Our 2 year Anniversary Trip (2 weeks early!)

Jeff and I were able to have a weekend getaway for our 2 year anniversary! (due to moving and our Texas trip we did it 2 weeks early!) This was the first time we had ever left Weston overnight. We were a little nervous, but he was in extremely capable and wonderful hands with Shar and Trav. We stayed at this beautiful bed n breakfast in Midway, UT called Johnson's Mill. (thanks Kelly for the idea!) It is so gorgeous there and offered so many neat things. Canoe rides, paddle boating, walking trails, and beautiful scenery to start! We absolutely loved it! We were able to stay for two whole nights (and that means two mornings of sleeping in~ I'm sorry Shar and Trav for your early mornings with Weston!) Since we booked a little late we weren't able to stay in the same room both nights, but we actually really enjoyed that. Each room is decorated and set up differently, so it was really fun to see the changes. On Saturday we went into Park City for some great shopping and we went to some cool restaurants that we hadn't ever tried. It was a wonderful weekend and I am so glad we were able to have some time together. I am married to the most wonderful, kind husband and I am so grateful he is such an amazing father as well. I am so lucky! I love you babe!!

Johnson's Mill Entrance!

Johnson's Mill view from the pond. This is the back of the house. They served breakfast out on the back porch every morning. The white canopy was set up because they were having a wedding there Sunday evening at sunset. Sigh. How romantic! (I wouldn't trade my temple wedding for anything, though!)

In front of the water wheel. This home was originally a mill, hence the name: Johnson's Mill!

This beautiful waterfall runs right behind the main house.
I never got over how gorgeous everything was.

I was so excited to go paddleboating! It was definitely worth trying and the scenery was amazing.

Jeff enjoying the paddle boat ride. It was a lot more work than I thought! It took us so long to get anywhere. There was another couple who took out the canoe and they passed us up in about two strokes of the paddles, by the time they went around the pond we had gone in a few circles by the dock! (I will admit, I wanted to try out going in a circle, but we really didn't get far!) We decided we'd try the canoe in the morning!!!

We went on a canoe ride Sunday morning before we left! It is so peaceful and beautiful. We loved being out on the water and just enjoying nature.

So the picture is kind of blurry because he was swimming, but this is a river otter that we were able to see on our canoe ride. We noticed him pretty quickly, but it took a lot of sitting quietly (and then the boat would move and we'd have to row it back) for him to finally come out of his home. There were two of them and my theory is that this is the male and he came out to make sure we were decent people before he'd give his mate the okay to swim out here. He never did say we were okay, so we just saw her hanging out back at the house. Who knows if it's true, but I like to think so. :)

The otter den. (Is it called a den?) This is just the neatest home!

I thought this birdhouse was very different.

Our attempt at amazing photography! (taken from the canoe)

Nice Shades!!!

So sometimes moms do silly things with their kids, right. It was so fun goofing off with Weston. He was hilarious and thought it was so funny to see me in the glasses. That was the only way I could get him to put them on!

Weston having fun with the glasses!

He actually left them on for awhile. Aren't they hilarious!

Me trying to get Weston to see that the glasses are cool. It's okay for mom's to look dorky, right?!

Fun on the Fourth! and a few extra pics!

We had a great fourth of July. We were able to go to the parade (and brought cute little Syanne with us) then we had a fun bbq with James & Amy and Shar & Trav. Chels, Rob, and Syanne came over after the bbq and then we had a relaxing rest of the day until we went to James and Amy's to do some fun sparklers. (I don't have the pics of that yet) It was great. Sadly, Weston was exhausted by this point and so we missed out on the fireworks. Oh well, next year he'll be able to talk, so we'll see what he has to say about his first fireworks show.

Our little family!

Our hat practicing yesterday paid off, he kept it on! And isn't this side shot adorable?!

Amy and James at our 4th of July bbq. As always, very photogenic!

Shar, Trav, and West at our 4th of July bbq. Our cute little niece who is hiding in the picture (yes the one in Shar's belly) doesn't have a name yet. So post ANY suggestions or ideas. if they like it I'll take credit since it will have come from my blog. JK, I'll let 'em know. haha.

HATS!!
Weston looked so cute with James (at the park on the 4th) that I had to get this shot!)

Weston trying on his hat and actually leaving it on! We kept taking him over to the mirror to show him how cool it was. (so he's looking in the mirror in this pic) Funny kid, he'll only leave it on if it's backwards!

Weston's new trick: he thinks stairs are cool. Mom does not! (especially cement ones!)

So I got this fun website from my friend's blog. Check it out...it's pretty funny to see who you may resemble. Of course I had to do Jeff too and I only recognized 2 of the guys he 'looks like.' And I must say, I think he is better looking than all 5! I love you, babe!
(My last look a like is Demi Moore in case you were wondering since it cut it off!)

Happy 4th of July!

As we celebrate this beautiful day our thoughts are turned to all of the many men and women who serve, and have served, our country to help make us truly 'free'. We give a heartfelt THANK YOU! We love this land for all the it inspires in us and all that we are able to do and become here. We truly are a blessed nation, and with that blessing comes great responsibility. Our hope today is that we will live and serve in such a way that it will be apparent how much we appreciate our life, liberty, and the freedoms we are blessed with as citizens of the United States of America.



Oh Beautiful

For spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountains majesties

above the fruited plain!

America!

America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good

with brotherhood

From sea

to shining sea.

Happy Birthday Chelsea!!!


Happy #24 Chels!! We are so proud of you! We love you so much and are very grateful to have you in our lives. It is awesome to spend so much time with you and Syanne!!

Chelsea & Syanne. Isn't this such a cute picture?!
For Chelsea's birthday we all went out to dinner and then had pie and ice cream at Shar and Trav's afterwards. Her actual b-day is today (July 3rd) but we celebrated a night early so everyone could make it!

Shar & Trav looking good!

Funny thing about this picture: we were both looking at Trav because we he was trying to get West to smile and we wanted all of us to be looking in the same direction. But, of course, Weston looked at the camera at the last second. Oh well...you can't win em all!

All the girls! (including the teeny tiny one in Shar's belly!)
I love my sisters. It is so much fun to live close by so we can all see each other often. I am so grateful for them and their love and support. You both are amazing!

Blowing out the candles...well she had just finished!

Mom got Chelsea this really cool statue of a mom/baby. Very neat...it's made out of sand.

They loved the box that Chelsea's gift came in.

Toddler Towels

My mom used to make these really awesome towels for baby showers that have a hood. They are so great because it's a full size towel! Mckenon loved his and would run around the house wearing it when he was little. (really little, like 2-3 years, NOT now! haha) Ahh...fond memories. :)
Anyways, Weston has outgrown his tiny, thin infant towels and I remember how fantastic the towels were that my mom made. So while I was in California I had her show me how...and it is so easy and fun. (Warning, a sewing machine must be used.) So I had this great idea that if I'm wanting something like this then maybe other moms are too. My friend, Steph, is letting me sell them in her booth at the Quilted Bear. (a very cool craft store here in Utah) It has been so much fun getting to be creative and crafty again. So I just had to show off what I've been doing lately. I just put the towels in the booth this morning (thank you Steph!!!!) and I was very excited about it, so thank you everyone for letting me share!! I've also found out that Weston loves bits of thread wound up a little into a ball. He will carry a piece around all day! (of course I couldn't have a blog post without mentioning the little guy once or twice!)


This is the basket that is on display at the Quilted Bear and below are the towels I have hanging in the booth. (so people can see what they look like unfolded)

Some fun summer shots!

We've been able to spend a lot of time with Syanne and Chelsea over the last week and it has been such a blast. Weston and Syanne are so funny together...we always laugh at their antics and how they treat each other. Well, the latest thing they have done is that they LOVE the carseat that's been sitting in the living room. (Weston has graduated to his bigger one!) They thought it was so great to climb inside and then just sit there watching everyone. Chelsea and I couldn't stop laughing at them. Of course, they both wanted it....so we had to try to teach them to take turns! And I'm sure you can all guess at how well that works with 1 year olds!

Isn't she such a doll.

Even thought he's not smiling, he loved sitting in this and when I tried to take him out he threw a fit. Chels and I got such a kick out of this!

This kiddo is hilarious. He loves toast with jam and usually doesn't cause this big of a mess....but he decided to get creative. What a character!

Starting him early!! Okay, I love flip flops. They are definitely my shoe of choice and I have even worn them when it snows. That's how much I love them. So how could I resist getting West a pair?! At first he walked a little wobbly on them but now he's a pro!

Chillin at the park! Weston and Noah decided that they've seen enough of their mom's keys; they wanted the other's! So funny!