South Dakota

We had such a fun trip to South Dakota with the Merritt's!! I have been wanting to go for such a long time and was so excited that the time was finally here!! Jake had to work a ton on the trip so we decided to go with him and hang out in the hotel while he worked.  First we went to Sheridan and played around there for a couple of days and then we headed to Rapid city! When we first got there the kids and I quickly went to the reptile gardens to meet up with the Merritt's!

The kids loved it there.  We went to a snake show an alligator show and a bird show. There have the worlds biggest venomous snake collection!  Tagg was in seventh heaven! The kids loved seeing all the birds and flowers and snakes and creepy crawly things they had! It was alot of fun there!

After that we went back to the hotel and the kids swam for a bit and then we got ready and went to see Mt. Rushmore! On the way to Rushmore we decided to head up to crazy horse first.  The story goes that the carver for Mt. Rushmore got mad and left the project and came up there to start his own sculpture of an Indian. When it is completed it will be a few feet taller than the Washington monument. It was cool to see. Then we headed up to Mt. Rushmore but it was a little bit to dark to see it well.

The next day we got up and headed to bear world.  The kids loved this place too. They had almost every animal that lives in the mountains that you could think of. They were right next to your car...the kids thought a couple of times that we were going to feed them to the bears! Seeing the animals up close gives you more appreciation on just how massive these creatures really are!

After bear world we went back to Mt. Rushmore....I really loved this place...for so long i have wanted to see it! It just amazes me how they could do that...i cant even draw a stick figure with out messing it up! I absolutely loved it there and could have spent way more time there.

The kids were so good on this trip and it was so fun.  I am just so grateful to Jake that he works so hard so I can enjoy staying home with my kids and that i can have so much fun with them on such an amazing family vacation! (I'm not telling Jake but I might make him do this every year!)

Katie, Brystol, Tagg at Reptile Gardens

Kori Merritt, Kash Merritt, Kali Merritt, Katie, Tagg, Brystol. Our beautiful bunch and Reptile Gardens

Kash Merritt and Katie

The Alligator show

Our cute family at Crazy horse....fitting name for my bunch!!

SHHHHH don't wake the bears

Tagg, Katie with the red fox

My amazing family.....Tagg, Jake, Brystol, Kaite

The girls...Linds, Brystol, Katie

Brystol and Katie with the presidents!

My busy Brystol thinking she has fooled us all and is off on her way....doing whatever she wants!

Hawaii

We had so much fun in Hawaii!! I love being on the beach!! Jake got to spear fish and surf and we snorkeled together!! The fruit there was awesome and I miss it!! Its not so fun when your pregnant and craving something that it an eight hour plane ride away!!! Everything was so beautiful and the weather was wonderful!!

Sunset on the first day!!

Dinner at Dukes!! I tried the fish there and Jake was proud of me!!

Jakes Gimpy foot covered in sand. I have to admit that it is kinda cute when it looks like this!!

We stoped in this bay on our way to North Shore!

I loved the way the waves looked when it came over the rocks!

At the dole plantation!!

Jake learning to surf! It was his first time doing anything like this! He loved it! Next time he gets a chance he will be pro!! He is always good at anything he does.

I love the clouds!!

Last day on the beach!! Wish we didn't have to leave but glad we are home!!

Utah

We made it to Utah at about 7 AM!! It was a fun surprise for our family! The kids did such a great job on the drive. They slept the whole time and were awesome. When we got to Utah we went to Jakes parents house and dropped off our dogs and said hi then headed down to my parents house to say hi for just a sec! Then jake and I went up to his parents house to take a nap before we ran around like crazy that day!! The kids played with the new puppy we got and we slept!!
When we woke up we opened presents with Jakes family and had breakfast!! It was alot of fun to see all the cousins play together and play with all the new toys!! Then after that we headed down to my family's Christmas party and opened presents with all my cousins!! There were so many presents my kids got so spoiled!!
After Christmas day we were there to play and play and play with all our family!! Jake got to do his hunting quite a bit with his new dog!! Then the kids went down grandpa Stephens hill on their sleds. They had a blast!! Good thing Jake is such a good dad and went down the hill with them. At the bottom they made snow angels and played with miley!!
It was alot of fun being in Utah playing with family and friends!! We love going back and wish that we could do it more!!

Jake tumbling down the hill

Kate getting ready to sled

Tagg and dad

Tagg

Kate and Dad

Dad and miley

Snow angels

Kate making snow angels

Santas visit

Santa came to our house to visit the kids!! They were scared of him at first but warmed up at the end! They were so excited that he came to visit them!! He brought them a little present and they loved it. Kate even got brave enough and drew him a picture to take home to his elves!!

Tagg and Santa

Kate drawing santa a picture

Chase, Tagg, santa, Jake and Kate

Kate not liking santa at first

Kate and chase

Our trip to Utah!

We went to Utah in July for the last time before Kate goes to school in August! Me and the kids were there for 2 weeks while Jake stayed home and worked! We had so much fun visiting family and friends! It just makes me cry to see all the cousins getting so big!! I miss being there to hold all my nieces and nephews all the time! The kids just love playing with all of them and they love playing with aunt Kelsey!!
We did so many things we went to the water park, the zoo, bike riding, watched a house being moved down the street, finished my quilt, played with cousins, took Aunt Kelsey to Volleyball camp, went to papas work, and just had fun outside!!

Laila playing in the water

Tagg trying to decide if he likes the water

Kate posing for her picture

The quilt I finished thanks to the huge help my mom gave me

Grandpa riding the bikes with the grand kids!!

Tagg ridding the scooter

Tagg and Har.vey happy at the zoo as long as they had something to eat!!

Tagg being camera shy (Shocker)

(not so baby anymore) Baby Grey

Kate ridding the train

Kate and her lion on the merry-go-round

The house they were moving down the street! The kids loved seeing it come down Grandmas and Papa Leethams street! It was moved from across the street from Grandma and Grandpa Stephens house!!

Jackson Hole!!!

We went to Jackson Hole on Vacation a few weeks back!!! We had so much fun!!! Shane and Tonya and their girls went with us and it was a blast!!! We went shopping, Swimming and out to the elk refuge!!! The kids loved the elk refuge!!! There were so many elk out there to look at. They said that there was only 25% of the elk that are usually on the refuge!!! It was beautiful out there!!!! I love spending the weekend out with my wonderful family!! That is one place that I know we will go back to often!!!


It was freezing on the sled!!!! Jake, Kate and Tagg trying to keep warm.

Jake and Tagg

Big horn sheep right on the side of the road!!

Logandale NV

Right after Easter we went to Logandale to visit Jakes Grandparents. The kids had a good time. They have always loved going to their great Grandparents house. The weather was really chilly the first day and the wind was really strong, But the kate had fun showing grandma and grandpa how well she can ride her bike. Tagg just had fun being outside playing in the dirt. Then grandma had a doctors appointment in St. George so me and the kids went to the temple while she was at her appointment. Kate loved being that close to the temple....she repeatedly told me that she and batman will get married there someday. (At least she knows where to get married right?) Then me and grandma make a couple of quilts and while we made them grandpa read to Kate!! She loves it when people read to her. Tagg just got to play with the toys. We had such a fun time. Thanks for having us.

This is Tagg the entire time we were at the temple. He was sure tired.