November 2020

We took a trip to Dallas the second weekend in November.  Bryan was signed up for some CE courses for his optometry license and the girls and I tagged along to explore part of the city.  We went to the Dallas Zoo.  

Our cousins drove down from Oklahoma to visit with us and watch Disney On Ice.  The girls were mesmerized by the princesses and ice skating.  

I took the girls to one of the indoor malls with ice skating.  This may have been a first for both of the girls.  I was a little weary with Jane, but she did amazing.  It was a sad moment when she didn't want to hold my hand for stability.  

For Thanksgiving, we all hung out with Adam and Natasha's house.  All the Ahlborn boys were back together again.  We played in the pool, drove to see the Christmas lights, and went shooting.  It's always such a fun time when we visit them.  Natasha cooked her first turkey too AND it was amazing! 

 

July 2020

Our July was really fun.  We were able to visit lots of family over the 3 week trip.

We traveled up to Adam's house for the 4th of July. 

We had such a fun time with his family on the lake.  The girls are getting used to playing in the lake, rather than pool water this summer.  It can be a little uneasy as a parent, as my girls are not strong swimmers yet.  

We LOVED being pulled together as a family.  Kate didn't mind going with her cousins.  Jane preferred mom and dad by her side.

Adam always has the greatest parties.  He went over the top with fireworks this year.  

My girls loved being in his pool.

After visiting Adam, me and the girls drove to Utah for 2.5 weeks of vacation.  

Our first stop was to visit Rachel and her family before they headed back to California the next morning.  We hung out at Renae's house, swam, and played dress up with more cousins.  It was so fun to see Rachel's new baby Victoria.  My girls loved holding the baby.

After visiting the Zentz and Izu's, we traveled to grandma and grandpa Koplin's house.  The girls really enjoy getting spoiled there. 

One day we went on a hike/bike at Highland Glen Park with grandma and grandpa, Kim, Norah, and Zander. 

Ezra, McCartney, and Daphne came over to play with us a lot.  Kate and Jane even had a sleep over at Linsey's house.  

We hung out at the pool.  We loved that Utah county hardly acknowledge the pandemic!  

Jane had a birthday party at the pool with all of her cousins.  

Jane got her ears pierced. 

We went to see Frozen Jr. with grandma and grandpa Ahlborn.  It was just as cute as the one we saw in Texas. 

I was able to go mountain biking and road biking with Becky.  The weather and scenery were gorgeous!

On our trip back to Texas, we climbed Wilson's arch.  

We also visited our friends who recently moved to El Paso.  The girls met their new puppy!

Our trip was a great break from the crazy problems going on in the world.  It was nice for the girls to just enjoy time with family and friends.

 

November 2019

Bryan earned the Vaerg dit Land badge.

Kate played at her first piano competition. She did great! 

We traveled to Oklahoma over Veterans weekend to hang out with Adam and Michael's family.  We went to an awesome playground and swam in Adam's new pool.

 We got to see Frozen II in Texas and in Arizona!

 Kate and Jane got one on one time with Aunt Joan. 

 My whole family traveled to Phoenix for Thanksgiving.  We all had a wonderful time.

 Brandon took my girls fishing. 

 Kristi took a few of the girls out for a Target and Starbucks run. 

 Kate lost a tooth.

 And we took family pictures. 

They turned out so well!

November 2018

I am very proud of my little garden of lettuce.  Our house had these tiny raised gardens and I figured I'd try to use them for the winter before we move them to somewhere not in the middle of the yard in the spring/summer.  I had put in some beets and peas, but they didn't make it.  Only my lettuce has survived.  But that is a good thing, since I can barely keep my house plants alive! 

 Bryan went to San Antonio  to present his fellowship before the board of Optometry and became a new fellow! Congratulations to him!!

We camped at McKinney Falls State Park over the Veteran's Day holiday.  It was a little wet and a little cold.  But the girls did great.  This would be a beautiful place to visit in the spring and summer when the water is warm.  

We also ran 9 miles in San Antonio over the Veteran's Day holiday with one of Bryan's friends, Joy.  Because it was such a small race, most of us got first place in our age group! It was a very cold run.  I guess this prepared me for my other very cold run in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

 Kate's school picture!  Look at that fake smile!

I went up to Oklahoma before Thanksgiving to run a 1/2 marathon.  Basically, I am trying to keep up with my friend Jennifer and all her different state medals.  This run was so cold. It was so cold I ran the fastest I've ever run- 1:52! A new PR!

The worst part about this race was that I lost my car keys that were hidden under my car.  I had no cell phone or money because everything was in the car.  Nothing was stolen out of the car. No windows were broken.  My keys were just taken out of thin air.  I found a kind sole that let me warm up in their car, call a pop-a-lock guy, and wait until my car opened was opened.  I took an Uber back to where I was staying (Adam's house) to shower and really get warm.  Then I had the car towed just in case someone were to come back and claim the vehicle.  Bryan was able to first class mail the extra car keys, thank goodness- because a new key costs like $250!  It was a crazy, cold adventure!

 But I got my Oklahoma medal!

For Thanksgiving, we all traveled to Michael's home in Ardmore, Oklahoma.  It was Wendy and her family, Adam and his family, Bryan and our family, and Stratton.  Amy and her family came a few days before, but left early to have Thanksgiving in New Mexico.  We played ultimate frisbee, ran a 5K, played at a trampoline park, swam at a hotel, watched Ralph Breaks the Internet, went bowling, drove through a park with Christmas lights, ate Braum's Ice Cream, and played with cousins. 

It was lots of fun!