4 Days in Swan Valley

We had a wonderful 4 days in Swan Valley. We usually don't get that much time up there so it was amazing to have that time. On Thursday we had a scaled down Thanksgiving and celebrated Alegra's birthday (see previous post). On Friday we hung out at the cabin, went on a walk, Shawn worked in the yard, and did crafts. Our truck batter died so we had to get jumped and then go into Idaho Falls to get new truck batteries (they were about 7 years old so it was getting time). On the way back to Swan Valley we stopped at Uncle Buds new cabin, on Antelope Flats, to celebrate his 70th birthday. Before the truck died, the plan was to go a bit early to the party, about 3:30 so we could walk around his property. Plans change though and we ended up arriving at 5:00 when the party started. Our neighbors and Bud and Penny's good friends the Clayton's were also invited. All Bud wanted for his birthday was for all of his family to be together. His daughter and son in law and 3 girls flew in from Colorado and then Matt, Wendy, and their 3 boys drove up and Brett, Sarah and their 2 kids came. The boys and Bud have been spending alot of time at the new cabin since they bought it and took ownership of it Labor Day weekend. It is a very nice place but it had a bit of a mouse problem. My aunt also wanted to make some changes to it to. It was really cool though. It was nice to see my cousins and Cruz and Alegra had a blast playing with the kids, especially Shawnee's girls Ayla who is 5 and Anya who is 3.

On Friday we loaded our gear up and headed over to Grand Targhee to ski for the day. They don't have a ton of snow but it was great for the beginner hill. The only downside was that they didn't have all their cool tree runs set up that Cruz likes to ski thru. It is great going with my mom too because we would take turns sitting with Lexi and skiing. We shared a ticket and would just pass it back and forth. It worked perfect. Cruz is getting pretty good. Alegra is doing great too for just being 3. Shawn was working with her on stopping. We would all ride the chairlift up and Shawn would ski with Alegra between his legs on the steeper stuff, but then on the flat stuff he would ski backwards in front of her to work with her. Me or my mom would stay with Cruz as he sped down the hill. Shawn and I did one run together sans kids, but lots of rocks were showing so it wasn't that great. It was a REALLY fun day though. Lexi was a gem and took a nap in the lodge and had fun checking out the skiers in the lodge. We drove down into Victor and ate dinner at our favorite pizza place before heading home.

Today we went to church in the morning and then came home and packed up, tidied the cabin, and then headed home. I do like going to church in Swan Vally. The ward is small but the people are so nice and just very down to earth.

A wonderful time in Swan Valley once again.....

Lexi and Grammy

Lexi's 1st Thanksgiving

Turkey Dinner/B-day Celebration

Dad walking in the Snake

Queen of the day

Alegra reading to herself! :)

A enjoying her birthday cake in her "jimmy jons" thats what she likes to call her long jons!

Waiting for Dad at the Auto parts store in Idaho Falls

Uncle Buds Party

Uncle Buds Party

Enjoyed a fun filled day of skiing all together at Grand Targhee!

Alegra's 3rd Birthday and Thanksgiving

Alegra's 3rd Birthday fell on Thanksgiving this year. We drove up to Idaho on Wednesday night (leaving SLC at about 2 p.m.). She is at an age where she gets it kind of, but not really. I was thinking about it and for Cruz I did personalized invitations to a little party and personalized thank you notes, etc. etc. Poor Alegra, I don't know if it is because she is my second or because of the time of year but for the past 3 years we have kind of just celebrated her at the same time as Thanksgiving. I know she doesn't care yet, so I am trying not to feel too guilty but I do hope she knows how special she is to us. It is kind of a tricky time of year (I am discovering) because I am kind of thinking about Thanksgiving and the upcoming Christmas and end of year stuff and Christmas cards, etc, that adding a birthday party to it seems a little overwhelming. Hopefully not as she gets older!!! :) She loved her birthday though and both Cruz and Alegra were sayign it was "THE BEST DAY EVER". The greatest thing about that was that all we did was stay at home in the cabin. We played games, did crafts, played outside a bit, opened her presents, ate Turkey dinner, and had strawberry birthday cake to wrap the day up. I love just hanging out with my family and I am so glad the kids do too. Cruz was more excited to open her gifts than she was but finally after Cruz begged and begged we let her open them up around lunch time. Alegra received a dolly from Grandpa and Grandma Frye (plus some sticker and $$ for college), a stroller from Grammy Raddon (and some money to put toward a dance class), a new doctor kit from Cruz and Lexi (they already have a doctor kit that they play with a ton but this one Cruz REALLY wanted to get for Alegra and it does have different dr. items in it), a blue elephant from us (this is the one thing that she would ask for when she was asked what she wanted, but when she got it she treated it like chopped liver, oh well, can't say I didn't try), and a magnetic dress up doll kit. I would say a pretty good birthday! Alegra requested a strawberry birthday cake so that is what I made her. I made it from scratch and I thought it was pretty good. Alegra seemed to really like the frosting!! :) I can't believe our little nut is 3. She is such a goof and so happy most of the time. She is a real joy to be around. She is a smart little stinker and likes to talk and laugh alot. She walks around the house talking on her phones to her pretend friends, and she has really gotten in to mothering her babies. We love our Legs!

Set up for A's b-day!

Games first thing in the morning with Grammy!

So Cute!

Cruz making crafts!

Alegra making crafts!

Time to open gifts!

Finally

Lexi and dad, don't look so excited :)!!!

No lack of excitement here!

Cruz had to be reminded it wasn't his birthday!

My big 3 year old.

Night time adventure by the Snake!

Cruz's Baby!

Cruz made this Lego Baby for Lexi when we were over at Grammy house one morning! Pretty good!

Lunch at In N Out

Last Monday I had to run out to the dentist. By the time I finished I didn't have enough time to get Cruz to the bus stop, so we decided to go have some In-N-Out for lunch and then I would just drive him to school. It was a fun lunch date. Lexi actually slept in her car seat. She had another round of thrush so her mouth is purple from the medicine (gingian violet).

Cruz's Thanksgiving Feast

Cruz had a feast today at school. His teacher, Mrs. Oakeson, sent home a letter asking for food to be brought in. Cruz and I got creative and made these cute pilgrim hat cookies. We bought Keebler fudge strip cookies and turned them over, melted some chocolate, and dipped marshmallows in the chocolate, then put the marshmallow on the cookie. We added a buckle, which would have looked better in yellow, but the store didn't have yellow so Cruz picked blue for a buckle. I thought they turned out cute and they were super easy. Cruz made an Indian and a Pilgrim outfit at school. I didn't go to the feast but he said it was fun!!!

my sweet pilgrim!

Naps

Alegra has pretty much given up naps but sometimes she just gets so tuckered out!