Septemberfest!

September is one of my most favorite months.  I love when the lethargy of the hot summer days give way to the crispness of fall.  I love the increase of energy that manifests itself in back-to-school mania and football, and decorating my place with things of autumn.  This September has been an especially fun one for me.  That has, in part, to do with a little toddler that needs to get out and get moving quite a bit.  Thank you Mckay for helping Mom get off the couch and onto fun things!

 Firstly, September means football.  For those of you who may not be a huge fan of this photo, just know that we watch and support both the U of U and BYU.  This is just the best picture:)  Mckay is young, but he already has a little bit of football mania.  He will scream "Go! Go! Go!" to anything moving on the field.  I am sure that his enthusiasm will become more fine-tuned with the years, but it is very cute.

 I like September because some of the prettiest hikes can be found this time of year, both temperature-wise and visually.  Here is a trail we found in Kamas.  The leaves have not yet changed, but give it a few more weeks and we will definitely see some color creep in.

 This September I started a new tradition.  My cousin-in-law Lindsey hosted the fabulous "Food Feud Competition" ( I think I spelled that wrong), a food competition for amateurs cooks/chefs/etc. I entered the "dessert" category with my tried and true cream cheese cupcakes.  Even they helped me celebrate fall-time and September with their autumn colors.  Here I am feeling very accomplished and sophisticated because my cupcakes are in a cool display.  It was a lot of fun!

 Living in the University Village has its perks, one of them being only 3 minutes from the Hogle Zoo.  Mckay and I have made the journey to the zoo several times, and each time is so fun.  Here we are with the tigers. . .

 . . . and the elephants.  Not the greatest picture of the elephant, I realize, but just check out that cheesy smile.  I couldn't resist.  I like how Mckay's face has a milk mustache, that is very true to life.

One of Mckay's favorite zoo attractions is the wooden horses.  He would not let me get him off for a good ten minutes, so I thought I would kill some time with a little photo shoot.

September, you have been fun.  I am sad that you are almost over.  The only thing that makes this inevitable fact bearable is that after you comes October (and Halloween!), November (Thanksgiving!), December (Christmas), and Baby # 2!

This is the place

A few weeks ago we visited This is the Place Heritage Park with some of my family.  This is the first time since I was, like, 12 that I've been here.  I was pleasantly surprised at all the fun things there were to do, especially for Mckay.

 First we had to visit the "This is the Place" Monument just outside the park.  Here's where all the historical facts are presented.  Chase and I found the only spot of shade for this picture.  It was hot!

 Mckay loved riding the pony.  He practically had to do the straddles to fit across it, but that just made it easier for him to stay on.

 The petting zoo at the park was really fun.  Mckay would only pet this goat because it was smaller than him.  The rest he gave wide berth to.  Not that I blame him at all. . .

 A "train" takes you around the outside of the park and saves a lot of walking.  Mckay loved riding the train almost as much as Grandma and Grandpa loved holding him.

 A little miniature train takes the kids around a pond.  It made us adults feel absolutely huge, but it's just the right size for little kids.

Washing clothes is way more fun when you get to use a bucket of water and splash people.  Whether or not there was any actual washing involved remains in serious doubt.

 Grandma and grandpa relaxing after a fun afternoon.

I had a lot of fun at the park.  It's less than 5 minutes from where we live, so we are hoping we have lots of visitors whom we can take here:)

It's a . . .

So I haven't wondered very much about the gender of this next baby.  I guess it's because I have felt like this baby was going to be a girl.  Add to this feeling the fact that I have been more sick with this baby, and I thought that for sure we were going to have a Claire England.  Even as I went to my ultra-sound appointment, it was really just to confirm what I already knew, and to make sure that the baby was growing the way he/she should.
The discussion with the nurse who did the ultra-sound went something like this:
Nurse: "Would you like me to tell you the gender?"
Me: "Yes, I would."
Nurse: "Oh, wow, this is a really good gender shot, look here."
Me: "Can you point things out,  I'm not very good at reading ultra-sound photos."
Nurse:  "It's a BOY!"
Me: "It's a . . . wait, it's a boy?"
Nurse: "Yep, look right here.  There's no mistaking it."
Me: "Wow, a boy?!?  I was. . . I mean, I'm just as happy, I guess I just really thought I was going to be a girl."
Nurse: (laughing) "You have no idea how many times I hear that."

So we are having a boy!  I am thrilled to be having a boy, just as thrilled as I would be to have a girl.  I am just way surprised.  I guess I will never just assume that my feminine intuition is sure-proof again:)

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.