Weekend Getaway!

We were originally planning to go camping this weekend but the weather did not look like it was going to cooperate so we decided to do something else.

We debated about  where to go and finally decided to go to Twin Falls. Not the most exotic of vacation places but we had a great time. There was a ton to see and the hotel was comfortable, had a pool, and served biscuits & gravy every morning for breakfast!  How can you top that? 

Here we are in front of Shoshone Falls. This was absolutely amazing. Pics never do it justice. If you haven’t been here, you definitely need to come check it out.

What a cool trick.  Hand stands are harder than they used to be. ;-)

Trace’s favorite thing to do was to run up and down the hill.  Easy entertainment…we have those at home!

Awesome place for a picnic!

On the road to Shoshone falls, we found this herd of Elk just a few feet away (on the other side of the fence).

This guy posed for us. Who are you sticking your tongue out at? 

 

Back at the hotel, it was time for a swim. Kendra slept in her chair as the rest of us swam.

The next day we got a look at the huge bridge.

Trace checking out one giant bridge over the canyon.

We noticed a man was about to jump off this bridge. Can you see him?

   

Thankfully he had a parachute! 

Lisa saw a sign for “Idaho Joes” that looked interesting so we ordered the “Burger, Fry, and pie”.  Not bad at all. ;-)

It was hard to decide between Strawberry Rhubarb or Boysenberry but Boysenberry it was. Lisa ordered Cookie Dough Pie.  I had never heard of that but she liked it.

  Trace attempting to be a race car driver at the Magic Valley Mall.

Here is the new Twin Falls temple. Very beautiful.

A couple had just gotten married and had lots of friends and family outside so we just quickly snapped a couple pics and left.

It was a fun relaxing trip. The only thing is after all that unpacking and putting everything away, I’m ready for another vacation. ;-)

Papa & Grandma come to town!

Grandma & Grandpa Stimpson came for a visit this weekend! It was so fun to see them! We didn’t get as many pictures as we would have liked to but here are just a few.

Dad & I went golfing. I did horrible but he taught a lot of good tips for me to practice. I think I might finally be figuring out what I need to do in order to get better. Watch out, Tiger. Here I come!

Here is Birthday Girl Kiera hanging off Grandma!

Trace sure LOVES his Grandma & Gradnpa. He was giving kisses all weekend long.

He kept roaming the house. Papa! Papa!

Kendra loved the extra attention too!

 

What else to grill?

Today we grilled steak, chicken, corn on the cob, and decided to try grilling bananas. We looked it up online.

Trace’s favorite was the grilled corn. He ate most of Lisa’s and then he ate a lot of mine too!

He love it!

Kendra appeared to like it too. Although she did nothing but watch us eat. ;-)

Trace is a Mess Maker!

3 Years ago to the day!

While getting a haircut at the hair school in Layton, the girl cutting my hair told me about this girl. She was fun, spoke Spanish, served a mission in DC and loved the outdoors. It was none other than her sister. ;-) After a few emails with Lisa, we decided to have our first date and meet!

Dina, the beautician MATCHMAKER!

FIRST DATE, April 21th, 2007!
Exactly 3 years ago!

I took her to THE RED IGUANA. It is an authentic Mexican restaurant in SLC which has not nearly enough seating. We sat down and started talking.

Because of the wait, there were people waiting to eat and they just stood there watching us about a foot or two away observing our every move as got to know each other.

Finally after awhile, someone yelled from the group and asked if we were on a FIRST date!

We answered YES! They could tell. lol. Then they asked if we met on LDSSINGLES.com. LOL. Nope, was our answer. I guess we looked like a stereotypical couple that met off there. ;-)

NO! We didn’t meet here! ;-)

DATE NUMBER 2 – TO A CAVE WE GO

Since the first date was a hit, we decided to go on a trail to a cave near Farmington. It was fun. I have always been a freak with my cell phone taking pictures, it probably drove Lisa crazy, but here is an actual pic from Date #2. I was just proud to be with her and wanted a pic to show off to all my 7 bros & sis and everyone else who I knew! ;-)

Well, next came DATE #3!

One thing we had in common was our pets! Lisa had a Golden Retriever and I had a St. Bernard. Here we are on a walk in Bountiful with our dogs. DATE NUMBER 3!

I still remember on that 3rd date thinking. She is so cool! I wonder if she likes me too?

Kenya and Brinkley sure hit it off as well! ;-)

We decided to buy SEASON PASSES and went to Lagoon

LISA AND I lived about 20 minutes apart and right SMACK DAB in between us was LAGOON!

We went almost every day! I kind of miss that. It was so much fun! In fact most of our dating was at Lagoon!

On the Gondola at Lagoon with Lisa! DATES 4-44+!

We met in April and in August, I proposed.

I took this picture of Lisa at the Chinese buffet we ate at. I remember thinking how clueless she was about what I had up my sleeve for her later that night!

Later that night , we had gone on a hike above the beautiful Bountiful Temple. There was a spot just perfect looking down on the temple.

It was getting dark and I asked her and she said YES!Here we are at the Bountiful temple, we wandered down from the hill and tried to get some pictures the night we were engaged. ;-)

That was a fun night!

Then in October 27th 2007 we were married in the Bountiful Temple!

Best thing I’ve ever done!

Then these two hoodlums came long!

AND IT ALL STARTED…. exactly 3 years ago today! WOW!

I guess the moral of the story is….. Go get a haircut? ;-)

Idaho City, Trees, Tee Pees, and Earwigs all in 30 seconds!

Idaho City

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

What could be more important than this?

This is probably one of the neatest places to be with family. At the Living Christ display at Temple Square in Salt Lake City. You walk up a long twirl staircase and there is Christ with all the galaxy painted on the walls and ceiling. It is beautiful!

The pictures aren’t the greatest, as you can tell I used my phone. But you can see here Adam & Eve and Trace. He really liked the guard ropes! Although I’m not sure they did much good. ;-)

Lisa and I came to temple square once while we were dating just for something to do. It is huge and has many videos, displays, and museums and things that visitors can walk around and see.

We were on a date

About 3 years ago and happened to go into the “Families are Forever” display. It is AWESOME! We started out in a small room where it showed a video of a young couple who had a couple kids .

Then you go to the next room, and it progresses a few years into their life. They were older now and were talking with their parents (The Grandparents of their kids) about how much love they had for them and how their Grandparents still loved each other. Apparently, even after being married 40+ years, people still want to be together! How great it is to know that they can be together forever.

The next room, years later, was after the Grandpa had died and they were talking with the mom (or Grandma) about how much she missed her husband. She talked about how much she loved him and he loved her. It really made me think of all the blessings and things I have in this world,

what could possibly be a greater blessing than knowing that we can live with those we love as a couple, man and wife, forever after this life? Awesome is an underestimate.

The next room, years later. Both Grandma and Grandpa we had passed on and only their kids and grandkids were left talking about them. The talked about the peace they felt in knowing that they would see them again and the confidence and faith they had that and they knew

they would see them again after this life.

Anyway, Lisa and I went through this display when we were dating and noW…

Here we went through it again almost 3 years later,

with 2 kids and it was just as awesome. What was really neat was to think about how we too are progressing along life's journey together and more importantly how important our eternal marriage is.

That we can be together as a family forever.

There really isn’t anything in this world that can compare to this gift a loving Father in Heaven gives to be able to be with our families.

It was just an hour of our trip, but well worth it!

Here, Trace and Lisa are posing in front of the conference center. Trace was really good but like usual, he was ready for a nap by the time we were done. ;-)

This week = What a mess! ;-)

You be the judge.

Exhibit A…  Delicious Home-made ice cream gone wrong!

A 1/2 gallon from Albertsons was looking pretty darn good right about now!

I don’t think the ten second rule applies to ice cream. ;-)

   
The good news was there was enough left for both Lisa and I to have a small bowl. It was the first time we tried using the machine and it didn’t quite snap together the way we thought it had. ;-)

Exhibit B…  Apple Jack Surprise!

Oops!


On the bright side. Trace didn’t notice that the ice cream was a flop (since he was happily tucked into bed by then) and he also didn’t mind the mess of the Apple Jacks because unfortunately its not to un-common for him to pick things off the ground and eat it. ;-)

Big bro posing with sis.

Kendra is getting bigger and bigger. Its funny to think she is only three months old because its hard to imagine our family without her now.

 
Trace with his new puzzle.

Kenya is such a good sport.  He insisted on giving her this on her head and she just sat there. I’m not sure if she was just too lazy to move or if she was having fun too.  They are fun to watch. ;-)
 
The rest of the pics below were taken on Saturday. One nice thing about General Conference is the time you get to be with your kids all day long while you do nothing but sit, relax, and listen… and eat… and maybe nap a bit. ;-)

  
A Kendra Sandwich!

Is there anything better than this? I doubt it.

Exhibit C…. To be continued!