Thanksgiving Point

Yesterday we took advantage of Thanksgiving Point's "Two buck Tuesday", and we visited their spectacular gardens.  This is something of a tradition with Chase and I.  Chase proposed to me at the gardens three (wow, really, three?) years ago this August, and we've returned every year since.  This year, we went with my sister Rachel, and Matt and Jaime's kids.

 Mckay was so excited to be here, he wore his parents out within the first five minutes.

 Mckay and his cousins rolling down the hill at the very front of the Thanksgiving Gardens.

 I chose to add this picture because it depicts what Mckay looked like 95% of the time in the gardens.  Running around with a cheesy grin on his face.

 This little Avenlea is the cutest little poser, I just had to take a picture!

 This was our attempt at a good family portrait.  Mckay didn't want to pose, he wanted to dive in the water.  Thus, both he and I were struggling when this pictures was taken.

 Ah, the bench where Chase popped "the question".

July

July has always been a really busy month for me.  When I was younger, it was vacationing in Colorado with family, girl's camp, the 4th and 24th of July, etc.  Now that I am older, it hasn't slowed down much.

This July we got to go to California for the annual England family vacation.

With Courtney and Gordon living in California, we got to check out a new beach.  It was great fun, and  a fabulous way to ensure a loooonnnngg afternoon nap:)

One day after our week-long stay in CA, Chase and I drove up to Rexburg, ID to help Chelsea move her things down.  Now that Chelsea (my sister-in-law) is getting MARRIED, she will be moving on from Rexburg.  It was fun to get to see her and my future brother-in-law again, well worth the two day, 24 hour trip.

We returned from Rexburg to drive directly to my Uncle Sterling's annual slip'n'slide party at his house up Covered Bridge Canyon.  

 There are slip'n'slides, and then there are SLIP'N'SLIDES.  I think you know which category this one fits into.  I wish I could've gone, but it was not really pregnant-prudent.  Mckay and Chase, however, had a blast!  Any of you doubting the thrill this slide affords should check out Chase's hair:)

We ended the family festivities Saturday the 23rd.  We then realized that we were moving in 4 days, and so spent those four days in a frenzy of packing and preparation.  Why is it that your house has to look like a complete bomb in order to move?

 I only got a picture of a few of the helpers, but thanks to everyone who helped us move!  We couldn't have done it without you!  Especially thanks to everyone who dealt with "the piano".  This wonderful instrument is every mover's bane!  It's a good thing Chase loves me:)

I am sad to be leaving Orem.  I had such good experiences there, and made many wonderful friends and memories.  But I am excited to start this new adventure in Salt Lake.  Now that I am settled here with things like food, computer, space to sit on my couch, etc., I am beginning to think of this place as home:)

4th of July!

So I know that the 4th of July was over two weeks ago, but better late than never, right?  We spent the 4th of July up in Kamas, which, in my opinion, is a fabulous to celebrate!  Most of our celebration was centered around boating in the Jordanelle Reservoir.

 Chase impressed us all with his mad wake surfing skills,

 While Mckay and I relaxed on the boat.  By relaxing, I mean I tried to relax, and Mckay fought the inevitable life jacket, sunscreen, and sun hat that his overly protective Mom made him wear.

 Later on, we started giving Mckay brownies, and our little Gilligan brightened right up!

 After a fun day on the boat, we went back to Kamas and there we had a delicious dinner and a round of fireworks.  This was Mckay before the fireworks.

 And this is Mckay during the fireworks.  He didn't trust those sparkly, noise-making devices one bit!  Still, the rest of us enjoyed the fun.  It was a wonderul weekend!

Mighty Timpanogos

Last weekend we hiked to Timpanogos Caves for Rachel's birthday.  I haven't been to these caves for years, so it was almost like a brand new experience, and it was Chase and Mckay's first time visiting the caves, so it was a fun new adventure.
The hike itself was fun.  We were supposed to leave at 1:30 and be up there by 2:40, but we were fashionably late, and didn't start the hike until about 2:00.  It was still fun, but much more grueling and hurried, especially with Mckay on his dad's back.  We made it just in time, however, and enjoyed a 30 minute tour of the cave inside.

 Mckay had a blast riding on Dad's back the entire way up.  He was completely chilled.

 Stephen and Mckay are having bonding time in the cave.

 Some cool formations we saw inside. . .

We had a great time, and hope to make this a new family tradition every few years.

Barf

As you can tell by my delicate title, this week has been kind of yucky.  I, as always, am in the throws (or should I say throw-ups) of morning sickness.  While my toilet and I have had a great relationship, I have never fully appreciated it until Mckay started throwing up on Monday, and since he does NOT know to run to the toilet, I have had the great pleasure of mopping the floor three times, washing all of his clothes at least twice (I finally stopped dressing him!), and giving Mckay at least 6 baths.  This darn flu-thing has lasted from Monday to Friday!  Geez!  And then, I guess because Chase was feeling left out, he got sick Monday evening into Tuesday.  We were a nasty, vomity group. . . but at least we had each other!

On the upside of things, Chase did get over the flu in a respectable 24 hours.  I am actually not feeling all that bad.  I am almost 13 weeks and though I still manage to get queasy, I am on the upswing!  Yea yea yea yea yea yea yea yea yea yea yea!  And Mckay, who possibly has the most to complain about, has been really happy, with the exception of about 5 minutes before and after he throws up, and he really only throws up about 2 times a day on average.  We've spoken with the Dr., and she says that he just has a flu bug, and that they normally last around a week for poor little munchkins, so don't worry, just keep him hydrated. . . which we do!

I have also read Pride and Prejudice this week, so I am feeling very refined in spite of being sick (Pride and Prejudice always does this to me:)

And today we all feel good enough that we are going to hike to Timpanogus Cave.  More on that later!

Surprise . . . not really

Many of you who read this blog may already know this, but I thought I would make it official.  We are expecting a baby!  When I told this to my family there wasn't a surprised person in the group.  So maybe this announcement will come as no surprise to anybody, but at least now the word is out:)
We are just over 10 weeks along, and Munchkin # 2 is due January 1, 2012!  I am hoping that ours will be the first baby born in the new year in Utah, because whoever that lucky baby is gets a years supply of diapers. . . wish me luck!
So far, the pregnancy is going great.  I am in the yucky part of the of the pregnancy, aka the first trimester.  I had about 2 weeks of all-day nausea and vomiting, and about 12 hours of quality time with my couch everyday.  Poor Chase stayed home a lot those days.  Luckily for all of us, I am now feeling much better thanks to a visit to the Dr. and a wonderful combination of medicine to keep the nausea down. The nice thing about this is that whenever I feel sick, I know that the baby is growing and that things are doing what they should!

Mckay's favorite things

Mckay likes to . . .

 . . . eat the sand at the beach.  The actual water's not his favorite but that sand, yum!  Can we just say Mckay had a lot of fiber in his diet this day?  He also likes to . . .

 . . . slide down slides.  The bigger and curvier, the better.  He loves to . . .

 . . . take baths.  Notice those two bruises on the right side of his face?  He also likes to run, and then face plant about 3 steps later.  Sometimes into a door frame, sometimes into a table corner.

 Mckay loves to open and close doors, especially if Mom or Dad are following right behind him.

This is a new and yet popular favorite.  Mckay loves to get into the garbage.  Who knew that we'd have our own version of Oscar the Grouch?