Short Update

Wow I feel like I'm so behind on this. My life feels like it's been a non stop whirl wind the last week or so. One week ago today was my 26th birthday. Scott was out of town that wednesday thursday friday for a school thing, and I wasn't expecting much for my birthday. But thanks to caring family and friends my birthday turned out to be awesome. Thanks again! The weekend was busy, and then this week my sis in law and I have been trying to get everything done with the garden, and I also had my first canning experience. Something until just recently I never thought I'd care about. Having my own garden has changed the way I feel about some of those things. Anyway, here are some scattered pictures taken recently.

Picking Crab Apples with some cousins.

Some Muscle, Hair and Toilet Paper

Finally I can get Sydney's hair in a little pony tail! Her hair has been too short, and then when it started to kinda be long enough it was still extremely fine and I couldn't grasp it for anything. I'm now very excited to use the little barrets and things I bought for her forever ago.
On Satuday, while I was blanching and freezing corn, Scott and the kids built a toilet paper tower. David had a lot of fun knocking that down!

Little Owen

A little over a month ago my bro and sis in law welcomed their first little baby. Congratulations to them! So exciting. And a week ago I got to take pictures of this little cutie! Here are my favorites. If you like what you see and would like to see more of my work, go here.

First Belly Shot This Time Around

I am about 23 weeks along now(somewhere around 6 months) and have gained 11 pounds. When I saw this picture I was like, "Whoa, I'm really big!" I mean, I know I was getting a lot bigger just in the last month but I didn't realize I looked THAT big. Oh well. Baby's gotta go somewhere. And no, we do not know what it is yet. I will be sure to post about it as soon as we know! Scott wants another boy and I think I do too. Whatever it is, it is extremely active. But then, both David and Sydney were this same way.

This is something I'm looking forward to...I took pictures of my new nephew Owen about a week ago. David was asking the whole time if he could hold him and he got to at the end. Both Hilary and I were amazed. Seriously, David hasn't really had the chance to hold a baby since Sydney(and he was way too young to care), and I couldn't believe how adorable he was being. He sat so still and was so gentle. He was SO happy to be holding Owen. Now he won't stop talking about the baby in my tummy. I'm so excited for him to meet his little brother/sister!

Hope his enthusiasm lasts!

David: "I want this on my back"
Me: "Ok. Oh look! Daddy does that with his for school!"
David: "I want to go to school!" He runs and get's his shoes on.
Me:"Oh look you forgot your pants!"
He runs and grabs them and proceeds out the door just like that. Of course I had to grab a picture. =)

I tried to explain to him when he get's to go to school, but he just kept telling me with a serious look on his face that he wanted to go to school. So precious!

Free Zoo Trip

So last week all adults with kids in strollers got in for free so my friend Kelly and I took our kids on Friday. David and Tanner were so happy to see each other and had such a great time together for the first little bit, and then poor Tanner got clothes lined pretty bad on some random cord that shouldn't have been there. =( It was still great to spend time with my friend, and to see my kids get excited about the animals.
Sydney loves other kids her size.

Sydney was quite nervous when these penguins got all curious and came right up to the other side of the glass.

Men Will Be Men

I wanted to upload the video but it was too long. Scott took a discarded mini framed house from the building he cleans on campus, took it to our sis and bro in laws' house, doused it in gasoline, made a trail of gasoline, and then lit it up. He also had his Accounting book in there.

Lower Palisades Hike

This last Saturday we FINALLY got out on a hike!! In the spring I planned out this hike, but then it didn't end up happening the weekend we thought it would, then ir rained for a month, then we had family up and a vacation. Anyway, I finally was like, we are going hiking as a family now! We rented a kid carrier and prayed the hike wouldn't be too bad for David. We left early in the morning along with some friends and started the easy 4 mile hike to the lower palisades lake. We would've loved to have gone all the way to the upper lake which is supposed to be way more beautiful and bigger, but we knew it was too far to go with the kids. And we actually saw another moose right at the begginning of our hike! David thought it was pretty cool.

I know this picture is blurry. I took it as I was walking myself. When we first started out it was still pretty chilly, so we wore coats even though we knew that we'd be taking them off soon.

During our first break to change diapers and feed Sydney a little(she'd refused breakfast before leaving)...
On the way up I carried David on my back off and on, but he walked at least half of the way.

Here is a shot of our friends with David. Sometimes we had a hard time keeping David's little leg pace. But he was SO cute. He wanted to point out everything and touch everything. It was so fun to watch him be so excited. There was however, the matter of the horse poop. I guess it was a mistake to tell him that's what it was in the parking lot, because on the trail he refused to walk over it(and I mean the several days old dry stuff) and even started kinda growling every time he saw it. Or say, "wow, poop." We had to guide him every time we passed some(which was quite often) or just pick him up and lift him over it. Ah, so funny.

Then the men pulled out their fishing poles so they could fish in the river we were passing whenever it looked promising, and David was extremely excited about it. Clay was very nice to let David hold it for a little bit as we hiked(as he held the tip up of course).

Scott and Clay fishing off one of the many bridges we crossed. They didn't have any luck with the fishies though.

For those of you who have commented on how I don't look pregnant. Look there! There is my belly poking out. =)

Our little family made it!

After we didn't find good lake access in any way shape or form we went back to where there was a nice place to relax in the tree's where we overlooked it.

Our cool friends. =)

Clay making David laugh.

Sydney had a blast walking around and exploring as well...

So, poor Sydney. We rented this baby hiking carrier and she was such a good sport. After not too long she had this look on her face like, "I'm resigned to wait this out." She even took a nap on the way up, and down. The really sad thing is that her face was rubbing with every step on the front of the carrier, and her chin got all raw. Now she has a scab on the left side of it while the rest is still just really red. =(

Everyone except me taking a break on the way down. David walked maybe half the way and Clay carried him on his back for the rest of the time. I think we were all ready to go at a quicker pace. =)

I'm so glad we finally got to do this. For me, being in the mountains is heaven. It doesn't matter how tired I am, I am happy and having fun being tired. I love it! We were so blessed that Sydney was such a good sport, and that David held up so well even after hiking about 4 miles(it was 8 total). We went out to eat at a little small town burger place afterwards and he was so hyper and jumping off the walls. That kid has so much energy. He didn't act like he was tired at all. He was just so enthusiastic about the whole thing that I'm even more excited now to take our family on hikes as they grow up. Though I have to say that the very next time we go hiking we might have to take a break from the kids and do it without them. =)

Dancing the Hot Dog Dance

Every morning David has to watch Mickey Mouse Club House. Sydney comes in and out, but this is her favorite part! It get's better towards the end so keep watching!

Table Rock

This last weekend Scott was able to go with some guys in our ward to Table Rock. He had a great time! They backpacked up to just below table rock Friday afternoon, and then were up at 4am to hike to the top to watch the sun rise. It was about 14 miles round trip. Here are some pictures...


Scott striking a pose towards the beginning.
They all stopped for a while by this river for a break.
I think it was that night that they ended up about 20-30 feet away from a big moose. They noticed it facing them on the trail. Some of them were backing off to a safer distance, but Scott and, I heard, a couple others just stood there snapping pictures. I would have been backing away! Luckily this moose didn't seem to mind them. phew! I actually had to lighten this picture up a ton to be able to see the moose at all in the picture.
Some of them on Table Rock right in front of the famous Teton peaks at sunrise.
Gorgeous...
I just love this picture, but I'm not even sure which direction the camera was pointed in.
All of us wives and our kids went to the trail head to surprise the men with lunch when they got down. While we were waiting we saw a moose coming down the trail and we decided that just in case we should head towards the cars which were just right there. On the way we lost sight of it, and then as I was opening the door for the kids I saw it down off the trail just like 20 feet away and heading closer. I shoved my kids in the car and then the moose started trotting away. It ran straight past where our chairs were set up that we'd been sitting in. The moose didn't seem that concerned with us but I'm still glad we moved! You never know! I'm not gonna lie that I was really excited at the same time though. My whole life I've wanted to see a real live moose in the wild. So cool!