On the next episode of BTBB vs. Wild...

Overlooking the desert.....Where's Blythe?
Taking a little rest.
This was all of us, before dark, getting ready to fall asleep in the tent. Notice: NO PILLOWS!
More shaddow pics! How do you like the mowhawks?
Bros treking over the bridge.
He is such a pro at scouting! check out our camp stove!
Still smilin' at over half way there.
Crazy plants huh?
Yes, they amaze me! This is what happens when you eat your vegetables.
This is my "Man vs. Wild"

I thought the R.V. was "roughing" it, boy was I wrong! We thought that it might be fun to do a backpacking camp trip now that the boys are getting older so we bought tickets to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, strapped on our packs (OUCH!) and headed up the mountain! We started at about 2000 feet and ascended up the mountain to 8000 feet, luckily that was with the assistance of the tram! Once we got there we had to hike over 2.5 miles in to the campsite. We didn't take into consideration however that the 2.5 miles were totally uphill! Our camp was at over 9100 feet in elevation! What a climb! For the record, although Bryce thought he was being a gentleman and carrying the pack with all of the sleeping gear in it plus the tent, I ended up winning the award for carrying the heaviest pack. At the top of the mountain he asked for my pack to unload something and realized that mine was way heavier than his. Real good babe! I was hauling up all the water/food/gear! Breven wins the award for climbing up steps that came up to his waist. We may have had to hike our leg up, but he literally had to climb some of these "steps." He carried his own pack the whole way up I might add. Brad was still recovering from a BMX injury, but he out hiked us all, as usual! Bryce was the pilot of course and I've never been so grateful for his skill in map reading as I was this trip. The rangers gave us a scribbled up map that was practically indeciferable. Who could tell the difference between badger or cougar campsite? All I know was that he knew how to get there and which one was closer! Thank You! We had a blast! What an adventure it turned out to be. No water, no hook ups, NO TOILETS, no fires, and did I mention, NO TOILETS?! We will do it again, but this time we WILL take bed rolls! I've never been more grateful for a temperpedic mattress in all my life!

Tune in next week for BTBB vs. the beach or the spa or something a little less EXTREME!

Sweet Baby Hayden

Isn't she soooooooo sweet!
We Love this lil' girl! Isn't she a doll?
My BFF Kristy just had her first baby making ME the proud Auntie! I can't wait for the spoilage to begin. Congrats to the proud mama and papa. Mike and Kristy, you sure make pretty babies.

Tearin' it up!

Vincent and B-rev!
"Riders ready. Watch the light!"
Love this sweaty face!

Brad, Breven and cousin Vincent went to the BMX track this week and tore it up! Breven rode his little heart out. He had to pedal twice as hard as the other boys. Poor Brad biffed it on the first run out of the gate and he has a gnarley bruise to prove it! The season starts mid July so we'll have to practice up, but is this right up their alley or what?

It's Official!

The "Gang" (not pictured; Chris-"real good, how embarrassing, working during the move" jk)
The boys say good-bye to their fort!
Way to feed the workers-Sugar them Up!

We did it! This is the BIG MOVING DAY! Our family was there bright and early to lend a hand. I think we may have broken the world record for the fastest move in history. From the first box on the truck to the starting of the engines was two hours TOTAL! Thanks to the the Fam, Elders, and all our friends for the help. We never could have done it without you! There were lots of tears, in fact we didn't stop crying until Desert Center, but we were leaving such a big piece of US out in Blythe! We have grown more than we ever imagined and we know that it was indeed a blessing to have lived there. We are already missing the little gem in the desert and all of our AWESOME friends that made the place that way. We'll be back soon. Leave the light on for us!

Rock On!

The VanHornes

Cook and Jess

Singing some SWeEt Tunes!

Brad's a natural. Cade decided to dress up for the occasion!

All the newbies in the Band did awesome!

But no one could beat Julia the Drummer Goddess!

The VanHorne Posse threw us an AWeSoME going away party complete with Oscar's carne asada and cute little decorations with the letter M on every cupcake! Julia you can't be beat on your party planning! Thanks so much for an awesome way to end our time here in the 'hood! Rock Band Marathon was the Best! Keep up your mad skills in drumming and as for me, Penny Twilight, I'll try to challenge myself to move the skill beyond EASY!

Love you all!

There will NeVEr be another neighborhood like this! We will miss you more than you know.

Nice Wheels!

Pops cruised in for a visit in this sweet vintage porshe! Nice wheels Pops! Thanks for the milkshake at Courtesy. We love you!

My Life is in Boxes!

I can't believe it! It's really happening! We are moving! It's the Final Countdown!

Bring out the Mariachi Band!

The Infamous Invitation! (thanks Ger)

He looks like he was getting a little emotional....yeah right, probably a little jalapeno in his eye. Love the cake right?

Seriously.....A taco truck!

His oh so authentic family! Love the sambraro and our little son, Nacho Libre.

Lovin' on some friends!

What a Fiesta! Anyone who knows Bryce knows his famous quote, "Murrills don't go to Mexico!" But he never said Mexico couldn't come to the Murrills! I thought it would be great to surprise him with a Fiesta complete with a taco truck and all for his big 3-2! There were over 100 people there, including the Border Patrol! We had a blast! Gracias to all who came to celebrate! Feliz Cumpleanos Babe! We love you!

Give us this day our daily bread....

Pulling out the beautiful bread! It even smelled better than it looked!

Sweet Sister John shared her wisdom and love by teaching me to bake bread from scratch.

Just for the record, now I know why the saying is "daily bread." It is so good, that you can't help but eat it all in a day! Thanks to my dear friend Jessica and her sweet mother, I learned how to bake bread from scratch! I ground the wheat, mixed it up, let it rise, let it rest, pounded it, patted it, practically prayed over it, all for the beautiful end result of an overwhelming feeling of accomplisment and deliciously delightful bread! Thank you Sister John for sharing your wisdom, and thank you Jessica for sharing your mom. Love you ladies.

Oh so Handsome

The BTBB Fam was asked to give talks in Church, ALL of us! The boys looked sharp and sounded even better. We are so blessed to have the Gospel in our lives.

B-Rad Rocks!

The Big Show!

Check out the concentration! Andrew looks calm and collected.

Mr. Cool! Notice the shirt.....it's genetic.

Brad and Andrew were in the school talent show this year. They rocked a little Metallica, and by a little I mean about 1 min and 10 seconds. The crowd went WiLD, or maybe that was the groupie section (the proud mamas) but anyway, they did great! Keep on Rockin'

Girls Gone Glitz

Breathtaking ViewsThe Glitzy Girls

BFF

Sisters..... The O.G.'s

Erika was bitten....by Edward!

Kissin' Cousins

We made it to the top of the Mountain!

Girls just wanna have FUN!

Our view from the spa deck!

This years girls weekend theme was, "Girls Gone Glitz!" We filled our weekend with all things glitz from glimmer lip gloss to blingin' flip flops and tank tops! People could see us coming from a mile away! Thanks girls for the love and laughs! It's always a blast being together. Until next year.................Girls Gone ?