Saturday.

This Saturday we were determined to check some activities off our list of "Things to do before we leave Kansas." We just found out that Lawrence has a farmers' market, so yesterday morning we started out our day there. It was really fun; they had such pretty flowers and yummy breads. We will definitely try to make it back there as much as possible.





We then headed into Independence. We had heard that the Truman Presidential Library and Museum was really interesting and we have been wanting to go for a while.







While we were in Independence we went over to the Church's Visitors' Center. The sister missionary giving the tour was so sweet to try to keep Owen's attention, but Owen just kept asking to see more horses. The visitors' center had a little children's play area (complete with horse and wagon) that we had a hard time pulling Owen away from!




It was a fun Saturday and we are glad we live so close to so many Church history sites.

Coming Back.

Well we made the journey. We packed the car so full that when we went to put Owen in it on Monday morning, he took one look and asked "where did my car seat go?"

We had a fun final month full of dinners with friends, summer evenings with family, and sad good byes.

We spent an evening up in Kamas with friends at their cabin and enjoyed the beautiful mountains, Owen kept galloping around pretending he was a horse.



We went down to liberty park with the Hinckley cousins let Owen ride the carousel, he loved every minute.



We walked up to Ensign Peak, Owen loved walking all by himself and kept repeating "I'm a hiker just like Daddy and Pops."



We are happy to be back and get going into school; Kansas is green and full of sunflowers and we are looking forward to the beautiful Fall weather (the humidity is not our favorite!)

Pioneer Day.

We had a fun holiday weekend. My family has the tradition of spending the 24th of July in Scipio; they have a small town dinner, a parade, and the highlight is the Rodeo! Owen loved being with his cousins and of course loved watching all the animals during the rodeo.

4th of July

We had a great long weekend. We started out by being in the East Millcreek Parade with Joseph's family; it was fun to be with family and Owen loved throwing the candy!









We then headed down to Scipio and enjoyed the quiet and peaceful atmosphere.





Owen loves Riggins, my brother and his wife's puppy. Owen was so scared of him at the beginning of the Summer, but now he talks about him all day, loves taking him for walks and always is asking me when he can see Riggins.

4 Years!

Joseph and I are celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary today. We have moved from Salt Lake to Provo to Salt Lake to Kansas. We have made it through college graduations, tornadoes and ice storms, 2 years of grad school, our sweet little Owen, and much more. It has been a wonderful 4 years!

Grandpa Hinckley

Yesterday was Grandpa Hinckley's birthday; he would have turned 100 years old. We have been thinking about him a lot this week and how he was (and is) a great example to us. Sometimes we can almost hear him telling us to keep working at it and that things will work out.



We will always "Be" grateful, smart, clean, humble, true, and prayerful.

Owen's birthday weekend!

Owen turned 2 on Sunday and we had a fun weekend of parties, friends, and cake and ice cream.

On Friday I had planned to have a few of Owen's friends over to play outside, but the weather didn't work with us, thank goodness for family to bail us out; we had fun in my brother's gym and just let the kids run around and enjoy some pizza and cupcakes. It was so fun to have our family and friends over and Owen loved every minute of it!





On Sunday, Owen's actual birthday, he opened a few gifts in the morning, then we had some family over later that night for some ice cream.




Owen had to have his helmet on; we had just gone to a Bees baseball game and he saw all the batters with helmets on, so before he was ready to play baseball he had to have his bike helmet.



Some of the Koelliker cousins.



On Monday Owen had a little party with his Hansen cousins. Needless to say after all of these parties he has been asking for cake today and keeps wanting me to sing "Happy Birthday" to him!






We love Owen so much and are so happy that he is in our family. He loves all sports, trains, trucks, and all of his friends and cousins. He talks all the time, and loves to go on hikes and bike rides with Joseph and Uncle Spence. Everyday he wants to go and see Bobby and E (Erin) and their puppy dog, Riggins. He loves talking to his Grandma and Grandpa in "Afffffrica" and his Grammie and Pops in "Ssssspain". We love you Owen!