The Riparian Preserve

We visited the Riparian Preserve Saturday, to do a little hiking, bird watching, tree climbing, playground playing.... and to see all the water that was collected there after our last big storm.

Maya & Kate

Maya, Aubree and Abbey. Last time we were here, the lake behind them was empty.

Sharing their crackers.

Kate-a-roo.

Ella looking for birds. There are usually lots of varieties... but the stormy weather must have them all in hiding.

Ella & Aubree

There were some great trees for climbing... and plenty of monkeys to climb them.

Cousin Abbey & Ella

Maya & Aubree

Maya Monkey.

Abbey and Aubree; Ella, proudly sitting on a small rock she found for a seat.

Kate wanted to climb on things too... all by herself.

Maya, Kate, Jeff and Ella.

This park is great, becuase it is very unique. No traditonal play things here. The girls love to run along the walls, jump from them, climb through them, and run atop the large rattle snake up on the hill.

Up in the Clouds

Not everything is black and white, but the sky sure is today!

HApPy bIRtHdaY JEFF!!!!

Jeff's birthday fell on a Sunday this year.... so we let him have one of those highly covetted after-church-naps. It is so rare, that I thought I should document it by taking his picture=).

Jeff had lots of help on his birthday....

Help opening the presents....

Help blowing out the candles... and ofcourse help eating the cake!

Bobbing for Waffles

I made waffles for breakfast this morning, and left the last one in the iron a little too long. I left the room, then returned later and found that Jeff had hung it from the family room fan as a "decoration". Well, Maya loves her Mama's waffles and just couldn't resist finding a way to take a bite out of it. She didn't seem to mind at all that it was over done!









She had to get a bigger chair and stack some things up to be able to reach it. Don't worry she was supervised! In the end their was only one quarter left hanging from the fan.

Aubree's Baptism

I took some snapshots of Aubree in her white dress, about a week before her baptism. She looks so beautiful and so sweet and pure!

"Those who are baptized enter into a covenant with God to take upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ, keep His commandments, and serve Him to the end".

A family picture after the baptism. Right: Aubree with grandma and grandpa.

Left to Right 1st row: Baby Story Shupe, Jarret Shupe, Ella, Aubree, Abbey, Ava, Talen, Laird, Derrick, Baby Lyla, Back row: Crystal Shupe, Sara Cotter (Aubree's piano teacher), Angela, Kate, Jeff, Bart, Janice, Hal, Grandma Lela, Perrie Lowe (Aubree's Sunday School teacher), Rochelle, Macey, Adam (behind her), and Hydee. Those who attended but not pictured: Becca Kirkpatrick, Cara Hancock and baby, Bishop Kleinlein, and Brother Higginson. Am I forgetting anyone?

For more information about baptism, click the following link:

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&sourceId=1af539b439c98010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Aubree Turns Eight

Happy birthday Aubree!

Abbey, Rachel, Emmy, Abbey, Maya, Kaila, and Aubree ready to do the pinata.

She requested her favorite cake: Strawberry Shortcake.

Opening gifts with her friends.

Her favorite gift. She rides this scooter all over the house.

They all had a great time and were very very hyper. Jeff said he had a small glimpse into the future.... There will be many more girl parties to come.

Zoo Trip

It was a perfect day for the zoo. 70 degrees, quiet, and it was Aubree's last day of Christmas vacation.

They love to look at the fish pond near the entrance of the zoo. They immediately picked out the fish that "daddy would like best" if he were able to come. It's the orange and black one.

Of all the wild animals to choose from... Aubree chose the horse. Maya wanted the cheatah but then decided she would rather ride next to her sister.

Look at those giraffs!

Belly! Belly! Maya!

Aubree and Maya driving a tractor.

Milking the cow.

Ella was too scared to go into the goat and sheep petting area, but she was very curious. She stayed up there watching untill one of the tall goats came to say "HI". He stuck his head clear through the lower opeing on the gate. No, Ella did NOT like that.

This is the kind of animal Ella will touch.

Left: Go cowgirl!; Right: "We gonna go camping, Mama?"