Goodbye to Summer

As summer is ending and fall is in the air, I had to look back at some of our summer pictures. We started off the summer with a backpacking trip in Escalante which was a blast. It is one of the most amazingly beautiful areas I have ever been in. We visited 4 different zoos this summer and it was so fun. Of course Keyton loved it, but I was so surprised by how much Seth loved it. He thought the animals were so cool and could spot almost all of them. Then he would point at them and get very excited. We also loved going boating with Rick and Sari this summer. Keyton LOVED the tube and would ride it til his face turned green. He even got up on water skis by the end of the summer. He was very brave! Seth was just mesmerized by the boat and would make little motor sounds the entire time. Of course we had to go on a few camp trips (not enough I might add) and we really enjoyed having our new camper this summer. We love being outdoors and our kids love nothing more than digging in dirt and throwing rocks in any river, stream, lake, pond, etc. We took a few trips to the swimming pool, and I must say my kids are both little fish. Seth would run as fast as he could as deep as he could get and then just dive in and come up laughing. Keyton just never wanted to get out of the water and loved swimming around with his life jacket on. Other than that we just enjoyed being at home watching our kids slip and slide, swim in the pool, and run through the sprinkler. Keyton got pretty good on his bike this summer but still will not attempt no training wheels. He loved playing baseball with his neighborhood friends and has mastered the art of the "real baseball slide" . Seth has gotten so smart over the summer and understands most things I tell him, but he has yet to learn many words. Hopefully those will come soon. He learned to throw temper tantrums, and I must admit they are the cutest funniest things you have ever seen (for now). We enjoyed this summer and anytime that we got to spend together as a family. We look forward to fall and winter, but we will miss all this outside time.

Keyton Goes to Preschool

Keyton started preschool last Wednesday and he is loving it. His teacher is Miss Jen and he looks forward to going to her house every day. He thinks he can spend the night there but I keep telling him that is never going to happen. It was strange the first day having my house so quiet for 2 hrs. I know he will do great in school. He is such a smart kid and I love him to pieces.
P.S. I love how he poses himself for pictures.

Accomplishments

We have had such a busy and fun summer and it's kinda sad the end is coming. However, fall weather is my favorite. I love the cool evenings and seeing my apples ripen and my garden full! This has been an amazing summer and I didn't even accomplish half the things I wanted to. However, Trevor and I have both accomplished 2 things that are pretty big for us.

Trevor has been in the Army National Guard since he was 17. He loves the army and would do it full time if he had a nice enough wife. About 2 years ago, him and his friend Jared decided to apply for the Officer Candidate School. Trevor said he never thought he would be an officer, but he was really excited about the idea of doing it. He worked so hard to earn enough school credits and of course he got in. He started drilling in Boise, and he did that for 18 months. He also did a 2 week training in South Dakota and a 2 week training in Washington. He graduated in August and we are so proud of him! He had his graduation from OCS in Boise and it was cool to see him all dressed up in his dress uniform. He got a position in the Utah Guard so he commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant down in Draper this week. To finish up, he will have to do a 5 month training in Oklahoma. It will be a fun adventure for our family to experience living somewhere else. I just have to say how proud I am of him and how I admire his willingness to serve. Him signing up for OCS has also been a huge blessing because since he has schooling to finish, he will not have to deploy with all the other Idaho Guard right now. Disappointing for him, but a huge relief for me! My hearts go out to all families who have to give up their loved ones right now. Trevor's brother will be over there and it is a very scary thing. There is nothing greater than a soldier and his or her family!





Accomplishment number 2 is mine. Ever since my neighbor Chrissy ran the Ogden Marathon last year, I have wanted to run one. However, anyone who knows me knows I am NOT a long distance runner. Sprinting is more my thing. I had never ran over a mile before this year. So, in February, we set a goal to run the half marathon. Better to start with half right? We have been training all summer, and our race was this weekend. I am proud to say "I finished it!" My time was 2:12:28.7. I am extremely glad I did it and finished, but I must admit I still HATE running. How can people say it becomes an addiction???? No worries about me becoming addicted to it. I am setting a goal though to run the full marathon before I am 30. But for now, I think I'm ready for a running break.

1 Year Pics

My sister took Seth's 1 year pictures and I couldn't believe what a good boy Seth was. He was in heaven when we dumped those balls out and was literally diving in them. He kept saying, "Ball...ball...ball" That's one of the few words he knows. This kid loves to play ball. We have gone to a few of Colby's baseball games lately and today Keyton and I were practicing some batting. Seth walks up behind Keyton and squats down like the catcher ready to catch the ball. It was hilarious. Here are a few of my favorite pics:

Seth Turns 1!

My baby turned 1 on Thursday! I can't believe it has already been a year. If feels like yesterday they were laying him in my arms. I must say that being a mom is the greatest gift in the world and I love being able to stay home and experience each milestone with them. Seth has been such a joy. He started out a huge home body and cried any time we tried to go anywhere. He has learned things very quickly... rolling over after a month, crawling at 5 months, and walking at 11 months. He just wants to be able to keep up with his big brother. He is so sweet when he smiles, his eyes just light up! He is kinda a mama's boy, but I am enjoying that for now. Some of the other things he can do now are: Say "mama" "dada" "ball", He loves wrestling with his brother, he LOVES to play ball and bat it around with his little baseball bat, he loves to make silly sounds and is always coming up with new ones, he loves being outside, and he loves water. We took him to the pool on Friday and it's a miracle he didn't drown. He just kept crawling out as deep as he could as fast as he could. He was a fish! This has been a great year and I look forward to witnessing another. Here are some pictures of the big day:

My friend helped me make this puppy dog cake

that looked just like his favorite stuffed animal that

he cannot sleep without!

Good Morning Birthday Boy!

Slip n Sliding

Seth loved making Root Beer

He tried to lick up the smoke

Seth with his Puppy

He loved opening presents at

first but got bored pretty quickly

He really enjoyed that cake!!!

Seth Walks!!!!

Yes! Seth has started walking. It all started about 2 weeks ago when he decided to start taking steps between furniture. He then went to pulling himself up on furniture, taking 2 steps and then falling down because he thought we were clapping and laughing at the falling down part. He has gotten really good since then and now he can stand up in the middle of the floor and just start walking. He is so smart and so cute and his big brother could not be prouder of him. Every time Seth starts walking, Keyton cheers him on and then yells for me to come see how good he is doing. These 2 are already becoming best friends.

What have we been doing lately?

I hope you can see Keyton's Tiger face in the small pic! (halarious)

and look at the cheeks on that smiling baby!

Don't you just want to kiss them?

Pictures could never do this place justice!

I feel like Lightning McQueen!

We have been so busy and I barely have a minute to myself to blog. But a little catch-up is necessary. In may, we went to Hogle Zoo and it was perfect weather. We stayed with some friends in their time share and it was so fun to get to relax and enjoy some time together. Then we went backpacking to Escalante a couple weekends ago, and it was a blast. I love that hike and am amazed by the scenery there. We also went camping last weekend and got snowed on. (gotta love that Idaho weather!) Most of my time has been consumed with coaching my niece's softball team. It is a lot of work and has made me appreciate the time and dedication my coaches put in for me. Why do we always learn these things too late in life???? My baby is going to be 1 this month and it is giving me anxiety! Where did the time go???? Seth loves to dance to music, throw a ball back and forth, watch his brother be crazy, EAT, and he is actually taking a few steps on his own. He is such a cutie and such a good boy. When we went to Escalante, it was my first time leaving him overnight and it was for 4 days. I was so worried, but he did great! I'd like to think I'm more needed than I actually am I guess. But it was priceless to see their little faces light up when we got home!