M world, Ross Dress for less on the strip, Bowling, Steak and Shake, Shopping, Bass Pro, fishing, ate lots of yummy food, and swimming ALOT!!! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Eddie for letting us use all of your time share points!

The kids at Stake and Shake! Yummy we haven't ate there since we lived in Missouri!

The Boys enjoying bowlingWe voted and Grandpa Eddie won best follow through!

Easton and Ashton on a ride at Circus Circus

Me and the Boys at M&M World. We left with a little bag of M&Ms for $22.

The Boys at Bass Pro

Peyton loved the water. She wasn't even scared she would just keep walking till it was over her face and yes Mom almost let her drown. I turned my head for a minute and she was floating face down SCARY!!!!

The boys could have swam every minute of everyday and sometimes we did even when it was dark out!

Turning "4" in Vegas

Cannon got to go to Las Vegas this year for his birthday. He wanted to to go fishing so Derek, Cameron, and Beau took the boys to Bass Pro and Cannon got to get a new fishing pole and then they headed to a lake to go fishing.

On his birthday we went to Circus Circus. He got to ride lots of rides and had alot of fun. I think the roller coaster scared him a bit. He fell asleep on the way back to the Hotel so we had to have cake the next night.
He is stubborn, defiant, and screams ALOT, but how can you not love this kid? Happy birthday Cannon!!!

BEAR LAKE

It was our annual Rice reunion in Bear Lake over the 4th of July. We had alot of fun playing on the beach, jet skiing, crafting, eating, and just spending time together. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the fun and the great Christmas in July!
Need a little wash in the lake!
Starting Early!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BERKLEY

So I have been doing alot of reflecting the past year. An amazing lady in my ward asked me to write down some of my feelings about dealing with the loss of Berkley for a book that she was helping to write. It of course is always hard to go back and think through this hard time but so good for me to write it all down so that my kids will be able to read it someday. I also have to thank Robyn for giving me some ideas. She told me that it really helped them to celebrate her little boy's birthday. They always make him a cake and celebrate HIS day. We haven't really ever celebrated Berkley's birthday. To me this was just such a hard day. Not really one that I felt like celebrating. It usually would pass without mention and me just thinking back on this day and a few tears! But this year I decided that this is HIS birthday and we are going to celebrate him. We usually go to McCammon to visit his grave on Memorial Day but this year we went on his birthday instead. We also went for ice cream after. I have also spent alot of time reflecting on the things that I am thankful for from this day and this time in our lives.

1. I am thankful that I got to hold my baby in my arms for a long time. These will be moments I will treasure forever and I know that even though his spirit was not in that little body it was in that room with us!

2. I am thankful for my amazing husband who even though I know he was falling apart on the inside was a rock on the outside for a wife that was not. I am grateful for the amazing man that he is for me!

3. I am thankful for family who paid for the funeral, paid to bring us all back home so we could bury our baby here, paid for the plot, came and helped us, and talked and listened for many hard months to come.

4. I am so thankful for Easton who gave his Mom a reason to get up each day and keep plugging along. He was always so concerned why Mom was so sad but always had a way to make me smile.

5. I am thankful for the amazing friends we had in Missouri. It was so nice to have friends that were really more like family to help us through this hard time!

6. I am thankful for Running. I know kind of funny but I really think this is what helped my to move forward. Me and Easton would drive 20 minutes to the gym everyday and I would run and run and it made me feel so much better, gave me time to think, and just release stress and gave me the will to go on with the day.

7. I am thankful for such a special little boy who must be more special than we can even imagine to not need that body. To not have to come to this sometimes horrible place to be tried and tested.

8. I am so thankful for knowledge that we know who we are, where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. It gives me peace.

9. I am thankful that I have one child that I don't have to worry about. I know that he is exactly where he is supposed to be, doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing!!!

Happy Birthday Berkley!!!!!!! We love you!!!!!!!!!!!

Football already, didn't baseball just finish

I'm gonna get ya!
Get out of my way.
What a natural.

Easton had his first football game tonight. He tore it up, including two touchdown passes! Not bad for having missed every practice due to baseball games. Easton loves football.