The Big 32

We're going to gloss over Chapter's birthday just for a moment (because the pictures are still on the camera and it's a pain to get them off with Chapter "helping" me).

For Logan's birthday we went to Horseshoe Canyon.  Again, it's a destination that we have been meaning to to do for years.  But waiting only meant that we had the pleasure of sharing it with Chapter.  We got many weird looks from family when they heard that we intended to carry him all 7 miles in a pack on our back. But let me begin by telling you that this was my kind of hike, with a destination around every corner and lots to keep me motivated.

Sure, I could show you all the awesome pictures Logan took with his rented wide angle lens but not only would he make me but his silly watermark joke on them, I also think these are the ones we'll want to look at in our year end blog book.  

But back to the trip.  It was incredible to see these extremely old pictographs, even if it cost me 3 gigantic blisters, oh and that lovely Chapter pack?  Not comfy at all.  Read that as meaning basically torture:)  But so worth it to be able to share so much fun with our wee one.  We spent that next night at Goblin Valley and then headed home.  But we'll definitely go back to Goblin Valley as the destination at some point.  It's well maintained and very child friendly, I don't think there was a singe campsite that didn't have at least one kid. 

Great Basin National Park

We've been meaning to hit up Lehman Caves for years now, but we'll admit that the idea of driving there and really of even going to Great Basin National Park seemed like it would be pretty boring.  But boy were we wrong.  We took off on Labor Day weekend (right after church) on our adventure since we both had to teach that Sunday.  It was Chapter's first camping trip and it was awesome.  The drive that we supposed would be boring was really pretty fun.  It was like driving through a giant empty Sevier Valley which was pretty awesome.  Great Basin National Park is also amazing.  We expected it to be desolate and filled with nothing but blah but it was so beautiful and we'll definitely go back someday (if it ever opens again, haha).  It's located at the foot of a beautiful mountain range.  It rained pretty much the whole time we were there but since it was a quick trip we didn't really mind.  After all, the Cave is indoors and Logan recently developed this ingenious plan to sleep in the car (and I lament we didn't figure it out years ago).

 Chapter trying to steal the goods while we drive.

 All ready for bed.

 Yep, there's a horrible cave picture of the family.

Chapter on the only surface of the cave that you can touch...the floor.

11 Months

Chapter's late 11 month "Photo Session" with Paddle Oar Die Photography was taken in a semi secluded location on the Santa Clara River Bench.

 Chapter is becoming quite the little personality 

 Chapter says, "I'm not scared of the Indians like Mommy is."

 Chapter says, "Ooh big scary Indians Mommy."

What a pretty place we live isn't it?

COOKIE!

Might as well use all those beautiful teeth to bite into something yummy!

6th Anniversary

On August 17 we celebrated 6 years.  It's been a roller coaster; kind of crazy, but I'd do it again.

We decided to celebrate by taking Chapter to his first movie, Planes, and then eating our traditional homemade shrimp alfredo.  YUM!

Chapter really didn't care a bit about the movie, but that's most likely because we don't let him watch TV, so basically he doesn't know how.  He was really good though and went to sleep about halfway through.

I got Logan a frame for his professional engineering license (WOO-HOO!) and Logan got me a package of Sharpies to try to ease the back to school withdrawals:) Logan also makes me an anniversary video every year, but probably not this year because we have almost no pictures with us in them.  Guess that's what happens when you're baby is so much cuter than you are:)

10 Months

Chapter turned 10 months 3 weeks ago.  To celebrate we took him to Cedar Breaks on the wildest stroller ride I hope we ever go on.  Logan kept repeating, "I swear this was paved when I was little." But it was really an adventure in bushwhacking our way through stickery wilderness with a stroller.  Yeah.  An adventure we'll never forget, and never repeat!

The big news is that 2 days after taking these pictures, Chap started walking!  Wow has my life got a lot more interesting:) Love this baby boy!

Washer Scare

My washer is practically family.  When we moved to St. George 5 years ago we got an apartment with it's own hook-ups.  It was pretty much my dream up to that point:)  But we were short on cash so I started scouring the classifieds for the perfect set.  I finally found it.  It was listed in a yard sale ad that happened to have a phone number. My beautiful set of  mid-1990s Maytags were only $125 if my memory serves me correctly.

This is a magical washer.  Perhaps I love it more because it was so cheap, or perhaps because it is a super capacity, or maybe it's our sticker collection on the front, but this is probably my favorite piece of machinery, second only to my car.

Well it started to leak:( I was terrified as Logan nearly completely dismantled it.  But as usual Logan was able to fix it and all it needed were two new 98 cent hose clamps. Hooray for a few more years!

24th

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  If you are from the South Sevier area, it's all about Pioneer Day.

We made our annual trek to Elsinore for Pioneer Day this year as we have for each year since I left 7 years ago.  My whole family was DYING to see Chapter and teach him that this is clearly the best holiday there is.

 And it is.  Just sayin'.

 Kristy bought Chapter a balloon and he really liked it a lot.

So much so that he fell asleep on the way to the park holding it in the backseat.

Chapter didn't get to play any games this year because he was asleep when the lines were short and by the time he woke up it would have been an hour long wait to ride the fire engine or play the fishing game.  Sorry buddy, maybe next year will be your year:)

Then we went to my mom's and made homemade corn dogs and fries with Logan's mom's top secret corn dog recipe.  (Logan is the one who made it top secret).  They were delicious as always.  Then we drove home late in the afternoon missing the best fireworks show in the state (according to Logan, and I agree) because there are so few places that set them off so close to you that you run the risk of your blanket going up in flames.  It sure does make a nice show though when your whole eyes are exploding with beautiful color.  Again, maybe next year.  

Grandma Deb

Sadly, on July 9 we lost Logan's mom to a long hard 5 year battle with cancer.  It was a pretty rough week for all of us, but especially for her children and husband.  

Her funeral was beautiful and although I feel a little weird posting pictures (and taking them) I know that she would be sorely disappointed if it wasn't documented (that woman was a scrapbooker before scrapbooking was cool).  So this is for you Debbie.

Logan made an incredible video to show outside the viewing.  Amazing.  He did such a good job.

 Chapter was so tired and grumpy.  He finally fell asleep for my sister at the end of the funeral but woke up at the cemetery.  Rough day. But check out the matching ties on those beautiful boys:)

Independence Day

For the 4th this year we went to Kanarraville.  Logan's Granny's old house is still up there and the whole gang (minus Josh and his family) stayed up there the night before.  And it was pretty much the worst least restful night I've had since the one immediately following Chapter's birth.  And that is saying something!  It was hot, noisy and just WAAAAY too many people in that tiny old house.  We finally got to sleep about 2am and Chapter slept fitfully until maybe 5ish.  Yeah.

That morning we went to the parade (Chap's first) and then to the program in the cultural hall.  There was a little boy who did a Napoleon Dynamite dance that was so funny I cried (I was sleepy).   Then we went to Cash's house for the BBQ.  Logan was so excited that he had made some homemade yeast rootbeer to share.  His Granny used to make it every year but they haven't had it since the early 90s.  It's disgusting.  But they were all oooing and aaahing and guzzling the stuff.  It's an "acquired taste".

We headed back to St. George in the late afternoon and staked out our spot on the Black Hill for the fireworks.  We usually go to the park but we thought this would be more Chapter-friendly.  And it was.  It was hot but we had a really good time playing in the car waiting for the fireworks to start.

We even got an ice cream from the ice cream truck! Mine and Chap's first time ever doing that.

Chapter held on until just before the fireworks started and then he fell asleep.  A perfect ending to a fun but exhausting day.

The next morning we went to the splash park because daddy has never been there with us.  I don't know who had more fun:)

8 months

Chapter is 8 months old now!  He still thinks everything is funny and he now has 2 teeth.  He scoots backwards and is working really hard on crawling.  We got him this little kiddie pool and he thinks it is great:)

St. George Town Square

Anisa invited me to meet her and a couple friends at St. George Town Square.  There's a really fun "river" that runs through it for people to play in.  This was Chap's first time and he thought it was great!

My favorite thing was when a little girl who was probably 2 years old came running up and looked at Chapter and asked him if he could play.  He didn't answer her (obviously) and so she ran away.  It was hilarious!  He fell asleep on the car ride home and is still out:)  It must have been exhausting!

I think there's a Chap strapped to the pack on my back:)

For Memorial Day Weekend we went to Moab to visit Lucas and Shellie and also to play:)
We had a really good time, Chapter did really well in the car and he went on his first hike and also went swimming for the first time.  He really liked both activities:)

 Chapter really liked hiking.  It was pretty windy but he didn't mind, he just really liked to look around and see things from his perch in his backpack.

 We saw this sticker on a store window in Moab.  I want one!

Chapter liked swimming.  And it really wore him out!  As soon as I got him out and wrapped him in a towel he was asleep before we even left the pool area:)

Mother's Day

For Mother's Day this year Logan painted a wall in the basement that I've been wanting to paint for a long time. Previously it was wood paneling and you couldn't really see this really cool fireplace on it because everything was the same color.  But now you can see it and notice how unique and beautiful it is.  It makes our basement so much lighter and I love it!

7 Months

Chapter has been 7 months for a couple weeks now but we just got around to taking his picture this past weekend.  He's such a funny boy and he thinks everything is hilarious. He loves playing with his Little People Batman and growling.  Daddy says it's his Batman voice.  He also does really funny things.

Like collapsing his activity mat on top of himself and then falling asleep.

Or sticking his arm out of his crib and then licking the slats.  

He's also using rolling as a mode of transportation nowadays.  That kind of sucks for him because now the only place he is trusted for more than 10 seconds is his crib or the floor.  Poor kid:)