Goodbye Snowflake :(

So like I have said before Dakota has the BEST grandparents in the whole world!!!

So in case you haven’t noticed from some of Dakota’s pictures…he is such a little cowboy. He LOVES anything to do with being a cowboy-the hat, the boots (no doubt), horses, belt buckles, EVERYTHING!

I grew up with horses my whole life doing the whole rodeo thing and my parents of course still have many horses so every time we go down to “ZONA” as Dakota calls it, we get to ride and he always has a blast.

Well, because I have the cutest and best parents in the whole world, they decided to bring one of their horses up to us and board it in a place really close to our house so that Dakota could have a horse to ride, whenever he wants. So in July they brought up Snowflake and Dakota and I have just LOVED having her here. (I’m not sure who loved it more…me or him. :) )

Our first day with Snowflake!

He started taking charge and learning to do it all.

Well, since it is getting colder Snowflake had to go back to Zona for the winter. We are sure going to miss her but luckily we will be down there for Thanksgiving so Dakota will ride again soon.

We had one last photo shoot with Snowflake on our last day to ride. As you can tell it was a FREEZING day but we didn’t let it stop us.

Sorry for the millions of pictures. Vicki came so of course we got A LOT of pictures thanks to her and I don’t want to forget about them!

Helping Papa get Snowflake

Just waiting patiently

Exploring with Nana while Snowflake is getting saddled

We started out outside in the arena.

The weather took a big turn! COLD is all I have to say!

We took it in the barn. Papa was so nice to keep walking and walking and walking. Whenever we would stop Dakota would say, "Let's go!"

My cute little cowboy!

So big riding all by himself.

Petting Snowflake

Zach is the farthesest thing from a cowboy and never would of thought his son would be into all of this. He is a cute dad though and loves how much Dakota enjoys it.

Papa fixing his hat.

Dakota and his pretty Nana

What?! We are done already?!

Found a new friend.

Thanks Nana and Papa for sharing Snowflake with us! We have loved every minute of it!!!!

Funny/Sweet Moments:

1. I was asking Dakota if he wanted to go get his haircut and then go to the library and he says (in his exact words) “That’d be sweet.” I was like what?! Did he seriously just say that??? It was hilarious. Usually he says, “That would be fun!!” But sweet was a new one! :)

2. Sometimes, mostly in serious conversations when Zach and I are disagreeing, we call each other babe. So the other day in a very serious voice Dakota says, “I don’t think so babe.” It was so funny to hear the word “babe” come out of his cute little voice.

3. Whenever Dakota falls and gets hurt Zach always tells him…your tough, don’t cry. So the other day he got hurt and was trying so hard to not cry but in his sad little whimper he says, “I’m tough. I don’t cry.”

4. For Halloween he was in his sherriff costume and in my cowboy voice I said “hey partner!” He looks at me with a serious face and says, “I’m not a partner. I’m handsome!” If you can’t tell we often tell him he is handsome! :)

5. Sometimes after I fix him a meal he says in his most excited and sincere voice, “Thank you mom! That’s so nice.” You would think I never give him any food to eat he is so appreciative.

6. One of the cutest…The other day he all the sudden started singing these words, “Jesus wants to help you. Jesus wants to help you. He can help you.” The tune sounded like the song, “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam” but I have never heard those words before so I’m not sure if he just made that up or if there is another song out there that he learned at nursery that I’m not aware of. Either way it was super cute and I hope he really know that Jesus will help us!



Halloweeeeen

Halloween has been SO fun but I have to say I am exhausted and glad that it is over. After dressing Dakota up in his costume for 4 days this week I am glad I don't have to do it anymore.

So as we were deciding what he should be this year, we knew we didn't want to spend much money, and he wears his cowboy hat and boots every day...so we decided to just go with what we had. We couldn't just do a plain cowboy because that is what he is every day :) so we decided to dress it up a little more and so....

we got ourselves a real live sheriff! Is he not the cutest sheriff you have ever seen?! We think so! The best part about his costume is that the jacket he is wearing was my mom's when she was a little girl. And his belt buckle was also one that my mom won! How cool huh?!

He sure LOVED playing the part too!

He is in a duel!!! :)

So we started off our Halloween partiness with our ward party. Zach and I weren't able to go because he had A LOT of homework to get done so our sweet neighbors volunteered to take Dakota with them and he had a ball with his buddy Tanner.

Tanner and Dakota

Friday both sets of Zach's grandparents had trick or treaters at their assisted living homes. The first place only has like 20 residents so it was pretty low key and all of the residents were in one room in a circle and you just walked around and they passed out candy. They were sure cuties.

Us with Grandma Minnie and Grandpa Ed.

We then went to Grandma Nannie's place and I was not prepared for the intensity of this place. The line was out the door to get in. The residents were all outside their rooms and you had to go through the whole place and you couldn't take your time because people were lined up behind you. They had a spook alley and everything. It was pretty crazy but really fun. Dakota LOVED it!

Us with Ashley, Beau, Monkey Houston, Vicki, and Doug is taking the pic.

Us with Grandma Nannie

After the grandparents trick-or-treat we took Dakota to the Treehouse Museum for their little non-scary Halloween thing (I can't remember what it's called if you can't tell). Doug, Vicki, and Houston came with us. It was pretty cute but a little long for Dakota.

Waiting with Daddy for it to start.

Taking a cowboy break, eating an apple.

Grammy and Houston

Of course Saturday we had to dress him up again to go trick or treating to the other Granparents, a couple neighbors and friends. We were pretty trick or treated out by that time so we went home and passed out soda to the trick or treaters that we didn't miss. Dakota thought that was pretty cool too to see all the kids come to our house.

Sunday was the Friedli Halloween party and that was SUPER fun! We all dressed up, had dinner, and played a few games. There were some pretty good costumes...everyone got pretty creative!

The whole gang! Grandma a Gypsy, grandpa an "old cowboy", Jenny as Wonderwoman, Bobby as aquaman (yes he has underwear over his thermal pants :)), Olivia was a ladybug, Beau, Ashley, and Houston were little gangsters (Houston looked so cute), Zach was a chic magnet (wearing my tight shirt, while pumping some iron :) )and I was a babe magnet (last minute idea), Dakota of course a sheriff, Ryan was Bob Marley (SOOOO funny) and Lindsay was his girl, Vicki a witch, and Doug was Elvis. It was so fun!

Playing our parts!

So game #1. Us wives hid gummy worms in whipped cream and gave the boys 40 seconds (cuz it was Bobby's 40th birthday party as well) to find as many as they could. It was great fun to watch. Zach, Beau, and Ryan all tied and got all 12 of them.

The aftermath

Game #2- The boys had to throw little pumpkins into our mouths. The ones who caught the most win. We were at a clear disadvantage...my partner was blind...no fair! J/K That is just my excuse because we didn't win. :) Ashley and Beau won that one, despite Vicki's criticism that Ashley wouldn't catch any! :)

Game #3- Who could eat their doughnuts the fastest. Of course Ryan won! He said he has lots of practice! :) But I beat all the girls, that counts for something right?! I am good at one thing...EATING! :)

Overall, it was a great time!!! Just being around friends and family is the best!

Happy Halloween everyone!!!

September LOVE

So I know it is the end of October but like I said in my last post...Better Late then Never. September we had three AMAZING weddings in three weeks that I don't wanna forget. It was a little busy with all three going on so close but they were so great!

The first one was Zach's cute sister Jenny marrying a great guy, Bobby. The wedding was at Zach's parent's backyard and was SO beautiful. Jenny was such a gorgeous bride and she made a ton of the decorations, butineers (no idea how to spell that), wrist bands, etc. She did such a great job it made me want to get married all over again with new colors, new decorations, new dress, EVERYTHING! It was all so dang cute. We are so happy for her and Bobby and love them both and so much. Bobby also has a little girl named Olivia that is so fun. We are excited to have a new niece and a new cousin for Dakota!

Our little family at the wedding. Look at those handsome boys! :) Dakota got to be the ring bearer and did such a great job. I was SO nervous that he wouldn't do it or that he would start crying or whatever. With a two year old...anything could happen. But before he went down Bobby had shown him that he had some fruit snacks. So we kept telling him, take this box to Bobby and he will give you some fruit snacks...bribing always works! :) He totally did it and as soon as he handed him the box he put his hand right up to Bobby and just stood there until he gave him the fruit snacks. Then he wanted to just stand right there in the front and eat them all, so we had to coax him back over to us. He did so good though and looked so cute in his little outfit!

Bobby and the little boys. SO cute!

Jenny and the boys!

Dakota stealing a kiss from the bride! Lucky boy!

The next weekend was my brother Ty's wedding. He married a girl named Heather from Duschane Utah so we didn't have to go very far for the wedding and we got to have all my family come up to us. He found him the perfect girl, just right for him! She is so beautiful and tall so maybe we will get some height in this short little family. She is such a great girl and we are so excited to have another sister! Five girls is not enough already! :) They got married in the Mt. Timpanogas temple and had the reception in her backyard. It was all so beautiful and it was so fun to have my family here and get to see them all! I missed some of my nieces and nephews that didn't get to make the trip because of their mean parents! :) J/K

Sister's and the cute couple

This picture is so fun because we had a picture taken like this when we were way young. Since he is the only boy in the family he got to lay across our laps. He was a good sport! :)

At the dinner after the wedding. Some of my sisters and my cute niece Logan!

Our little fam at the reception the next night.

My grandma, mom, and sisters. 3 generations!

Sister shot! We had a sister photo shoot if you can't tell! :) It was so fun to all be together.

Sexy butts! Annie's didn't make it in this pic cuz she was wearing a dress instead of jeans.

(yes, we are dorks)

More sister pics :)

This is how it really was...we thought we were soooo funny! (and of course we are) Sister's are the BEST! I don't know what I would do without them.

The night between the wedding and the reception we all got to stay in this huge cabin that was a friend of my aunts. It was between where the wedding and the reception was so it was perfect. It was so fun to have our whole family together. I love those times! Zach and I both are so blessed to have such amazing families.

Wedding #3 was one of my GREAT friends from going to school up in South Dakota, Karen. She was one of the few LDS young adults in the area and we became such great friends. Our institute up their consisted of like eight of us in the whole college so we all got to know each other pretty well. She is such an amazing girl and I am so happy that she found her "EC" (eternal companion). I know that sounds so dorky but it was kinda an inside joke for us! :) Lucky for me her husband is from Salt Lake City so they got married up here and I got to go to their sealing and reception. They make such a cute couple! Love you Karen!

The newlyweds! (Sorry the lighting was horrible)

Weddings are SO great! What great memories to have. Congrats to you all!!!

End of Birthday Week

So I know I am a little behind on this but my motto is: Better late then never...right?! At least that makes me feel good! :)

So the rest of Zach's birthday week was AWESOME!! His cute grandparents took us to lunch at Olive Garden...which is always amazing! We had so much fun with them.

We ended the week with a big bang with a couple's sleepover party with our friends at Jordan's grandpa's condo up in Eden. It was Steve's birthday too so we just combined the party for them both and had a blast. We stayed up so late playing games, talking, and snacking. Zach is not a big gamer but he was a good sport and played all the games...and I know deep down he really loved it! ;)

Here are some fun pics of our LONG and CRAZY night!

This is how the night started out. Boys just chilling watching something on T.V. and chatting while us girls got the food all ready for a yummy dinner of pulled pork sandwiches.

Here's all the girlies!

The birthday cake that Steve ordered. How funny is that?!

Birthday boys!!

Sleeping situation...The condo had three AMAZING beds that we played a round of paper, rock, scissors to see who got them. I was getting REALLY lucky that night and won Zach and I the master bedroom. The other three couples had blow up mattresses on the floor. Luckily the condo was big and could fit us all in there.

The whole gang the next morning after our yummy breakfast. I think we were all still half asleep from our late night.

It was so much fun though...we had some great laughs all night and even the next day! Thanks Jordan and Steve for planning it all. Thanks Doug and Vicki for watching Dakota. The cute grandparents that they are took him to go see Toy Story 3 at the theatre since he has a little obsession with Buzz Lightyear right now. I know he didn't miss us for a second but we missed him!!

HaPPy BiRThdaY tO YoU

Happy Birthday to my wonderful hubby!!! He has finally caught up with his old woman and joined the 26 club! (I'm only eight months older but I get the old lady jokes ALL the time) :) And as much as you make fun of me for writing in birthday cards "I am so glad that you were born on this day," I really am glad that you were born today so that you could be my amazing husband. I don't know what Dakota and I would do without you! We love you and want you to know that!!! Happy Birthday Z!!!

I always believe that a birthday can't be celebrated in one day, it should be celebrated ALL week! We started the week off great with a Sunday night birthday dinner at Zach's parent's house. Monday night his cousin had us over for a birthday dinner, and tonight we went out to eat for our birthday tradition with just our little fam! I can't wait for what the rest of the week holds! :) Who wants to have us over next? Totally Kidding!!

Birthday clan! We missed Jenny, Bobby, and Livy but they were on their honeymoon cruise so we will let it slide this time! :)

Ryan's face in the background is the best part of this picture! He is such a goof!

Here are just some pics of the handsome birthday boy! They are all with Dakota since Zach never lets me just take pictures of him. :)

Handsome devil!

This pic represents Zach so much because he LOVES to hold hands, especially Dakota's!!

On one of his most favorite things...his skidsteer!

Such a cute daddy! Always giving horsey rides to our little cowboy!

So fun!

We love you Zach! Thanks for being the best husband and daddy ever!