What a Summer! Provo, Fredericksburg, Delta, and Brawley

Pictures highlighting this fun/crazy summer. Lived in two apartments, spent time with tons of cousins and visited lots of family, and had great times. Enjoy!

          Love my Cousins!!!!                          

Reading my Dictionary             Playing at Bridal Veil Falls             Exploring under the table

    Chilling with Cora                                My Grampa Craig                  Angel of Mary's Heights

Helping Daddy landscape                   Playing with Trucks                  Daddy and Gramma Cathy

        

 My buddy Liam                               Swinging with Blaine               Cruising on the compound

     

CBRN BOLC at FT Leonard Wood

Well All…this is my stab at blogging. I just wanted to send an update on our family activity since leaving Provo, to include the news that we moved from Provo. Allie and James are enjoying winter in Brawley at the compound, while I am attending CBRN BOLC at Ft Leonard Wood, MO. I am not sure if everyone is aware that I am branched AD (active duty) to the Chemical Corps, or that my first assignment is at Fort Campbell, KY with the 101st Aviation BG, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). So now you know. While here at Ft Leonard Wood or as we call it here “the School house”, I am building on my experience from ROTC with platoon leadership and learning the techniques and responsibilities I will soon have as a chemical officer. It is exciting to finally be stepping off into the Army, and starting this new phase in our lives. Though it is no fun to be without Allie and James, I know the Lord is watching over us all. Thanks for your prayers and all the support shown us during our BYU years. God bless! Feel free to drop us a line for more news updates.

Two peas in a pod… or kernels on a piece of corn?

James loves eating corn on the cob. Here is a little video of Mike and James enjoying a snack!

Hiking the Y

This summer we have decided to start hiking on Mike’s Mondays off work. So, being BYU graduates our first hike should be the Y. Mike and I have hiked the Y before, but not with James. All I can say is that I’m glad I wasn’t the one carry James up the mountain.

We figured it would be best if we went in the morning before the sun came up over the mountain. It wouldn’t be too earlier (and too cold) or right in the middle of the day when it was too hot. We got there around 8:30 and did not get more than one switchback up the trail before James had enough. So, we turned and round to go home and as soon as we were in the sunshine he stopped crying. Poor little boy had been cold! We thought we had dressed him warmly, but I guess not. We came back later in the day when it was nice and warm (almost hot) and he did just great. In fact, he fell asleep halfway up and woke up when we were on our way down.


Our first attempt in the morning. This was before James got upset.


On the way up in the afternoon. James must have been comfortable because he fell asleep.


We made it!


This was on our way back down, after James woke up. I love this picture of Mike and James. It sums up their relationship perfectly, best buds.


We live in a beautiful place.


So happy to be together.




We did it!

James's First Birthday

On May 25th our sweet baby James turned one year old. I made him chocolate chip pancakes for his birthday breakfast and we had a small birthday party for him. The Saturday after his birthday, we had family over and attempted to have a swim party, but it was raining so we moved the party inside.

It was so much fun to have the cousins over and James loved all of his gifts. His cousins gave him a toy truck that makes music, a DVD, and a beach toy set. Grandma and Grandpa sent books. We gave him a red ball and Mike made him blocks. We are so grateful to everyone that came to celebrate with us.



James’s birthday pancakes. The chocolate chips are supposed to be in the shape of a one:)


He wasn't sure at first.


But once he got started...


...he was pretty happy!


Cousin Ronnie and Isaac couldn’t make it to James’s party so they brought him a gift and cupcakes to sing happy birthday to him. What sweet cousins!


James’s cupcake from Ronnie and Isaac. They picked it out just for him. It had sprinkles on it.


Isaac helping James blow out the candle.


Yummy!



James eating his birthday cupcake. He liked eating the frosting and just crumbled up the cake:)


Eating a sucker that came with Grandma and Grandpa’s gift. He hadn’t ever had a sucker before and he really liked it.


Cousins Bailey and Layla.

Family Pictures

We wanted take family pictures before James turned one; so a week before his first birthday the weather finally cleared up and we raced to take pictures. Many thanks to my sister, Becky, for being so willing to work with us. Enjoy!