Family Vacation Part I

Tuesday, June 30th we headed over to Island Park, Id. Steph and Kelly were able to get us a cabin to stay in while we were there.

We found out that our friends the Neilsons were also going to be in Island Park for the week and planned an afternoon with them. On Wednesday we met them at my favorite place in Island Park, Big Springs. We had hoped that the kids would be able to feed the fish, but the seagulls had taken over the area and all of the fish were hiding under the bridge. It was too bad. WE did however get to still see some interesting things while we were there. We saw a Mother duck defend her ducklings from one of the aggressive seagulls. We also saw a muskrat who came to get in on the bread that was being fed to the seagulls. Big Springs

One of the large trout in the clear spring water.

The Muskrat

Seagulls, they were everywhere.

Cute little Jack

We didn't tell Bailee that she was going to see Bethany for two reasons, I wasn't going to make the same mistake again and have her asking over and over when she was going to see Bethany and because we thought that it would be a fun surprise for her. These two girls were so funny together. They were once again shy at first and then had so much fun together. After our trip I talked to Bailee about what she liked...she never once said anything about Bethany, I was surprised. I asked her if she liked seeing Bethany and she said "no" (in a pouty way) I was surprised again and asked her why not. She said "because I just have to say good bye again." Our sweet little girl has realized that each time she says good bye to her friend now, it is going to be a long time before they get to see each other again. It breaks my heart that she has had to learn this at such a young age. She really loves Bethany and had so much fun with her, but just hated that she had to say good bye again.

Buying fish food.

Feeding the Seagulls

After we left Big Springs Matt, Bailee and Matt's dad went for a canoe ride in the river. It was about five miles and took them about two hours. The water was so shallow in some parts that Bailee got out and walked along side the canoe. In other parts it was so shallow that they actually had to get out because it was dragging on the bottom of the river.

The Park and Good Company

A few weeks ago I my friend Amy invited us over for lunch and to go to the park. It was so fun. Chantelle, the kids and I spent several hours with Amy and her niece, Alyssa. The kids loved the park in Amy's neighborhood. Of course after we had been there only a few minutes, Bailee told me that she needed to go #2. Luckily my friend, Ashley lives around the corner from the park...what I lifesaver. Something to laugh about later...Bailee and I making a mad dash across the park and around the corner to the Dopp's house. Every day is an adventure with kids. Amy and Alyssa

Bailee and Owen on the Seesaw

Beautiful Alyssa

Owen

Balance Beam

Dairy Days Parade 2009

I love the Dairy Days Parade! This year was Triply special because we got to take Chantelle for her first time and Bailee was able to ride on a Saltzer Medical float with my mom. Bailee had a blast and the rest of us braved out the rain. It was fun anyway. Mom and Bailee

Bailee was having so much fun

Owen loved watching the floats and clapped as they went by. He really enjoyed the candy once he realized what they were throwing on the ground. But I think his favorite part was the chocolate milk, he didn't want to let go of the little bottle or share with any one else.

Chantelle and Weston

This is for my sister, Janae. Chantelle was set up on a blind date with our family Doctor's son on Thursday and they have been together each night since. I am glad that they are having fun.

Blankie: Oh how I love you, let me count the ways.

So we each have a fleece BSU blanket at our house, each one is a little different. Owen is VERY attached to his. Yesterday I was putting Bailee's blanket away in her closet and Owen thought that it was his. This was the result: I screaming tantrum. When I showed him that his blanket was still in his room he threw himself on top of it and continued to scream and cry holding it tightly. Until he saw the camera....

I love this boy so much, he is so different form Bailee. He is a totally Daddy's boy who LOVES all things boy as well as his pacifier and blankie.

Curly for a Day

Last night Chantelle asked me to braid her hair so that it would be curly today. Then we decided to try it on my hair too. It was fun to have curly hair for a day, especially since my hair normally doesn't hold a curl. It is has been so much fun having Chantelle around, almost like the little sister I never had. When she was little I was jealous of her because she took my role as the baby of the family, but now it is so nice to have some one so close to my age. I love her to pieces and am so glad that she made such a big move to Idaho.

Goofing off as Curly Angels?

Tent Testers

Matt has gotten into light weight backpacking and has found that the cheapest and lightest tent is one that is homemade. A couple of years ago he tried his hand at making a tent, but it was a bit on the small side. So this year he decided to make a larger one. Since for Memorial Day weekend we decided to stay home and do some spring cleaning and not go on any adventures, we tested Matt's tent out one night in the back yard. It was fun. Matt, Bailee and I barely fit in it, but it held up and we stayed dry. We left Owen inside because he is a bit partial to his own bed (no worries, we had the baby monitor hooked up outside so we could still hear his every move). Bailee woke up once or twice because she got a little cold, but we fixed that by stuffing one of her favorite blankets in her sleeping bag. Other than that, we all had a great night's sleep out under the stars and Matt's homemade tent. Bailee and I still sleeping the morning away.

SHE'S HERE!!!

We picked up Chantelle at the airport late last night. Her flight came in a few minutes early so I am glad that we got there a half hour before her flight was scheduled. I made this sign to make it easier for her to find us.
Mom/Gramma waiting for her to arrive. My mom got her some lotion since she was coming to the dry climate from a humid one and an Idaho T-shirt.

Chantelle told me that she loves potatoes, so I got her this Idaho potato cookbook. I has recipes for every thing from french fries to potato chocolate cake.

Chantelle seeing us for the first time with our sign.

Chantelle with her Idaho shirt and sign while she talked to her mom on the phone letting her know that she had found us. We are excited to have her here with us and hope that her mom doesn't worry about her too much. We will take good care of her.

Seen too much America's Next Top Model?

I ordered myself a new swimming suit and as soon as I opened it, Bailee had to try it on. When I pulled out the camera this is what happened.

I think that maybe Bailee has watched Top Model when I didn't know it.

New Toy

So I have been a bit spoiled lately. We just got a new camera (Canon EOS XS). I have wanted one for a long time...with scrapbooking I always want beautiful pictures. I am still learning how to use it. Hopefully I will have it down by the time we go to Yellowstone in July. These are some of the fun pictures I have taken with it.

A Visit With Friends

So finally after 3 MONTHS of waiting... Bailee got to see Bethany when we went down to SLC/American Fork. It was kind of funny, they both woke up so excited to see each other... but when they finally did they just stared at each other for a like 3 minutes. I finally coaxed them to go and play. It took a few minutes for them to warm back up. Before we know it they were back into their normal selves playing like crazy.

Kenneth and Melanie are such great friends they watched our kids for us for almost 8 hours so we could go and see DAVE RAMSEY LIVE! We went to lunch with Kenneth, Melanie and their girls at a cute little bakery in American Fork and then Matt and I met Terry and Deb in SLC at the arena. We enjoyed their company at Dave Ramsey Live. Matt and I had to make a little stop at Kohl's on the way back to Kenneth and Melanie's because I forgot our church clothes. It seems like every time we go out of town something of our church attire gets forgotten. In the past we have forgotten Matt's shoes, Matt's belt, and Matt's shirt. But never everything. Luckily I had all of our shoes, Matt's tie, Owen's clothes and a play dress for Bailee. Melanie let me borrow a skirt and Kenneth let Matt borrow a belt, so all we had to buy was a shirt and pants for Matt. He needed them anyway. When we got back Kenneth and Melanie had a BBQ ready and we enjoyed chatting and played a game of Catan after the kids were all in bed.

Kenneth and Melanie had Stake Conference on Sunday so we went with them. After we let the girls play a little while while Owen napped and then headed home.

Matt, Owen, Kenneth and Abby

The girls playing before church.

Playing out side with the girls. Melanie and I taught the girls how to play the bullfrog game. You know "Down by the banks of the hanky panky where the bullfrog jumps from bank to bank..."

We had such a great time with their family and can't wait to see them again.