leaves falling

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Stewart Falls: 2 years Later!

April 1, 2007
This day was a special day for two people in love. On April fools day of 2007 Wade invited me to go to Utah with him and enjoy conference. While in Utah, he woke me up really early to go somewhere special. We were going to go on a hike. As we hiked the snow covered trail through the Mountains, Wade kept saying things that made me wonder if "Today was the Day?" As we approached our destination, Wade told me to listen. The sound of rushing water was echoing in the distance. Around the next bend, a majestic waterfall was cascading from the Mountain above. It was such a beautiful sight to take in. We made our way down to the base of the falls. While we were down there, Wade was acting really nervous and weird. I was sure "Today was the Day." However, he kept stalling... I pretended I had no idea what was going to happen. In Wade's desperate attempt to transition to the question and more importantly the knee, he "suavely" said, "I hear there is gold up here. Let's look for some." (Wade looking at the ground frantically) "Look! I think I see something." Now, it was at this point that I knew 100% that today was the day. Wade then concealed something in his hand and then looked up at me and continued: "Katherine Marie Thornburgh, will you marry me?" Although his transition wasn't the smoothest, I knelt down beside him and responded. "Yes." We then preceded to make out below the falls. SUDDENLY, ice broke off from the top and came crashing down. Wade then quickly pushed me away from the falls and dodged himself. We then laughed and enjoyed the moment.

The following 3 pictures are from that eventful April day.


The snow covered falls were beautiful!

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September 19, 2009

So here we are 2 1/2 years later with a beautiful baby girl and many adventures behind us. We continue to have many adventures and we are excited to now have Aubrey to join in on the fun. Last Saturday, we decided to take Aubrey and hike back up to Stewart Falls. The day was beautiful and we had a wonderful time. The fall colors are now starting to present themselves on the trees. The view in April with all the snow was beautiful, but Saturday was a whole different spectrum of beautiful. Aubrey absolutely loves the outdoors; therefore, that day she was the happiest baby one could meet. We bought a new back/front carrier for her and she just thinks it is the coolest thing. We all had a blast and we hope you enjoy all the pictures we took this time.

Let's Go Hiking!

The view took away our breaths, even Aubrey was enthralled with all the beauty!

This is definitely the creation of someone Greater.

What's up dad?

Aubrey: "Aren't you guys missing most of the cutest thing in the picture?"

Aubrey: "There you go, that's better."
We're almost there!

What a beautiful sight, we are getting closer!

All three of us.

Wade: "What are you all waiting for, let's hurry!"

We made it!

Aubrey: "My mom is the strongest person I know!"

"I think I'll just help myself to a little drink of that fresh spring water."

There were a lot more people up there today, so we got them to take a picture of all three of us together.

Mommy and Me

Aubrey: "The sound of these falls are much more soothing than that lousy recording on my bassinet."

What a little hoot, she is soo darn cute!

"Okay guys, I am ready to head back, I'm getting tired."


Daddy's touch is obviously, much more relaxing than Mommy's

A canvas of colors

Luckily, we made it back before it got too dark!



Saturday, September 19, 2009

More From the Gang!

"Update"
Aubrey, is growing so fast and although it is sad to say goodbye to her itty-bitty infant stage, it is so much fun to watch her develop. She loves to just sit and chatter with anyone who will give her attention and show interest. Her smiles are so beautiful they could melt the heart of any old Grinch. I hate leaving her each day to do my student teaching but, I am always excited to come home and play with her. Student teaching is going well, last week I started to take over most of the class; however, starting this week, the class will become mine and I will be on my own. The students are so much fun and not to mention funny. I really got lucky with such a good class and an awesome cooperating teacher. My cooperating teacher is not much older than me and she is such a great teacher. I was so afraid that it would be really overwhelming; especially, with Aubrey being so young. However, my cooperating teacher has been such a help and she gives me all the support I need.

"Fun with Little Miss Sunshine"
Since Wade has started working for Wal-mart, he finds all sorts of good deals. He found this little blue dress for only $1! He couldn't pass up such a good offer for his little gal and brought it home to surprise her. She looks so cute in it.

"All ready for church in my little jean dress... boy did I look cute!"

"You can't make me smile!"

Okay, Okay... so you got me to smile... big deal."

Doing a little off roading with mommy, daddy, and Uncle Jared to find a good camping spot up in the Canyon.

This is our campsite up in the Canyon. Aubrey's first campout and fire!

Cuddling with Daddy as Aubrey was mezmorized by the fire.

Mommy teaching Aubrey all about being a Girl Scout

Uncle Jared had a hard time staying in the hammock, let alone getting into it, so Daddy tied him into it so he wouldn't fall out.

"Daddy making us popcorn while we just sat back, relaxed, and watched him work."
Camping was so much fun! We didn't have our tent with us, so we just put the seats down in the back of the Xterra and made our beds... I'm not sure we'll ever go back to sleeping in a tent. It was so easy to just get up and go again in the morning... plus we could watch movies on the lap-top in the car! But, I guess that's not really camping so we won't do that all the time. Aubrey did really well and loved the campfire, we are excited to continue to do fun things with her!


My mom bought Aubrey this little Bunny Blanket and she hasn't really used it much. However we dressed her up in all Bunny clothes and decided to have her hold the little blankie. As soon as the blanket touched her cheek, her eyes got heavy and she fell asleep. I think she will cuddle with it more often... Thanks, Grandma! We love you and miss you!

The other day Aubrey got a package in the mail from Crystal Jamison and inside were cute little baby clothes. This is our favorite outfit that she sent. Aubrey looks so grown up when she wears it, not to mention, stylish. Thanks, Crystal!

"My legs are getting so strong and I can hold my head up like I've been doing it for years!"

Daddy captured the cutest picture of Aubrey sitting up all by herself and only 3 months old... you go girl! (ok, so I may be giving her a little support, but still, she Rock!)

Still showing off her walking skills... she is so fun to play with! We miss everyone and are excited for the holidays to come along so we can see everyone before Aubrey gets too big!

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Here are a few videos of Aubrey at her cutest... Most the time she is being so cute, then when the camera turns on she focuses on the camera and gets all serious.... I hope you enjoy!!


" Aubrey getting so big!" "We miss you all!"


"Girl Scout gone Camping"

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Where Oh' Where Have We Been?

"UP, UP and AWAY"

It has been so long since our last post because we have been busy, busy, busy. After a summer of homework, we were ready to get away. After packing up our modest apartment and quickly dropping all of our stuff off at Grandma and Grandad's house in Utah, we jumped on the first plane to Columbus!!! Here is a picture of me and Aubrey on the first flight she has ever taken (outside the womb). She did super awesome... she actually only started screaming when the plane landed... She really liked the hum of the plane and the constant turbulence.

Here is a picture of Wade holding Aubrey on the plane. We asked if they still gave out wings to kids. Unfortunately they stopped doing that; however, shortly after asking the stewardess came back with a "Certificate of First Flight" in which the lead flight attendant and the captain signed. We were way excited!!
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OHIO FUN

After several hours of traveling, we finally made it to Columbus where Emily and Brenton were awaiting our arrival. We then crashed the night at Adam, Sarah and the Boy's house and were able to spend a little bit of time with them.


Eli: "HeeHee." Aubrey: "We're not dumb Eli, we know you're giving us bunny ears!"
Brenton: "Come on guys, just chill out."Brenton: "whoa... how did you guys get up there, I swear it was Eli?"

Aubrey & Brenton: "Something strange is going on, but we can crack the case."

Aubrey & Eli: "There are so many questions and amazing things in this big ole' world."
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West Virgina FUN

Aubrey: "Brenton was cool enough to let me try out his Bumbo... I think I did pretty good, If I may say so myself."

Here is a picture of Aubrey just chillin' in the backseat while grandma entertains her.

Aleigha absolutely fell in love with Aubrey; however, I think sometimes Aubrey thought it was too much to handle.... For example, you can tell she's totally pretending to be asleep in this picture.

Aubrey loved meeting Aunt Jessie, even though it may not appear that way.

Three sisters and two babies enjoying Family Home Evening at Mountwood park while the guys played disc golf.

Aubrey's first bath in a real tub at Grandma and Grandpa's house... oh' how she loves the water!

Still practicing in the Bumbo... getting better all the time.
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First Time Swimming: Crystal Lake

We decided to take a nice soft swing in the park before jumping into the big lake. Brenton liked it soo much he fell asleep.

Grandma & Grandpa swimming with the kids! Aubrey loves the water so much because she gets it from me, who gets it from my mom.

Our little family picture in the water.

All the adults decided to take a break while Aleigha "baby sat" the babies... Look how good she did swimming with them all alone in the water.

Aubrey looked so darn cute in her little bathing suite that Aleigha let her borrow.

After the babies got all dry they decided it was time to take a nap as they sun bathed.
Aubrey was so tired this night that she slept 10 full hours strait through the night.
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FUN at the Ritchie County Fair
If you have a squeamish belly or you are terrified of snakes just skip the next picture.

While we were in West Virginia we decided to go enjoy the fair; a kid I went to HS with placed his snake in the pet show.... Afterwards, I asked him if he could let the snake slither on Aubrey so we could take a picture. She was so awesome the newspaper decided to take a picture of her! All her friends in Elementary school are going to think she is so cool one day.

Aleigha and I enjoyed a few rides at the fair, just before this exact ride broke... luckily we weren't on it that time.

While we walked around the mall one day, Aubrey and Brenton shared the stroller as the peacefully slept.... Everyone thought they were so precious and mistook them for twins. They were darling.
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Now off to New Jersey for more FUN!

A week of our trip we spent in N.J with Tom, Rox and the girls. We also got to spend time with Uncle Bob as Aubrey got to meet him for the first time. The following picture of the two of them is just priceless. She loved Uncle Bob and he loved her too!

"Love at first sight"

This is right after I told the girls a "very scary" story... can't you tell how horrified they were?

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Down at the Jersey Beach

Grandma, Jadyn and Kaya looking so cute and having soo much fun.

Aubrey decided to take a few glamor pictures on the beach

What a Doll!

Brenton decided to join in on the photo op'
ABC called them and want them to star in their new TV series "Baby Watch"

Unfortunately the babies lowered their standards as they did a nude scene in the premiere episode of the show: "Beach Bums"

They both are so dang cute!

This is a precious picture of Jadyn and Aleigha playing in a hole they found on the beach

Aubrey's first sand castle... We took our eyes off her for one minute and found her creating this.

Cute little sandy feet

Family picture... Aubrey has become the center of our life... if you haven't noticed that the focus of this blog has been mostly on her.

Then there were 3

Up close of those "baby blues"

A cute little Mommy and Daughter picture.

Grandma and Grandpa taking the babies down to the waters edge.
Aubrey didn't go too deep until Wade was holding her in to her waist and looked away for a minute when wave crashed into her and over her head... what a mean daddy.

A good family picture of all of us who enjoyed the day at the shore.

The babies got sleepy and decided to take a cat nap under the umbrella

Me, Jadyn and Kaya enjoyed digging daddy in the sand... until Kaya go scared and started to undig her daddy and save his life.

A cute picture of Mom, Dad and Aubrey on the shore

Another Mommy and Me picture

We enjoyed a couple days on the boardwalk... we even went to Atlantic city were a nice lady took this picture for us... unfortunately, Aubrey and I were cut out...but it's still pretty cute.
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FUN in D.C.

We spent a couple nights in Washington D.C. where we celebrated Emily and Chris and the kids all getting sealed together.... It was such a wonderful day! They all looked so beautiful!

Aleigha trying to get Aubrey ready to go see the temple... what a good cousin.

Elizabeth and her husband and wade, Aubrey and I joined Emily and Chris in their family picture in front of the temple... we didn't plan the color coordination, but we look like we planned it.

A beautiful and Forever Family

I have the cutest family

What more can be said then.... awwwee!

Our little family in front of the D.C. temple
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More FUN in downtown D.C.

The day after the sealing we enjoyed a quick but fun time in downtown D.C.. We got to go to the Smithsonian: Museum of Natural History... It was so neat, next time we will plan more time to see everything.

Dinosaurs were chasing us down through most of the tour.

The dinosaurs were beginning to get angry... It looks like everyone was freaking out in this picture... Good thing we didn't stay that long and were able to make it out before midnight and before the museum came to life!!!

The capitol of our Nation
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): No More Fun... Back to School and work in Utah :(

Although were back to work, it isn't too bad. We have just started settling down in the basement at Grandma and Grandad Christensen's house. We really enjoy being able to spend more time with them. Plus, it's been nice to kind of get into some sort of routine for Aubrey's sake. She is really growing up these days. She is smiling more and more every day and is becoming more and more playful. It's been a little difficult for me because I have started student teaching so I don't get to spend much time with her throughout the day... however, I appreciate my time with her more and more every day.

Aubrey, likes to stare at the T.V. while she is propped up on the couch... she looks so grown up!

There is no better way to end a blog than with a friendly smile and our love!!!
We love and miss everyone who is far away!