Weekend Madness

For the past few weeks, we've been heading up Provo Canyon every Sunday afternoon. We love these excursions and Im hoping they become a permenant thing in our new life here. My friend Anne and I have started jogging in the canyon. I can't think of a better place to run now that I've started doing this.

Here is John and my brother Matthew somewhere up by Vivian Park. I can't say exactly where, only that John and I discovered this new place last year and we just went from there. Triton is an awesome hiker. He makes sure that I am okay, but then loves to run ahead and be with his dad too. And of course, I carry Beags on most of these trips - when I say he's a Mama's Boy, I mean it. Here was a quick attempt at a family photo - obviously, it wasn't happening. We found a stream and could not keep Bronze out of it. Triton decided after a mere 1 second in the water that it was way too cold and was best having rocks thrown in it. Supervising the laddies I like this picture, but can't say exactly why. Seriously, a perfect Sunday afternoon.

Today it rained all day, and then it cleared up for a while. This is what it looked like outside - Beautiful!

This was probably the best shot though with the clouds encasing the mountains.

Today, we decided to go to Sundance.

And somehow, we ended up at the start of the Mt. Timp hike.

Triton & Bronze were so excited to be out in the woods.

And I was too

even if I was clad in basketball shorts and flipflops.

My handsome boys in a picturesque setting

Then we started walking up this trail - note, the key word is up- and walking, and walking . . . Bronze wanted to get down, but that just wasn't going to happen this time, we know what happens when Bronze see's streams

As I said before, Triton is becoming quite the hiker and did the whole 2.5 mile trip by himself! John and I were so proud

Finally we made it to a waterfall, which I am assuming was Stewart Falls, but I could be wrong.
This was the view coming back, I dont even know the words to quite describe this picture, all of mine fall short. All I can say is simply, God is Good.

5th Anniversary Dinner

Our Anniversary Dinner was wonderful. We held it at the Spaghetti Factory (John and I love the spaghetti factory), and had many of our close friends and family there. Please forgive these pictures, my camera for some reason died and all we had was my mom's cell phone. If any of you girls would mind emailing me your pictures, that would be more than awesome!

This was our anniversary cake. John designed it himself after telling him I wanted it to be cranberry and white - he did a fantastic job, no?

John's buddy Frederick flew in just for us. As a reward, John gave Frederick a piece of cake the size of a dump truck. Amazingly, our cake was delicious. One of the best cakes I've ever had.

Here's my dad and our little family.

Triton did such a good job and stayed happily in his chair most of the night.

Which I later learned was because my grandma was stuffing him full of bread and coke. Yes, Coke. Thank goodness the caffiene didn't have the hyperactive effect on him as it usually does in kids.

My "cousin" Brandon & his girlfriend Avery

John's buddy Derek and his wife Mindy

Our bff's David & Michelle

My forever friend, Anne & her husband Rhett

Hilarious Lisa & Bryan, whom I might add, are moving to the Bay Area in a few months. Im a little homesick at the thought.

My sweet Whitney & her husband Greg

Bronze was not as good as Triton, and so he spent most of his night with me like this.

We were told to do a sexy pose, with Lisa saying the most abstract things in my ear, I could only smile and laugh.

Happy Friends

Thanks everyone for coming. We had a blast and are so grateful to you all. We'll do it again in 5 more years.

Blast from the Past

This past week I was able to get together with some friends whom I've known since I was about 5. It was so much fun, and I hope that we can all do it again soon.

A few more people were there than are shown in this picture - this is those of us who decided to stay late. Jamie Layton, Karin Liechty, Peter Wright, me, Annie Carter, and Lisa Hortin (maiden names only included.) Ive known Annie forever! One of my best friends of all time. The strangest thing for me lately has been the realization that it is those people whom I met in Elementary School that are still my closest friends. I am definitely excited for the next time.

Week of Happenings

This week has been a good week. On Monday, I turned 23. Instead of having a birthday cake, I opted for a homemade blueberry pie - which I made from scratch. This week is also our 5th anniversary! We're having a dinner with family and friends tomorrow to celebrate so pictures will come for that later. If you've never had blueberry pie, I think you must. I've never had anything quite like it, especially with vanilla ice cream. I will have it again soon. Sadly, no one got any pictures of actual people on my birthday, but it was a great day.

This is John's new car which he got last week. Its very fast, and very sharp.

I think this is Triton's new favorite activity. He LOVES riding the lawn mover; Bronze doesn't mind it much either. So, we've found we spend more time on the lawn mover than I'd ever imagined. Triton also loves his uncle Matthew, whom he calls Mamoo. Bronze is still a goofball and becoming even more of one every day. He has two buck teeth with a big gap in between which he happily cheesily shows. This look is what I have dubbed, "Mater teeth" in memory of the identically clad Tow-Mater.

The Journey Ahead

Whew! We made it, and it was quite the trip. When we moved to the bay area, I swore it would be the last time I ever made that drive, and well I have added two more trips to my belt since then. We left April 27th after packing up our truck, took the missionaries out for pizza (they did an exceptional job of helping us move), and then it was time to hit the road. After all day driving we stopped for the night in Winnemucca, NV. I dont think any of us have ever been so happy to stop. John and I's eyes were both blood-shot after that haul. I drove alone in the jeep with the boys, and John drove the truck alone.

Here we all are after a much needed stop 40 miles outside of Winnemucca. Triton loved running up and down the road.

I tried simply to keep a good attitude after 7 hours of being in the car with two boys who were DONE with being in the car.

Bronze was still smiling after our short break and ready for the last little push.

John concluded that he could never be a truck driver for the sheer magnitude of bordem he endured. Honestly, the boys were great and did very little to no whining or crying. I dont' think I could have asked for anything more out of them. We arrived in Utah late Tuesday afternoon and were all over joyed to be here.

And then the next day, April 29th, Bronze turned 1! I still cant believe he's 1. We had a very small party at my mom & dad's house. Gone are our Sunday walks around the duck pond. Instead, we headed up Provo Canyon to Canyon View park and let the boys play. It was beautiful, not cold or hot, just perfect. John is dapper as ever and amazingly really enjoying Utah. I know, I know, let's all surpress our gasps of shock at that one.
Here is my baby brother Matthew and my strep infected exhausted self. Ah, it seems the drive and moving wore my system down to make me suseptable to all kinds of germs. Lucky for me, John has been an excellent nurse. Matthew, Triton & John throwing rocks in the river. Bronze is an incouragable water dog. To prevent him from diving in and being swept away we had to dangle him over the river so his hands could be wet.