Evan's Farewell Weekend

As most of you know my little brother Evan is leaving on a mission to Fiji. He actually goes into the MTC tomorrow!! His farewell was the Sunday before Memorial Day. He did such a great job on his talk. Seriously, I can't believe how much he has grown since I've left home. He will be a great missionary!!

Kyson learned so many things that weekend! I can't believe how big he is getting. Here are some of the adventures in Ephraim...

His first motorcycle ride with Grandpa (don't worry after this quick ride around the neighborhood by Dad decided to get him a little helmet for our camping trip... pics to come on next post).

After that first ride...Kyson was hooked. He figured out how to open the garage door and this is where we found him. Yes, he climbed up there all by himself and yes I about freaked out because he could have pulled the bike on top of himself. Grandpa told me to stay calm :)

Grandma taught him how to dribble a basketball. He is still working on this talent but loves practicing every day.

He also got in the "pool" with Grandpa and Grandma. At first he kept saying hot hot hot but he got use to the temperature and didn't want to get out.

Kyson also learned how to shave. How cute are these pics!!


Natalie "ruined" (aka dented) Olin's cowboy hat. Olin of course couldn't wear it anymore... so it became Shad and Kyson's. Thanks Uncle Olin!!

Ky always gets burned out when we are with family.... there is always so much to do.

My mom has all of the Sunday pictures of the family before Evan's farewell so if I ever get a copy, I will post. For now this is the only picture I had of Evan. Good Luck on the mission Evan. You'll do great!!!!

XOXO Melanie

SIX YEARS!!

This post is a little late but I couldn't just pass by May 16th without saying a few words to my best friend. It seems like just yesterday Shad & I were sealed in the Manti Temple. I was head-over-heals for the man that I had met almost one year ago to the day...little did I know the love I felt for him on May 16th, 2003 would grow into a relationship I couldn't have even comprehended that day.

Shad & I have been so blessed in the past 6 years of marriage. We have both found careers we enjoy, bought our first home, grown together in the gospel, and most importantly have been blessed with a beautiful little boy that brings joy into our lives that is hard to describe.

Shad you are truly my best friend. Heavenly Father knew I could not get through this life without you by my side. I could not have even dreamed of a better husband and father for me and our family. I look forward to many more wonderful years by your side!

XOXO Melanie

TOO CUTE!

Two of my sisters came to Vegas for the weekend (second week in May) to play with Kyson and watch my brother-in law ride in a rodeo. My sister Natalie use to live in Vegas but moved almost a year ago and misses the daily interaction with Kyson. She flew in Thursday night and hadn't seen Kyson since February. So I decided to have Kyson greet her in an extra special way...

Kyson waiting for Aunt "Na Na" (click on the picture to see Ky better).

Natalie coming off the elevator with cell phone in hand to take a picture of my cute little boy.

I don't think you could have a cuter welcoming committee!!

XOXO Melanie

Professional Pics

I absolutely loved this session of Kyson. He was a little sick but the pictures still turned out great! These are just some of my favorites. There are too many cute ones to post them all. Thanks Grace!! (P.S. Don't mind his huge shorts...they were new and we didn't realize they were that big on him. Cutie Boy!!)

XOXO Melanie

You know you're pregnant when...

You can't stop crying after your child spills your Sonic Cherry-Limeade and you just drove 5 miles to go get it and had only taken a couple of sips. Then he goes and grabs a towel and starts singing the "clean-up" song and tries to clean it up...and now I really can't stop crying. How can you get mad at such a cute kid?

Am I crazy or just pregnant?

Palm Springs

We went to Palm Springs to partly celebrate our 6 year anniversary and mostly for Shad's softball tournament. Kyson loved watching his Dad play softball and didn't like being held back from playing with him.

This picture is inside a bar/viewing area where you can sit inside an air conditioned building and still watch the games through the glass windows...it's a pretty cool feature for the little kids that can't be out in that heat all day long.

We were also able to get in the swimming pool a few times. Kyson loves the pool! Every time we would come down the elevator he would take the turn to go to the pool instead of our car and wouldn't stop saying pool over and over again. Cutie boy!!

This picture you're going to have to click on and enlarge it so you can see the toothpicks in both Shad and Kyson's mouths. Shad always gets a toothpick when we leave a restaurant after eating...so of course Kyson had to have one too. I can't get enough of these two!!

Can you tell Kyson had a great time on our vacation??

XOXO Melanie

Floyd Lamb Park

Since we have lived in Vegas we have never gone to see Floyd Lamb Park, which is an historic Las Vegas park just a mile away from our house. We thought it would be fun to take Kyson there so he could feed the ducks. As you can tell by the pictures he was a little nervous at first, but warmed right up (even though most of them were much bigger then him).

XOXO Melanie