Anniversary Gift

I saw a Groupon come through for what I thought was a helicopter ride over Hoover Dam. It ended up being just a plane ride but it was still really cool. Shad was loving it because we got front row seats so we was able to watch the pilot fly. He misses flying and hopes to pick it back up soon. May be when we win the lottery. The bonus is I didn't get sick. Yeah!!

Love you Babe!! Happy Anniversary!

XOXO Melanie

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July!!

(A couple months late.) We were sad to miss the annual Baugh family BBQ but we did enjoy a yummy breakfast with our Ward. Later that day we were invited (or we invited ourselves... can't remember) to our friends house for a BBQ and a swim. We had a great time!! Thanks Hendricks!!

XOXO Melanie

Shoe Fetish

Have I ever told you that someone in our family has a shoe fetish? Well Joe (name has been changed to protect the innocent) does have a serious shoe fetish. There I said it. His favorite type of shoes to wear/steal are boots and my heels. I had a brilliant idea to start taking pictures of Joe in all his different shoes but only got as far as one picture. CAUTION: If Joe ever comes to your house lock your shoes up... I promise he will wear every last pair in your house... and most likely you will never be able to find the matching shoe to any pair again.

XOXO Joe's Mommy

Lake Powell

For his first family vacation after returning home from his mission. Evan decided he wanted to spend a week in Lake Powell. Besides the fact that I was sick with a soar throat, sinus infection, eye infection... yes you name it I had it.... the vacation was a blast!!

Shad loves to slalom. The old man still has some skills. LOL!If I wasn't creating a shadow this picture would have blinded you. Two years without seeing sun is frightening. LOL!!!!
Brox was scared of the boat most until the last day. This is what Mommy did most of the time. But how can you complain when you get to cuddle with your handsome little boy!!
Evan trying his hand at knee boarding.
Natalie wake boarding.
My favorite part was one night my Dad and the boys decided to follow boils (many fish swim on the surface and the water looks like it is boiling) of fish. I got to drive the boat to try to catch up to each boil that popped up. We were catching fish left and right. It was a blast!
The girls got into the action too! And by action I mean I was driving the boat and Natalie was cutting the little fish in half that they used for bait as fast as she could. I think Shad broke about 10 lines that night.

Can you see how the beginning of the pictures it was light and by the last one with Shad it is almost dark. We were having so much fun we didn't want to leave... we almost couldn't see to get back to our camp site.

Before Shad had married me he had only gone fishing ONCE in his life when he was around 7 years old. My family had taken him out fishing (which I tied his poles for him) but he still had never caught a fish.

That changed on this trip!!

My Dad this summer got scuba certified so he decided to rent some tanks and take some of the boys out scuba diving. Shad said he will never go cold water scuba diving again.... but still had fun.
Thanks Mom and Dad for showing us such a great time!!

XOXO Melanie

Elder Whipple Comes HOME!!

After two long years for my mother... Elder Whipple finally returned home from serving a two year mission in Fiji. Since Evan is the sole brother of the family we decided we should welcome him home in style! Plus the Whipple family motto is "Go Big or Go Home".... We decided to GO BIG!!!

My Sisters and Mom made us all shirts that either said "Bula Vanaka" or "Talufa" which I believe is Hello in two languages that Evan learned on his mission. We also wore the Sulu's that Evan gave to all of us the first Christmas he was gone. My family also had candy leis made for everyone who came to the airport. We also held up a bunch of signs welcoming him home.

Kyson was so excited to finally see his Uncle Evan again! He prayed for him every night.

Typical Whipple photo.

The supporting troops... Grandma and Grandpa Baugh and Grandma Whipple.
Someone got a hold of my camera!
We were sad Stephanie missed the welcome home bash but she had to of course take care of her cute new baby. Davis came home from the hospital the day before Evan came home from his mission. Always a competition with the Whipples.

After what seemed like another two years... or a two hour delay of his connecting flight from L.A. We finally started seeing people come down the elevator from his flight. They kept walking by the crowd asking if we were waiting for the guys in the "skirts". "Why yes we are and they better get down here IMMEDIATELY!!"

They were all so nervous (4 Elders came home from Fiji and 3 of them from Evan's mission) so Evan decided he would take the plunge and go down the elevator first.

Kyson was the first to greet him. He never let go. [Tears welling right now] Seriously the cutest moment EVER!!
Brox hadn't met Evan yet but he followed his brother and ran up to him too. I didn't get a picture of that moment but it was awesome!!

My Mom ordered that pretty flower lei too. We all sat and decorated him for a few minutes.

Proud parents!!

Uncle Evan is finally home!!

The Elders home from Fiji. The farthest Elder on the right didn't wear Sulus on his mission.
That night Evan wanted his first meal to be at Cafe Rio. A man after my own heart! We arrived in Ephraim around 1 a.m. and Evan wanted to hand out all of his gifts he brought back from Fiji. Everything was so beautiful!! He also decided to get all of the boys their own church Sulus. He even found some small enough for my boys.

Probably the only time you'll catch these three in "skirts". LOL! On the other hand Kyson kept telling me all day at church that he LOVED his skirt. Silly boy.

All the men in their Sulus.
Welcome Home Evan!! We sure did miss you!!

XOXO Melanie

Happy 60th & 31st Birthdays!!

Shad's family prepared a BIG surprise for their wonderful Dad, Steve. It was his 60th birthday and they wanted to do something great for him. They came up with surprising him this way... It first started by telling Steve to come to Vegas to go golfing with Doreen, Shad and Cory. They told him they set up a tee time in Boulder City. We all drove out there to drop them off and Shad "accidentally" passed the golf course and went to the airport, which is just passed the golf course. We pulled into a hanger and this is what greeted him.

Almost the entire family was there to surprise him!! He still wasn't sure what was going on until Shad told him to turn around and look at the sign behind him. It said "Sky Dive Las Vegas". Apparently, skydiving is something Steve has always wanted to do so they decided it was time to make this dream come true.

Doreen, Cami, Shad and Makenzi all decided to join him for this adventure. We counted the sky diving adventure as Shad's birthday present too. Since their birthdays are a day apart.

The first parachutes!

Shad landing... we have fantastic video of the jump too but I couldn't get it loaded.

On the ground safe and sound!!

Shad's friends and coworkers decided to join in on the fun. We got a group discount so it made it a great deal. Thanks guys for coming and supporting Shad and his Dad.

We then headed to Cami's house to swim and have a family BBQ. We also presented to Steve an awesome book of photos and letters that our family (The Rollo's) had made at the Shutterfly website. It was a collection of memories, thanks and love from all who care for Steve. He loved it! It was such a special day and we will definitely never forget it!

Happy 60th Birthday Grandpa!!

XOXO The Rollo's

Scandinavian Days

We also attended Ephraim's annual Scandinavian Days while we were up for my class reunion. I couldn't resist posting this picture.

Kyson channeling is heritage I guess ... (or just wearing half of his mother's breast plate... LOL! Please tell me you have all seen "How to Train Your Dragon"?)

XOXO Melanie