Portland Zoo

Oley and I were up for a little road trip so we took Ad down to the Portland Zoo.  I loved this zoo growing up as a kid.  I remember going every summer with my mom, it was just as great as it was growing up!  When we got there it was drizzling a little bit but that didn't stop us from having a great time.

We had a blast!  We ended the day with a food eating challenge that Oley had been wanting to do in Portland.  Five Hush Puppies with 2 habanero peppers a piece in them, so 10 peppers total.  He finished it like a champ - took about 90 seconds total.  We definitely heard about it on the ride home.  Ad was exhausted from her day and so were we!

Attitude

No idea where this little girl gets so much attitude, we are definitely trying to make sure we take care of it now before it's a big struggle.  Today Ad brought in her shoes that had poop on the bottom of them.  Oley took them from her so that she didn't put them on and track it through the house. 
Ad Says, "Dad I am Mad at You."
Oley, "why?"
Ad, "I am mad at you"

She folds her arms, opens up the garage door and goes to sit on the step.  She sat there for 2-3 minutes trying not to look back at us the entire time. 

Broken

As Oley and I were up in our room changing our clothes after work Ad walked across the room and picked up our Precious Moment figurine that we have kept from our wedding, it was on the top of our wedding cake.  The minute she picked it up I looked at her and told her to set it down.  With a mischievous glimmer in her eye she quickly started to walk towards Oley.  She knew she shouldn't have it when she was just out of Oley's arm's reach she dropped it on the ground, not realizing that it was extremely fragile.  It shattered right before our eyes.  I thought to myself that's how easily a marriage can be broken, as if the figurine really signified a marriage.  I went to assess the damage while Oley placed her in time out.
After I had picked up the pieces and realized that it could be glued back together I came back into our bedroom to talk to Ad.  When I asked her what she did, she gave me the typical "because" answer that she gives every time I ask her what she did that was bad that made her go to time out.  Once she got passed that she said "i broke it".  Then she folded her arms walked passed me and said "I just want to be alone."  Typically after time out we give hugs and agree not to do something again.
This was a very different response.  But it was the response that I needed.  I realized no matter what we do on this earth, no matter how broken we think our marriage has become - no one wants to be alone.  I don't want Ad or Oley to have to be alone ever and through our temple marriage I know that we will be together forever.  Ad will always be sealed to us through time and all eternity and she will not ever have to be alone.  When I went to go and find her she was sitting in the office with her arms folded on her couch.  The lessons she teaches me everyday are deeper and greater than she will ever know.  I am so grateful for our temple marriage and our eternal family!

We Are All Friends

The other night Oley and I were having a tense moment when sitting down for dinner.
Ad pipes up to break the silence exclaiming, "We are all friends!"
We all agree.
Ad says, "We are all Happy!"

I love the joy this little one brings into our life! 

Idaho Falls Fourth

Since Oley and I have been married we have only been back to celebrate the 4th of July in Idaho Falls a handful of times.  Now that Ad is old enough to start remembering things and wanting to be involved with everyone we thought it would be fun to let her experience the 4th of July in Idaho Falls.  I am so glad we did.  Laur, Doug, and I started the day with a quick 5K before the parade. 

We sat with my cousins for the parade and Ad had a blast.  Especially when the cheerleaders came through.  She loved dancing with them.

As is tradition we went to Freeman Park to watch the firework show.  We met Doug and Shelbie there for some Reed's Dairy ice cream.  Once they dropped us off Ad loved running around playing with her cousins.

I am so glad that we chose to go to Idaho Falls.  We all had a really good time! How does this not make you smile?  

Summer Vacation

Our plan was to drive back to Idaho with Laur and Doug to spend the next week vacationing and spending the 4th of July in Idaho Falls.  We started the week with a camping trip in Island Park with Oley's family and my Mom and Robyn.  Ad loved getting to go on the 4 wheelers, play with her cousins, and swim in the lake. 

Sleeping in the tent was another story.  Once she finally fell asleep all was well!

We got to go to the zoo while we were in Idaho Falls.

Ad loved playing with Uncle Matt, Papa, and making cookies with Grandma.

Uncle Matt also joined us at the lake one day!

 

Ad was exhausted!

 

And we got to play at the park with Corbin and Oden.  Ad loves playing with cousins!

 Ad was such a great sport when it came to being in the car.  We loved being able just to relax and not have to worry about anything.