Evidance

Here are some of the pictures from Courtney's latest dance show...Evidance! She did an amazing job and we are so proud of her!

We were so excited to have Grandma Mary join us.

Grandma and Grandpa Great came down from Logan to see Courtney's show on Saturday. Grandma Great made Avery a pumpkin hat! She looks adorable in it. After the show we went out to dinner at Red Lobster. I must say....shrimp is not nearly as gross as I remember it being! I'm sort of excited about that. We had a really nice visit with Grandma and Grandpa.

The sun was just a tad bright.

BYU Football

Avery got to go to her first BYU Football game on Saturday, September 8. We played Weber State and  killed them. It's probably a good thing that it wasn't a close game, because we didn't end up watching very much of it. The crowd and the noise and the heat were a bit much for our little cougar, so we took turns walking with her outside. We ended up leaving at halftime, but Avery is now an official cougar.

Anderson 50th Wedding Anniversary

We got to go up to Logan for Grandma and Grandpa Anderson's 50th Wedding Anniversary on August 16-17. We had a wonderful time seeing all of our family on that side. Beth, Jarrod, Elise, Vik, Susan, and Surri were all there! So were Matthew, Rebekah, and Benjamin. I was so excited for Avery to meet her aunt, uncle, and cousin! We also got to spend time with some of Grandma and Grandpa's brothers and sisters.

Our first activity of the weekend was to play golf. We had a wonderful time...despite it taking us three hours to play nine holes. Yeah...we're that bad. It was also Avery's first time on the golf course. She loved being outside and on the golf course. She's such a good sport to come along with us everywhere we go.

On Friday afternoon, we went to the Logan Municipal Pool. What fun!

 Avery looked so cute in her swimming suit! 

 What a cutie! Benjamin loved swimming. 

 Cousins!

 This was Avery's first time in the pool. As you can see, it didn't go very well....I think it was maybe a little bit too cold for her. She was a little bit overwhelmed. Maybe next summer!

Woot woot!!

We had a delicious dinner to celebrate Grandma and Grandpa's Anniversary. The food was fantastic, and the company was even better. Many people took time to say a few words about Grandma and Grandpa. Memories were shared, tears were shed, and it was an all around good family bonding experience. As I have reflected on their anniversary, I am so grateful for the love that Milton and Dianne have for each other. They are a wonderful example to me of how to make a marriage not only last, but absolutely enjoyable. I am grateful for their love and devotion to each other and to their family.

 The whole crowd

 The happy couple of 50 years! What a wonderful thing to celebrate! 

I thought Grandma looked so beautiful.

Omaha 2012

BIG RED

Here's the first of many "legs" of our trip out to Omaha. We're driving from Eagle to Orem and just beginning our fun with the big red van. Woot woot! I wish we had a picture of the van from the outside. I guess we never did get one though. Let's just say we were traveling in style.

Avery's favorite toy on the drive. Lifesaver.

 The landscape. So many fields.

This was a giant museum that was built across the freeway. Not that we stopped...but I thought it was pretty cool anyways.

HANGING LAKE

These are the pictures from our hike to Hanging Lake. We were about an hour away from Susan's house in Colorado. It was a great break for us to get out and stretch our legs a bit. I decided while driving through these rocky mountains that Colorado is a very beautiful place. Heavenly Father has given us so many beautiful gifts in the beauty that surrounds us. 

KAYAKS AT SARAH'S

We had dinner at Aunt Sarah and Uncle Craig's house in Arvada, Co. After dinner, they let us take their kayaks out on their private lake. It was beautiful! I loved it. I think Elise probably enjoyed it as much as anyone else. 

THE BOTANICAL GARDENS
These beautiful gardens are quite literally in David and Sarah's back yard. We spent some time walking along the paths and enjoying the beauty around us. We also went back later in the week for the corn festival. At the festival, we ate corn, shucked corn, ate corn ice cream, and read lots of corn jokes. What a hoot. Nebraska loves corn.

This is the miniature train that they have at the Botanical Gardens. It was a pretty incredible train track with several different levels and trains riding around.

THE OMAHA ZOO

I think we spent like 8 hours at the zoo. It was such a fantastic zoo! We seriously loved it so much! We started out at the Desert Dome (stinkiest place at the zoo), saw the bears, the penguins, the monkeys, the giant gold fish, the lions and tigers, the aquarium, the orangoutangs...I'm pretty sure we saw it all. It was by far the best zoo I've ever been to.

 Gorilla

We laughed very hardest at this orangutan. He was absolutely hilarious. We waited and waited for him to get up and walk around so we could get a better look at his hind quarters. As you can see, they are a bit...large. 

 Monkeys

This is the world's largest indoor jungle ( I think that stat is correct...). It was pretty amazing to see. There were a ton of cool monkeys and fish in here. 

We really did find lots of weird looking monkeys...

WALKING TO IOWA

There is a really cool walking bridge from Omaha to Iowa. David recommended that we go at night, because it is especially beautiful at night. 

 Yeah that's right...two states at once!

 Smooching over the state line. How romantic. My favorite dialogue of the night goes like this:

Allison: I wish I had someone to kiss over the state line...

Jacob: You do...ME!

 Mom and Dad. So cute.

 The view from Iowa looking back to Omaha.

OMAHA FARMER'S MARKET

 Saturday morning we got to spend some time at the Omaha Farmers Market. It was a really fun farmer's market in beautiful downtown Omaha. We got to taste lots of delicious things. Corn, honey, salsa, bread, etc. 

 This man was serenading us. He was actually really good. We loved his banjo playing.

WINTER QUARTERS TEMPLE

We were able to spend some time at the Winter Quarters Temple and the visitor's center there. There is certainly an amazing spirit in that place. The sacrifices that the early saints made never cease to amaze me. David has done some research about the Bullock family, some of our ancestors who stayed there in Winter Quarters. Hearing their story there at the cemetery was very touching for me. I am grateful for the pioneers and their examples of vibrant faith.

 What a blessing the temple is. I am so grateful to know that because of the covenants that Josh and I made in the Boise Temple, we can be a family forever. There are few things in this world that bring me greater peace and happiness. How grateful I am for the priesthood power that can seal families.

Cousins!

ISAAC ALEXANDER BINGHAM'S BLESSING DAY

 David did a wonderful job on Isaac's blessing. There was such a sweet spirit present in the chapel. Isaac is lucky to have such wonderful parents! David and Sarah have a special little boy in their home. Again I was touched by how important the priesthood is in our lives. Every day I am grateful to have it in my home.