Family Portraits

It's been five years since we've done any family portraits, so I can't tell you how excited I was to finally have these in my hands!

 

  A big thank you to Lisa Hansen Photography for putting up with our rowdy bunch.  I'm sure she had to do some serious photoshopping since there were a lot of face pulling from all the boys...including the biggest one! If it wasn't one boy, it was another.  Somehow out of all that craziness, we ended up with some great results.

Thank you so much, Lisa!!!!!

Aubrey and Ronins' Birthdays

Hello blogging world...it's been far too long since our last post.  Yes, we're still alive.  Just popping in to say hello and post a few updates of our family.  Yesterday we celebrated Aubrey's sweet 16th birthday and Ronin's 11th birthday with our extended family.   

Dishing up ice cream and cupcakes after the presents.  My parents and brother, Cory, with his wife and kids came too.  :)

Sweet 16 Party

On the day of Aubrey's actual birthday, she had a friend party at our house - she had a great turnout.

They played the game 500.

 Afterwards, they played Eenie-I-Over.

 

A close family friend, Kendra, stopped by to give Aubrey 16 balloons...well, it ended up being 15 since one of the balloons popped in the car.

 The rest of the evening they played a few other games and laughed a lot.

 The evening was topped off by opening up gifts and cooking up smores.

Aubrey & Alexis.

 Aubrey's childhood friend, Keneisha, who moved away years ago stopped by and surprised Aubrey.

  Now that she's 16 she is old enough to officially start dating boys too - I'm not sure Jed is ready for that.  From the looks of it, I'm not so sure Aubrey's all that comfortable yet with male attention either.  :)

The only boy in the group that Aubrey welcomed physical affection from - her brother, Connor.

But even that is only allowed so far.  

After the family party yesterday, we went and visited my brother, Troy's, grave.

Happy Memorial Day from our family to yours!

Cave Falls & Warm River

 

This past Saturday, we took a little day trip to Cave Falls, located in the southern area of Yellowstone Park.

The waterfall is only 20ft tall, but it is the widest in the park at 250 ft long.

There is a huge cave by the falls, but over the last few years, the rocks around it have collapsed and it's now covered up.  No one is allowed by the cave due to the danger of falling rocks.  Shame.  :(  I guess it gives new meaning to "Cave Falls."

Aubrey thought a long sleeve jacket would save her from all the mosquitoes instead of using insect repellant.  She ended up pretty itchy that night.

 

This lovely couple just celebrated their 16th Wedding Anniversary this last Friday!  ;)  Woo Hoo!  Still going strong too! 

We then hiked the Bechler trail that follows the river.

Checking out the collapsed cave from a higher standpoint.

The trail then takes you deeper into the forest.  It's a beautiful trail and easy enough for Rigdon to walk it alone.

Pic of Cave Falls on the way back.  :)

Once we finished our hike, we headed to Warm River for lunch and some wading.  The section of Warm River that we were at is just a few feet deep and slow moving enough that it's save even for the kids. It's one of Jed's favorite spots - he grew up on this river as a boy.

Even Jack likes it.  :)

Connor and Aubrey just hung out and snacked instead of doing any wading.

 

 

Ronin - always our entertainer.

It was a perfect family day.  The end.  :)