Weekend in Island Park

Every year we look forward to going to Island Park with all of the Likes family.  

It was especially fun this year because we actually had some real live SNOW to play in!  

(I'm not even joking.. it's the middle of Feb and we're barely getting snow at home!).  

Going snowmobiling is what I look forward to most in IP! The first time I ever experienced it was when we were engaged.  Until then, I never knew what I had been missing out on.  There is just something freeing about breezing through the white powdery snow with no care in the world.  Derrick let me sit in the front for part of the ride and lets just say I might have stood up with eyes closed, arms and the air, and yelled,"I'm the king of the world!!".... but like I said.. I only MIGHT have done that... ;)

Beckham enjoyed the snow too! We got him all layered and bundled up and took him outside.  

He loved it.  It was so white and beautiful he just stared at it.  

And because Beckham has been into tasting almost anything lately, 

we had him try out the snow.  I think he liked it.

The cabin we stay at is perfectly secluded and well equipped for a whole gang of us.  

We played games and ate way too much:) 

Some of us got a little worn out from all the fun.

Sunday just isn't the same without a good old fashioned church service. So it's pretty awesome that anywhere we go there is usually an LDS church nearby! The church in Island Park is very used to having tourists there.  The entire gym was packed full of visitors. 

 Then before we left, we took the traditional Likes family picture on the stairs :)  

Bear Lake

Last weekend we drove out to one of my fave little lakes

(mainly my fave bc here we stay in a condo and heaven knows this belly wont allow

me to comfortably sleep anywhere other than a bed).

In the summer Derrick's family loves going to all sorts of lakes.

It's all about waterskiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, tubing, riding jetskis etc.

As for me and my current belly situation..

I was perfectly content reading a mag, chugging lotsa H2O, and catching some rays:)

The weather was perfect all day

and afterwards we went back to the hotel and dipped in the pool and jacuzzi.

(ps: do you see my baby belly in that tankini?! 3 more months to go.. oh boy.)

The RM

"We are the Lord's hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.”

Last Friday Derrick's brother, Tehren got home from his mission. He served in The Everett Washington Mission and he loved it. When he and Derrick hugged I had to capture the moment.

I love the glow that returned missionaries have. It's one that I think a lot of us strive to have everyday.

Seeing others leave or return for their missions makes me miss those days so much!

I met so many people that I don't think I will ever forget.

Today I talked to a girl who is leaving for her mission to the West Indies next month.

I told her to savor and live in every moment and not wish she was anywhere else.

Don't we all do that? Life gets hard and we say, "Well I cant wait until..."

Whether on a mission or not, I think we all need to live in today and not wish for tomorrow.

We can always prepare for what's to come, but living now will make us so much happier and grateful for the little things. I'm grateful I got a chance to serve full time, but I know my service to Lord isn't over.

I still have lots to do in this world and I hope take time to love everyday and make the most of it.

SLC Marathon/Bike Tour

Last year Derrick and I decided to join my dad in the annual Salt Lake City Marathon. Derrick ran the half marathon and I did the 5k. While Derrick was running he saw the bicyclists and decided he would do the bike tour this year. Between school and work, Derrick found time to train for the Bike Tour, which is about 26 miles. Now he wants to do a Century Tour, that's 100 miles!.. Baby steps darling, baby steps.

My hubby is such a cutie! I am so proud of him:)

My dad, the marathon man.

My brother David and youngest sister Madi ran the 5k.

We heart April

I've been trying to decide how to go about this blog. We have been married for almost two years and we have had so many amazing memories!! So do I post them all or just post the ones to come? hmmmm... I think what I will do is post things as they come and if I decide to post some 2009 or 2010 memories throughout, then I will. Case closed.

With that being said... here are some pics of the fun things we have done this April.

On April 2 Derrick turned 24.

I am not sure why these pics are fuzzy, I guess the camera was on the wrong mode. Anyway Derrick loved having another birthday. We went and played laser tag with a bunch of friends (which is so freaking fun, I dont care how old you are!) then we went to dinner and saw a movie with everyone. These pics were taken when we had a bday dinner at his parents house the next day.

A few weeks later, we painstakingly got through the Winter semester finals and were able to take a trip to California to visit my family and enjoy some sun. We had sooo much fun!!

We ate at our favorite seafood place in Newport Beach...

Where we always start with a the amazing Manhattan red clam chowder followed by King Crab Legs or Claws... both equally divine.

Then we found a NINE seater umbrella bike! How could we ever pass up such a rare piece of family enjoyment?

We went to the San Diego Zoo.. Derrick had to see the giraffes.