Snow Day!

We drove up Monday to the gravel pits past Strawberry to play in the snow. Abram and I hadn't been in the snow since our Yellowstone trip 5 years ago! We were expecting the weather to be freezing so we were extra bundled, but quickly shed some layers after a few runs up the snow banks. Amalee and Maggie looked so cute and squishy. Many thanks to my sister Krissy for letting us borrow snowsuits for our girls! They worked great!

After every slide down, Maggie would squeal, "again!"

We all had a great time for about 2 hours. Then a Forest Ranger said everyone (like 100 people) had to leave because the area was closed and a Sheriff was on his way to issue tickets since we were parked illegally on the side of the highway. Bummer! He said to check the Forrest Service's website and maybe it will show that the area is open in a week or so. Why didn't they have it open during the Holidays??
So we drove back to Strawberry to Grandma Carrie's cabin. The hill leading to it was the perfect sledding slope, so we didn't drive up it. We parked at the base, played for a bit and then hiked up to the cabin. This was Dallin's first time there and Abram's first time in maybe 20 years when there was snow. We didn't stay long, (Abram really wanted to stay the night). It was so beautiful, too bad our trip ended on a scary note... My sister Julie and her b-friend Matt took the sled down the hill one last time. I was loading Dallin and Maggie into the truck at the base of the hill. They came cruising down, spun around and accidentally smashed right into me, which knocked me completely over (I don't know how I didn't drop Dallin) and slammed the truck door on Maggie's noggin. Poor thing. No broken bones, just some anxious moments and a few minor bruises.

Check out the snow on the cabin porch!

Abram remembered a pic sort of like this with Papa Dorne and baby Abram.

Light Rail Fun!

Abram read in the newspaper that the light rail is free for the next couple of days. He thought it would be fun for us to ride it from start all the way to the finish and back of course! It took way longer than planned (like 3 hours) but it was fun! Thank goodness we found seats.

Abram with our kids waiting for the "ride" to start!

Amalee was so excited to sit by Grandma and Grandpa!

Maggie just loves Julie and Matt! They make her laugh so much!



This was so much fun for Maggie! Grandpa held her up and asked if she wanted to be a "fire-lady?" Then he spun her down the pole!

Christmas Card

More recent pics of Dallin

This first pic is Dallin on his blessing day!

He is such a handsome little boy!

This picture is our little tradition pic.

Amalee has one just like it but she is in Ashley's hands

Dallin is in Daddy's hand.

Quick update for anyone who might have heard that Dallin has a heart murmur.

We took him to the cardiologist on Thursday and had a EKG done. The cardiologist did hear a murmur but he said that it is very faint and isn't there all the time. He said that it is most likely an innocent murmur but wants to see Dallin again when he is 8 months old just to make sure. We of course are very happy with this news and very grateful that we have a health little boy!

Dallin's Blessing Day

Abram blessed Dallin yesterday at chuch! He gave such a wonderful and beautiful blessing. Our little family is growing and we are so blessed to have Dallin in our lives! Thank ypu to all who celebrated with us.

Eveyone that was in the circle:
Back row: Kendall, Matt, Scott
Front row: Papa Dorne, Abram w/Dallin, Papa Spier, Anthon, Kevin, Justin

Our pretty little family!

My mom made his blessing outfit! He looked so handsome in it!

Thank you mom:)

"Bible!"

Just a cute picture of Amalee loving her brother!

We have been reading Bible stories to the girls before they go to bed. The girls of couse love listening to their daddy read. Maggie has finally started talking and she gets so excited for scripture time. These are just to short videos with her saying "bible." We think she says it really cute.

"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver".

I went visiting teaching today and my partner shared this story. I had never heard it before but I love it now. It really does help me know that our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ are always here for us and keep a watchful eye over us!

There was a group of women in a Bible Study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three, which says:"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver". This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.That week, this woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse, that "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith "But how doyou know when the silver is fully refined?"He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy - when I see my image in it." If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has Hiseye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.