Fresh Air Escape

For those of you in UT you know how bad the air quality has been. When we woke up on Saturday morning, we knew that we had to get out of the city. We went to our usual place....Heber/Midway & it was beautiful! Blue, sunny skies (we couldn't even see the sun in SLC) & warm enough that we only needed two layers. We hiked along the Provo River for a few miles & fished along the way.

Liam and Dad going off the path to fish a secret spot. Liam (who normally refuses to hike) hiked at least 75% by himself. We were super impressed because the path was difficult.

Our 1st view of the river....G is not in the pic because he was in a backpack on my back.

George screamed & screamed until Matt took him out in the water. When we fish in the summer we usually fish areas with really shallow spots & G just stands in the water at our feet. He didn't understand why he couldn't do it this time.

Matt & Liam watching for rising fish

Starting the hike back to the car....meaning five minutes when I wasn't carrying G.

A fishing outing wouldn't be complete without an insect lesson from dad. The boys picked which rock they wanted Matt to get out of the river and Matt flipped it over & explained the difference between drake nymphs and caddis & midge larva.

We hit the Midway Ice Castles before heading home. A guy from Northern California started building these for his family in his backyard until the whole neighborhood started coming by...he's expanded the project and now for a few bucks the whole family can run around a bunch of ice caves just like the one on the planet Hoth...you know the planet where Luke cuts off the snowmonster's arm with his lightsaber

Our December

I can't believe December can come and gone! I forgot my camera in AZ so here are just a few things we've been up to.

#1 the Santa at Jolley's was awesome!!

#2 We spent 10 days in AZ and the weather was amazing (until the last two days) and so we spent a ton of time outside enjoying the sun! Liam LOVES peppermint ice cream & its a Steenblik past time during Christmas.

#3 Liam attends the BEST preschool ever....we were so lucky to stumble upon it! They put on the cutest Christmas program. He was a shepherd ("sheferd"as he called himself) & did a great job.

#4 We hit temple lights the week before Christmas when the weather was nice.

#5 Here is a look at Christmas morning with the Steenblik crew. We have the best time together! We all hung out, ate good food and played-played-played! Oh and my boys got everyone sick...sorry guys :)

I wish I could post some pics from my parent's house. Its absolute CHOAS with all the cousins together but so much fun. My boys love being with their cousins and there is nothing like being HOME for Christmas. I love the season and the chance to reflect on the Savior. Matt & I have been amazed at how much Liam understands about gospel lately. He decided that he needed to try to be more like Jesus after going to see the temple lights and so he and I made a chart for him and he got stickers when he did something Christ-like. What kills me was that it was his idea!! I'm so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and the perfect example of Christ. It really is so easy to be happy...thank you Liam for reminding us!

New Years Resolutions:

-daily scripture study (even if its a verse or two before putting the boys down)

-morning prayer (not so good at this one, but so far so good!)

-liam wants to learn to swim & read

-do something everyday that is Christ-like....

-tell my family everyday that I love them like crazy!

I'm sure there are some major typos....no time to fix them G is up!

October

This has been the BEST month ever! The weather has been amazing and we've had fun, fun & more fun. Highlights:

The Garden After Dark @ Red Butte is a MUST!!! It cost $8 for nonmembers to get in but everything else is free. The activities where based on "haunted holidays around the world." Some of our favorites were the Chinese Lanterns, Maze, Mexican Masks & glow-n-the-dark spook alley. There was face & pumpkin painting and tons more! Check out the link above for all the details!

I didn't get many pics because of the dark, but this is where the kids got to make their own lanterns, make a wish and put them into the pond.

Picking pumpkins, squash, corn, beans...you name it from Grandpa & Uncle Dan's garden! Now we are making jack-o-lanterns galore!

Snowbird with the Seymore/Steenblik Crew....thanks Aunt Shanny! We rode the Tram for one can of food and saw all of the beautiful leaves turning!
Watch out we've upgraded to bunk-beds.....Matt & I both got a little teary at how big our boys have gotten :)
Fall family fly fishing!! Let's be honest we will still go out in the snow for winter fishing but not as often & me being the true AZ girl that I am will HATE the cold but bare it with a half smile for the adventure :)

Lastly this is our baby girl & I finally got a pic of her and G's daily cuddle time. They are BFFs...it doesn't hurt that G shares all of his snacks with her! She is the sweetest pup we could ever ask for. She loves her boys sooooo much!

SALSA

I don't think it is possible to eat as much salsa as we have been! We get to use the most delicious, perfectly ripe ingredients from Grandpa & Uncle Dan's garden. We pick, make salsa, eat, eat and then eat more!!! Love this time of Year!

Big Boy! Big Sunday

It has been a Big Sunday for us! Matt taught (which he just loves) and G stayed in sacrament for almost 40 mins (aka: a ton of work for us)! Three different times during sacrament Matt & I just looked at each other and laughed because who could have EVER

imagined us...our little family circus!!! We feel so blessed but are just amazed at the chaos that ALWAYS accompanies our two monsters.Liam was assigned the scripture in Primary and he memorized it yesterday and was just as jazzed as could be to tell everyone! After dinner & bath we took the boys (pjs and all) to the church so Liam could practice on the microphone (and I could video him). He got right up there and without thinking twice did a PERFECT job. Matt & I congratulated him and said "ok....i guess that's it." We thought he would need a little more practice but as usual he proved us wrong!

Well today didn't go quite as smooth. He got up to the microphone and asked Matt to stand by him and just looked out at everyone. Matt picked him up and our friend who is the primary chorister stood next to them and asked Liam to just look at her and tell her the scripture. He did it but when he got to his seat he was upset that he didn't say it in the microphone. Another friend of ours in the primary presidency, told Liam that he could have another turn after the talk was through. Sure enough he walked right up by himself and with the biggest smile ever talked right into the microphone and recited the scripture. It was so cute because he was so proud of himself. I am so grateful for Primary and how it gives children so many unique

opportunities to grow spiritually & emotionally. He learns something new every week. Sometimes it will be something he says in a prayer, or a question/statement while driving in the car....but its priceless and we are truly blessed because of the two hours he spends learning about our Savior and gospel.

Here is a clip of the rehearsal & some pics from today.

Tears

Liam started school today & I can't believe that I'm so emotional. I've had him in some sort of school since he was 2 so I should be able to handle this better. We had a great morning cleaning up the house and playing. Liam picked out a new star wars shirt for his special day & said "the kids will love this, I look cool!" Matt and I were so worried that Liam would refuse to go without me and things would get ugly. He got dressed without a fight & even let me fix his hair. We said a little prayer before getting in the car and it took everything I had not to TOTALLY lose it.

I'm still amazed everyday that I have been blessed with my boys and get to be their mom. I can't imagine that I'm actually capable of this! I am so grateful that I get to try each and every day & wouldn't change it for a single thing.

Here is a pic of my big 4 yr old...my Liam! I love & am so proud of him.

Big C

Yes it is summer, but our lives have been Crazier than ever! Matt and I thought that we had parenting some what under control but the last three months have been absolute chaos! Our George has been giving us a run for our money. If its dangerous, challenging, and will an any way bring tears to our eyes.....George does it all day long!!! The kicker of the whole thing is that at the same time he is sweeter than sweet. To keep my sanity I joined a gym, DASH and decided to take on their Obsidian Challenge. 12 weeks later, George is easing up (or its the calm before another storm) & I'm 8 pounds lighter....hooray for me! I never thought that I would enjoy working out this much.

Matt finished his residency last month and we found out that we'll be staying in Utah for his fellowship in GI. He has started his new role of Chief Resident & we are trying to get use to him being around so much :) So things have been busy and I feel like I've not blogged about so much, but honestly I haven't had a moment to breathe.

Today we decided to head to one of our favorite places on earth *Big Cottonwood Canyon* for some family fishing. Matt of course caught a gorgeous native Brown on his first cast & I actually caught one before heading home with the crew. Life is great, we are blessed & I LOVE being with my BOYS...all 3 of them! Liam has to pet and kiss every fish we catch, its so cute. Enjoy!