Fishing at the Ranch

We just got back from the funnest fishing trip. That's right, I said fun and fishing in the same sentence! The river behind our friends ranch had just been stocked with over 1.4 million Stealheads, which means you catch a fish almost every cast. Now that is my kind of fishing- perfect weather, beautiful scenery, and yummy food with some of our best friends. I'm obviously so excited to be out of the house and ready for a fun spring/summer.
Dan was in heaven after catching this monster.

Somebody loved Easter!

This is one happy camper! Doing the sign language for candy :)

Hidden Springs Easter Egg hunt. Bryn Lee loved it and actually got the concept. She even enjoyed taking the other kids eggs out of their baskets. I had to pay a kid a dollar for one of his eggs she wouldn't give back.

She loved the Easter Bunny! She kept trying to go back and sit on his lap. (Is the Easter Bunny a he?)

I've found her like this more times than I can count... Finding candy from who knows where and eating as much as she can before I can catch her.

I just had to throw this pic in. Bryn Lee is learning how to share with her friend Nash. Ha ha!

Is this a problem?

Drive-in Movie...

Cute little Bryn Lee already has a love for the television... It's either this every once in a while; or no clean clothes and a dirty house! Although, the Direct TV bill may cost even more than a babysitter...

Life isn't always pretty.

Sometimes things happen that we can't explain and just don't understand.

Sometimes we feel like our heartache will never go away.

And sometimes, it's not even for our own heartache,

it's for the helplessness of wanting to heal another.

~

Sometimes you just have to let go and trust in Gods will; even if it is so far from your own...

~

With all of the unknown in life, at least there are a few things that I am SURE of.

We are never asked to go through our pain and heartache alone.

I know that through my own trials and experiences,

I have never felt abandoned or alone.

And I also know, that even when I didn't understand,

I always somehow came out of it a stronger and better person.

And when I've endured patiently and put my trust in him,

I've witnessed tender mercies and even miracles.

~

Life really isn't always pretty, or easy, or fair.

But I know someday our pain and trials will make sense to us.
Until then, we CAN find the happy in today.

We can ALWAYS rest assure that our Savior is with us and knows our needs.

"I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you."

~

You will be sorely missed Uncle Steve. My testimony has grown through you and so has my desire to be so much more than I am.

I hope we can all have faith and find a way to smile through the mess.

(This was the beginning of that day- at one point we did look put together :)

Ice festival in McCall

I had to post these pics of the Ice Carnival that we went to in McCall. It was amazing. We were way impressed with the details on the sculptures. They even had ice slides and things for the kids to play on. Real safe if you ask me... I saw about 4 kids eat it hard on the ice.

That is a water skiing bear, in case you were wondering...

Who doesn't love the California raisins? Check them out white water rafting.

After we hung out at the ice festival we got to spend the weekend at the Ramey Ranch in New Meadows. Thanks for inviting us Weights!

There is a beautiful river that runs through their property.

We celebrated Kelli's 28th birthday while we were there. Too bad I thought she was 27 and they had to change the candle formation while they were still on fire...

The best part was sledding behind the 4 wheelers.

I feel so blessed that we have met some awesome friends in Idaho. They are like our family up here, which makes it just a little easier to not live around everyone we miss in Utah. Now ya'll need to come up here and visit and we will take you on our little adventures :)

Cruise

If you've never been on a cruise and wonder what it's like, all you have to do is look at the picture below...
So excited about her new maracas!

Lucky for you viewers it was a little cold out on deck- so you don't have to see us in our swimming suits...

Taylor looking sexy as always.

Tanner rocking his wrestling mask.

Mama Lee and Bryn enjoying the view.

We even got to mini-golf on boat.

Grandma Payne was such a trooper, she even golfed with us. I wish you could see her in action.

Dan was confused why my mom and I took pictures of him speaking with the locals. Guess we were just so impressed with his Spanish skills and how well he blended in :)

Mexican pride. Dan served his mission in Mexico City.

Dean wishing he never cut his old afro off...

Dan and I were dying over how the photographer was posing all of the cruisers for their fancy pictures. Here are a couple of our interpretations.

My husband is the best of the best.

Who doesn't love the towel animals?!

Bryn Lee tearing up the dance floor.

Ensenada Mexico.

Bryn Lee loved the music at all of the shows.

Such a nice little get-away! Thanks to my family again for coming and spending times with us. Bryn and I got to stay 5 days longer in San Diego with my good friend Chanel. We had a GREAT time and even went to Disneyland :) Bryn loved every minute of it. We already miss Chanel and Brooklyn so much!