Dallas

It is hard being a husband, father of five children and a Captain in the U.S Army simply because each demands it's own attention and dedication. With that being said, it is hard to not feel that you are constantly juggling your efforts in different directions and feeling overwhelmed at the situation. I don't make it any easier, but rest assured that your efforts are noted and I love you for ALL that you do for our family of seven. 
The kids, Layla and I look forward to our family moments...moments when you are at your silliest. These are the times we look back on and remember and cherish.
We love your creative movie nights. Old movie flicks or the current new show at home or at the drive-in movie theatre...you make it the best as we indulge in the moment over popcorn and fast food!
You live in the moment and enjoy the children when I am too stressed to notice after a long day of whinning and crying. And to top it off you offer to prepare dinner whether it be store bought or cooked by you.
These are but a few of the reasons We Love You So Very Much, You Mean the World to Our Family and Our World Revolves Around YOU! We love you Father of The Gilmore Bunch! With all our hearts from the moon and back and to infinity! 
Love B

Carolina Beach

Over Memorial Day Weekend our family ventured off to North Carolina to meet up with our old BYU friends who also serve in the military and who were stationed in Oahu, Hawaii the sametime we were. We also had the pleasure of staying with one of Dallas' classmates, from the Captain's Career Course, parents home in Carolina Beach, North Carolina. Overall the trip was well needed and we had a great time together as a family away from the hustle and bustle of "military life". 

 Here are the kids near the boardwalk that lines the Atlantic Ocean picking shells...very different experience from the Pacific Ocean.

 Isn't it beautiful...cold water and different vegetation, but still beautiful!

 Sophie looking for her sea treasures

 This headband thing happens to Sariah on a daily basis, so glad I finally got it on camera! I guess she is too busy looking for her sea shells to notice!

 While we were near the boardwalk Dallas was in line at this donut place called "Brits Donut Shop", which just happens to be one of the best places to grab a donut or two in America! The donuts were so light and fluffy and literally melted in your mouth..YUMMY! We bought two dozen!

Here we are at Dan's parents home near the dock that meets up with their backyard...really nice! The kids sat here, supervised, and watched the crab cages slowly being filled with crabs! 

 Here is Noah at the beach, which he thoroughly enjoyed...couldn't move fast enough to keep up with him!

 And here is Layla, our family chocolate labrador, making her first debut on the family blog! She loved the ocean and enjoyed the trip just as much as we did becuase we had a house full of dogs... who just happen to be her neigborhood friends!

 Ammon and Dallas met up with the guys who had just returned from some deep sea fishing. Ammon thought this was really COOL...taking a picture with a fish almost as big as him.

 Dallas, Sariah, Sophie and I went kayaking near Dan's parents home, it was sooo much fun! Sadie did really well kayaking by herself. Dallas was a pro. Sophie and I shared a kayak and had a rough start but finished great!

 Dan took our family on a boat ride up and down the river, which led out to the ocean...the kids loved it as well as I. I've never really been on a boat before so this was a real treat.

 Ammon and I

Carolina Beach, NC 2013

Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Islands of Adventure

Possibly the GREATEST family vacation ever taken by our family was our trip to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and the Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Florida back in January of this year. Dallas and I made promises to the children that we would "one day" take them to Disneyland in California, but our time there always seemed to be cut short and with our ginormous family the prices were astronomical. However, this year despite those reasons we indulged and gave our family a wonderful much needed Christmas Wish...one that will FOREVER live in our memories! We had the pleasure of having two of our most favorite people in the world...Uncle David and Auntie Rebecca escort us around the theme parks...it was wonderful! The overall experience was VERY relaxing and so so MAGICAL! Here are some pictures of our Disney World experience, the first day was spent at the DW Animal Kingdom followed by a brief visit to DW Epcot, the second day at the DW Hollywood Studios, third day at Univeral Studios Islands of Adventure, fourth day the DW MagicKingdom and then the sixth day at the Kennedy Space Center. 

Visiting with Whinnie The Pooh

Expedition Everest

Seventh Row From Front: David

Sixth Row: Sariah and Rebecca

Fifth Row: Sadie and Dallas

         Ammon, Sariah and Sophie had to get their faces painted eventhough half of the day was over and they would be washing their faces off in two to three hours...oh well! They looked adorable for those couple of hours.

                   Family Picture at Disney World's Animal Kingdom

                      Picture with Woody: Sophie, Sadie, Ammon and Sariah at Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios

Here we are scarfing down our free turkey legs that Dallas managed to get for us as the vendors were closing down shop. For the record we ALL shared two turkey legs!

Saying "Cheese" with turkey leg meat between our teeth! Priceless!

Our family picture at DW Hollywood Studios

Here are Sadie and Sophie wearing their Gryfindor shirts...we had a blast here!

Sadie, Sophie and Sariah bought wands from Olivanders. Sadie's wand was handpicked especially for her out of a group of about twenty people, which was a real treat!

Noah and I

Another family photo in front of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Here we are in Hogsmede...another cute famliy photo

Ammon had the pleasure of meeting Spiderman and had a picture taken in front of the green screen

Ammon and Sariah with Captain America while Sadie, Sophie, Dallas, David and Rebecca rode Dr. Doom Fear Fall!

On the boat to DW's Magical Kingdom

Another family picture in front of the castle!! I am telling you, it was so magical!

The girls were able to meet Jasmine and Aladdin

And to top it off Dallas and I spent our 13th Anniversary watching the fireworks explode above the castle...love Dallas so much!

We toured the NASA launchpad, it was about a thirty minute tour on bus...really interesting and I know for a fact Sophie was on the moon about our visit there.

See the lady sitting off to the right, lol, yep it is me nursing Noah!

The kids touching a piece of the moon, don't you love the different color nail polish?!

In case you are wondering, it is Sophie's dream to become an astronaut and this was our main reason for visiting the Kennedy Space Center.