Utah Trip Highlights

We went boating with friends.

We got to try wake surfing!

I wasn't as graceful as Matt, but hey, I got up anyway!

We went to Thanksgiving Point.

The Children's Garden.

The Secret Garden (where Matt and I got engaged)

The Dinosaur Museum.

We had lots of cousin time.

We rode motorcycles and four wheelers.

Cole loved it and keeps asking for a four wheeler.

Ethan wouldn't put on a helmet so he just played in the dirt.

A few things that we didn't document with pictures: lots of family time, dinners and hanging out, swimming, and my sister Kathy's wedding. I also got to meet the three new babies and snuggled them loads!

The Spudman

All spring I had been training to compete in the Spudman Triathlon. On our way to Utah we stopped in Burley for the race. I had a great time! The river swim was interesting and hard, I had a few issues with my transitions, but overall came in under my 3 hour goal at 2:51! My parents came up to cheer me on and of course the boys were there as well.

Camano Island Camping

We decided we needed to fit at least one camping trip in this summer so we called our friends, the Rhynards, last minute, packed the car and drove out to Camano Island. We had a great time. The boys loved camping. They especially loved belly bumping the tent and jumping on the air mattress.

The boys.

The breakfast makers.

Nicolene and Addy.

Ethan kept scaring baby Adeline while she was in her play pen.

We went down to the beach.

Flew kites.

And of course threw rocks in the water and chilled at the beach.

We even had a bald eagle sighting!

Day Out With Thomas

This year we went to a "Day Out with Thomas." I had avoided it in the past because it is very pricey. However, Ethan currently LOVES trains and he is only free up until this year. WE LOVED IT! The boys had a great time and were very good. What isn't to love about...

Play train stations and train tattoos.

Train whistles

Riding Thomas

Meeting Thomas

Meeting Sir Topham Hat (so when it came down to it the boys got a little nervous)

and finishing up the day with a little ice cream!

Raspberry Picking

Once of the greatest things about living is Washington is berry picking! We make it out every year to stock up. Both boys were very helpful most of the time. Ethan ate more than he contributed and Cole didn't eat any but helped pick.

So serious!

Maybe squishing a few in the box!

It is even better when you go with friends!

4th of July

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. I have many great memories from my childhood and I love everything about it now. This year we started out with our ward breakfast, went to a movie and ended the evening at our traditional barbecue with friends.

This year it was a swimming party and we all had a great time particularly because it was about 90 degrees outside!

Ethan climbs out of the crib!

We thought we had dodged the "climb out of the crib bullet" as Ethan really didn't show any interest in it and we even thought he was too tubby to make it work! Cole mastered the task at a mere 16 months and it turned into a nightmare. We were wrong about our chunk of love! As soon as he wanted to he could scale the rails as fast as any skinny kid. We wondered if he was old enough for a toddler bed so we tried this.....

It didn't work. He would cry and scream for hours until he finally fell asleep on the floor in front of the door and then we would wake him up as we tried to open the door and it started all over again. We also didn't appreciate the middle of the night wanderings so we moved to the tent! I had massively guilty feelings about this but for not!

The first few days took a little adjustment and he wasn't too happy about it.....

Now it works like a charm! Thank you crib tent manufactures! He can still climb out if it isn't zipped up....

but for the most part we have our excellent sleeper back!

2 hrs and 4 mins of fun?

This time last year I began to run. I did the ward 4th of July 5k run in a whopping 38 minutes. If any of you run, you know that is a horrible time! Since then I have continued to run and started training for a half marathon. I felt prepared but was actually a little surprised at how difficult it was! I ran with Tiffany Elenbaas who made a great partner. I powered in and she powered out so we kept each other going. The last three miles were very hard and had I not had someone next to me I would have slowed down.

I love this picture because I thought I was going to die and I look like it as well!

I was able to pick it up and make a strong finish!

We did it!

I was so inspired I have begun training for a full marathon that I will do the end of August!

A few funny moments!

The boys loved to wrestle. It usually ended up with someone getting hurt, but that is how it goes. Sometimes we would even catch them giving each other a hug!

Ethan fell asleep more than once in his car seat in bizarre poses. Here he is with his glasses upside down.

And clutching McQueen like a snuggly!

Ethan typically gets haircuts naked and my sister thought it was pretty funny. Here is the proof.