Thanksgiving in Virginia

We had a great trip to Virginia/DC this past week. It was so much fun to see the Livingstons, the Andersons and the Andersons... Here are a few highlights from the trip.

This was our favorite exhibit of the entire zoo, the green tongued cuties. I think they are an endagered species, because they don't come any cuter than these 3.

On our entire drive from South Carolina Katelyn and Anna kept saying the only animal they wanted to see at the zoo were the elephants. When we first arrived at the zoo we found the exhibit was under construction and there were NO ELEPHANTS TO BE FOUND. Insert Parent Panic now!!! Thankfully on our way back to car we heard an incredible roar; truth that prayers are answered =).

So...we journeyed up the hill and what to our suprise should appear, but 3 giant African elephants and a 7 year-old grinning from ear to ear...

See the relief in my smile? That pink mound of blankets is Ellie Bells.

So precious...in front of the "Anna"condas.

The Nutcracker

We love this time of year! The girls have the opportunity to dance in a great production of the Nutcracker. This year Anna was incredible as a baby mouse and Katelyn sure acted the part of the Toy Soldier.

more pictures from UT/CO

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Our Summer Trip to UT and CO

Well it seems like it takes the same force needed to move mountains to get anything posted on our blog. But I'm sure all 2 of our followers are patient enough...

Things are a bit crazy with 3 girls. Somedays I might manage a shower, and on a really good day I even get make up on, and on a really really good day (doesn't happen often) I get my hair done as well.

Anyways, enough with the insanity that is my truly loved life....

This summer we went home to Utah for Justin and Amy's Wedding (Welcome Amy!!!); Ellie's baby blessing; a trip to Pogosa Springs, CO with Steve and Carolyn; a 10 year class reunion; the Fourth of July in Blanding; and a few days in Midway, UT!

Our trip this year included a LOT of driving, some harrowing cliff face climbs, a few history lessons, and many other fun adventures...

Enjoy!

Brandon, Anna and Peter tubing down the San Juan River in Pogosa Springs...the guy at the tube shop said they weren't renting tubes because the river was too high. This guy was huge and he told us, "I wouldn't go down myself." So...being the industrious, smart people we are... we decided to rent the life jackets and buy our own tubes (yes we took one home...all the way to SC) and go down the dangerously high river with our young kids... We tried it out on Peter and Anna first. If they survived we knew we'd be ok....jk...the adults went first and then we took the kids. I say "we" in the loosest of terms, since I, myself, did not participate.

Ellie's baby blessing. Funny girl was pleasant the entire day with exception to during her blessing. She fussed the whole time. Brandon passed to her the most beautiful blessing.

Justin and Amy's wedding. Congrats guys! It was a beautiful day.

Ellie

I feel bad that I haven't updated for so long. Here is a few recent pics of Ellie

Verizon Heritage PGA Tournament

Brandon and the girls spent a day at the Verizion Heritage at HarbourTown golf links. They spent time gaining autographs and meeting with various golfers. Anna had one stint where she ran onto the fairway on the 17th. After a little negotiation she came back to the bleachers. Overall, the weather was beautiful and the golf was good.

Anna meets with Boo Weekley - former Verizon Heritage champion.

Brandon, Katelyn and Anna on the famous 18th

Katelyn and Anna with Ernie Ells (The Big Easy)

Photo with Brandt Snedeker - He had a big showing at the masters last year but hasn't done much since.

HarbourTown - pond on the 16th

HarbourTown - 15th fairway

Katelyn and Bill Lunde

Not sure what this guy's name is but he stayed at a Holiday Inn Express

Kateleyn and her collection of signatures

The first two weeks with Elaine "Ellie" Marie

The first two weeks with Ellie have been packed full of exciting adventures and wonderful memories. She is such a doll. As you can see in the above picture Ellie is hardly without someone holding her, kissing her, patting her, and sometimes smothering her...But she loves it all.

The girls are doing wonderfully with Ellie; they help out a lot and are my runners (up the stairs) for many items. The above picture was taken today, post kool-aid...notice the red mustaches?
We were so fortunate to have Grandma Lou visit us. We took advantage of the time to visit the beach last Sunday between conference sessions. This was also Katelyn's 7th Birthday! Happy Birthday to my oldest baby...(still can't believe she's 7!!!)

We took Grandma to see Harbour Town--this coming week you can see Harbour Town on TV during the Verizon Heritage Golf Tournament. Look for Brandon and Katelyn also, they are planning on going either Wednesday or Saturday. We contemplated also sending Anna but figured if Brandon took Anna you'd for sure see them on TV, because Anna would be retrieving every golf ball for daddy's collection...she can run fast!


Grandma was such a great sport while she was here. After she fell the day Ellie was born she felt horrible but still did so much. When she returned home to Utah and saw her regular physician, they re-read the X-Rays and discovered she has two BROKEN RIBS. Feel better soon Grandma!!

We feel so fortunate to have such wonderful daughters. These pictures were taken today (Easter Sunday). On this Easter I am particularly thankful for the resurrection of our Savior, because these 3 girls you see are ours for eternity!!! What an incredible blessing.

This is Ellie's first trip to the beach. She was 10 days old and slept the whole time. She'll have many more visits in her future! I'm sure she'll be a regular beach bum like the rest of us.

So Precious!

Our Sweet Ellie Marie...Easter 2009

Words cannot express what a wonderful husband and father Brandon is. You can sense a small part of his incredible talent as a father in this picture of him with Ellie. He is so caring, so sweet and so loving to all his girls, me included. I know I could not live my life without him. He is the love of my life.

I have to continue to brag on him because yesterday he took Katelyn and Anna to Island Playground, out to lunch, to his haircut, on a much needed shoe shopping trip and then returned home and watched all 3 girls for 2 hours so I could get the grocery shopping done. He is truly amazing! I love him so much!

And here is Anna and her "baby Ells" She no longer refers to the baby as Ellie, she is just "baby Ells." Katelyn has preferred to call her "Ellie" at home, but whenever she writes in her journal at school or home she calls her "Elaine." I just call her whichever of the girls names comes out first, whether it be, "Anna, Ellie, or Katelyn." I swore I'd never do that to my children..sorry girls!