Braden is 12!

 Has it really been 12 years? I'll never forget that moment when the nurse placed him in my arms for the first time...I could weep right now just thinking about it :)

We love this kid so much...

Happy Birthday Bray!

the best things

Summer Vacation 2011 part 3

Some more pictures from our summer vacation...

One of the grocery stores in Vernal has little carts for kids. Paige loved these and wanted a picture :)

There was a burger place in Vernal called Polar King that had been there for years. They had THE best greasy food EVER! The lady that owned it retired and didn't want to sell her family business. Going to Polar King was a family tradition. When our cousins came to town, that's where we went. Since it closed, we now go to the next best place...Country Grub. Yes, that's really the name.

Nothing says small town like a restaurant named Country Grub. 

The boys have a thing for fake moustaches. Braden bought one and then Heston decided he wanted to wear it...upside down. He wore that thing for hours while we went shopping. :) 

After our time in Vernal, we headed back to the Wasatch front for a few days. We went to a family reunion on my Dad's side just for the day. We had a great time!

The kids and I met up with Karin, Matthew and Isabelle for a few hours. I'm glad we got a chance to meet up! We miss them living in AZ and seeing them :)

We stayed with Paul, Rebecca and the kids for a couple of days. We took the kids bowling and then my sis-in-law took me to Tai Pan Trading (what a cool place!)

I spent a day with my sweet cousin Chassie. She was on bed rest and I was so happy to be able to help her get ready for the arrival of her sweet baby boy. She gave birth the following week to Oliver Henry :) I'm so happy I got to see her!

We also got to spend a day and a half with the Gunderson's. It's always so awesome to see them...I just wish we could see each other more often :( They are such a fun family and I just adore these kids!
Thank you so much to all of you who made the time and effort to see us and let us stay with you!! Family and friends...that's what life is all about :)
We picked Aaron up from the airport and drove down to Zion National Park. We came here as a family when I was 14 but I forgot how beautiful this place is! (Maybe I just didn't appreciate it at the time)

It was an AWESOME summer!!

a day of firsts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today is the first day of school!

 

How can it be? We just started our summer vacation! We have a few milestones to celebrate today. Braden is going into Junior High, Heston is starting Kindergarten and I'll be working as an AM playground aide. I think it will work out great. It will be a good distraction for me, especially tomorrow. If I wasn't busy doing something, I would probably be home crying my eyes out because my babies are growing up.

Yes, I'm one of those pathetic moms...

You should have seen me on Braden's first day of KG...it wasn't pretty :)

Summer Vacation 2011 part 2

After our family reunion in Bear Lake, we drove out (and when I say out, I mean out. This town is out in the middle of nowhere) to my hometown to spend time with family and friends. The day after we got there, we went to the annual car show. Restoring old cars is a hobby my dad has done for years. (My Grandpa also restored old cars. He liked the old school Model T Fords) My parents and their friends had a car club in the 80s and we would travel around together to car shows on the weekends. I haven't been to one in years so it was fun and nostalgic.

Mom and her car...'70 Chevelle SS

Gaga, Papa and the kids

my brother Wes and Brandt by their car

Hes

Since we're talking about cars, this is me and my parents at a car show in 1983. This was the first car Dad restored...a 1937 Plymouth Coupe. My parents were kids!!

After the car show, the kids and I were out on the front lawn enjoying the sunshine. I heard Dad coming down the road and I just knew he was going to do this...

My mom is standing behind me saying, "He's going to ruin my tires!" She would never drive her car like this :)

And then the neighbors came out to see what was going on...

We took the kids to the Big Kahuna waterslide. We came here a lot in the summer when I was younger.

Braden striking a pose

Heston is really into dinosaurs right now and so of course we had visit the museum. They are rebuilding the Quarry so it was closed this time.

Another favorite thing he likes to do is ride on Papa's tractor.

My cousin Gabe and his wife Aubrey have a farm just south of town. We stopped by to visit and see the new baby colt. I have admiration for people who have their own farms...the work that goes into taking care of everything, I can't even imagine...

A visit to Utah wouldn't be complete without watching a parade.
This was the 24th of July parade...my pioneer heritage is something I hold near and dear to my heart :)

We broke out the slip and slides, turned on the well water and let the kids have fun. Brandt wouldn't let go of his blanket...

and then he was trying to drink the water. Isn't he cute?!

Braden and Gavin

My kids were freezing...can you believe that?!

The kids snuggling on the couch. I forgot to mention that my sis-in-law Ricci and I knocked out a couple quilts while I was there as well. It was so much fun! Thanks Ricci!

to be continued...

Summer Vacation 2011 part 1

We had such an awesome summer! It's hard to believe it's over...it went by so fast. I know I mentioned this before but we miss our Utah friends and family so much!

When we arrived in Provo, we took the kids to Damae for some Japanese food. Aaron took me here on our second date 15 years ago :) The place hasn't changed a bit.

The next day we drove to Sundance and hiked to Stewart Falls. With all the rainfall this year, it was so green and pretty.

We couldn't believe all the snow that was still around...

 Before our H family reunion, we caught up with the Trents at Planet Play. We miss the Trent's! We are still hoping that one day they will come and live by us :)

On the 4th, we headed to Bear Lake for our annual H family reunion. We love Bear Lake and the cabin that we stay in is awesome and it's just way too much fun. 

This year, we rented this big banana floatie thing for the kids to ride on. They LOVED it! Paul, Rebecca and I went on a ride and we fell off. That water was really cold! (I hope my bro and sis in law still love me in spite of the profanity that came out of my mouth when we fell in :)

 I have to brag...we've got some pretty adorable nieces and nephews. I wish I could see them more often...

 Justin, Tyler, Paige, Joey, Carson and Jordan

 we played some tennis...

 and went on a hike...

 a view from the deck

 a family reunion wouldn't be complete without video games, right?

Happy Birthday Paige! It was her birthday the day we left Bear Lake.

to be continued...

returning to reality

Our month in Utah has ended and now we're back to the hot weather and reality. It was so great to spend time with our family and friends...I miss all of you so much!
This picture is of Split Mountain, east of Vernal. I took this right in front of my childhood home. There's just something about those mountains that are comforting to me...I don't miss the cold winters but I do miss the Utah mountains :)